The Animal Inside

Chapter Thirty-Two: Even the Best Made Plans Can Go Wrong

I lay on my bed staring up at the white ceiling.  I was incredibly bored. The phone Adrian had given me was a burner; it told me the time but it had no games. Even if it did, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to sit on my bed playing games. A guard could walk past and see me. Guards walked past about once or twice an hour. I decided it would be a fun game to pull faces at them when they walked past.  Their reactions differed. Some saw me and laughed,  some saw me and ignored me, and some didn’t see me at all. Noa seemed to find this game amusing.

I kept my phone hidden under my bed. I could feel the vibrations when it rang. I always left it on vibrate; I couldn’t risk having a ringtone. The phone buzzed. I went up to the glass and checked for guards before pulling it out to answer. It was a text from the boys. All it said was ‘1230’. I nodded to myself. I looked over a Noa, who was waiting in anticipation. I held up one finger, then two, then three, then none. She nodded in understanding. It was almost time.

Soon after the text arrived, the food shelf slid out. I ate the bread that was on it. I would need my strength today. Just as I had finished eating, the door of my cell opened, and a guard dressed in black walked in.

“Come with me,” he said. I was taken aback. Adrian said the scientists had a lunch break when we did. They were gone for about an hour. What was going on?

“Now, or I will have to use force.”

I stepped out of my cell, closely followed by the guard. Another guard was waiting outside, and they escorted me along the corridor. My breath started to quicken. We didn’t plan for this. I was supposed to be in my cell. I was so busy worrying that I walked into the guard in front of me when we stopped in front of a door. The guard swiped his key card, and the door opened.

It was a different room to one I was in the other day. It was still filled with machines, but also had all manner of chemical, scalpels and syringes on the walls and benches. Right in the middle was a large metal table. The guards motioned towards the table. They wanted me to get on it.

“You’re kidding, right?” I said

“If you don’t do as I say, I will-”

“Yeah, yeah; you’ll have to use force. Fine.”

I clambered onto the table, and lay down. The guards secured shackles around my wrists and ankles. I heard the door open, and footsteps coming towards the table. I couldn’t tell how many there were because no one spoke, but there was more than one person. Someone started attaching cable to me again; I assumed it was a scientist.

“Subject 476: Kefira Hemming.” The owner of the voice chuckled. The voice was familiar. Why did I seem to know so many people here? It was beginning to get weird. This voice was male, and young. Its owner was hidden in the back of my memory, I couldn’t put my finger on who it was.

“It’s been a long time since I heard your name, Kefira. Tell me, where have you been hiding? I’m curious.” I couldn’t figure out who he was. It was right on the tip of my tongue.

“She doesn’t remember who I am. I’m not really surprised she doesn’t recognise my voice. We only met twice.” He chuckled again.

“Maybe if I knew what you looked like, I would know who you are,” I said.

“That takes the fun out of it. But, I suppose it would this moment all the more sweeter if you knew who I was.”

The table began to tilt, and more of the room came into view. When the table stopped, I was almost completely upright. There were two scientists working on the machines around me, and the two guards that brought me here stood by my side. I didn’t recognise anyone. At least, until a familiar figure moved into view.