Lost

Chapter 4

I’m running down a white hallway. I feel my heart beating fast in chest, as if it’s about to explode. I hear faint yelling behind me. I will my legs to go faster and I grin as I pick up speed. “There she is! Get her!” It’s the voice of the man who took me from my home. I turn left into a room. In the room is a table with surgical equipment. At the end of the table there is a gun. I pick it up and run toward the men. I face the group of men who took me from my home. I glare at them, aim, and fire. The man in front goes down. I shoot at the other two men and run. “Cali! Wait!” Her  voice stops me. “Cali, please come back with me,” she gives me a sad smile.

I swallow the lump in my throat, “No, you left me,” I say. Her eyes turn hard. She pulls out a knife and lunges at me. I aim my gun at her head and fire. I wake up in a sweat. I feel tears streaming down my face.

It’s been five weeks since she passed, I don’t think the nightmares will ever stop. I hear a knock on my door. I open it to see Caleb, the man who gave me a tour on my first day here. “Hey, I heard screaming. Are you okay?” He looks at me concerned. I shake my head. “Is it her?” I nod, tears falling down my face. He wraps his arms around me. 

“When will it stop?” I sob. He shushes me, picks me up, and carries me to my bed.

“I’ll stay with you tonight, okay?” I nod. I lay my head on his chest and listen to his steady heart beat. Somehow, just being in his arms makes me feel safe and I fall into a peaceful sleep. 

The next morning I wake up to Caleb staring at me. He grins as I open my eyes. He whispers, “Morning, Cali.”

I give him a small smile, “Get out before someone catches you.” He smiles even wider and walks out of my room. We aren’t supposed to have guests in our room. I go to the bathroom and get ready. I brush my teeth, wash my face, and brush my hair, and put on the clothes provided for me. Girls wear black cotton, a-line skirts with a white blouse and black mary-janes. Boys wear khaki pants with white button-ups and black dress shoes. In the two weeks I’ve been here, I still find the customs in the compound strange. Everything is very orderly and clean and the students here are more receptive of the teachers than in my school back home. Nonetheless, I have no choice but to call this compound home. I still miss her, I miss her silky voice, I miss her laugh. I miss everything about her. But I can never forget the person she became after the experiment. I will never forgive the government for that. 

I walk to my first class, math. My heels click against the tile as I walk. I reach the classroom and take my seat in the back of the classroom. “Calista?” I hear someone ask. I turn toward the voice? It was Brent, he was a boy from my old school. He was considered one of the popular kids because he was a really good football player. I’m surprised he even knew my name. “Calista? What are you doing here?” He asks, taking the seat next to me.

I look at him, “Why do you think?” I say.

“You were part of an experiment too?” He asks, incredulously.

I shake my head, “No, of course not. My mother was. Why? Were you part of an experiment?” 

He swallows hard, “Yes, they injected me with some kind of steroid that made me really good at football.”

“So, why are you here?”

“Some people began to question how I miraculously turned from this scrawny kid to a big, buff teenager,” he shrugs.

How many experiments were they conducting in the compound? Is this even the only compound? After classes, I go look for Caleb. 

“Caleb!” I yell after him. He turns toward me and smiles.

“Hey, Cali. You seem excited to see me.”

“This place, why do they keep us here? What is so secret about the experiments that we have to be taken from the outside world?” I demand him. Some of the wandering scientists begin to look at me.

“Not here, Cali. Let’s go to my room,” He says in a hushed tone.

Once in his room I say, “Caleb, answer me. Why? They can’t expect me to stay cooped up in here without asking questions.”

“Cali, calm down. Someone might hear you. Listen, there are just some things you have to leave alone and theses experiments are one of those things.”

“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” 

“Because I don’t know either and I’ve been trying to figure that out for two years now, Cali. Getting this information is tough, and it’s best if you just leave it alone.” 

I glare at him and walk out of his room. I take the elevator down to the lobby and find the secretary. “I need to find where Brent Gold is staying,” she nods and types his name into the computer.