Unconventional

4

Waking up was strange the next day, maybe because Valerie Martin didnt even sleep that night or perhaps it was the deathly feeling that something was going to happen to her that she didnt know. Her head was still spinning after the night, the information and the questions running through her mind to much to calm down; it was like a swarm of bees were running around and buzzing loudly. 

Her parents were waiting for her at the table, their food sitting atop the white plastic and steaming. She continued down the stairs, hesitentaly sitting at the table where her parents were forcing a smile. "Was your setting sun to your standards?" Valerie didnt know what to say; she had lied and told them she was going out with only Amber to see the plastic trees that surounded them, when in reality she had begun to decode her life bit by bit. 

"Yes, it was quite pleasant. Amber and I discussed many things and I was pleased with my setting sun hours." The words were once again bitter on her tounge as she spoke to her parents, striking yet another thought. Were these her actual parents? Everyone knew they were made from the eggs but from whose? They were taught to believe that these were her parents, but were they genetically?

She looked nothing like her parents; her mother was a tall lean woman with straight brown hair and squinting blue eyes and a frown that was perminitaly creased into her face. Her father was a short man, with brown-blonde hair and brown eyes and a stalky build. No, she realized, she looked nothing like her parents- excluding the hair and eyes. 

Valerie was a tallish girl, one with a natural build that suited her frame. Her fire-blonde hair always had natural curls that were loose and hung behind her shoulders with a bounce, her eyes a shade of emerald that were dusted with dirt and long forgotten, and freckles on her face that were like rich pieces of sand on a beach. No, she came to the conclusion, she did not look like them, so it wasnt garanteed that she was their child. 

She watched them as they ate their morning meal, studying their habits. She found none. They were like emotionless robots that were programmed to live and look like humans but just werent. Finally they had all finished and she was free to enjoy her day off. Once she stood and grabbed her bag her father called out to her; "Do not fail to remember your daily medication, Valerie." 

Hudsons words came to her mind, 'dont take the medication.'  She smiled forcefully and grabbed a fruit, on her way out pressing it to the med-reciever and walking out of the house when it blinked green. Amber was already sitting on the front stairs to her house, looking at nothing with one hand playing with her hair. "Amber." Valerie called, gaining the younger teen attention. "Lets go, I need to stop by the junkyard."

Amber followed quickly, brow furrowed. "Junkyard? But what is the reasoning for going there? Only the Junkers go there, why would we?" 

Valerie raised her shoulders and dropped them quickly. "Maybe we can find something, its a junk yard right? Maybe we could find something useful, I'm not really sure." Maybe something that could them figure out what was going on. It had only been thirteen hours since the group had met up, but since reading all the files together things were clicking into place and not making sense. 

As they walked Valerie noticed more guards on patrol today, some walking and some just standing still; but there was more than normal, much more. It was as if something had happened back at the Headquarters where everything was ran. She stared at one as she passed, catching his attention quickly- a look shared between the two. When she finally looked away she got a chill down her back, still feeling his eyes on her as she turned the corner with Amber trailing her. 

"Hurry up, someone's going to think we're up to something." 

The junkyard was passed St. Claire road, even farther. They passed the graffiti walls, stopping at the dead silence and shivering before moving on to the junkyard. She could barely see it as she stood at the top of the hill. The fake sun shone down as she stared at the dark pile of junk. Something was pulling her there, something familiar and warm- something strange. 

Amber was shaking her, pulling her from her thoughts. "How are we getting down?" The hill was practically a one-ninty drop down, over one hundred meters. She didn't know this time. Valerie stared down the hill for awhile, finally realizing there were small cliffs they could jump off and land on another. She smirked at Amber, causing the younger girl distress. 

"Lets go." Were the only words out of her mouth as she dropped to her knees and starting crawling backwards, hanging off with her hands holding her up. Valerie looked down, realizing how far the drop was. "Nevermind! Help me back up, we need a back up plan." Amber sighed, hoisted up the girl and started walking back.

"So whats the actual plan now?" 

Valeries' smirk grew even wider. "We'll need to the boys' help for one, and we'll have to sneak out tonight."