Nothing

Chapter 4

"You know, I don't know your name." I said as I walked beside the military blond.

"Ryan," he answered after a moment. "Yours?" his icy blue eyes bore into mine with a glint of amusement. He was teasing me, which meant that he knew my name. Well, duh. Ryan was here. Which also meant that he was associated with my kidnapping. I gulped uncomfortably. "Ella," I squeaked out. A silence filled the hall. The only sound that could be heard was the soft clicking of our heals on the tiled floor.

One stairway and a few hallways later we finally came to a set of double doors. Ryan stepped forward and pushed open the doors. He moved out of the doorway and motioned for me to go first, "Ladies first."

I huffed, Yeah right. "What's in there?" I asked suspiciously.

But he didn't pick up on my tone, "Your destiny," he replied.

I snorted, "Don't be so cheesy."

"Well, it's the truth," he said solemnly suddenly serious again. That took a turn. I decided to appease him and stepped through the hauntingly big doors...

On the other side of the doors was a large room with light walls and dark carpets. The room was in chaos as kids, anywhere from preteen to young adult, ran around the room talking and laughing. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. These kids had been kidnapped like me, hadn't they? If so, why were they acting so carefree? I turned back to the doors and found that Ryan had left. Oh well, I thought and shrugged.

I walked over to a table, there were many scattered throughout the room, that didn't have any occupants and sat. I continued to sulk at the boring wall until I felt someone tap on my shoulder. Startled, I looked up and met the dark chocolaty eyes of a guy around my age. He looked as if he belonged on the beach with tanned skin and long black hair that fell into his eyes. "Hi," he said shyly.

"Hi," I greeted.

"My name is Elijah and-" he cut himself off nervously rubbing the back of his neck, "I just wanted to know if I could sit at your table."

"Yeah," I answered. "I'm the only one here so..." I trailed off as he sat down in the chair across from me. "My name's Ella, by the way." he gave an abrupt bark of laughter. I stared at him, my face scrunching up in confusion. What was so funny about my name? Elijah's eyes widened when he saw my face and he rushed to explain, "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought that it was kind of ironic that both of our names start with E." I laughed too. That was ironic.

Just then a door on the opposite end of the room opened and a few scientist looking people walked through. A small woman with a kind round face and a clipboard stepped forward, demanding the attention of the room, and said, "My name is Dr. Wallace. I am a scientist here at SLOW MOD and you all have been hand selected to participate in an experiment that will make the world a better place." The room immediately exploded with questions, bombarding Dr. Wallace from all sides. "Please," she continued, "save your questions until after I am done explaining."

A girl, who had shoulder length brown hair and light skin, bravely stood up and asked the question we had all been thinking, "What if I don't want to participate in this experiment? Can I go home?"

Dr. Wallace narrowed her eyes at the girl, "Ms., uh..." she looked down at her clipboard then back at the girl.
"Oakely," the girl stated proudly.

"Ms. Oakely," Dr. Wallace said, "Would you please sit down and save your questions until the end." The girl, Ms. Oakely, refused to comply with Dr. Wallace's wishes.

"Not until you answer my question." Ms. Oakely stated firmly.

When Dr. Wallace spoke again her voice was harsh, "Since you refuse to do what I ask of you, you will be the first to go."
Panic showed on the girl's face a split second before she covered it up. "The first to do what?" she asked casually.