Chosen

Chapter 4

I have a white bow in my hair. My long brown hair flowing in the wind as my small legs run towards my mother. I start to giggle, as my father picks me up and swings me around in his arms. I quickly scurry over to the swing set and look over to my mother.
"Can you push me on
the swing mommy?"
She laughs and says yes. I giggle kicking my feet in the air.
I feel as if I'm flying, almost like a bird. I laugh louder, a big grin plastered on my face.

I look around my backyard and see a ton of balloons around a table near the house. I try to read what it says, "Happy 5th Birthday!"
I giggle again, I almost forgot its my birthday.
I look down at my mother, her joyful look transforms to terrified and panicked.
I start getting upset.
Why does mommy look sad? I think to myself.
My father has the same expression and it makes me even sadder. The scenery flashes before my eyes, all I hear is the fast pace of my own heart.
The swing set gets destroyed from underneath me and I plummet to the ground. I look around and I'm in my bedroom. The light pink walls turning red from the nights darkness. You can barely spot out the floral print design on the rim of the walls. I smile, looking around my room makes me happy. It makes me feel safe.

But suddenly smoke starts seeping through the top of the window, and I start to panic. I start crying. Sitting in the middle of my dark room, watching the smoke cloud over my ceiling. I don't like the smell either. I start coughing and crying louder. My mom storms into the room. I hear her screaming my name but its too muffled to understand. I look up too her, she looks wary, and her hands are shaking. She picks me up and holds me to her chest, shielding my face in her jacket. I hear her feet pound against the floor. I listen to the beat of her feat as she runs down the stairs. I suddenly feel really tired. But I don't know why. I'm having trouble breathing but we finally make it out of the house. I look up at my mother, tears rolling down her face, she screams for help. I suddenly feel the urge to fall asleep. But I can hear my mother saying to stay with her. But I'm just going to sleep. I close my eyelids and go into a deep sleep as she cradles me.

I wake up again. I don't understand why I'm laying on the floor though. Its then that i realize it was a dream. Another dream. I forgot that i was in the cell. the other girl just stands over me. She reaches her hand out to me. I take it as she helps me up. I mutter a quiet "thanks." And she nods.
She sits back down leaning against the wall, trying for relaxed, or maybe just tired. I couldn't tell. I don't think it really matters.
"You were mumbling in your sleep... You were talking about some little girl, and a fire." She looks at me with what looks like remorse, but erases the feeling away almost instantly.
"Uh yeah. When I was little there was a really bad fire. Me and my mother got out. My father, we couldn't find his body." She looks taken back, and she lowers her head.
"I'm so sorry, I had no idea."
I shrug. "Its fine...you didn't know." She stares at me, although I don't know why. "The fire happened so long ago anyways. I don't remember it that much either. Its in the past. My dad was barely around when I was very young."
She nods and her stern look appears again.
"So, what's your name kid?"
"Well I'm 14....and my name..." My voice trails off. I can't remember either. How can I not remember my name.
I realize I've zoned out and she's been trying to get my attention.
Her worried look appears again.
"You can't remember either... You know I think thats how they control us, taking are memory away. I'm 19... At least I think I am. Whatever it doesn't matter anymore, I just wanna get out of here kid."
I wish she would stop calling me kid, but I just nod. She's older then me, making her angry at me might not end in the best way.

I look around the room and turn back to her. I don't remember how long I've been here for, but maybe she knows...
"How long have you been here?" I ask, looking at the door.
"I don't know, its been over 5 months though....I try and keep track. You can never really tell."
"I use to have another room mate here ya know." She tells me looking up at the ceiling.
"He...he was so nice, and so young." She stops speaking for a moment, then continues.
"He was 14, same age as you kid...." Her eyes start becoming glossy and I turn my head away.
"One day they took him... A few minutes later I could hear him- screaming. It was so horrifying. Then all of a sudden the screaming stopped." She shook her head and looked at the ground. After a few minutes of silence she stands up and walks towards me. Her eyes widening as she whispers to me "Don't cause trouble kid....not yet at least. They'll get you to."