Plant Boy

Chapter 3 - Betryal

I sniffled as the rest of the world but tears slipped out. The doctors arms lifted off my shoulders.
I stayed silent as she wheeled me out of the elevator into another room. This room was large and full of humans of all ages. As the doctor rolled me along I felt people staring. Emotional hurt spiked up in my belly when a little, olive-skinned girl pointed at me. The mother looked at me in the same wonder and fear as the little girl.
My eyes widened when I saw that their attention was directed at the back of my hands. I quickly hid my hands by crossing my arms. I clenched my eyes so I wouldn't be able to see the torment. I dared not to open my eyes again.
"Nine", the doctor said after a few seconds.
"Yes?" I muttered with my eyes shut tight.
"I thought you would be more excited to see what it looks like outside", the doctor claimed.
I slowly opened my eyes. Within a single moment my thoughts had scrambled. Would I open my eyes to a hellish world or a heaven unlike any other? What risk was I taking to see this new realm.

All the thoughts were blown away in an instant.
As I opened my eyes I saw shiny, wheeled objects zip by. Each of their design and color seemed to vary. It seemed as if these objects served the same purpose as my wheelchair.
I looked up to see the huge rectangular objects in the distance. All of which varied in length, width and height. They each had hundreds upon thousands of windows.
I looked up even more to the clear sky. The heavens were the same sky-blue color as it was in the simulation. My attention then darted to the sun.
"Ow", I mumbled as my eyes suddenly ached. "What happened?"
"Don't look at the sun, it's rays aren't good for your eyes", the doctor explained.
"Are the rays okay for energy?" I asked. It would make no sense for the sun's rays to be good if they hurt my eyes.
"Uncross your arms and find out", the doctor told me
I nodded as I uncovered my hands. Comfort erupted as the sunlight poured into my system. Energy spilled over every bit of my body.
"Is it good for you?" The doctor asked.
"Very", I responded. "Very good."
"Good enough to be able to walk?"
I carefully, yet easily, planted my feet on the ground to stand up. The texture of the rock-like earth felt rough against the soles of my feet.
My attention slowly turned to the doctors warm smile. I gave a huge grin as I nodded.
"I can walk", I assured.
"The lab is a long way from here", the doctor warned. "Don't be afraid to ask for a rest. Okay?"
"Okay", I responded.
The doctor stepped to the left and gestured for me to follow.
I put one foot in front of the other. Each step took less concentration as I got more confident. The doctor walked at my pace once I caught up.
"What about the wheelchair?" I asked as I watched my legs move.
"What about it?" The doctor asked. "It's not ours."
"Oh", I remarked.
I put my head up to see the world again. My steps slowed a bit as I admired every little bit of detail.
"What are those rectangular things?" I asked as I pointed at the large, rectangular objects in the distance.
"Buildings", She explained. The doctor then pointed at the shiny objects of transport. "Those are cars."
"Do they do the same thing as wheelchairs?" I asked her as I watched a small green car whiz by.
"Yes, but they are faster and harder to use", She remarked.
"Cool! Can we use one?" I asked, raising my voice from enthusiasm.
"Maybe someday", the doctor answered. "Right now I have pressing matters to explain. Things you must never tell."
I looked to see the doctor's smile faded into more of a frown.
"Like a secret?" I asked her.
"Yes", the doctor told me. "One that will surprise you."
"What is it?" I asked. After I asked there was a long pause.
The doctor took in a deep breath. "Partial Human Experiment Nine", she remarked. "Have you ever considered why this is your full name?"
"Not in particular", I remarked. "Why?"
Another pause. For a few minutes we continued to walk in silence.
"There were eight others", She finally explained.
My eyelids opened wide. "What?" I asked.
"Partial Human Experiment One, Two, Three and so on. There were eight before you", she explained softly.
I tugged on her sleeve as my confused thoughts raced.
"Where are they? What are they like? What do they look like? Why did they steal my name?" I asked as my lips sped as fast as my thoughts.
"Everything will be explained", the doctor told me. "They were partial-humans, or hybrids that scientists created. Ones much like you", she continued.
"Created?" I asked softly.
"Taken from your mothers belly, injected with DNA, and put into a tube until your body was sustainable to the world", The doctor explained with a grim tone.
-edit
Time stopped. It just so simply stopped. My feet ceased to go forward as my thoughts came to an abrupt stop. I was created. Not born. The doctor looked down at me with a softened expression.
"I said too much", she claimed as she bowed her head. "I'm sorry."
"No", I spoke as we started to walk again. "Keep going. Why did you keep saying 'were' instead of 'are' when describing the others."
The doctor stayed silent.
"Tell me", I persisted.
"One was the first out of you all. The doctors misplaced the DNA and One ended up never growing", She explained.
"Was One a guy or a girl?" I asked.
"They weren't sure yet", The doctor explained.
"None of them are alive. Are they?" I asked quietly, directing my attention at the ground.
"One through four never grew. Five grew for a week then stopped. They thought of six to be a boy. He stopped growing when he was eight months in the test tube. Seven was a girl. She passed after she left the test tube. Then eight was another girl. She was plant-like much like you are", she explained.
"What did she look like? How old was she?" I asked as I looked to the green on my hands.
"She passed two years after she left the test tube. I remember seeing the flowers on her shoulders and her green, grassy hair", the doctor explained.
"Were there more?" I asked.
"Ten through twenty", She answered. "
I nodded slowly. "I assume they are all dead?" I asked.
"All of them", the doctor started. "All of them except Fourteen and Nineteen."
My head perked up. "Tell me", I urged.
"PH-14, and PH-19 are, in fact, alive. They are strong and full of character", she told me. "Much like you."
I stayed silent as all the information soaked in.
I looked to my left to see all the buildings and cars, then to my right to see the closer buildings that we strolled by. This is the real world, made of the born and apparently the created.
"Why was I created?" I asked.
Again the doctor stayed silent. My attention slowly turned to her frown.
"We are almost there Nine. Are you ready to go back into the simulation?" The doctor asked, ignoring my question.
"No", I whispered under my breath.
"Excuse me?" She asked, raising her voice.
"Show me the other two and answer the question. Why was I created?!" I yelled.
We turned to approach the doors of a small, black building. It had a double door with golden doorknobs at the front. At the front of said door stood two motionless men in blue uniforms. The buildings on either side were made of brick.
The doctor stopped me by putting her arm out in front of me.
"You already know too much", the doctor explained then started gritting her teeth. "Shush up now. It's a secret, remember?"
"No", I growled. "I want answers!"
The two men in front of the door turned their unmoving attention to us.
"Listen to me-", the doctor started but was interrupted by one of the men at the gate calling "Excuse me Doctor Joanna!"
My heart seemed to stop as she froze. The man walked over to us.
The man had a brown mustache and sunglasses covering his eyes. A golden badge was on the chest of his shirt.
"What have you told him?" The man asked.
The doctor shook her head as she looked at the man.
"Cars, buildings, wheelchairs, and other common objects. Why?" The doctor asked.
"Doctor Joanna, there is no denying how you proceeded to yell at him", he then turned to me. "What did she tell you Nine?"
Today I learned all humans are the same. I wasn't told why I was created, just since "I wasn't suppose to know". Rage boiled in my veins as I took deep breaths.
"You want to know what she said?" I growled. The doctors eyes were widened and full of fear. She was shaking her head ever-so slightly.
"That I cannot see the other hybrids, PH-14 and PH-19", I explained.
The man turned his attention to the doctor who was now shaking.
"Hmpt!" The man chuckled and turned his focus to the doctor. "The boy has a great idea, we should ask your employer!"
"Really?" I asked. Excitement shot up my spine.
"Sure!" The man acknowledged with a fake smile. "Right after we bring Doctor Joanna to court."
I blinked when I saw the doctor break into tears. Wait a second...
"His treatment isn't right!" She yelled as more tears leaked from her eyes.
"Yeah yeah", the man said as he took out metal equipment from his belt and wrapped it around her wrists.
"Wait!" I screamed. Both the doctor and the man looked at me.
"Whats going on?" I asked.
"Nine", the doctor whimpered. "That wasn't my secret... It was theirs'... Kept from you."
"Now she is going to be taken away for a very long time", the man growled through gritted teeth.
I couldn't speak as the world turned upside down. A feeling erupted that said, "You fucked up, and there's no fixing it."