Test Subject 17

4. New Recruits

I never thought too much about how we get here. But I guess I know now. And looking out at all the kids that surround me... I can't help but feel slightly responsible. Granted I've been lied to as well and live in the same nightmare, but some strange and remote part of me feels like I'm to blame. My mouth goes dry as I inject the needle, the small kid before me going limp. "I'm sorry..."

"But they'd kill me too...."

Everything was black at first, then, all of a sudden, an image appears. A man towers over me, a scowl etched deep on his face. I can feel myself breathing deeply as I stare at the man.

(╥﹏╥)

"Get. Up," he spat at me. The pain in my ribs radiates to my arms as I attempt to stand, unable. He kicks me again right in my stomach and all air leaves me. It feels like needles are stabbing my lungs as I try to take in oxygen. My body felt weak as if I had been working for hours, which I probably had.

"I....I...I can't," I gasp, my voice low. The man growls and grabs me by my shirt, hoisting me to my feet. The leg muscles feel like noodles as my weight is put on them. I sway a little, trying to keep my balance.

"You're weak 17. There is no way a girl should beat you. And not with that power of yours," he scolds. I groan as he pushes me back to the floor forcefully, yelping when my bruised and sore body hits the mat. I look at 389, attempting to stand again. She smirks at me and walks over slowly.

"You should learn how to be a good dog, and lay," she taunts. I bare my teeth in pain, hoping the wince looks fearsome. Laughing, her eyes glow turquoise and her hands light up. She shoots yet another beam of energy.

I can hear the other subjects laughing as I crumple again. Fear and anger roll over in my veins, making my body shake and my stomach twist and turn.

"Sh-shut up," I grumble, rolling on my back. She growls and shoots at me again. I close my eyes, thinking of everything I'm feeling right now. The pain, anger, fear, distress, exhaustion, hunger. "SHUT UP!!!!" I scream.

Something snapped in me and it was gone. The room had fallen silent. When I open my eyes again, the girl I was fighting was frozen and I stood to my feet. It surprised me just how fast I was able to, and with ease. 389 started to whimper and back away from me, her eyes wide with fear. The instructor grinned at me. "Good job kid," he praised, making me feel sick.

"Now. You wanna run that by me again?"

I am not weak. I won't become weak.

"N-no. Please, d-don't hurt me," she stutters. I walk over to her, pulling her hair hard. She screams a little and I pull harder. I put my foot on her back and everything starting to fade. My emotions slowly whithering away and I keep pulling her hair. Soon blood lines her forehead.

Is this what you want to see? You want me to hurt those weaker than me right?

"Now who's the dog bi*ch?!" I yell. She starts to cry, tears falling fast down her rosy cheeks. The silent room almost deafening in my ears. My stomach churns for a second in disgust and then leaves. She falls to get knees and starts trying to get away from me again.

"Me!! I-I'm a dog!" Her voice is thick with pain and fear. 389 grabs at my hand and tries her best to get me to let go. I wouldn't. I pulled harder and harder, a ripping sound and she started screaming. I couldn't imagine what this was like, and I didn't want to.

Fine then. I'll hurt them. I'll hurt them all. Watch me climb to the top. No one will ever see me like that again.

"Yeah. You are. You all are," I mumbled under my breath. I let her go, watching her fall under her own weight. She curls up, sobbing hard. I walk off the sparring mat, spitting at her.

You brought this on yourselves. Ready or not...

Here I come.

(╥﹏╥)

I shoot up in my bed, the dream feeling so real. I know why though. This happens every month. The same old memory every time. I put a hand over my ribs, a small jolt going through my body, making me hiss. This place really sucks. I go to stand and my legs go weak.

My hand shoots out and I catch hold of the desk in the room, thankful it's so close to me now. A string of curses leave my mouth and I stand up the rest of the way. Old injuries start aching, which, let's just say is about 85% of my body.

Looking around the room, I see someone has already left out my clothes for today. A black and white suit, much similar to the one I wear on my kills. I peel my clothes off and put on my "God" suit as I always called it. I never interfere with anyone and let them fight against themselves. If they can't, they go against me. No one ever wins.

The way we do training here, the kids go until they can't go any further, they pass out, or surrender. When I trained, I always passed out.

As I saunter out of my room, and head down to the Training Arena a strange feeling passes over me. I get slightly lightheaded and dizzy, a faint voice calling out to me. No one else is in the halls just yet, except for a lone guard walking by. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, continuing on.

When I get there, only a few kids are there. Early as usual. My dreams always wake me up about a half hour early on this day, the nightmare always the same. The day I lost my humanity and everything that made me, me from before. I haven't seen, nor heard from 389 since then. Some say they killed her, others say she's the girl they call for... entertainment.

Me? I say she's locked in her room from guilt, shame, fear, and embarrassment.

The younger, newer kids whisper to their neighbors, pointing at me. Typical. Except for a girl and a boy. They stare at me, not saying anything. The girl looks at the boy, tapping him. He looks at her then the other kids and whispers something. I squint at them and I can see the curiosity staining their light grey clothes. The boy raises his hand and the room falls silent. The older kids know to not say anything. I motion my hand in a "Come here" motion and he looks around, walking over quickly, the girl at his heels. "Sir?"

"What?" I ask, my voice harsh. She flinches slightly.

"If y-you don't mind me asking, w-who are you?" he asks, fiddling with his grey top. I can't help but laugh, a huge grin spreading across my face. He stares, awkwardness swirling around the edges of his curiosity. "I-I...I'm sorry. Me and my sister n-noticed all the oth-"

"You're alright. I'm 17. The God of this room," I say, the smile still on my face. The girl's eyes widen and she drops her head, no longer making eye contact. Her brother does the same. This is an unexpected reaction. Then again, I don't think these kids are normal.

"S-sorry for b-bothering you sir," he says, attempting to pull his sister away. As they back away, I think about it. I need to know who they are. For some reason, I can't help but feel like I know them from somewhere.

"Actually, I never got your names," I say. Both stop and turn around and look at each other. "Well?" The little girl is visibly nervous as she looks at me.

"We share one," the girl says, fiddling with her shirt. The boy nods and takes over for his uncomfortable sister...

"994, 567." he supplies. "We're twins so they thought it was easier to keep track of us that way. By giving us the same number." I nod. So they've been picking up kids and killing more innocent people. I lean down to them, lowering my voice.

"Don't tell anyone, but you're gonna be separated," I start. They look at me, their eyes glazing over with tears. My heart breaks at this and I rush to explain. "I'm gonna call you Christine, and you Jake." They look at each other and smile a little, one playing with my face as well. "Remember, tell no one. Got it?" I look around to see a few kids staring and I know that I've been talking to these two for too long.

"Yes sir, thank you," they say in unison. I straighten, letting the smile fall from my face. Christine and Jake walk back to their spot again, glancing back at me every now and again. I remain as emotionless as possible and my mind starts to wander.