The Experiment

Miles Emerald

(16 years later)

Miles,a young boy about 8,stepped up to a big house.

"Is this really my new home?"

Mrs.Emerald opened the front door. She hugged Miles and told him to come in. Mrs.Emerald showed Miles his new room,and he started to unpack. Then,he heard a voice.

"Better unpack soon. You never know what's gonna getcha."

Miles turned around with a start. When he saw his new brother's,Silver's,face,he smiled. He let out a sigh.

"Gee,Silver. Could have knocked or something."

"Your first day of school is tommorow,Miles. I just want you to know that schools are jammed full of bullies. I went there once. Now I have to go to...high school."

Miles winced at the sound of high school. Even Miles was just going to start elementary school,he heard too many stories when he was living on the streets. Stories about detention,exams,teachers,and worse of all,no jeans.

'Silver has it hard,' Miles thought to himself. 'Wonder if he'll even survive the first day.'

Silver looked around the room. He nodded at every wall. He smiled. Miles smiled too,seeing that Silver liked what he picked for his room. But then,Silver's smile turned into a frown.

"I was hoping this room was never going to be reoccupied."

"What?"

"Miles,I have old memories having to do with this very room. It's nothing about you."

"Oh."

Miles stared at the floor. He didn't feel so good anymore. Silver walked away,leaving Miles alone in the room. He went back to unpacking. Miles had very few thing,but he found some things in the garbage. He pulled out some old comics,a broken toy airplane,and a few glass tubes that were once part of a chemistry set. He started to fix the toy airplane when Mrs.Emerald shouted.

"Silver! Miles! Dinner!"

Miles rushed out of his room. He plopped down in an empty seat. He kicked his legs back and forth under the table. Silver came and sat down at another empty seat,crossing his arms. Mrs.Emerald scolded Silver a bit then returned to serve the food. When a plate was placed in front of Miles,he gasped.

"Ma'am,is this really mine to...eat?"

"Of course it is,Miles. You're part of the family now. And call me Mom."

The three said a quick prayer and started to eat. Silver ate slowly,trying not to choke. Miles,however,was munching down on his food.

"This is wonderful!"

"Why,thank you,Miles. I thought I would make something special for your first day with us."

"Thank you...I don't know what to say..."

After dinner,Miles took a little shower and got in his pajamas. Mrs.Emerald insisted that he would be in bed by 8:00. Miles obeyed and went to bed at exactly 8 o'clock. But in my middle of the night,Miles heard something. He opened his door and followed the sound,trying not to wake up Silver or Mrs.Emerald. Miles freaked out when he finally noticed that the sound was coming from the basement. Miles grabbed a nearby flashlight and followed the noise into the basement. Miles creaked open the basement door and flipped on the flashlight.

"Hello?"

No answer. Miles quietly walked down the creaky stairs. When he got to the bottom,he shone his flashlight all around,but he saw nothing. Then,he heard someone,or something,rummaging through boxes. When Miles shined his flashlight in the box area,he saw a blue hedgehog.