Almost Human

Chapter 10: Memories

The doctors didn't come to my room for seven days. They only offered food. I didn't know why they would've cut off my connections. Something was wrong. It made me uneasy.

I did pushups on the flooring of my lab room; the dirty floor probably spreading germs on my fair hands. I let out a breath as I went down for my pushup. Sweat dripped down my forehead and my black athletic shirt was plastered to my body. One hundred fifteen. I came back up and dipped again. One hundred sixteen. My mind raced about why I was being kept in the room so long. Had I done something wrong? I hadn't broken any rules. Not that I recalled anyway. Maybe they're trying to break me. It won't work. I'm too strong. One hundred eighteen. I sucked in a deep breath and bent my arms down again. One hundred nineteen.

There was a knock at the door. I paused and turned my head. I stared at the doorway. No one ever knocks. It just opens. It's not like anyone had manners in this place. I tightened my muscles and stayed perfectly still. Question: Escape plan in case of some type of attack? I took a quick sweep of the room. No passageways to get out. I'm trapped. I clenched my jaw and continued to stare at the door.

"Who is it?" I tried to speak up confidently. Silence. I gulped. I dared not to move.

"Zane," his gruff voice responded. What? Why?

"Just come in," I said as I got up from my current predicament to stand. The door slid open. There was no doctor at his side to indicate he was escorted. How did he manage to get away from their constant gaze? His hair was disheveled and his eyes were red and swollen like he hadn't slept. "Oh God," I gasped. "Zane what happened to you?" As much as he frustrated me, he looked awful.

He didn't answer. He just charged me like he had the first day he'd seen me. No. No. What is he doing? I backed up into a corner and felt around in my pocket for the shot I'd kept. Found it. "Zane stop." I warned. He didn't. What is happening? I tried to squeeze back against the wall. "Stop!" He didn't. He was upon me now. I jabbed the shot into his shoulder. It'd punctured his skin but either he didn't care or he ignored the pain. He placed his hands on my temple and the world spun.

A girl around fourteen leaned against a brick building. She was bundled in a black leather jacket and boots. She brought a cigarette to her lips, the tip burning bright with flame, and smoke escaped her body. She dropped the cigarette bud and crushed it beneath her foot. A woman walked up and the girl instantly straightened up to address the new comer. As the girl looked up, it was visible that she had a black eye and a busted lip.

"Dear lord what happened?" the older woman gasped.

"Nothing. Just some kids bothering me at school."

"That's not okay," the woman started.

"Forget it," the girl shrugged. She looked off into the distance and her eyes became distant.

"I promise it won't always be like this," the woman soothed.

"I hate this. The kids at school are just doing what society tells them. The Government is corrupted. That's what."

"Look..."

"No. They will have to own up to all the torture they've put my people through. One day. Maybe not today. But they will. I'll be head of it all, making sure it happens."

The woman shook her head, "Oh Bree..." What? That girl is me? How could this be?

The image faded away and I came back in focus. Zane stared wide at me.

"Bree what the hell?" he snapped back.

My mouth dried and I had to look anywhere but his face. Alright I need to process this. That was me. Younger. That means I wasn't frozen like the rest. Why would the doctors lie to me? Well, why wouldn't they?

When I had been talking to that woman I had said 'my people.' Did I already know about Elementals? If so, how come I wasn't frozen along with them? My mind fumbled around for answers. Zane remained silent. Finally he said, "You knew. You knew they had us and you never did anything." I bit my lip and blood poured down. Zane approached me and placed his hands roughly on my shoulders. The impact bruised me and I grimaced in pain. "You knew we were locked up in here." He pulled back his hand and I shut my eyes. I expected him to slap me. I mean, I wouldn't blame him. To my surprise, he had on a big smile.

"Karma is a bitch. Now you're stuck here too." He burst out laughing. This isn't funny. He walked off to leave the room, "Enjoy your home as the rest of us have. Welcome to the party."