Keeping Our Secret Alive

The Curious Project | Chapter Two

"Ow – adow — Shadow!" The voice was murky, but I can tell it was a little annoyed. I rubbed my eyes to try and get my bearings. My arms felt numb from laying on them. "Shadow, we'll fall behind schedule!" Why was Dr. Mika here? Oh. That's right, he was coming to collect me. I unfurled my self from the ball and jumped down into the water. "I'm coming, doctor." My voice came out hoarse from the lack of usage. The doctor looked as if he had lost ten years of life, his eyes showed youthfulness.

    By the time I stood by Dr. Mika's side, he was looking down at my dripping skates with a sort of detestment. "I'll soon focus your training on gliding on water." He gave a strained smile while saying so, before curtly turning around and leaving the room. I could conclude that he wanted me to follow him.

The long corridors of the Ark did little to keep out the chill of space. He led me to a room full of vast equipment. "Are you familiar with the term running?" Dr. Mika didn't look at me when he spoke. I shook my head, then followed with "no sir." His behavior became ridgid, and his body stiffened up. "Your mental development is behind." His voice lacked emotion. "Go over to the circular device, we will start your speed training." I walked over to what he was talking about, though it took a little bit to actually get on it when he motioned for me too.
There was no warning for when the machine started moving. I tried to keep moving with it, but tripped over my own feet and fell. The machine stopped. "Get up" Dr. Mika's voice sent a shiver down my spine. I hastily followed his instructions. The machine started again. This time I started walking with it. I felt the floor beneath me speed up, so I increased my speed with it. Once again the floor's pace escaped me, and I fell. "Get. Up." I failed to see the importance of this training, but it obviously was.

This cycle did not end for several hours, and by the end of it Dr. Mika had stopped talking entirely.     I came out with more bruises than I thought possible. "We will continue in exactly twelve hours. I want to see significant improvement by then, or there will be dire consequences. Return to your habitat." He was walking out the door as he spoke. My knees ached from kneeling on the floor, but my legs were so sore I was not sure I could stand steady on them.

I leaned back up against the machine to help myself up. I wasn't exactly straight due to the odd bend of my knees, to avoid pain. But that quickly proved to be a problem. I couldn't walk like this. My legs would just give out. Maybe I could try anyway, if I could get far enough, I could walk with the wall.

That was a bust. I just fell and tripped over my legs, I rolled a bit in the process. That was okay though, I can just try again, and again, and again if I have to. That seems to be the way Dr. Mika thinks I will get better. So I have to keep trying. I leaned back onto the machine, and pushed my way up. It was only about thirty paces away from the door, this was the closet machine in the room. It would be fine, I can do this.

The bend in my knees looks like it got worse. It doesn't matter. One foot in front of the other, don't trip, go as fast, and as far as you can. Okay, let's go. I lept off, the metal was cold underneath my bare feet. This time I got a little farther, but I ended up rolling again. "Damn it!" I had lost my balance, and all the spinning was just giving me a worse headache. Calm down Shadow, getting frustrated will get you no where.

After collecting myself and catching my breath a little, I noticed I was over half way to the door. How did I- was it the rolling? I looked back behind me, there were no signs of what happened on the floor or the machine. That's the only solution I could possibly fathom. Maybe this could work.

I hike my knees behind me, and press my palms flat onto the floor. I would have to be careful, if I rolled too far I could hit the door.  Alright, here goes. I kick my feet off the ground, and manuver all my weight on to and over my hands.

I'm doing it! I'm really rolling! Oh, oh, but how do I stop?! This is not gonna end well. The door was quickly approaching, I needed to think fast. I could probably stop the same way I started, right? It's certainly worth the shot. Just kick my legs off the ground again, and I guess try and land straight up. I need to line it up though. And- Now! I kicked my legs off the ground and flung up into the air. I kept spinning for a bit, but started to slow down enough I could see the fast approaching floor. Please don't fall, please don't fall.
I stumbled a bit, but enviably stood, less than tall. That was okay though. This can work. The scanner was far down enough that I could just stretch out my hand and reach it. Then I could roll down the hallway, maybe this trick will even help me in Dr. Mika's training.

"Shadow, I want to see some progress, I will not accept failure." Dr. Mika's tone left a bad taste on my tongue. "Of course, sir." This was the same warning he had given me earlier, I hadn't forgotten. He motioned for me to get on the machine, and I did so with a bit of haste. I was kinda excited to show him the new skill I learned. The machine was still a little difficult to get on, especially with my knees still less than a hundred percent.

Dr. Mika walked over to a panel, I thought he was going to start the machine, but he pulled out a brown slab instead. I tilted my head a bit in confusion. Then, when I wasn't expecting it, the machine started. I lost my balance, but quickly regained it. The machine was in the second speed, from yesterday. I kept my breathing calm, there was no need to panic. I made it well past the second speed yesterday. I made it to the sixth. If I fell, I would just roll, if I kept my balance I could keep it up.

Dr. Mika steadily increased the speed. We had already made it to the fourth setting. I was falling behind the pacing of the machine, this can not be happening now. I can feel Dr. Mika's piercing gaze on me. Don't mess this up Shadow, I don't want to know what the consequences of not displaying progress is. The speed suddenly shot up. This was faster than anything I had ran before! I couldn't keep up. I was tripping too much to regulate my speed. Roll Shadow, quit while you're ahead!

I jumped forward and felt my elbows hit the ground. I started tumbling with the floor, the pathing was narrow so I had to keep my balance. I was tucked tight, less body exposed, less body I had to control. This was good, I could do this. I was keeping up with the machine much easier now. Actually I started going faster than the machine.

I heard Dr. Mika writing something down, then the machine started speeding up. There was a bit of slip beneath me, but I composed myself. The machine didn't slow down, just kept getting faster and faster. Keep it together Shadow, you can't afford to mess this up. I had started to climb the side of the machine, it was in a circular shape, so I would return to a loop if anything. But I doubt I would work up enough speed to do that.

Unless the machine cut off, which is exactly what happened. I completely looped tha machine, and kept going. There was so little friction between me and the hard rubber that it became hard to stick to the ceiling, the only way I could think to combat that would be to build more speed, but I was already at my max.     I sped out, and fell to the bottom of the machine. I felt a shock shoot up my back from when I landed on it. That can not be good.

"Shadow." Dr. Mika didn't sound happy. What happened?! I went much faster than last time. "Not only are you progressing much slower than what you need be, but you also gave up!" Gave up? "What?" I never gave up! "Don't play dumb!" Dr. Mika's hand came out of no where. He picked me up by my chest fluff. Before I could do anything he flung me onto a wall. My head made contact first. A searing hot feeling shot through my body. "Quitting is falling, and I do not accept quitters!" His fists grabbed me by the ear, I could feel myself yelp out in pain. "Quiet!" He struck me. "Don't disappoint me further!"

The punishment seemed like it went on longer than training would have. But he finally stopped. ":Return to your habitat Shadow, and don't make me repeat this tomorrow."