chapter 4

"Today we'll be telling each other a bit about ourselves," Evelyn informs the group. They all sit in a circle of chairs and are facing each other. 

"We'll begin with age. I'll go first, I'm 24 years old," Marcus says.  

"I'm also 24," Evelyn joins. 

"I'm18," Iris says, distracted by some art on the wall. 

"I'm 21," Naomi says. 

"I'm 23, turning 24 later this year," Lucas gloats.  

"I'm the oldest here then as I'm 27," Azreal says, finishing the circle.  

"Old man," Lucas jokes.  

"I could still beat you in a fight though," Azreal says playfully. Lucas smirks and looks towards a shelf full of board games. The room they're in has multiple shelves on each wall with games, movies, board games, or books. There are a few tv's in there, as well as some tables.  

"Now, let's move on to the next part," Evelyn says as she switches the paper she's holding. "You all have titles, and we were told to tell you them." 

"Azreal, you're the survivor, Lucas, you're the empath, Naomi, you're the strategist, and Iris, you're the artist," Marucs informs them. 

"Well, they all sound cool, but what do they mean?" Naomi asks.  

"They mean what you excel at, basically your skill you have," Evelyn answers. Before anyone could ask any more questions, the official walked into the room. 

"May we borrow Naomi?" He asks. He already knows the answer, so it's unclear why he asks.  

"Of course, I'll go with you," Naomi answers. She gets up from her seat and follows the official toward two metal doors. Above them is a label, 'tests.' Naomi enters a testing room where they have a bunch of supplies sitting next to a table. 

"Do I lay on the table?" She asks. The official nods, and she lays down on the table. The official walks over to a nurse and stands behind her. He watches her poke the needle into Naomi's arm. 

"Trust me, you'll feel better after this," the official says, trying to soothe Naomi. But she wasn't scared or anything, she was used to this. She was just surprised by how nice they were. 

"How are you feeling?" Iris asks. Naomi just woke up from the anesthetics. She is lying in a recovery bed, but she's surrounded by the other patients.  

"I'm feeling good," answers. She stares at the wall for a second. "I feel smarter, somehow." 

"Smarter? Man, they should test me next," Lucas jokes.  

"I wonder what these tests are for, how many times will they test on us anyway?" Iris asks. 

"Don't know, but I hope it's not too many times," Azreal says. 

"Same, I feel a bit different, but I don't know which way I feel different," Naomi says softly.

"We'll figure it out soon enough," Iris reassures her. Iris hugs Naomi and then the three leave the room. 

"Prepare Lucas, I heard you're being tested on next," Azreal warns Lucas. 

"I heard they were going to test you tomorrow," Lucas says, confused. 

"I heard all three of us were going to," Iris chimes in. The three look at each other in confusion before going back to their rooms. They spend a little bit of time doing their things. Lucas reads while Azreal meditates. And Iris returns to drawing her masterpiece. It's a man and a woman holding each other, keeping their light alive from the darkness surrounding them. 

"Azreal, Iris, and Lucas come with us," Marcus politely commands. Evelyn is standing next to him, she's excited for them. She was scared before, but after seeing Naomi improve, she hopes that these tests will also help them feel better. 

"Is it finally time we get tested on?" Azreal asks. They were just in the garden watering their plants.  

"Yes, but don't worry. It'll go faster than Naomi's," Marcus reassures the three. Evelyn stays behind with Naomi while Marcus and the other three go to the testing room. 

"So, how do you feel?" Evelyn asks Naomi. She smirks at Evelyn. 

"Let's play a game of chess and you'll find out," she says cockily. She's challenging Evelyn because she knows she'll win. 

"All right then, I accept your offer, prepare to lose," Evelyn says with a smirk. Evelyn and Naomi make their way toward the activity room, putting a box of chess on a table. They sit down and begin to play. Naomi lets Evelyn go first just to be kind. However, her kindness isn't strong enough. She slowly but surely destroys Evelyn, letting her king live just a bit longer for entertainment.  

"Remind me to never play chess with you again," Evelyn jokes. She isn't mad that she lost, just sad that it was quick, even with Naomi's mercy.  

"Don't worry, everyone I play against loses. But this time, it felt different, as if I could tell where you were going to move, just for a split second," Naomi admits. Evelyn is surprised, but happy that she's happy. 

"Okay, Ms. Third Eye. Where ya hiding it?" Evelyn jokes.  

"Nowhere, see?" Naomi says as she moves her hair, revealing her forehead to Evelyn. The two girls laugh and play a few more board games. Even if Evelyn loses in every single one. 

"How are you three feeling now?" Marcus asks. Naomi, Evelyn, and Marcus are standing next to the recovery beds. Lucas lies in the middle, Azreal on the left, and Iris on the right. Naomi is standing next to Iris, holding her hand underneath the blanket, and looking at her blindfold covering her eyes. 

"More empathetic? I guess," Lucas says as he rubs his head. "I feel as if other's emotions are just a little clearer." 

"I'm not feeling as down, I guess. Just feel stronger mentally," Azreal says softly, still affected by the amnesia. Evelyn and Marcus both smile. Evelyn is happy that they're on the road to recovery, while Marcus is also happy about these experiments working.  

"I feel no difference, I don't know what the test even did. All I know is that I can't see anything," Iris says. She can't feel the blindfold on her face. 

"Here, let me take it off," Naomi says as she starts to take the blindfold off. She looks into Iris' eyes and notices that there is a mix of colors swirling in her eyes.  

"Your eyes are turning rainbow?" Marcus thinks aloud.  

"They are?!" Iris says in shock. Evelyn grabs a mirror from a counter and hands it to Iris. She takes a moment to look deep into the colors, admiring the beauty of them all. 

"This is amazing!" She blurts out. A smile grows on her face as she looks around and sees slight hints of extra colors. Things appear more colorful to her, more alive. 

"That's weird how that's happening, but it's stunning!" Naomi cheers for Iris.  

"Why do you guys always get the cool things?" Lucas jokes.  

"Well, it's about time we go, you guys should be good, but take it easy if the anesthesia is still in effect," Evelyn tells them. 

"I think sleeping here for the night will be better," Azreal says. He's already falling asleep. 

"You're right, it is an hour till midnight," Marcus replies.

"I don't know if I'm able to, but I'm going to stay here with the group," Naomi informs Evelyn and Marcus. She's staying for Iris but doesn't want to make it obvious.  

Inside the security room, the assistant and some other faculty are sitting in front of cameras on multiple monitors. They sit on black spinning chairs. The Assistant takes a sip of coffee as the official walks into the room. 

"What are their opinions on the tests?" The official asks, his voice cold. 

"The four patients are pleased with their newfound abilities. They're hoping to get tested more so their abilities are enhanced," the assistant informs the official. A smirk creeps onto the official's face.  

"We'll test on them again tomorrow, two at a time. However, it'll be Azreal and Lucas first, then Iris and Naomi," the official commands. 

"Understood, I'll make sure to have the information sent to the directors before sunrise tomorrow," the assistant says. His voice turned from caring to a deep and cold tone. 

The official smirks, then, without any emotion. He mutters the word, "Perfect."