The Lost One

Chapter 4

I can't think straight right now, I need to relax. I sit up and turn on the tv. I flip though the channels until I find a show and watch it.

"Aldo, do you not trust me?!" The lady shouts at Aldo. Also scoffs and have a frown on his face. "Of course not! This is the third time you cheated and lied to me! We're though! Don't ever call me again Penelope!" He shouts furiously.

He storms off and Penelope tries to run after him but she trips as one of her shoes heel breaks. "Ouch! Please come back Aldo!" She shouts after him but Aldo doesn't turn around and continues storming off.

I laugh and laugh. What am I watching? They make them so dramatic that I don't know if this is supposed to be a sad moment or a funny moment.

I turn off the tv when I get cramps from laughing so much. "Ouch, I don't think I have laughed that much since the morning my parents went missing." I said while smiled and then a sad frown appears on my face.

My parents... they're all I have. I don't know if I have any aunts or uncles because my parents don't talk about their family and it's always been the three of us.

A tear rolls down my check and I quickly wipe it away hoping that no more tears will come. I stand up and look though my backpack for something to drink. I grab a water bottle and as I take it out, a picture falls out onto the floor.

I set the water bottle aside and look at the picture. It's a picture of Avery and me at the carnival last year. Her brown hair isn't short because she cut it short this year saying that she wanted a new look. I smile as I look at the picture.

Avery and I had been best friends for seven years. I was eight years old and I was building a sand castle. My parents were getting food and they told me to stay near the blanket with our stuff so I was building a sand castle while I was waiting for them to come back.

A girl in her swimming suit was running and playing in the water by herself. She was laughing and having fun even though she was alone. I had envied her back then since I was too shy to make friends. I watched her while building my sand castle.

She splashed and splashed and it looked like she was playing with a friend even though she was all alone. My hand slipped as I got distracted by her. Sand went everywhere and I fell on the pile of sand.

I close my eyes immediately to shield any sand from coming into contact of my eyes. I can feel the sand falling on me and I keep my eyes closed until sand suddenly stops falling. I open my eyes and see the girl from the water.

She was holding the bucket I was using for the sand to catch the falling sand. I stare in amazement as this girl comes to my rescue. The sand stops falling and I realized that it had looked like snow.

The girl turns to look at me and smiles the biggest smile I've ever seen. "The sandstorm is over!" She says happily. I stare at her. "Sandstorm?" I ask. She nods.

"Yup, it's a good thing we found a cave to hide in while we waited for the storm to pass." She says. I smile. "We can now continue our journey and face any problems together!" I say happily. She smiles even bigger. "Yup, I'm Avery." She introduces.

"I'm Melissa." I introduce myself. From that moment on, we became best friends and we were in the same elementary school but different classes. That didn't stop Avery from talking to me though at recess.

I smile as I reminisce the memory. " 'face any problems together' I'm sorry, Avery. But this is something I have to do alone." I said silently. I sigh and lean my head against the wall. *ssssss* I lift my head up and look around. *sssss* What's that sound? I wonder to myself.

*sssk* Smoke suddenly rises and covers the room. I cough once and then I cover my mouth with my sleeve. I try to stand up but my legs wobble and see unstable. Somehow I managed to get up but every step I take is a struggle and a burden.

My vision gets blurred as the smoke gets thicker. Tears unwillingly form and my steps slow down. The door breaks down but I don't hear anything, I just see the door fall down.

Two people with gas mask enters, I can't recognize them with the gas mask on and blurry vision. My vision starts to get more clouded and then I black out completely.

Some time later

I'm splashed with cold water and I gasp. I breath in some water causing me to cough. "Idiot, your not supposed to breath in the water." A voice says next to me.

I look over to where the voice came from, while trying not to cough. There's a boy strapped down on a chair. "Who are you?" I ask groggily. He scoffs. "Why should I tell you?" He asks. It sounds like a rhetorical question. I frown. "Fine, don't tell me." I said.

I attempt to get up, but my arms are restrained. I look at my arms and legs to find it strapped down on a chair also, my whole body is also wet and it feels weird. I groan and lean my head back. "How was I even splashed with water if we're the only two people in the room?" I ask.

I didn't really expect an answer, so I was surprised when he spoke. "It's an automatic water bucket. It splashes water every half an hour to keep us awake. It just splashed you, even though you were unconsciousness for eight hours. I hope you enjoyed your final sleep." He says while smirking, his short brown hair almost covering one of his hazel eyes.

"Whatever, I'll find a way to escape." I say while rolling my eyes. I try lifting my arm but it barely moves. I try it again and again, with each try getting stronger. The water on my arm falling to the ground as I move my arm.

"Good luck trying to get out, it'll only take a miracle besides they'll be back." He says. I keep trying to move my arm. "Who will be back?" I ask. I try moving my other arm.

"The scientist in charge of this project." He says with bitterness in his voice. I stare at him. "What project, just how long have you been here?" I ask.

He stays silent and stares at the ceiling. I look away from him as I realize he won't say anything. I lift up one of my legs just as a door opens. I put my leg down and look at the door.

A male person in a lab coat enters, he sees me and smiles. "Morning sleepyhead." He says with familiarity.

I stare at him. "Why must you do that to every new arrival?" The boy says angrily. Every new arrival? "It's to entertain me, so just shush it Josh." The scientist tells him. I look at Josh. Is his name Josh or a name he just uses to call him?

Josh struggles to get out and he looks like he wants to rip the scientist's head off, it frightens me a little.

"Ok, so Melissa today I'm going to inject some medicine for you. It'll help you learn the truth." The scientist says. He picks up a needle and flicks it as little squirts of water comes out. I squirm as I see the needle.

I clear my threat. "What truth?" I ask nervously. He smiles and comes closer. "You'll find out." He says taunting.

"Creep!" Josh shouts. Josh furiously tries to get out of his restrains. My eyes stay on the needle as I try to squirm away even though it's completely useless.

The scientist puts the needle in my arm. My vision starts to get groggily and I look at the scientists. Fear starts in my heart as I look at the scientist, I see my father. What kind of trick is this? My vision blacks out.