Enti-Mon

Hooper Dane

Chapter 20: Hooper Dane

(Aris POV)

My head throbbed uncontrollably as I sat up. I was on a small twin bed in a pale room the size of a bathroom. I slowly looked around trying not to cause anymore head pain.

I uncovered the blankets on top of me and slowly stepped out of the bed. Something was off about me... My head hurt but all the pain throughout my body was gone. My legs and arms weren't sore anymore.

I looked in a mirror on the wall above the sink. I gasped at the sight of my head being almost completely shaved. My hair was my dignity and what made me who I am. Now it's all gone...

I glided my fingers across my smooth head. I can't believe its all gone... Even though it was greasy all the time, my hair gave me personally.

I also had a blue uniform on. I cringed taking in all of me in. I looked worse than when I hadn't showered in a week.

The time was displayed on the pale yellow walls, it read 7:36 AM. My door read the number 414 directly centered.

"Wonder what thats about." I thought.

~Time skip~ (8:00AM)

I tried to go back to sleep but the small twin was uncomfortable. I'm used to sleeping on a full.

"Numbers 350-500, please report to the main lobby as soon as possible, we will guide you from there-" The intercom cut off. I scared me fully waking me up.

"Numbers 350-500? Maybe thats what the number on my door ment. But why?..?" I thought.

I got up and opened my big metal door. The hallway was filled with people of all ages. I closed the door behind me and followed the crowd.

~Time skip~

The crowd led me to a big grassy field. It was big but I could still see the end of the fence kilometres away.

"Numbers 350-500, you might be wondering why you have been taken to this area. Your job is to create emotional attachments with your new neighbors. If you do not create these attachments, you will be ordered a roommate-" The intercom cut off again.

Everyone looked around in confusion then started socialising. Father always told me not to create these attachments and stay solo. He is also the one who has 4 children and a wife though... He is also not my real Father so it's fine with me.

I looked around to see the sky was real and birds were flying around. I'm glad we weren't underground or something.

Suddenly, a tall brown boy catches my eye. He looked young and frightening. His head was shaved like mine but a lot longer. Maybe I should attach with him.

I walked over to the copper brown boy. When he noticed me, he stepped back a bit.

"Hey, aren't you a little too young to be here?" I asked.

He looked away ignoring.

"Hey kid!" I stepped a bit closer getting his attention, "What's your name?"

Trembling, he whispered, "Hooper Dane..." He looked tired and beaten up.

I lowered my tone and asked, "How old are you?"

"I'm not sure"

My gaze softened, I could tell he was about to have a panic attack. He stepped a bit closer and asked, "Whats your name..?" His voice was high pitched and shaky.

I smiled and said, "Aris Simon."

He nodded grabbing his right arm. I suddenly noticed the hardly visible bruises coating both of his arms.

"Holy crap, are you okay?!" I questioned kneeling down on one knee quickly grabbing his right arm. He whinced pulling away. "Oh sorry..." I said standing back up.

"Wait!" he said reaching for me. I looked back down at him surprised. To my surprise, he stood up and wrapped his arms around me deeply hugging me. I hugged back, maybe we both needed that.

Once we let go of each other, he looked up at me. Hooper scanned me for anything suspicious looking me up and down.

"How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Too long." He quickly answered continuing his gaze around me.

"But like... How long...? Like a few months or like... Years...?"

"Too. long." He repeated more firmly.

I looked down knowing he has been here too long to count.

I sighed sitting down criss-cross.

"You must be new. I've never seen anyone who cares for anyone else, like you..." He said sitting next to me. I grinned at him and nodded.

"Why do you have bruises all over your arms?" I questioned.

He looked away in embarrassment, "My parents..." I nodded understanding what he was trying to get out.

"What about you... Hows your life?" he asked. My smile slowly faded away.

"My life... It sucks. My parents aren't even my real parents. My siblings are crap, part of the reason I'm here. My girlfriend..." I paused. "She is gone. I probably won't see her for a long time..." I paused again. He probably doesn't care about my love life. I wouldn't either.

"What about your Enti-mon? How did you get caught?" He asked.

"I'm not sure how I got caught but my friend Jocie told me I was being hunted by them."

His eyebrows clinched together, "How did she know?"

How did she know? Holy crap, how did she know?! It's not a question I've asked myself yet.

"Not sure..."

"She probably called them, it's the only way these people wouldn't have known unless you were seen."

"Well... My girlfriend Nikita knew but...  she was an Enti-mon..."

That makes no sense!!? What the hell, did Nikita and Jocie tell on me?

"Thats the only way these people would have known about you..." He ranted.

Suddenly, the intercom came on again.

"Numbers 350-500, please report to your dorms. Immediately-"

We both looked at each other and got up. We started walking inside the building along with the crowd.

"Nice chatting with ya-" I said.  He looked as if he was going to reply but was quickly swept away by the crowd of 150 people. I looked around for him but he was nowhere to be seen.

That question suddenly came back to me.

"How did they know I had an Enti-mon?"