Just Smile (TMR Fanfic Minho x Reader x Newt)

Chapter 8: Dream-like Memories

Another dream-like memory.

I'm 6 years old. I'm sitting in a chair with my head held high, in a room painfully white. There are a plain metal table and a chair across from it. An observation window that's one-sided so I can't see anything on the other side lies to my right. The door opens and a tall man walks in. He looks at me and sighs.

"You've been pretty disobedient these days, Subject-"

"I'm not a Subject, Swiss," I interrupted quietly. I could feel my heart about to burst with rage, but I kept still. I knew how to keep a blank face, and I used it. The man, on the other hand, couldn't conceal his anger.

"My name is not Swiss, and I expect you to treat me with respect," he spat.

"My name is not Subject, and I demand you to treat me with respect," I shot back.

His eyes flashed dangerously, and I knew I crossed the line. He got up wordlessly and rolled up his sleeves.

"Do you want to know how your friends went from your state to their current obedient attitude?" Swiss hissed.

I looked on without a word. I knew better than to open my mouth and insult him. He raised his arm, bringing his hand crashing onto my cheek, narrowly missing my right eye. I stayed still, not letting my eyes tear up, watching wordlessly as he brought his fist down across my other cheek, again, numbing it. I felt blood drops drip down the sides of my face, slowly but surely. Swiss huffed and then regained his composure as a single drop of blood dripped onto the metal table. He addressed the guard behind me.

"Take her to room 23," he barked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm in the white room again. There is no table, only a chair. My arms and legs are held down by metal cuffs attached to the chair. Swiss strides in again and sits in a chair in front of me. He holds a device in his hands. A tiny remote.

"What is your name?"

"Zia," I answered.

"Wrong. Your name is Lyell," he spoke.

"No. My name is Zia."

He pressed the button eagerly as if he had wanted to do this to me. It took all my willpower to hold back my screams and winces. Electric shocks coursed through my body, making me feel like I would explode at any moment. I remembered Minho's screams, the boys' pleas for help, and my promise that I'd made with them right before I was dragged out. The pain subsided.

"What is your name?" Swiss asked with a smug expression.

"My. Name. Is. Zia," I stated.

Then came the pain again, this time more violent. I couldn't hold back a wince.

"What. Is. Your. Name?"

"Zia. My name will always be Zia!" I snarled.

Another dose of pain.

"Now, Lyell. What is your name?"

I glared at him, throwing all of my hatred towards the man seated in front of me. Then I remembered.

"DON'T WORRY, GUYS! I WON'T BREAK MY PROMISE!" I hollered, knowing that they'd be able to hear.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Swiss screamed. He flipped on the switch, but I was ready for the pain, and I bit my cheek, tasting my blood, focusing my senses on the pain inside my cheek. It didn't work.

"WHAT IS YOUR NAME, LYELL?!"

"MY NAME IS ZIA!"

Pain.

"..IA! ZIA!" I could hear the boys screaming my name. I smiled despite the situation. It made Swiss even more enraged.

"WHAT IS YOUR DAMN NAME?!"

"MY NAME IS ZIA!"

White-hot pain, filling my bloodstreams and my brain. I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I realized. I liked this pain. I embraced it.

"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!"

"ZIA! MY NAME IS ZIA!" I yelled, trying to keep myself intact. My name is Zia. No matter what.

I felt myself pass out as white-hot pain coursed through my body one last time as Swiss chucked the remote, mad. He started beating me, knocking me over from the chair, and I couldn't move. I repeated the sentence in my mind.

"My name is Zia."