Plan for the Future

This was inspired by a prompt on a writing forum I just joined, it is just an exercise and not something I planned. I have been working on some much longer pieces recently but I just wanted to get some proper writing done, something complete. So here it is. As usual, feedback greatly appreciated!
I received a gift of an upgraded membership recently. It was anonymous so I have no idea who gave it to me but if you are reading this, thank you!


Plan for the Future

      Wunfordee was smiling as she walked across the compound. She really enjoyed evenings like this one, warm enough to walk barefoot on the grass but cool enough that there weren't many mosquitos about. She did not enjoy mosquitos. But she did enjoy the smell of freshly laundered linen, and as she walked she took deep breaths of the bundle she carried.

        The compound was quiet. Most of the residents were at supper, while those on early duties would be preparing for bed already. As Wunfordee made her way across the open gardens toward the Bosses' building she noticed her friend, Tutusee, standing alone by the fishpond, and altered her course so she would pass by him. Tutusee was leaning on the wooden railing that circled the pond, his crutches propped up beside him.

        "Good evening, Tutusee!" said Wunfordee.

        He looked around at her approach. "Hello, Wunfordee. Where are you off to?"

        "I have been requested to supply linens to the Bosses' building. I expect they are needed for the infirmary, though why this late I'm not sure. Maybe there has been another emergency."

        Tutusee turned his eyes down, and Wunfordee felt a pang of regret at being tactless.

        "How is your..." she was going to say 'leg', but it occurred to her that this didn't suit, as that was precisely the thing Tutusee no longer had.

        He shrugged, dispiritedly. "Okay I suppose. The Bosses say it is healing well."

        "Well that's good!" Wunfordee said. "I still think how lucky it was for them to notice you were sick, even before you felt it. It's quite incredible, they are really very smart." she smiled brightly, "I suppose that's why they are the Bosses!"

        "I suppose." Tutusee said, looking somewhat less impressed than her. "You should probably get going, you don't want them to think you dawdled."

        She nodded, "You're right as usual. Goodnight, Tutusee."

        "Goodnight, Wunfordee."

* * *

        After her delivery to the infirmary Wunfordee stopped by the main reception to see Jim. She wasn't allowed in the area without explicit direction to be there, but she knew Jim would not reprimand her as he was one of the friendliest Bosses. She asked him to tell her a joke and he obliged, something incredibly rude which she barely understood but giggled at enthusiastically, and then he sent her on her way before she got them both in trouble.

        It was down the main corridor, as she made her way back towards the exit into the central compound, that she saw something she barely believed. Outside the offices two people were talking. The man was not shocking, he was one of the bosses, but the woman... the woman was her. She froze on the spot and stared. The other her was in a wheelchair, she had different hair and much nicer clothes, but it was unmistakably the same face.

        The Boss glanced up, saw her standing there, and exploded. "Wunfordee! What the hell are you doing in here??"

        She didn't reply or wait for him to try and grab her, just span on her heels and ran as fast as she could. She ran up the corridor, passed reception and the staff room, through the kitchen, and left the building through the kitchen door. She stopped just outside to catch her breath, but then panic arose in her. He would probably follow, and if he caught her she would be punished. She moved off around the side of the building.

        The night had set in now and the compound was dark, allowing her to remain somewhat invisible in her dull grey clothes. She moved quickly and quietly, knowing that it would be foolish to head to the eating or sleeping quarters because they would look for her there, and anyway she had somewhere else to go. She crept along the wall, keeping her head down.

        By counting the windows she was able to work out which looked into the office that the other her had been waiting by. She clambered through the flowerbed to get up close, ignoring the scratching of thorns. The window was shut but as it was early summer she assumed it would have been unlocked in the day, and it was. She managed to ease it up an inch; it crushed her fingers but she didn't care. From inside she heard Boss Alder and another voice,  her voice.

        "... apologise for the commotion just now. They are aware of the ground rules but some of the staff are a little lax enforcing them."

        "That doesn't concern me, Mr Alder. I'm only here to confirm arrangements for the procedure."

        "Of course, Ms Winters. All that is required is for you to sign these forms and then we are fully prepared. Your appointment is booked for Friday afternoon."

        A pause, and then:

        "I assume that after this procedure, the spare will no longer be available?"

        "Quite correct, Ms Winters. I'm afraid an operation like this does mean termination."

        "Damn shame. I knew I should have had two made."
       
        There was the sound of Mr Alder's chair scraping back as he stood up. "Very well then. I will go and let your driver know you are ready to leave. Have a pleasant evening, Ms Winters, and I look forward to seeing you on Friday."

        The door of the office clicked shut. Wunfordee's head was swimming, what had she just heard? The sensation of a very terrible thing happening threatened to overwhelm her.  Suddenly and without giving it any thought she sprang to her feet, pushed open the window and climbed inside, to come face to face with herself.

        The two women stared at each other in stunned silence. Wunfordee looked wild, her long hair in tangles from the flowerbed, breathing heavily. The other her sat rigid and wide-eyed in her wheelchair. She had short, styled hair and smarter clothes than Wunfordee had ever even seen.

        "Who... who are you?" Wunfordee said. The other woman made no reply, apparently struck dumb with surprise.

        "What's going on? Why do you look like me? What do you want?" Wunfordee's voice rose with each question, but still she got no response. She turned to look at Mr Alder's desk and momentarily froze once again. Slowly she reached out to turn an open folder, to look at the forms inside, the photo of herself below the title, Virginia Winters. Account 1-4-D.

        The door opened and in walked Boss Alders alongside a thick-set man in a suit. Alders gave a shout of suprise at the sight in his office. "Wunfordee! You shouldn't be in here!"

        She spun around to face him and shrieked, "What's going on? What are you going to do to me??"

        "Calm down, Wunfordee, there's no reason to get hysterical."

        "I think there is! I think you're going to use me for bits! Like you took Tutusee's leg. I thought you were helping him when he was sick." She was starting to cry. "But you just used him!" Suddenly she turned and grabbed a letter opener from his desk, jabbing the point against her own throat. "Well you can't take bits off me if I'm dead! They'll be no good to you then!"

        "No! Wunfordee!" Alders started moving slowly towards her, his hands outstretched, palms down. "Please, calm down. Come on now, you don't want to kill yourself."

        She stared him in the eyes for a few moments, shaking and crying. Then in a flash she jumped forward, and sank the letter opener deep into the neck of Virginia Winters.

        "NO!" Alders and the suited man ran forward, but too late. Wunfordee stepped away and stood against the wall, watching them as they tried to stem the flow of blood. They were shouting. Other Bosses came running, started shouting themselves. Wunfordee didn't pay them much attention, just stared at Ms Winters as she began to go pale.

        Alders was saying something and pointing at Wunfordee. A Boss nodded, ran out the room, returned a minute later. He pushed passed other people in the commotion and came towards her with a syringe in his hand. Wunfordee stood compliant as he made her sit down and stuck it in her arm. The bustling, anxious figures in the room started to get blurry; their voices sounded like they were moving further and further away.

        Wunfordee's eyes grew heavy. She slowly tipped onto her side, and everything disappeared.

* * *

        The next day was beautifully sunny. Wunfordee liked nothing better than to be outdoors on a day like this, but she was stuck inside. She sat at the window of her locked room, looking down on activity in the gardens. Tutusee was by the fishpond again, but she was too high up to wave at him.

        The door opened and she turned to see Boss Alders enter with three suited men. Alders looked grim and tired. The men in suits looked stern. They didn't acknowledge her, just spoke amongst themselves.

        "I truly hope you know what you are proposing. This girl is dangerous."

        "We have been assured that yesterday's incident was entirely out of character, a product of extreme stress. Besides, allowing the shareholders to know of Ms Winter's death would, in my opinion, be a good deal more dangerous for the company."

        Wunfordee blinked in confusion. "What are shareholders?"

        They smirked as one of them passed her a bundle. She examined it and recognised the smart, recently cleaned clothes.

        "We'll tell you all about it soon. Just put these on and come with us, please. Ms Winters."