In the Name of Order

Chapter 7: Change

Week 1

Mr White says the first week will be solely electric. I'm electrocuted for about four hours each day, with breaks given for me to eat and freshen up. The breaks also allow Mr White to record my responses.

I'm escorted by guards from my old room to my treatment room. Mr White says a new treatment will be given to me every week and that doctors will tend to my wounds when needed.

I'm also prescribed a new medication, and I take it every day in front of Mr White. Breakfast and dinner is brought to my room, and the only time I can see my friends is during lunch in the dining hall. The guards also escort me there.

Kane is the first friend I see since the day my treatment began. I don't say a word to him as we eat lunch at our usual table near the air-conditioner at the corner of the dining hall. Mathea hasn't come to see me. Maybe she can't bring herself to see me in this state.

Week 2

This week focuses on combat. My opponent is allowed a weapon of his or her choice, while my weapon—being my teeth, feet or fists—is chosen by Mr White.

I'm supposed to train for two hours before I'm given any break, but I sometimes pass out an hour into training. Mr White is never impressed when that happens, but he says he believes I will improve.

He's also disappointed that I've failed to give him a name of my choosing but laughs when I assure him I'm thinking of one. Mathea hasn't joined Kane and me for lunch yet. I don't bother asking Kane for the reason why, deciding that I may not like the reason why Mathea hasn't come to see me. I can no longer think of a good enough excuse for that.

Today, I talk to Kane for the first time since my treatment began. The conversation starts awkwardly; I tell him the peach t-shirt he has on does not flatter him at all. He remains silent for some time, but the fork in Kane's hand falls on the table as he bursts out laughing. He tells me he hates the t-shirt as well but is glad I'm speaking.

Kane then turns to pull out an object from his kaki-brown backpack. He slides a daisy across the table and doesn't look up at me until I speak. When he does look at me, I redirect my gaze to the daisy, twisting the stem between my thumb and index finger.

"We were thirteen when you first gave me a daisy," I say. "No guy asked me to the school dance, and I told you I didn't even want to go to that silly thing. You showed up at my house that evening and found me crying. You told me you would've asked me to the dance sooner, but you were contemplating whether or not you wanted to go to it since you truly found silly. You handed me a daisy, explaining that roses were too expensive in the Valentines season, before commanding me to 'put on a damn dress'."

I laugh as I remember the mixture of emotions on Kane's face as he said this; irritation and satisfaction.

"I wore the bright red dress my mother bought for some cousin's wedding I never attended. You refused to compliment me, thinking I'd get the wrong idea."

Kane's jaw is clenched when I finally look into his dark green eyes. "What are they doing to you, Will?"

I ask him to make sure they won't take me again. This is an unfair request, but I can't help it. I need to know how far he'd go for me. He stretched his arms across the table to hold my hand that is still touching the daisy's stem.

I feel the guard's presence behind me even before Kane motions for me to stand up. He walks over to me and gives me the tightest hug I have ever received. When he pulls away, I see his smirk that only means trouble.