It was less than a second, maybe half a second, but it changed everything. My life, my world, and all the people in it. I was only a child then, but she said I was gifted. She said I was special, and she found a way to take me from my world.
It was dark, and it was my bedtime, I had my first day of school the next morning. I was starting second grade that year and I was so excited. But that was the night that everything changed. I woke up in the middle of the night, I sat up in my bed and looked around. The moonlight was shining in my bedroom. I look towards the window, and it's open, I don't think my mom opened it, I remember it being shut. I get out of my bed and go to the window to close it, and that's when the people in black came out.
They tackled me to the ground, I tried to scream but they gagged me, and tied my hands together behind my back. I saw them bring in a child that looked like me, but it wasn't me at all. My mom will find out and know that it's not me, I know she will. They put it in my bed and cover it in my blankets. I am dragged out of the window and put into a car. Tears are running down my face and I am scared beyond belief, and I don't know what's going on.
"Someone shut her up!" One of them commands.
"Hey, snap out of it Debra, it's time to go to the Mess Hall."
I snap out of my trance and look up, it's Jenna. She is just like me, but her story isn't exactly the same as mine. "Sorry, I haven't been myself lately."
"I've noticed, do you want to head to the infirmary?"
I shake my head, I'll be fine, I promise."
She sighs. "I swear, sometimes you can be so difficult. You do realize that they are having a combat simulation today right?"
"I'll do fine, besides I always beat everyone else anyway."
"I know, but I hear that there is someone who may beat you."
"And who might that be?"
"I won't spoil that treasure, you'll have to find that one out when you get there." She skips off and disappears down the hallway. I don't understand how she can be so cheerful, especially since we have been through Hell and back.
I highly doubt that there is someone that can beat me, I have been at the top of our unit for a long while. It's not that I intend to keep it, I just don't want someone who will take it for granted to replace me. I run my fingers through my long black hair and enter the Mess Hall. And like always, it's a bit rowdy. For some reason, I have a feeling that someone is going to pick a fight with me. Considering that someone across the room is glaring at me angrily, and I know who it is.
His name is Jack, and he thinks that he's all that, and he's really not. I'm surprised that this little organization hasn't gotten rid of him yet. Someone taps on my shoulder, I turn around and someone attempts to punch me in the face. I easily catch his fist and twist it to the point of almost breaking. At this point everyone is looking at the two of us, and everything gets quiet.
"Aw," I say. "Look, Jack found a new guinea pig for me, isn't he sweet." I smirk, and quickly raise my arm and bring it down on the boy's forearm, shattering his bones. His scream is loud, and everyone gasps.
I turn around and brush a stray piece of hair back into place. "Anyone else want to try me?"
No one gets up, they just go back to whatever they were doing. The Medical team comes by and picks up the guinea pig. I grab a plate and sit down next to Jenna. Less than a second later, there is an announcement.
"118 to the Laboratory."
I throw my head back and groan. "They never give me a chance to eat."
"It seems like they are taking a special interest in you."
I snicker. "I'm not special, I never was." I get up and head to the Laboratory.
I enter the laboratory and look around. It seems empty, but in this place, anywhere can be a trap. Here you never know when your next test is going to be. I carefully walk around, looking for some sign, I look at every tool, every table and every crack I can find. As far as I can tell there is nothing out of the ordinary.
"You know, you don't have to snoop around while you wait for me."
I turn around. "Sorry Dr. Halsey, I'm not used to being called down to the Lab in the middle of my lunch hour."
She smirks and sits in a chair. "Do you know why I called you down here?"
"Is it because of the boy's arm? I am not apologizing, he attacked me first."
"As much as I want to know about it, I won't ask. Anyway, I have decided to test you on your combat skills tonight."
"Close combat?"
"Not exactly. It's like a final, if I were to describe it. It will test just about everything you've learned."
"Will it be a real stimulation? Or holographic?"
"I guess you could say it's real. I know you won't fail me."
"Who said I would fail?"
"I never said you would, others might."
I chuckle. "When am I being tested?"
"Midnight."
"I swear, you always test me at midnight." I lean on an examination table.
"I feel like your skills are at their best when you're half asleep."
"That's a little weird, but who am I fighting against."
"My favorite one."
I sigh, and turn to leave. "I'll see you at midnight."
"I suggest you put in some last minute training with your suit, you'll need it."
I give her a last glance, and leave. "I swear, the secrecy in this place drives me nuts." I head to my 'room,' even though it's literally a bed amongst other beds. All lined up in rows as if they are petri dishes in a science lab, oh, wait, we are.
I plop onto my bed and stare into the bluish-purple light. After a minute I close my eyes, and I think back to my old room. The purple walls, the stickers of flowers. My comfortable bed with thick blankets, and their soft touch. The warmth of a goodnight kiss before bed. The hugs, the warm meals that were home cooked. I wish I had those things again. I wish, I knew what it felt like.
I look at the giant clock on the wall. I still have an hour, I guess that I could train a bit, we did get our armored suits a few weeks ago. I get up and head to the training room.
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