The Changed

Chapter 1- Tess

I woke up in a perfectly square, white padded room, bare footed and dressed in loose fitting white clothes. I immediately panicked. Where am I? What's going on? I tried to calm my breathing down but my heart was racing. I was shaking violently but I recalled how I got here.

My brother Edward and I had been walking back to the orphanage from school. He was comforting me after Ameilia Jones had called me a useless twit and had made fun of me because my parents had died. Then suddenly, Government vans came screeching round the corner. They knocked us out with drug guns and stuffed us inside the van. Edward had tried to protect me but he was shot first. The next thing I know, I'm stuck in here, locked up like a animal.

"Let me out!" I screamed. I slammed my hands on the padded walls, kicked and punched, shouted and sobbed but nothing happened. I crouched down, hugging my knees, trying to stop the the tears from sliding down my terrified face. What do the Government want from me? I didn't do anything, did I? And what about Edward?

"Edward!" I yelled, trying to make some contact with him but all I got in reply was silence.

I waited for at least half and hour (as far as I could make out with no clock.) I sat there, trying not to cry but all the while listening for any signs of life. There was a sharp hissing sound all of a sudden and I snapped my head up to see part of the wall sliding across. I jumped up as six men, all dressed in black combat gear, rushed in. Four of them trained drug guns on me while the other two grabbed my arms and forced them behind my back.

"Stay still and do not try to resist. If you do then we will not hesitate to shoot," one of them said.

"Where's my brother?" I asked, completely ignoring their warning. "Why are we here? Please, I don't understand what's happening."

"I have been ordered to escort you," the same guard said. "I have not been ordered to answer any of your questions. I suggest that you stay quiet." I did as I was told, not wanting any trouble.

The guards pushed me forward, out of the room and into a a long, white corridor. Everything was white and pristine, like my cell had been, giving the place a terrifying look. The guards' boots echoed around the corridor while my bare feet padded on the freezing cold tiles.

We passed lots of people, some dressed in lab coats, some in dull grey suits and dresses and the rest were guards in the black combat gear. As we passed, they all stared at us. I could feel their eyes on me as we marched down corridor after corridor, turn after turn. Some even pressed their palms to a section of a wall, a door slid open and they dived inside just to avoid us...or me.

We marched on for what seemed like forever, my feet were freezing and killing me. When I asked if I could stop, or even if they could get me some shoes, they refused me and even jabbed me with their guns. Finally we stopped and one of the guards pressed his palm against the wall. A thin blue line scanned his hand then the door slid open, hissing like a snake as it did so.

"In," the guard who opened the door ordered me. He grabbed my shoulder roughly and shoved me inside. "Your brother is in there. The Chancellor will see you in a minute," he said but then added more gently: "I don't know why you're here but I'm sure you'll be fine." Then the door closed, cutting them off from me.

I turned around, catching sight of Edward straight away and rushed into his arms. He was dressed the same as me in the white, silky clothes and, like me, he had black hair and emerald green eyes that sparkled with worry.

"It's okay Tess, it's okay," Edward whispered, hugging me tight.

"What's going on Ed? Why did they kidnap us?" I asked, unable to hold back the tears.