2 Time To Get Out

I am reading in my cell, when it happens. My "room" was darker than usual because the guards observing me decided that it would be funny. I was just about to finish my standard strategies when I heard something.

"Joey. Joey," someone whispered harshly.

I growled impatiently back, "What, Farley?"

I looked down at the vent where she was. She has a certain look in her eyes that tell me everything. I pulled out the vertical bed from the wall and tug the covers around me. Farley and I are very close since the first week she was here. She is really the only person I talk to that isn't sticking needles in me. Farley is slim and has long dark hair so it is easy for her to travel through the vents connecting our rooms.

¨Guards. Lots of ´em. Coming straight for you,¨ she whispers. After making sure she dissapeared I move quick to cover up the open vent. We go through this procedure whenever our hall segment guard either takes a kid out or shoves them in their new home. I lay on the bed casually and start to read some random book I find on the floor. I hear lots of footsteps meaning there are more than one pair heading towards us. While I was expecting a couple guards, the room is filled with half a dozen bulky men in black. They stand there looking smug in their sunglasses without saying anything as a woman in a white suit walks in. Her presence stuns me since most women prefer not to do experiments on vulnerable children. But, as I look in her eyes, I see a ruthlessness in her that even most of the men here do not have. She pulls her lips and lifted her cheeks in what seems like an attempt to smile.

"Prison- um, er, Experiment 12?" a raspy voice questions. She pushes her face near me and I could smell the nicotine like she is smoking right now.

"Excuse me?" I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about. I mean the doctors identify me as number 12 so I guess it's the same thing. I think she almost said prisoner. Am I? I guess in a way…

Her words interrupts my thoughts, "Well? Is this not you?"

I puff, "Yes, number 12 is me. Do you need something?"

She just smiles and cooed, "Wonderful, isn't it boys?" She looks at the guards beside her and they grab my arms and lift me up onto my desk. I sit there quietly because if Farley is still here then I don't want to get her involved. I realize what a situation I am in. There is no need for a big deal. I don't want Farley mourning my death then go into a state of grief. She is still useful. The guards handcuff me and stand me up. They walk me out of the room into the hallway. We walk a couple paces and take a couple turns until we arrive at a white elevator. We stand there for a couple minutes while the guards adjust themselves in the compact space. I am in the middle while there are two guards behind me, two on my sides and two in front. The woman took another elevator with her elite soldiers. The one up front to my right is pressing the floor button. I thought that us kids who are to be eliminated go to the basement. He presses the top floor, number 6.

I ask the guard, "Where are you taking me? Aren't I supposed to go to the basement?"

He never even looks at me. I guess communication is off limits. I just sit there in silence as they lead me through a maze of hallways. We go up a series of stairs and they seem to never end. Each step feels like a lifetime passing by. I keep inclining ever so slowly when we finally reach a door. I never noticed that the lights got dimmer until they are considered off, until the two guards up front shoves a door open. Clearly it has not been used in quite some time. The metal is rusted over and the hinges won't budge until they pop clearly off. The door slowly falls to the ground with a huge bang. The guards exchang some mutters about the poor maintenance the employees were keeping. The sun is blinding as we step outside. I really need some sun. My skin is freakishly pale. The organic warmth takes me over and it is a few seconds of bliss. I realize I am holding my breath and I cautiously exhale. Oh the sweet scent of the unknown world that most people take for granted. Some of us only have the chance to experience it once in a lifetime. Which mine is about to end so I don't mind if it happens outside. I only now notice to slight nudge of the barrel on a rifle between my shoulder blades.

"Hey kid. Get moving," the guard sneers. "We still have a way to go before you can rest."

I sigh, "Yeah. Okay. I'm walking."