Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Three

     "Doctor! Dr. Scaffer! Open this door! Doctor!" Natasha banged on the door. I pushed myself  off  of the door and into the apartment. I ran my hand along the back of the black couch and turned around slowly. Even though everything here was rather bland, it was still nicer than my apartment in Brooklyn. Natasha's knocking echoed through the apartment as I inspected everything in the apartment. The kitchen was spotless and full of the best and newest appliances and utensils. I walked down the hall and found three doors. The first door swung freely in when I pushed it lightly and I found a bedroom. I figured that it was a spare room based off the layout of the hallway. I stepped back out of the room and turned to the door directly across from the room. When I pushed it open, I found the fanciest bathroom that I've ever seen. The back wall was surrounded by glass for a shower, next to it was a deep tub that looked big enough to hold 5 people. I backed out of the bathroom and over to the last door at the end of the hall. I pushed the door open and came to the biggest master bedroom I'd ever seen. There was a large bed in the center, pressed back against the wall, above the bed was a beautiful painting of the mountains. A purple, velvet bench rested at the end of the bed. Directly across at the end of the bed was a flat screen T.V. with a dresser below. Right across from me was a large window, draped with white curtains and a cushy window seat under it. I walked in in a daze. I'd never seen a room so nice in my life. I set my backpack down next to the door and stepped inside the room. The soft carpet tickled my bare feet as I tip-toed over to the bed. I ran my hand over the covers of the bed and looked around the room again. Behind me was a double doored closet. I padded over and pulled open both doors, sending a rush of wind back at me. There were shelves and rods layered neatly inside. Resting on one of the shelves was a stainless steal safe. Next the safe, resting neatly on a hanger was a pristine white robe with the seal of Stark Industries sewn into it. I pulled it down and held it in my hand as I walked over to the third door in the room. I pushed the door open and came to another bathroom, this one was twice as large as the first one. A large, glass shower took up on corner as a large bathtub filled up the other corner. It was beautiful, for a bathroom. I stepped into the bathroom and the tiles leaked heat into my cold feet. As I entered, I caught a glimpse of myself in the huge mirror over the sink. From one look at me, anyone could tell I'd gone though an ordeal today. My long hair was a mess with from wind and falling, my face was tanned from the sun but decked out with fresh cuts and bruises, My grey shirt was streaked with dirt and blood and the entire left sleeve was cut off completely, a white bandage wrapped around my arm. I had dirt imbedded into the knees of my pants from kneeling. My hands were a dark shade of brown from tearing at the dirt and my feet were dirty from being barefoot all day. I set the robe down on the counter next to the sink and pulled off my shirt. The bandage wrapped around my shoulder and down my arm a bit. I reached over gingerly and unwrapped my shoulder. I dropped the bloody bandage into the trash and went back to look at my shoulder. It was stained with blood and gauze pressed over the wound. I pulled it off and shuddered as a stab of pain shot through me. A long cut was stitched up across my shoulder. I clenched my jaw and walked across the floor to the shower. I stripped out of my remaining clothes one handed and stepped into the shower. When I turned to the knob to turn it on, I was taken back. There were five levers and more buttons than I knew what to do with. 

      "Uh, JARVIS?" I called out awkwardly. 

      "Yes Miss Scaffer?" the english voice said. 

      "How do you work this shower?" I asked. 

     "Pull the middle lever down to turn the water on. The levers on the left control temperature, the ones on the right are for water pressure. The button on the left is shampoo, middle is conditioner, and the one on the right is soap," JARVIS said. 

     "Thank you JARVIS," I called back, pulling the lever down. Water shot out from the stone walls and down from the ceiling. I let out a gasp as cold water hit me from every angle. I squealed as he ice water pelted every part of my body; my fingers fumbling with the levers on the left, trying to warm up the water. After a few minutes of fidgeting, shivering, and cursing, I finally managed to get the water to warm up. Once I turned down the water pressure, the shower wasn't bad. It felt like I was being wrapped in a warm blanket. I turned to face the shower head and studied the buttons before finally deciding to press the one on the left. A cold, thick liquid poured down onto my head and dripped down my back. I gasped and raised my hands to my head. I fumbled to wash my hair with one hand as I looked around the shower, The same process ensued with the conditioner. I faced the buttons again and paused before pressing the button on the far right. The water that was shooting out of the walls stopped. In it's place, metal arms equipped with what looked like buffers from a car wash came out. The arms reached out to me and started spinning. Soup bubbled up across my skin as they moved up and down my body. I watched the process in confusion until they retracted and the water appeared again. After I rinsed off fully, I pulled the lever up, the water coming to a direct halt. I rung my hair out and stepped out of the shower. The heat from the floor crept up through my feet.