the newest prisoners

9

the first thing that registered when i fell asleep, was the dream. usually, i had nightmares, but if i dreamed i dreamt about the old times with Ellie. but luckily, most of the time i didn't dream. and i knew that this was different.  i was standing in a room, the walls were a mix of pale yellows, oranges, and greens looking almost like a mango. the room was small and in the center was a table, with a letter on it. i picked it up, and i began to read it.

to: Vanessa,
This is part of my power. Typically I create a dream for everyone to share, I want everyone to be able to dream happily and we tend to use this time to truly talk to each other. Without the fears of the scientists careful watch. I decided to not do this tonight.
For now, enjoy your night. I'll see you in the morning.
   -love 2-8

The words had little meaning to me, the only words that registered were "dream happily" and "love 2-8". After I read those words I looked around, and settled into a good night's rest.
~~~~

I woke up to the lights slowly brightening, and the movement next to me. I looked around and noticed that I wasn't in the middle of my bed, I looked over my shoulder and saw Raymond lying there, I realized he must've come over to sleep with me like we used to as kids. As I looked around everyone was still asleep. I tried to figure out why I woke up, but i couldn't find any thing. i walked to the table in the back, every chair was in its place, as though last night had never happened. i sat down in the far side, as far as i could from Raymond. 

i sat there for a while, looking at everyone laying on their bunks, i looked at Raymond for a long while, then down to my wrists and my legs, looking at the pattern and trying to see if i could decipher the language. my breath began to quicken and my eyes began to prick. i slowly slid from the chair, curling up and holding my legs together and trying to bury my tears. but for the first time in years, i let myself cry.

i cried over Ellie, for my sister who left me alone and scared for years. i cried over Raymond, the boy who was my brother, the only person who i could trust, who had turned us in. i cried over my body, how it was changed and how i dont even know if its my body anymore. i cried over my future. my future was never certain before, but i had a plan. now i dont even know if im going to survive the ceremony.  i cried for what felt like hours. after a minute i felt strong arms wrap around me, and hold me close.

"its okay vanny. shh shh its okay." he whispered into my ear, "no one else is up, so cry as much as you need, okay? shh everything will be okay." he began to slowly stroke my hair, and let me cry. after a bit, i decided that i needed to suck it up and be strong. 

"ray?"

"yes vanny? what is it?"

"do i still look like me?" i asked, fear creeping into my voice. i know that it was shallow to worry about my looks, but it was the only thing that i still had that was me."

"you look beautiful."

"that is decidedly not helpful."

he just sat and laughed, "you still look like you. some of the details have changed but you're still you. you haven't changed from the girl who laughs as she runs away from whatever crime we committed, the same girl who skipped through the marketplace as we look for people to sell to. the same girl who i swore to protect."

i snorted a little. so Raymond pulled me off my feet and into the bathroom. before i went in, i took a quick look at the long room full of my new sleeping friends. 

"why did you wake up and no one else did? was i loud?" i looked at him, and he gave me a shy look.

"well... I'm actually a light sleeper?" he says, giving me a look trying to sell what both of knew to be a lie. but before i could question him further, he let go of my wrist and ducked into the bathroom, i followed him, determined to get an answer.