Enhancement

Chapter Two

The van lurched to stop, after stop and just like my mother had said earlier, they kept count of all the times you complained. After the van gained more people, that's when I began to look at my surroundings. A few small intercoms on the walls, all made of half glass and half plastic. The sides of the van were see-through, and passer byers didn't give us a second glance. The seats were made of the same half glass, half plastic substance as the intercoms and the walls. Around me were seventeen year olds of all heights, weights, and races, sat together and conversed softly. They were all talking to someone else in the van. Whether it was in front of them, to the side, or on opposite sides of the van. And here I was, talking with no one. I was too nervous for the enhancement, and what people would think of me after I changed myself permanently. It had only been an hour since they picked me up and already I was getting antsy.

------------------ 6 Hours Later ------------------

The LAN scientists opened the doors and the fresh air rushed into the small box, releasing some of my nerves up into the clouds.

The sun shone brightly as a light breeze swept the trees to the side. I was the last to get out of the van and when I did the building in front of me was breathtaking. The LAN Industrial Building was made of glass, reflecting everything going on around it. The workers were walking quickly inside, with their white lab coats fanning out behind them.

"This way please! Follow me and you won't get lost okay?" a high pitched voice yelled.

The group started to move and I followed, but a little further behind. Maybe I was hungry or just going insane, but something was off. A figure rushed past my peripheral vision and I turned my head quickly to the side I saw the figure on. Nothing was there but the bushes lining the entrance pathway. I shook my head and knew that I was going crazy.

I jogged up to the group and stayed closer this time, not wanting to get lost. We walked inside and our shoes squeaked on the polished marble floor. A clock tick was the only other thing we heard in the room.

We were ushered into a elevator, squishing each other to all fit. In the front this time I noticed our guide, a lengthy woman with porcelain skin and long black hair stuffed into a ponytail. Her light blue eyes scanned the room and landed on me. She smiled through her soft pink lips, showing a set of straight white teeth. Jabbing her thin pointer finger into the close doors button, she sucked in a breath and pressed the ninety- seventh floor button. Weren't we supposed to go to the fifty-seventh floor though? Just before I could voice my thought, my nose was snipped by the elevator doors closing. Rubbing my nose with my palm and cursing under my breath, the elevator began to ascend. We stood there in silence as soft jazz music played through the speakers, while our guide tapped her heels against the floor.

A small chime broke the silence, and the doors opened. I walked out and looked at my surroundings. Plush chairs and love seats lined the left side of the room as the right, held a desk with a woman typing away on the glass counter. When our guide came out of the elevator, she ushered for us to follow her again. She nodded her head to the receptionist and strode past her. We followed closely behind her as we passed doors of rooms with names on them.

She stopped at a door and entered a long pin on the key pad. We finally went inside the room and sat down in plush chairs breifly, before she began to speak to us.

"Alright children, today is a very special day as it is your enhancement day! So, you will all go outside to the hallway and find your last name on one of the doors. They will explain more when you enter and good luck to you all!" she smiled at us and tilted her head to one side.

No one moved.

I looked around and saw everyone looking down grimly at the marble floor. I looked at our guide and took a deep breath before I rose up off of my chair and walked towards the door.

I could feel all their eyes on my back as I passed through the door and into the hallway. Looking at both sides of the hallway I searched for my last name.

Hanley. Madylnn Hanley. Where was it?

At the middle of the silent hallway was where I found my name in scribbly cursive. Hanley

My heart pounded as I looked at the door. This was it. I pressed the button on the side of the doorframe and the door opened, letting a bright fluorescent light hit my face.

Sheiding my eyes with one hand, I stepped in.