Chapter 14 Separation

Belinda stood silently, absorbing the scene around her. Though her father, Henry, led the EVA organization, she'd always been kept in the dark about the details of its programs and protocols. Now, as men in pristine white uniforms lined up behind each of the teenagers, she felt an unsettling sense of anticipation building.

"Dad! What's going on?" she asked, her voice edged with alarm.

Henry walked toward her, placing his hands on her cheeks, his fingers gentle yet resolute. He stroked her face softly, his eyes betraying a glimmer of sadness. "Believe me, Belinda, this was the last outcome I'd ever wish for. But things are moving beyond our control, and very soon, we may be left powerless." His gaze shifted, encompassing the teens around him. "In times like these, we must place our faith in you."

Belinda's heart raced. She looked up at her father, unable to understand how they could be involved in any of this. She'd seen the A3 and assumed it meant victory, that it would give them an edge. But Henry seemed to carry a different understanding—an understanding that went far deeper.

"How are we supposed to help?" Kellie asked, her voice barely a whisper. Though Belinda's father and she had been speaking quietly, their conversation had caught the attention of everyone around them.

Henry pulled his hand back, taking a deep breath before addressing the group. "This is a specialized program, designed for kids like you to face the challenges of times like these. You'll be moved to a secure facility where you'll train over the next two years. When that time ends, you'll take a final test to see if you can help shape the future we're all fighting for."

At this, a murmur ran through the crowd, apprehension flickering in their expressions. Belinda noticed their glances, each silently questioning what "training" could possibly involve in such an apocalyptic world. But before she could voice her concerns, Kellie's voice cut through the silence.

"So…we're hiding?" The way she said it seemed to echo the doubts of everyone there.

Steve, Kellie's father, shot her a quick look, clearly trying to keep her in check. Henry, however, raised a hand, inviting silence again.

"Yes, Kellie. In a way, you are hiding. But understand this: we're not just sending you away to keep you safe. This is the only way to prepare you for the battles ahead. Out there," he gestured towards the destruction beyond their doors, "there's no room for mistakes. I know some of you may resent being separated from your families in such dark times, but know that we're doing this to keep you alive."

Most parents nodded in silent agreement, having witnessed the brutal destruction firsthand. Their children's safety was paramount. Yet, the teens' expressions showed that some were still hesitant to fully accept it.

Kellie tugged at her father's sleeve, looking up at him with a mixture of confusion and fear. "Dad, you're not going to send me away, right? You promised…"

Steve removed his glasses, bending down to her level. "Kellie, you're my baby girl." His voice cracked slightly as he searched her gaze. "But right now, things are changing so fast, and there's a lot you don't know…a lot we're not allowed to share."

She let out a deep, shaky sigh, her shoulders sagging. "You promised," she repeated, her voice barely audible, her eyes wet.

"I know, little jelly bean," Steve said, pulling her into a tight embrace. "And I'm keeping my promise—this is my way of protecting you. Maybe not by your side, but in the only way I know how."

He released her reluctantly, and a white-uniformed man behind her stepped forward, holding a syringe filled with a milky-white fluid. "It's part of the procedure, sir," he told Steve. "No one, not even the kids, can know the location of the facility."

Steve nodded, though his jaw was tight. The syringe went into her arm, and despite her wish to stay awake, Kellie's eyes grew heavy and finally closed.

Around her, the other teens were similarly injected and quietly led out. As the last of them were escorted from the room, Henry ushered the remaining adults away, a cold determination in his expression.

---

When Kellie's eyes fluttered open, she found herself staring up at a stark white ceiling. She lay still for a moment, disoriented, as her memory gradually returned. She looked around, taking in the unfamiliar room, realizing it was packed with other kids her age, some awake, others just beginning to stir. Each of them wore a similarly bewildered expression, seemingly trying to piece together the events that had led them here.

Kellie sat up slowly, noticing her friends clustered together across the room. She moved toward them, feeling a flicker of relief to be reunited amid the uncertainty.

"Does anyone have the slightest idea where we are?" Hampton asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Everyone exchanged blank glances, no one daring to speak, and yet the silence said it all: none of them had any answers.

Suddenly, a loud, booming voice echoed through the space. "ATTENTION, SOLDIERS!"

The sound was disorienting, filling every corner of the room. The teens looked around in surprise, spotting cameras and speakers mounted along the walls, all directed at them.

"YOU ALL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE. YOU'VE LOST LOVED ONES, FRIENDS, FAMILY—EVEN ENEMIES. BUT REMEMBER, NONE OF THAT MATTERS IF THE ENEMY REMAINS UNCHECKED."

The speaker's words hung heavily in the air, each sentence hitting like a blow. The teens could feel their emotions stirring—a potent blend of anger, fear, and determination.

"FROM TODAY ON, YOU ARE NO LONGER CIVILIANS," the voice continued. "YOU WILL UNDERGO SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO BE FORGED INTO WEAPONS AGAINST THESE MONSTERS. FROM THIS MOMENT, YOU ARE NO LONGER HUMAN BUT BEASTS. YOU WILL BECOME THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE OF OUR ENEMIES."

The words resonated in a strange, unexpected way. Some of the teens' faces transformed from fear to something akin to resolve, the sheer force of the speech filling them with a new sense of purpose.

"NOW, FORM A LINE AND FOLLOW THE RED LIGHT."

As the last instruction reverberated, a red light appeared at one end of the room, illuminating a path. The teens hesitated only briefly before moving into a single file. The light led them through a narrow corridor, the sterile white walls gleaming under artificial lighting. They walked in tense silence, their footsteps the only sound.

Kellie, walking toward the back of the line, looked around as they progressed. Though she didn't know what lay ahead, something in the shadows caught her attention. It was a figure—one she recognized immediately.

"Chase."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was laced with a mix of relief and trepidation.