Faded

Chapter Two

I look around to take in everyone else's reactions at what the briefing soldier just said. Silence. Nobody ever showed any emotion.
"Number 404 will be arriving later tonight, that is all." The soldier said as he left us alone to eat our breakfast. I knew I wasn't the only one actually thinking about this. New people were rare, it was like the gold at the end of a rainbow. Not that I had ever seen one. New people always made us happy or entertained for at least a few weeks. It was nice to get to know someone knew after being shut in with the same few kids all year round. I just hoped they wouldn't be as problematic as Squid. I was hoping for a girl my age but the chances of that were slim. Whomever it was would take a long time to actually get to know me. Or to see me. 

The day dragged on and I suddenly found the energy to carry out my training routine despite my sleepless night beforehand. The excitement and curiosity about the new person had just set in. I had devised my own little plan to be the first to get to know them, but I knew that was impossible. Besides little Bunny, I'm the most upbeat one in the facility. Bunny is the youngest, only five years old at least. She gets the name Bunny for being the most energetic one and she's also impossibly fast at running. I usually tend to hold back from getting to know the new people as I feel like everyone else needs the new positive energy more than I do. But this time I'm feeling a bit selfish. 

At my medical the scientist notices my giddiness but also the heavy, dark bags beneath my eyes. "Are you sleeping?" He asks, shining a stupidly bright torch into my eyes and down my throat. 
"Well no, what do you expect with those helicopters every night?" I laugh, trying to pass off my passive aggressive comment as a friendly joke. He sees right through me.
"Watch your attitude, I'm here to help you out." 
"And I'm here so you can get paid for shining a torch in my eyes." I said, shutting him up for the rest of the procedure. I'm not sure why we have medicals everyday, I think it's part of Commander's research into our 'differences' as he would call it. Commander constantly reminds us of how special we are to him and how useful we are all going to be someday. It's what he says to everyone when he knows he is being too tough on us, when the training is so intense that the younger ones and often some of the older ones collapse under the pressure. He seems to believe we were born to fight because we are different to others. I was not born a fighter. I was born a dreamer. Just like you, just like anyone. 

After my medical I go back to the sleeping quarters to change into my sports clothing. Strangely, the quarter's door is left wide open and I can hear running water. When I scan the room with my eyes I notice a heap of suitcases. It must be the newbie. I'm the only other person in the room besides them. Before introducing myself I sit on my bed, mentally going over ways to say hello. Are they nice? Aggressive? Maybe they're scared like me. I hate introductions. With hesitation, I get up and tiptoe my way to the doorway of the washroom, fists and jaw clenched in anticipation. My heart beats out of both excitement and nervousness, I want to turn back but my curiosity takes over. I haven't seen a new person come in since Mime but that wasn't very interesting as he doesn't speak at all. I take the deepest breath I can to savour the air, after all this person could be crazy, it may be my last breath for all I know. I poke my head shyly around the doorway and see them fixing their dark hair in the mirror. It's a boy. He doesn't notice me at all, even when I stand by his side. His skin looks pale under his flushed cheeks, I figured he must be nervous for his first day in the facility. I was keen to know his story, his tales of life outside the facility. I wondered what name he would be given, even what his real human name was. All it took to get that sweet information was a simple hello. "Hi." I stutter, voice cracking. He looks startled like a rabbit. He looks around the room for a source of the noise and then shakes his head in disbelief. He must be thinking he's crazy and hearing voices. But he's not. I'm here and I'm real. "Hey, new guy, 404 was it?" I try again, exaggerating the softness of my voice. 
"Who's there?" He's the one stuttering out of nervousness now. It comforts me a little. I wish I knew how to control myself, introductions would be so much easier. 
"My name is Breeze, number is 216, nice to meet you," I smile, forgetting that he can't see it. The others gave me the name Breeze, because I'm always there yet never seen. 
"Where are you?" He asks, he turns around and uses the sink to balance himself. He's now looking right at me, yet he doesn't know it. 
"I'm right in front of you." I laugh, wishing I could control myself. Daringly, I reach to grab his hand and hold it above his face as a way of proving my physical existence. His hand is cold and his skin is soft, he flinches at my touch yet he doesn't get mad at me. His calmness relaxes me. 
"Oh, hi, I can see you now." He smiles nervously. "I'm sk-... Um, 404, I guess. Sorry I'm still not used to using numbers as names." He's rambling awkwardly now. I need to give him a name before the others can. I tell him all about our secret naming system, how the only people we need to give our numbers to is the adults in the place. By the time I finish explaining I'm surprised that he isn't bored or agitated with all my talking. He seems mesmerised. I observe his denim blue eyes, they seem so cold yet full of life. I almost feel as if I want to keep 404 for myself, hide him under my bed. My own little secret. I already feel so awake just by being in his presence. "I think my name should be Error." He decides. At first I'm confused, why would a seemingly perfectly normal person want to be known as Error? I didn't give him time to explain before I began speculating. He must have picked up on my unsure expression as he lets out a small laugh. "404 is a type of error with webpages. You get me?" He says. I'm still lost. 
"I don't..." 
"You familiar with computers?" He seems genuinely concerned for me now. I'm still not sure why. I shake my head and he gasps. "No way..." 
"Can you explain it to me?" I ask, he nods and moves back into the bedroom to start unpacking his stuff. There's no spare room for all the stuff in his suitcases however. I sat down on my bed as he began explaining the magic of computers and technology that I was so unfamiliar with. I realise that his extensive knowledge of things must be his difference, like mine is invisibility. 
"That's so cool... I've never heard of that before. I have so many questions by the way, so you're going to want to get used to this." I laugh, lying down on my bed. I stare up at the bed above mine, we all sleep in bunks, and I think about how Error's life must have been on the outside. I want to ask about his difference but I'm not sure whether that would be bad manners.
"How old are you?" He asks, pulling my attention back to him. 
I shake my head. "I don't remember." 
"I'm 19, nearly 20." He looks at me with a hint of pity in his eyes. I don't want pity. "I'm gonna guess that you're about 15 or 16..."
"You're the new oldest!" I blurt out and sit up excitedly, banging my head on the bed above me. "Squid won't be happy, but maybe it'll take him off his high horse, you should see him, he's so bossy! He gives us rules and bedtimes based on our age just so he has the power to push us around because he's the oldest."
Error laughs, ignoring the strangeness of my outburst. "This Squid guy sounds like he has control issues. If you don't know how old you are then how does he do things by age?" 
He's right, I never thought about that. I shrug. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence he finally asks me a question. "So, invisibility then?" 
I nod shyly, I'm not proud of my difference. It can't be used for actual fighting like the commander wants, yet he still puts me through the physical training. Commander often calls me his Rat, it means I'm a spy. "That's cool, you really spooked me at first when I couldn't see you. I bet you play tricks like that a lot?" His smile is genuine, for once somebody is impressed with me rather than disappointed. 
"I can't control it, I go invisible when I'm scared or nervous." I admit, looking down at my feet in shame. "What's yours?" I ask, hoping he doesn't find me rude. 
He hesitates for a second before clearing his throat. "You'll see."