Time seemed to slip away, as the kids ate and discussed the stringent rules of the facility. They talked about how they saw some kids were treated differently based on their abilities and performance in classes and training sessions. It was clear that the rules and hierarchy of the place weighed heavily on their minds, and they all longed for a sense of equality and fairness. Despite the heaviness of the topic, they found comfort and belonging in each other's company in a place that lacked the warmth and care that growing children truly needed.
As dinner came to an end, Ian caught a glimpse of Saffi staring at the dining hall door, her face turning pale. Just as he was about to turn his head in the same direction, a loud banging on the table made him jump. It was the same two guys from earlier that morning and afternoon, announcing to the kids that it was time to leave the dining hall and head back to their rooms.
the sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the air. The kids started to make their way towards the elevators. Ian noticed Zack pissed expression as he picked up his tray, which still had some food on it, and walked over to the two guys in the gray jumpsuit.
A sense of unease washed over Ian as he tugged on Adam's sleeve to get his attention, gesturing with his head towards Zack's direction. However, before Adam could react, Zack had already approached the larger guy and stood before him, his face contorted with anger.
The larger guy scowled in disgust at Zack, his disdainful gaze fixed on him. "You again?" he spat out.
With a steely look in his eyes, Zack hurled the tray to the ground, causing a loud clattering noise. The remnants of his meal scattered across the ground. In a fit of defiance, he stomped on the food, grinding it into a mushy mess that would be left for the two guys to clean up.
"Oops, my hand slipped," he taunted, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
The sudden outburst of noise and chaos drew the attention of every occupant in the dining hall. All eyes turned to the source of the commotion, the faces of the other children contorted with shock or fear at the unfolding scene. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
The larger man's eyes blazed with fury as he stepped towards Zack, his fist clenching in a menacing position. "You fucking fre--" he began to say, but before he could strike, his slimmer comrade restrained him with a firm grip, gesturing for him to calm down.
The slimmer guy approached Zack with a malicious grin, his high-pitched and breathy voice sending shivers down his spine. “Next time, be more careful, boy” he drawled out, his words dripping with venom as he leaned in closer, the glint of malice in his eyes unmistakable.
Zack took an unconscious step back, his mocking smile fading into one of discomfort. Ian and the others had caught up to him, and Adam quickly grabbed Zack's shoulder to pull him away from the two men before things escalated any further. They hurriedly made their way towards the exit of the dining hall, leaving the two men behind with their glares burning into their backs.
"Again, Zack?" Adam asked, his voice laced with concern as they waited for the elevator.
Luca and Saffi exchanged looks before turning to the others.
"Again? That wasn't the first time?" Luca questioned.
"No, he did the same thing this morning when you guys left," Ian answered,
"So that's what we heard from the hallway this morning," Saffi said, realization dawning on her.
Adam turned to Zack, his frown deepening. "Why would you do that?” his tone pleading for an explanation.
Zack shrugged dismissively. "It's nothing. Besides, I won't get in trouble for that," he replied nonchalantly.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft hiss, and Adam led the way in. As they entered the elevator, Adam's concern was palpable as he turned to Zack and said, "But you still haven't explained why you did that, Zack."
Zack leaned his back against the wall, his gaze flickering briefly to Saffi before returning to Adam. "It's nothing," he said dismissively, his tone final. He turned his face away, signaling the end of the conversation.
Adam let out a sigh of disbelief. Ian looked at Saffi and Luca, who both shrugged in response. Seeing that Zack wasn't going to say anything more, they dropped the subject. The elevator doors opened on the third floor, revealing the dorm area. The hallway branched off into two sections: the left side led to the children's dorm rooms, while the right side led to the staff rooms.
As the group took the left side, Ian realized that he did not know where his room was located. "Guys, I don't know where my room is," he announced with a hint of concern in his voice.
Adam smiled and replied, "It's on your ID card."
"Really?" Ian quickly fished out his ID card from his pocket and stared at it. Adam leaned over to take a look and pointed to the number #16. "Your room is right in front of Zack's," he said.
Ian gazed at Zack's back, who was striding ahead of them. A scowl etched on Ian's face, Why him?
Noticing Ian's expression, Adam let out a chuckle and spoke in a low voice, "He's not that bad," he patted Ian's head, then continued, "He's just trying to find his way here like the rest of us."
A low, playful whistle sliced through the air, drawing their attention to Saffi. She stood between Ian and Adam, grinning impishly as she took their arms in hers. The touch was sudden, and Adam couldn't suppress a twinge of discomfort, causing him to pull his arm back slightly. Despite his unease, he tried to play it cool and flashed a forced smile in Saffi's direction.
"What are you two whispering about?" she teased, arching a brow suggestively.
Luca trailed behind, echoing Saffi's sentiments with a wry grin. "Yeah, don't leave us out of the loop."
Adam's confusion was palpable as he gazed at Saffi, then back at Ian. "Just showing him his room number," he said, his tone flat.
Ian nodded his agreement, but Saffi wasn't convinced. She continued to hold their arms, and Adam's discomfort grew as he gently extricated his arm from her grip.
"Is that all?" she drawled, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.
Adam pointed at Ian’s ID card and said, “Ian’s room is in front of Zack’s.” Luca and Saffi immediately caught on to the situation and chuckled at Ian, who couldn't help but roll his eyes.
As they parted ways, Adam and Luca stopped in front of their room while Saffi continued down the hall. They waved goodbye to each other before disappearing into their respective rooms.
Ian continued following Zack until they reached his room. As they stood in front of their own rooms, Ian fumbled with the door, clearly unsure of how to open it. Zack let out a sigh and turned to him, “Put your ID code on the pad, then let it scan your hand. It will register your prints, and after that, you won’t need to use the ID number anymore, just scan your hand.”
Ian nodded and quickly followed Zack's instructions. The door to his room slid open smoothly, and Ian couldn't help but smile in relief. He turned back to Zack “um, thanks, Zack”
Zack left his hand as a wave while walking to his room, leaving Ian standing in front of his own door. As Ian stepped into the room, the door immediately slid closed behind him, and a red light blinked on, indicating that the door was locked.
Did the door just lock me in? he walked back to the door, trying to open it but it won’t budge. A frown creased his forehead, and he let out a disappointed deep sigh. "I guess I'm locked in my room," he muttered to himself.
As Ian entered his new room, he surveyed the small, windowless space. A single bed occupied one side of the room, with plain white linens and a thin pillow. Next to it was a small, wooden desk with a matching chair. Across from the bed, a closet with a sliding door stood, its plain appearance matching that of the rest of the room. Inside the closet, Ian found nothing but a few extra sets of plain clothes, identical to the ones he was currently wearing.
As he looked up, Ian noticed a small, black camera mounted on the ceiling. He frowned in discomfort, realizing that he was being watched at all time. He turned to the door on the opposite side of the bed next to the wooden desk and approached it. Upon opening it, he discovered a compact bathroom, complete with a toilet, sink, and a shower with a thin, transparent curtain. Another camera was mounted on the ceiling in the bathroom, a camera in the bathroom? Really? He scowled at the camera then let out a deep disappointed sigh. He couldn't help but feel violated by the constant surveillance.
Ian let out a long, tired sigh this time, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Despite the discomfort of his new surroundings, he was finally able to relax. He collapsed onto the bed, feeling the tension in his body slowly melting away. The exhaustion of the day's events began to set in, weighing heavily on his mind.
Maybe I should take a hot shower, I sure want one. but his body was so tired that he found himself sinking deeper into the softness of the bed. Ian closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh as he drifted off to sleep, the sound of his breathing the only noise in the silent room.
Ian jolted awake, shivering in the sudden coldness of the room as he realized he wasn't covered by the blanket. He groggily checked the small digital clock, reading 2 a.m. As he stumbled towards the desk, he switched on the lamp and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His body ached, and the sudden urge to relieve himself overpowered him. After a few moments, Ian made his way to the bathroom, trying to shake off the drowsiness. As he relieved himself, he heard a muffled sound from across the wall. He leaned in closer, trying to make sense of the noise, but it remained garbled and indistinct, leaving him feeling puzzled and uneasy.
Returning to bed, he turned off the light and tried to sleep. When suddenly, the device on his room door began to beep and buzz, making his heart race. The sound persisted for several moments before abruptly stopping, leaving Ian feeling more anxious than ever. Was someone trying to unlock the door? He remembered the same thing happened last night and shuddered at the thought. He pulled the blanket closer, feeling the fear rising within him. In an effort to calm himself down, he shut his eyes tightly, reassuring himself that the door was locked and he was safe.
After what felt like an eternity, Ian's heart rate finally slowed, and his breathing returned to normal. He lay there in the silence, his mind still racing with thoughts of what could have been on the other side of the door. Slowly, a sense of calm washed over him, and he drifted off to sleep once again.
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