Early the next morning
Aiko shoved the tray through the return slot built into the door. She had barely touched her white bread and white yogurt. She didn’t eat the albino pear. The damned thing was as hard to the touch. Aiko gazed into the mirror and examined her reflection. The sputtering light cast strange shadows across her face. Aiko ran a hand through her now white hair. If someone dyed it, they did an excellent job since she couldn’t find any hint of her natural black hair.
What the hell is going on here?
Her attention shifted to the rattling sound of keys and the creak of the cell door opening. Harsh light from the hall filled the space, and a shadowy figure entered the confinement of the cell. A figure dressed in an impeccable white suit stepped into the room. A white cane and top hat complemented the figure’s appearance. For a moment, Aiko thought she must be hallucinating.
“You?” she gasped, recognizing the man who had kidnapped her.
He gave a slight bow, the corners of his mouth curling up in an unsettling smile. “My dear Aiko, there’s no need for alarm. I’m trying to help you achieve your full potential.”
Aiko shook her head in disbelief. “You kidnapped me! This is insane—”
“Your mother’s work can help humanity,“ Malcolm continued, cutting her off. “With your help, we can unlock its secrets and usher in a new enlightenment era.”
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious of his grandiose claims. But the mention of her mother’s research piqued her interest despite her reservations. “You’re lying. Why should I believe anything you say?”
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Malcolm spread his hands in a placating gesture. “I only ask that you keep an open mind, my dear. Ginger and a few other girls have already seen the value in aiding my efforts.“
Aiko’s brow furrowed as she processed this revelation. “Are you...the warden Ginger mentioned?”
He replied with another enigmatic smile, not directly answering her question. Aiko felt her frustration mounting but forced herself to remain calm.
“If I help you, will you reunite me with my uncle?“ she asked.
“You’re in a lot of trouble, Aiko. But I’m friends with the judge who will hear your case next month. I see an opportunity for us to help each other.”
She swallowed hard, weighing her options. She gave a reluctant nod. “Alright. What do you need me to do?”
Malcolm popped the cap on the cane and unrolled a large sheet of paper. He pointed to a dizzying array of mathematical equations and cryptic instructions. She recognized her mother’s handwriting. Aiko felt a shiver of trepidation as her gaze roamed over the symbols, an inexplicable sense of dread gripping her.
“I’ll leave this for you to decode,“ Malcolm said as he headed for the door.
He tapped the cell door, and the familiar mechanical sounds and the harsh light assaulted her senses. “Now, get to work.”
After he departed, Aiko moved the paper to the center of the cell, where the light was brightest. She stared at the paper for hours, her head pounding as she struggled to make sense of its seemingly indecipherable content. A tray with white meat, white potatoes, white rice, and a carton of milk was shoved through the slot in the door, causing her to jump.
This is inhumane!
As she picked at the half-frozen chicken, Aiko couldn’t help but wonder about the significance of the ubiquitous white color surrounding her. Then, it was as if a veil lifted from her mind and the symbols on the paper glowed, carrying deep resonance in their meaning. A torrent of understanding overcame her. It wasn’t knowing as much as feeling the correct solution. Her consciousness knew the proper path to solving the puzzle that eluded Malcolm. Grabbing a pencil, she took notes, and the pieces fell into place.