The Scent in the Death of a Name: A Memoir

Chapter 1 (cause im a lazy a$$ binch who cant make a chapter title rn)

They always told us to keep the doors locked.

In the times before winter break everything was peaceful. Although the frigid November air bit at our noses and pierced through even the most layered outfit, we always knew there would be warmth for us waiting after 3:00. The wind wasn't the worst of it. Within the Borealis University campus lied a government-designed torture facility.

We had been lured there with false pretenses. They shook the silver rattle in front of us and we grabbed it greedily with our fat eager baby hands. Suddenly we were trapped. Truly, it wasn't terrible in the beginning.

Little by little we uncovered the truth.

It started with little annoyances. Recess for one, we knew the name had been changed from mandatory allotted outdoor time before we arrived there. It was fine, some of us even enjoyed it. None of us liked what lied back at the facility. They called it the SPROUT school. Most of its 'students' however, called it their hell. This is just what the government wanted though, they were perfecting the art of total carnage of the human brain.

Next came the realization that the rattle had been fake. The shiny silver surface we pictured in our minds turned flaky as chips of metallic paint flew off the toy. We had all been living a lie. There was no access to the labs. Stay confined. Be good students. Don't ask questions.

Weren't we supposed to be there for our exceptional thinking? Or was that just another cog in this long and obscure metaphor about baby rattles.

We were simply curious.

That's when it all went downhill.

We questioned our science teacher Ms. Knobwolfer about the mysterious labs that seemed empty and sterile behind the locked glass doors. She didn't even look at us. She stared into the corner and muttered something about how 'they' never told her anything. Who was they? Why couldn't we go into the labs? What lay inside that needed to be kept away from our eyes?

They started to restrict the amount of communication between us and our parents. Outraged guardians wanted answers. All they got was silence though. Unwittingly, we had signed confidentiality contracts at the beginning of the year. Since we disobeyed a government agreement our school reserved the right to take custody over all 150 of us. Yes, because that's exactly how the government works

One, Cara, tried to escape. She was dragged out by head Colonial O'Cofficer. We didn't see her after that. However, none of us were very disheartened by this because Cara was rude af.

They fed us and clothed us, but I always wore the same color uniform as Aden so it was really weird and everyone thought we planned it even though we really didn't. Seriously, why were me and Aden's clothes the same all the time? Probably more government inflicted mind games.

I yearned for home, we all did. Christmas wasn't that far away when we saw the first snow.

Snow turned crimson with blood.