Changing

Chapter 4

The earth was jolting violently when I woke up. I was being thrown from side to side crashing into the metal protecting the machinery, producing a low ringing sound. 

I cried out in surprise and shot my arms, protectingly in front of me before crashing once again into the other side of the fence. 

I can move.

I got shakily to my feet, but another bump sent me tumbling to the floor once more. 

“Ouch!” I cursed. I had fallen on my knee, hard, and I was sure I was going to get a bruise.

“Be careful Taylor, you don’t want to hurt yourself.” Mr. Tank had turned around to see why I was making so much noise.

“Humf,” I grunted wrapping my arms around my chest stubbornly. But I decided  that it was safer just to stay put for now. 

I wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway, because Mr. Tank and Mr. Buchcowski were both behind yet another metal screen separating me from them. Like I was some kind of animal. 

The truck continued to bump down the road. 

Where are we? On some freaking dirt road? 

I linked my fingers through the metal screen to keep from slipping and sliding all over the place. 

The truck slowed and Mr. Buchcowski called a greeting to someone outside the truck. I strained my neck to try and see what was happening, but before I could make out anything, the truck jumped again, smashing my head against the metal.

I groaned. Would this ever end?

Right then the truck stopped, its breaks squealing. My arms snapped strait still connected to the wire as I was thrown forward. 

I quickly got to my feet. Too quickly, my muscles were still somewhat stiff and I toppled to the floor.

Mr. Buchcowski laughed with dark humor his grey eyes turned towards me, “get her and take her inside,” he said to Mr. Tank. He then proceeded to get out of the car still chuckling.

I gritted my teeth and got to my feet, slower this time. Crouching because the truck was much too small for me to stand straight in. 

Mr. Tank opened the back door. 

He reached in to take my hand, but I swiftly took it back and jumped out of the truck. I swayed and Mr. Tank put a hand on my back to steady me. 

I’d been wondering if I could run away as stiff as I was. But when I took in my surroundings, I sighed in defeat.

Right in front of me was the Studious Corporation of Science building, made known by the grey sign picturing its name. The building was blinding white, with no other colors except for the grey sign. There was a rocky path that led right up to the sliding glass doors, with small bushes cut into neat squares alongside it.

But this wasn’t what took the fight right out of me.

The fence, a huge fence was surrounding the building. And the only door I could see was guarded by two men in black with shot guns. 

And I couldn’t even fly away, because the fence extended from the floor all the way up and around the top of the building, like a cage. A bird cage. 

Did they know that about me too?

Beyond the fence was a forest. A thick, dense forest where sounds of birds singing, and the smell of decaying leaves floated through the air to where I stood.

We were in the middle of nowhere. 

“Where are we?” I said glaring into the woods.