Emma sat at the breakfast table, twitching at every small sound and movement. Her fingers drummed endlessly against the metal table, as she fearfully glanced back and forth. The mornings were the worst for Emma, because she was still trying to separate nightmares from reality, and the constant dose of tranquilizers did not help. She sat across from Travis, who she felt was doing something stupid, but Emma was not quite sure what. In an attempt to look normal, Emma leaned her head against her hand, gripping her hair in a fist. She took a deep breath, gripped her fork, and concentrated on picking up a small slice of sausage while not pulling her hair out.
Raven, sitting next to Travis, reached across the table, touching Emma lightly on her wrist. Emma dropped her fork, causing a loud clang, and looked to Raven. Emma could tell Raven was trying to be comforting, just as she was always trying to do with Chandler, so Emma tried to smile, acknowledging that reaching out is difficult in the tranquilizer fog.
Sitting back and releasing her hair from her clenched fist, Emma took in what was real and tangible. Hands resting on the table, she laid her eyes on the far end of the cafeteria, watching Mora shovel eggs into her mouth as she sat across from Logan. Watching Mora's right hand with a forced concentration, the black eight began to seem odd to Emma. After a moment the pieces seemed to slide together, and, with a new sense of urgency, took hold of Raven's hand.
What happened to seven? Mora's hand has an "8".
Raven glanced over, receiving a fowl sneer from Mora. Sometimes others don't make it.
Emma's brow furrowed. She knew she should be upset by this, or feel some kind of anger at what these scientists do to children like Mora, but the haziness made it hard, and she felt the great desire to take a nap despite the nightmares.
After training, lunch, and physical exams they were all placed in the recreation room. Raven instantly pulled her brother along to the couch, examining the bruises that Logan had given. Jason went to his usual spot at the piano, watching the keys, playing tunes in his head, as Travis crossed the room to the white folding chairs. After a moment of standing and watching Logan and Mora constantly try to beat each other's time record with rubik's cubes, Emma decided to sit with Travis.
She knew he was acting strange, but could not figure out how or why she thought that. You are being strange. She told him, staring forward so it would not be obvious they were communicating nonverbally.
Travis' mouth twitched. We all are. Tranquilizers.
No, that's not it.
Did you know it's Sunday?
Sunday? Emma glanced at Travis, eyes wide, before realizing she should not do that. How do you know that?
I stole a phone. I stole a phone and I've used it every morning since we were tortured.
Emma shuttered, rubbing her hands down her arms, pushing the memory of pain out of her mind. You're going to get in trouble. They're smarter now.
I know... but I can't help it.
Emma allowed herself to look at Travis. He twiddled his thumbs as if thinking, but beads of sweat hiding at his hairline suggested he was quite nervous. Emma got the strong sense that Travis needed to talk to this girl, the one he was tortured by up until recently. He wanted redemption.
You're obsessed. Emma said. You're going to get yourself killed just trying to talk to her.
Oh, and you would never do such a thing. He remarked, just as two guards walked in a new person dressed in black. I suppose seven made it after all... He noted, forgetting their conversation.
The new girl seemed timid, hiding behind the guards and glancing around anxiously. It reminded Emma of her first day here, and she felt perhaps she should stand and introduce herself, but the girl's temperament quickly changed when she saw Mora. She looked to be Mora's sister, older and a bit taller, hair long and braided nicely. She wore a smug look, just like Logan and Mora. Two boys then emerged from behind Mora's assumed sister, a tall Brunette with a pointed nose, and a fit, but thin boy looking about fourteen and with lightly tanned skin and dark eyes.
The five were now quickly looking amongst each other, and a feeling of immanent death stared them right in the face as the new three joined the other two. They've never had this many at once before. Travis stated. We're dead meat. We are literally dead. meat.
No comments:
Post a Comment