Test Subject 17

3. Memories (2)

We walked into the living room, freezing once again. "M-mommy? Daddy?" Everything was gone. I heard nothing, saw nothing. My parents were dead. My breathing gets quicker and my eyes burn. The warm wet things fall down my face and I don't even care this time.

I run to them, denial fighting everything I see. I grab my mom's hand and it's still warm. I take hold of my dad's shoulders and shake him, shouting, begging, and pleading him to wake up. His eyes roll to the back of his head and it takes everything in me not to scream.

They're gone now. I have no parents. The pain in my chest gets heavier and thicker, feeling like it's gonna crush my lungs, as reality sets in. Why would someone want to kill my parents? We're nice people.

A sob comes from my lips as the tears flow down my face. "Don't leave me," I whisper to them, knowing they can't hear me. "Just don't go. I'll be a better kid, I promise. Please don't leave."

I hear footsteps on the stairs and it jolts me from my crying session. Three guys with guns appear, one of them going for my friend. The other two go for me, but I jump away. Why isn't Nat leaving? Before the guy can get her, my fear is transferred to him.

"RUN NAT!!" I yell, pushing her towards the door. I run after her, trying to hold her hand so we can leave together, but someone grabs my arm. Turning to look, one of the guys that came for me has a hold on my wrist.

"You're not going anywhere," he says. The other two start after Natalia, but I do my best and focus on them, my fear and pain being sent like radio waves. One stops and the other looks around, hesitating.

Something gets stabbed below my spine and a scream is let loose from my throat, making me lose my hold on the soldiers. The one that stopped looks at me, fury in his eyes. Ice spreads from where he stands, quickly reaching me.

The coldness sweeps up my legs, literally freezing me in place. I see the second soldier go out the back door.

Consciousness ebbs in and out as my eyes become heavy. "What did you stab him with?" The Ice Man says. A laugh comes from behind me and whatever was in my back is taken out, pain surging through me.

"A poisoned blade. Specifically made from my blood," the voice says. I can feel everything draining away, the voices going fuzzy, like a bad TV channel.

".....antidote!! .....boss......you...get back....dies." I try my best to piece what they're saying, but I can't. Eventually, I slip away from this world, leaving everything...

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Instantly, I let go of the girl, shaken by what I just saw. "What the hell was that?!" I yell at her. The tears in her eyes and shocked expression tell me she saw it too.

"I-It was a memory. Your memory," she stutters. She goes to touch my cheek, pausing for a second, her warm hands spreading over my cool skin. "A-AJ?" No. It's impossible! My memory is gone. There's no way she can just give me something back like that.

"My name is 17. Not AJ." I state more to me than her, trying to lose this hopeful feeling in my chest. I don't have anyone. More tears have fallen on her face. Out of instinct, I wipe them away. 'Why do I care so much if she cries?' I close my fist, pulling my hand away. I start to walk off.

I can't do this contract. I just can't. I put the knife back in its holder. I'll just have to report she wasn't where they said she'd be and take whatever backlash may come.

"It's not a name. It's your nickname. Your first and middle initials are A and J. Alexander John," the girl yells after me. I keep walking.

"Oh yeah? Then what's my last name?" I ask, turning around to look at her. I can see a sad smile on her face. She stands up and starts walking towards me.

"Michelson. Alexander John Michelson. You were my best friend." I stare at her blankly, wanting it all to be a lie. But something in me knows what she says is true. "Please, remember me," she whispers.

"I don't want to. I can't. You are an anomaly. This is some cruel trick." She looks hurt, but I guess me not trying to kill her has given her some type of hope.

"Natalia. Natalia Emma Rose. We used to live next door. Until they took you," she blurts out instantly. I look at her and she looks back. She touches my face again, scanning my eyes like she can see something I can't.

"I want this. I want this very badly, but it's too good to be true. It can't be real. This... you... I can't accept it.." Slowly her hope breaks. I feel it drain from her and I see it leave her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Still, she smiles, "It's fine. It's only been what, 13 years? I've been beating myself up over it every day. Every second. Hating myself because I left you. But I guess I got my wish." The hurt in her voice makes my heart wrench and my chest hurt. "I asked you to stay away. Now you are." Natalia turns to walk away, shoulders hunched as she hugs herself.

"I said I'm sorry! What more do you expect me to say?" I shout. She stops, looking back at me. "For my entire life, as far as I knew, they could have found me on the side of the road. Don't expect me to just remember everything that they tried so hard to make me forget."

That does something as she storms back towards me. "You poor i***t boy. It's your choice to remember. It's your choice for this," she says as she grabs my hand. My heart skips a beat as she gazes at me.

"No... it's not. Listen, I can't kill you, that I know, but I have to leave," I tell her. Our hands drop as her eyes water a bit. "Don't cry. You have no reason to. What's the point of chasing a life you don't remember?"

Just like that, the entire atmosphere changes. Natalia looks down and I can feel everything just leave her. "Then go. Go back to the people that killed your parents and took your life away," she breathes quietly. "I can fend for myself out here." Turning to walk away, something tugs inside me, wanting nothing more than to go back to her. I glance over my shoulder and she's on her knees, crying and watching me leave.

《◇~◇》

When I reach the Facility again, it's at least 9:30. I've missed roll, which is around 8:45, and check, which is about fifteen minutes later. The guard at the door looks at me with a smug look on his face as I walk by. Normally I would threaten him and make him cower before me, but all I want is to get in and sleep.