The Pitter-Patter of Raindrops

Chapter 1

It rained that day.

It was dull.

I can't remember too much of what happened before I even got to this room, resembling a dreary cafeteria area.

No one bothered to speak at the table.

I stared down at an empty plate, picking at nothing, wondering if I had someone waiting for me outside this gray facility.

The other children like me down the table did the same, only some still ate pieces of remaining broccoli and rice.

The monotonous drops hitting the walls of the building was enough to make me fall asleep right then and there.

My fingers twitched, itching for the lady in her white coat to tell us to go to bed.

How long would I last after one day here?

More and more children came.

One right after the other.

Dark hair, droopy, tired eyes, small figure, white, long-sleeved shirt and shorts, and a tight wristband wrapped around their left wrist.

I looked down at mine, knowing that if I tried taking it off it would send a shock throughout my body.

All of us only under five years, not knowing what's going on,
How long would we last?

I looked up and stared at the girl sitting across from me, observing her features, wondering if all the children these people brought here are the same.

How long will she last here?

Her eyes darted around nervously, looking back and forth between her untouched food and one of the ladies with a clipboard, observing how we behaved and ate.

I put the utensils down, signaling that I was finished with my food.

I sat back in my seat and counted how many kids there were right now.

Eight, including me.

The one who just came today was the girl sitting across from me.

She's weak and scared....

just like I am.

"Have you finished your food sweetie?"

One of the ladies came from behind me, leaning over my shoulder, asked the question.

I nodded and answered back with a "Yes, Ma'am"

She recorded something down on her wooden clipboard and walked away, checking for the other children.

I tapped my fingers along the table, trying to match the repetitious sound of the rain drops hitting the walls outside.

The walls were thick, but I could hear the rain.

I could smell the scent of the damp air that developed from the rain dripping outside the doors of this place.

The sharp clinking of glass, which brought the attention of everyone, was the sign for us to get up.

"Everyone head back to your assigned room. You will need to get up early tomorrow to allow us to explain what to do." A tall man with dark, thinning hair and a scratchy throat motioned us to head upstairs.

The girl who sat across from me didn't get up. She still stared at her plate of untouched food which consisted of rice, bread, broccoli, and a few pieces of what seemed like chicken.

Everyone stood beside their chairs and looked at her, wondering why she didn't finish her food or why she didn't stand up.

Two of the adults exchanged glances at each other. The man with the scratchy voice walked over to the girl.

He put his hand on the table and tapped a finger and leaned down, whispering something to her.

I heard what he said.

His raspy voice allowing me to hear bits.

He pointed at the bracelet that was wrapped around her tiny wrist.

"Do you know what this does?"

The little girl shook her head.

"If you don't finish your food by the time the last child leaves this room, the nice lady over there-"

He glanced over to the one who asked me if I finished my food.

"Will click a little button, sending hundreds of little shocks throughout your arm and circulating around your tiny body."

Her eyes widened, knowing what being electrocuted meant.

"You all have until the count of twenty."

I stood there, worried for the poor child. She couldn't possibly finish the rest of the food within twenty seconds. Without a doubt, she would get sick.

"One."

The girl began to chow down on her cold meal, munching down on her small bread and shoved forkfuls of rice and chicken in her mouth, seeming to nearly choke once or twice.

"Five."

The man kept counting down and I wouldn't budge from where I stood, surveying how fast the little girl managed to eat.

"Ten."

The same lady who came over to me before tapped my shoulder telling me to start leaving the room.

"Fifteen."

She took hold of my hand and continued to pull me out of the dining room.

I wanted to look back, but I couldn't.

"Eighteen."

I could hear her tiny, muffled sobs as she continued eating. Some of the other kids stood in the doorway, staring hopelessly.

"Twenty."

The lady let go her grip on me and closed the door behind me.