Chained - Jenlisa

A New Day

"This is ridiculous," I tell the General, throwing a hand up and crossing my legs at the knee.        

"It's not," Sandara counters, tapping the General's desk. "You weren't there. You didn't see it. I say she's telling the truth. How could she make something like that up?" 

"By lying."                                         

Sandara holds back a scoff and ends up blowing air from her nose. "Then explain what happened today," she challenges. "Explain what's been happening."          

I recline in my seat and sigh. "I was just the first voice she heard in a strange place is all."             

Adjusting her glasses, Sandara looks to the General. "You saw the footage. That wasn't simple imprinting. That was something more."                                         

The General, silent this whole time as Sandara and I argued, grunts. He thinks silently in his chair, his brow low and his frown wrinkles more prominent than usual. "I don't think she's lying," he finally says.

I groan then lean forward. "Tell me you're joking. There's no way something like... this exists. She has to be playing some type of game."                                

"I saw the collar," Sandara puts in, annoyingly. "When her friend died, she took it off. I'd say it really is this- I don't know- talisman. She did everything her friend told her to. She didn't do a thing until she got permission."                                         

"There's no way a... a... collar can give someone that kind of power, and take away someone else's," I protest. "That's impossible. This has to be a delusion of hers."  

"A delusion that gives her abnormal abilities?" Sandara questions, crossing her arms loosely over her stomach.                                

"People like this just don't exist!"                                           

Sandara's arms tighten. "Then what is she? Who is she? You make people like her, Jennie. Why is this so hard to believe for you? You must have been down in this hole too long."          

I huff and fall back in my chair, giving Sandara a hard look. "Are you saying you've encountered things like her up top?"                                              

"I'm saying I'm not surprised she exists. Maybe Jisoo's belief in magic has made me open minded, but I believe this. I believe her."                                    

"I don't know if I can," I sigh. "She obviously believes her story, but I don't know if I do."

"Then let's test it," the General chimes in, surprising both Sandara and I. "Let's indulge her and go through with this ritual and see what happens."

Sandara nods. "There's no harm in it."

"What if this is a delusion?" I ask. "We could be pushing her further into this fantasy when we could be helping her. With her gifts, she needs to be mentally stable."

"We'll help her," the General says, "but only if this really is a delusion. We're going to test it."

"General," I plead. If Lisa is having problems, I want to help her, not make her worse. She's clearly already far into her fantasy, if that's what it is.

"You can lead this or be completely shut out," the General tells me. "It's your choice."

Well I didn't expect that. "Lead this?"