Lotus's life had never been normal. The fourteen year old had lost her father at three, and her mother at the young age of six. She was eventually taken in by who'd she assumed was people who would help her- but she was tested on for the next seven...
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Nine months had passed since the test was successful. Now, Lotus stood atop a building. It was her first time outside. And her first mission at that. Her assignment? To be honest, it was a confusing one.
"Lotus?" Lotus swung around as a voice called her name. A name that was nearly never used. The girl didn't move as the owner of the voice approached. It was another girl, with long black hair.
"I wasn't aware they assigned another to the mission." Lotus narrowed her eyes. She lunged for the other female's wrist, and yanked it towards her. On it, was imprinted a number in black. #478.
"My apologies." The tawny-haired girl jumped back, blinking. The other snatched her wrist back, rubbing it. Lotus had left a red mark from squeezing it too hard.
"Yeah, apology not accepted." She spat. "I'm the only one supposed to be on this mission! What are you doing here?"
"Simply following orders, 478." Lotus replied meekly, maintaining a neutral expression.
"That's not my name!" The raven-haired girl was clearly agitated. "All they do is imprint blasted numbers on our wrists, as if they can brand us! Use us to our will! We're not things! We're not things they can test on and use!"
Lotus took a step away. Don't associate with fools in denial. Rule 38. By now, both of them were nearing the edge of the building.
"My name is Annora." She took a deep breath, and looked away. Her dark hair blew roughly in the wind. "Why do you listen to them? Why do we listen to them?" Her voice became soft and desperate, barely audible.
Lotus didn't reply. The girl- supposedly Annora- turned away with a soft sigh. "I'm sorry, I really am. But I'm leaving, I'm escaping. I'm going to get away. You can come with me." She turned back to Lotus. "Please."
"I'm sorry too." Lotus admitted, taking another step back. "I'm afraid I have to report you to the Eminents."
Annora looked hurt, and in a small way, Lotus felt guilty. "You finally have the chance to escape. Why won't you take it? Why don't you remember all we've been through?" Her voice got low, full of pain and devotion to wavering Lotus's opinions. "Why don't you remember me?"
"I never said I didn't." Lotus snapped. The tawny-haired girl remembered Annora very well. When she had been young and scrawny, and alone.
A shivering little girl, Lotus, sat alone in a room full of people. Screams and cries could be heard. So could angry cursing and snarky comments. So could the sound of bats meeting flesh, and the sizzling of the branding iron.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed above her, blocking the limited light. Lotus looked up. A raven-haired girl, perhaps only a few years older than her, sat down beside her.
"Are you cold?" She asked quietly. Lotus nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Here." The girl wrapped her sweater around Lotus, and the younger girl leaned against her gratefully. She then murmured; "Thanks. I'm Lotus."
"Nice to meet you Lotus. I'm Anno-" The older girl began to speak, but was interrupted.
"Lotus Hunter!" The voice on the speaker called. Lotus hugged the older girl tighter, not wanting to go.
The stranger stroked her hair. "It'll be okay, don't worry. It hurts a little bit at first, but then it feels better. See?" The girl lifted her sleeve, revealing her own brand and number. In dark black it read; 478.
As guards hoisted Lotus to her feet, she sniffled. "I'll be brave." She whispered, before they dragged her away.
Now, here Lotus stood, before the very same girl that comforted her all those years ago. Annora had gone quiet.
"Did it hurt?" The raven-haired girl's eyes glittered with sadness and wonder all at once.
"It did. But I was brave." Lotus breathed, the guilt feeling almost unbearable.
"Goodbye, Lotus." Annora turned and without another word, began to slip away back towards the shadows.
And then suddenly, the girl doubled over, coughing. Lotus stepped away, the needle held firmly in her hand. She had stabbed it into Annora's neck.
It was an injection that would make the raven-haired girl lose consciousness. Sure enough, Annora stumbled backwards and Lotus caught her firmly in her arms.
Lying her down carefully, she stood over her and waited. It only took a few minutes for another "agent" to arrive. Another prisoner to the place of horrors that contained them, but dedicated and loyal all the same.
They shared an understanding look, before the two began to drag Annora away. They struggled down the stairway, where they were met by guards who took her away.
"She'll be okay, right?" Lotus asked, trying to see what they were doing as they loaded her into the back of a truck.
One of the guards turned to her. "Go home. The mission was a success." Without another word, he hopped into the back of the truck, shut the door, and it rolled away.
Lotus turned around to find that the other girl had already disappeared. Likely headed back to the facility before she got in trouble.
I should do the same. She thought with a frown, walking outside to the parking lot of the mostly abandoned building. Pulling up her hood, she climbed onto the motorcycle she had been given for transportation, and began the drive back to the heavily guarded stockade.
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Author's Note:
I'm sorry, this definitely hasn't been my best! But either way, I hope you enjoyed!! Feel free to give me your suggestions and ideas in the comments! Bye!
