Winterflame

Chp 1 : Escape

Pain. With my life, pain is life. The scientists jab a needle in my arm for the billionth time. I sigh in defeat. The pain from the injection never comes. I am too used to it. I might never live my life. I've been a guinea pig to them all my life. I don't know who I am or my life before being stuck here. The only thing I could remember before all this is a smile, my mother's warm loving smile, but nothing else.

I am now what you might call mutated. Everyone here is, but we all look sick with faces you might compare to a savage. I have excellent sight, hearing and reflexes thanks to all the drugs they gave me. If I hadn't been tortured to the point of submission, I would have ran with my abilities, but I knew I don't have enough abilities to free myself, yet.

The scientists remove my chains and drag me to a room on the floor above mine. I don't bother to look around. Whiteness is all I can see and all I have seen. White lab coats, white uniforms, white walls, white doors, white everything. Even the chains that keep me captive are white. In here, everything feels clean, too clean. Even the air feels disinfected.

The room they take me to as mirrors as walls. They strap me down to a chair bolted to the floor and leave. The thin white uniform I was given did little to protect me from the straps as they dig into my skin. I know they're watching me from the other side of the mirrors. I could almost feel their eyes fixed on me, to see the effects of the drug they injected in me.

At first, nothing happens. I don't even bother to struggle. Suddenly, I feel weaker and I start to shiver, but it wasn't cold. A strange burning sensation starts at my chest and is growing fast, spreading to the tips of my fingers and toes. Seconds later, I feel like a supernova, exploding with energy, but I refuse to move. That would just make more of them come in, poking and prodding me. I calm down as the outburst dies down, breathing heavily.

"Subject C47, generation 54. Operation Winterflame. Increased strength and intelligence acquired.' a female computer generated voice booms.

Operation Winterflame? That was new. Their drugs never had names, unless they never told me. Then I realise I have all I need to escape. With a sharp tug, all my straps give way. I stand up and crush one of the walls to a million pieces. Two young scientist stare at me in disbelief. One of them reach for the security alarm. Before she could alert them, I was already gone.

I crush the walls and obstacles in my way as if they were butter. Doors crumple like tin cans. Scientists and uniformed men come towards me in all directions, but I swat them away like flies. Before long, I am outside.

I close my eyes in an instant as the light blinds me. I feel sand between my toes and the wind in my face. Slowly, I open my eyes and looked at the sun. My first look at natural light. The sea looms ahead. How am I supposed to escape now? I'm on an island in the middle of nowhere. I jump and stomp my feet in frustration. I am so close.

It is then I realise my feet are not touching the ground. I can fly. I slowly test this newfound ability. Maybe a side effect of one of the drugs? They never mentioned flight. I laugh as I zip through the air, drunk in my own freedom. Everywhere I look, I see the sea.

After a few minutes, I feel my energy draining. The last time I ate was yesterday. They never feed us enough to be full, just enough to stay alive. I need to find land, fast. Soon, a stretch of yellow appears in the distance. Another island, a big one. However, I'm not sure if I can make with with my energy draining.

I try anyway. Halfway there, I notice my altitude decreasing. The tips of my barefeet were already touching the sea. I feel faint. The adrenaline rush from my escape was gone. Before I can stop myself, I lose conciousness and drop into the sea like a stone.

I wake up feeling dazed. I feel myself wrapped in the warmth of wool. I am on something cushy. My mind is fuzzy. I notice a man next to me. I almost instantly jump. He seems momentarily shocked. He has intelligent green eyes and an aged face, but they way he looks almost makes me feel, oh I don't know, safe. He makes me feel safer. I look around. I was in a cosy home, with a fire making the entire place warm. Could this be a concoction by the facility? Most probably not. I am still wearing my white uniform, but it feels washed. The man smiles. He motions for me to sit and I comply.

"Don't fret dear. My name is Professor Blake. Do you remember anything?" I nod to this. His voice is smooth and soothing.

He hands me a glass of water. I gulp it down vigorously. He waits as I drink. I lace my fingers around the glass as I wait for him to speak.

"Do you remember your name?"

I hesitate. I have never used my voice. I've only used it when I was four, when they tested my abilities to speak. I didn't have a name. I couldn't say my name is C47. That isn't my name. It was what they called me. He waited for my answer, staring into my eyes. I almost break the glass. What should I do? I decide to give myself a name.

In a voice unfamiliar to me, I open my mouth and begin to speak. "Claire." I say, warming up to my new voice. "My name is Claire."