The School For Gifted Kids

Chapter 12: Ben

I tossed and turned, dreamy of unsightly things. Willa, with cold skin and empty eyes. Elle, drowning in a sea of guilt and sorrow. Finally, myself. Falling, falling, falling. Never to touch the ground. My arms windmilling, desperate to slow down my rapid descent. But I didn't help. Nothing could stop me...  I never hit the ground. I woke with a start to a sharp pain in my ribs. A new guard was kicking me in the chest. "Get your butt up! It's time."

We marched slowly towards a large dome shaped chamber, like inmates marching to prison. We entered, and I was I was instantly amazed at the pure architectural genius. It had triangular support beams holding up what seemed to be a dome of bullet proof glass. (There was a sticker on the side with a label.) "Ahh. My guests have finally arrived. I was wondering what was taking you so long. It's rude to be so late, you know." I just glared at her. Two men came forward and grabbed Willa by the chains around her wrists. They dragged her over to a tank filled with yellowish liquid and took off her chains. I felt extremely jealous. Chains chafe. Well, I guess I wouldn't want to be the one getting dunked into pee or whatever it was. Once they took off her chains, they attached weird hoses to her arms. The had little rings that clamped around her wrists, and the same for her feet. Finally, they strapped what looked like a heavy-duty scuba mouthpiece onto her face. She wriggled, but they managed to lift her up and into the  tank. She immediately fell asleep within first contact of the water. The hoses held her suspended in the water. Her hair was splayed out in a fan, her face peaceful and serene. The flimsy white gown they'd given her danced in the waves of the water. Ms. Trump walked over to a huge black wall and clicked a switch. The "wall" turned out to be a giant screen. Three men turned up on the screen, like a group Skype. 

"Hello gentlemen. Here to see the product I presume?"

"No, we are here to buy toilet paper. Yes, we are here to see the product!"

"Unfortunately, you are early. We had some slight troubles finding a subject. We were just starting the process."

A long pause. 

"Sir?"

"Continue."

She sighed, obviously hesitant to use her machine in front an audience. 

"All I have to do is flip... this switch." 

She pulled down a lever and a faint whirring began that slowly grew louder and louder. Willa's body began to look iridescent, and the hoses holding her down seemed to strain. And then... a  clank. The thing shut down! The man on the screen narrowed his brows. "What is going on here?!" Ms. Trump scrambled around, desperately trying to find the problem."I don't know! This has never happened before! It looks likes the circuit board overheated and... caused a small fire!" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the reflection of the flames bounce of someones eyes. 

"Get your butts in there! Do you want  trouble?" A sharp shove from our guard pushed back inside our cell. Willa was still unconscious, and must've been freezing, still covered in yellowish liquid/slime. It seriously was disgusting. We attempted to make her as comfortable as possible, though. 

We arose quite early, from what I could guess at least. We had no windows, not even in the bathroom. I think we were in the middle of the house, or the basement. We were pulled out of our cell again with a sharp yank, and pushed/pulled back towards the testing chamber. The men were back on the screen, and still not very pleased. The had a very angry demeanor around them, and Ms. Trump had a very anxious demeanor around her. Her fingers flustered and fumbled as she attempted to fit tubes into their corresponding holes. "Ah! She is here! Prepare her, Simpsons." A large, strong man pulled Willa away with a hopeless look in her eyes. She was still in the damp hospital gown from yesterday,  and all they had to do was attach  the hoses and mouthpiece.  Willa didn't struggle at all. She just stared straight ahead, not breaking eye contact with me and Elle. This time, when she went under, I saw her strain to stay conscious, still trying to look at us. But she couldn't fight it for too long, and was gone. I glanced over at Elle, and a single tear slipped from her eye, sliding down her cheek. 

Ms. Trump had everything ready, and was preparing to pull the lever. But flames burst up in front of her face, illuminating the dark room. 

"Damn it!"

She threw the lever on the ground. 

"It seems your product has a problem. Perhaps it isn't right for us..."

 The man spoke in a low monotone voice, silky and rich like chocolate milk, but as dangerous as sipping cyanide. 

"No, no! I promise-"

"We will return tomorrow. If the product fails again, we will not purchase it." 

The screen blipped and turned black. Ms. Trump stomped her foot in outrage.

"Gah! I can't believe this!"

She turned towards us, murder in her eyes.

"You! Is this of your doing?! If so, I would admit it now or finding my saboteur will be a much more painful process for you." 

We both shook our heads no, and denied having anything to do with it.  I casually glanced to my left, and I saw the fiery eyes in the darkness as I did yesterday. And I also saw them wink. Willa was fished out of the tank and we were escorted back to our little cell. The girls fell asleep soon after, but I was still up. On purpose, of course. A couple days ago when we first were captured, I had found a journal beneath the mattress of my bunk, and I had been reading it. It was the diary of a kid named Ignus, who had been stuck in here before us. It started with him being captured through similar methods like Elle and I were, and continued to tell a small story about his days spent in the facility. I opened it up to about halfway, where I had left off.

Dear Diary, 
I'm scared. Cadenza says not to worry and that we will be okay I am still scared. I miss mommy and daddy and rupert the pig. Caddy says that they are alright but I still miss them. Caddy asked the fat man who kept on standing right in front of the door what day it is and now I know it is exactly 1 month and two days until my 8th birthday. Caddy said we could have a party, just me and her and I asked if rupert could come and she said not this time. I miss rupert. 
-Ignus