Chapter 3

-Subject 14-

As I wandered around the strange winding halls of the building, I felt oddly disconnected. I should have thousands of questions running through my mind. I should be wondering where I was, why I was here, who those two strangers were. That is if they were strangers.

Instead, my mind is nearly blank aside from the strange feeling driving me through the maze of the building. It's a burning and itch to get out of wherever I am and get to...

Something

I have to get out of here and find something... someone... yeah definitely someone. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts; I really had to focus on getting out of here.

Keeping my thoughts at bay, I focus instead on my instincts. I have no clue where I am or where I'm going, so really their all I can really rely on to get myself out of here. I looked around at my surroundings with new eyes. The soft floor of the halls would keep my movements silent, for the most part; however, the wide hallways and bright lights might be a problem.

I pressed myself against the cold wall as I rounded another corner, to my surprise and relief there I finally recognized the thin outline of a door. From what I could tell there was no one anywhere near me, no energies tugging at the edges of my awareness meant no threats to worry about so far. Slowly, I peeled the metal door open and peeked through the thin opening.

After a few baffled moments, I stood and opened up the entrance to reveal a pristine alleyway. The concrete or maybe pavement was solid and uncracked with a clean wall bordering every side but one. Across from the door were four of the cleanest waste bins I'd ever seen.

As I stepped out, letting the cool air envelope me, the scene quickly changed. Instead of the spotless alley, I was standing in a filthy strip of land just between two tall dirty buildings. They were damaged from what seemed to be years of harsh weather and harsher inhabitants. The waste bins were now rusted barrels, tipped over onto the cracked sandy ground. Trash flowed from each bin and seemed to fan out across the small area nearly hiding the corpses slumped against the walls and sprawled across the ground.

I hiding in the piles of trash, wanting to do something... scream... cry... vomit... just something.

But the sound of gunfire and terrified screams of the dying kept me in place. That and something else... Looking across from me on the other side of the alleyway I spotted movement just behind one of the bodies. I had no control over my body or voice as a grungy little girl popped her head up, looking at me and smiling as she gave me the tiniest smile, as if to tell me that everything was going to be ok.

I felt myself scream for her and attempt to lunge for her on my throbbing leg as she darted out into the street only to be grabbed by a giant masked soldier nearly seconds later.

An Ashari soldier.

"BEY!"

____________________________________________________

-Joseph-

As I scoured the facility, I couldn't help but think that the Doctor had ditched me. However, like the gracious student I was, I entertained her idea and continued to roam the halls in search for the subject. After a few hours of nothingness, I wandered into the cafeteria ready to meet my stomach's demands. After scarfing down a banana, I figured I'd continue my search and throw out the peal.

Just being the good citizen, I am I suppose.

Really, who did Dr. Palvo think I was suggesting that I'd jeopardize putting the compound in danger. Sure, there was a subject running lose, but that was entirely due to her incompetence I'm sure.

Opening the door, I sighed as I was greeted with cool fall air, it really was the best time of year. As I stepped out to throw out the peel, I let out a small scream as I promptly fell on my face.

"What the hell!?" huffing, I turned to look over at the lump that I'd tripped over only to find the exact thing I was looking for "Looks like I found you first subject 14".

Leaving the peel, I stood and cautiously approached the outsider. She was clearly in an unconscious state, sprawled out on the pavement. As I came closer, I could hear the faint muttering of gibberish meaning she hadn't relapsed into a completely comatose state.

I sighed in relief, at least there was that.

Quickly deciding on action, I bent down to pick her up; however, the moment I touched her, I had to retract my hand. Her skin felt as if it were on fire, her tan skin had reddened and a glassy sheen of sweat coated the exposed parts of her skin as her papery gown stuck to the rest of her figure.

"This is not good..."

Carefully, I scooped her up and quickly took her to the nearest open room. Setting her down on the soft cot meant for an overworked doctor or scientist, she looked almost more... human.

Curled into a ball, you could see how small the woman was, compared to most she would seem tiny. Her dark hair fanned out, but still managed to frame her heart shaped face. Without the IV's sticking out of her every which way and the lack of machines she seemed less like an experiment. She was small, vulnerable, and almost innocent...

I jolted as I ran into the edge of the bed, realizing how close I had gotten to the woman... subject 14... I quickly backed away, shaking my head. Immediately getting myself back into line, I ran through what needed to be done and left the room.

Grabbing the meds for the subject's fever along with a single IV and a few monitors, I reminded myself of reality "The girl in the bed is a patient, an experiment." I huffed, entering the room. I quickly went about administering the medication and setting up the monitors and IV "Subject 14" I mumbled "A potentially dangerous stranger, an outsider no less... Nothing more"

Nodding, I finally called Palvo.