The Misfire:Book 1 (Newt || A TMR Fanfiction)

35. Memories: Maria Mitchell

I was shoved inside the back of a truck. My hands were tied and armed men were with me as well. I scanned my surroundings; nothing I could use to escape. I closed my eyes and wished this was all just a nightmare, but when I opened them, I was still there. My eyes were still burning from crying too much and my throat became dry from all the screaming. I just wanted to hug my papa. But he was gone.

The vehicle came to a halt and the armed men dragged me out. I struggled to break free but they were too strong. One of them pointed a gun at me and motioned for me to shut my mouth and follow him. I looked at his mask-covered face, anger burning in my eyes before I ran as fast as I could to get away. But my weak legs couldn't carry me and I stumbled on the ground, which felt more like sand.

The place was spinning. My surroundings began to warp, loud, angry and distorted voices crescending before everything stopped. I was now at a different place.

"Hello." A lady greeted.

I sat up on a neat, white bed in a clean room. The only thing in my mind right now was to get out of here. A lady was standing beside my bed. She was wearing a white coat. This was the first time I've seen someone else who's not a man.

"It's alright, you're safe now. I'm a doctor and I can help you. No need to be afraid," She smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder, "Can you tell me your name?"

I didn't answer and stooped down the blanket. I realized I was no longer wearing my old clothes but something fresh that had a nice scent. I glanced at the side of the room and found my bag, hoping nobody touched my stuff.

"Dear, what's your name?"

"(Y/N)." I muttered and the lady smiled.

"I'm Doctor Cooper. Don't worry. I'm not going to harm you. I'm here to make sure you're in the best of health. I've been told that you had a gift that could be useful in the department."

She stood up and pulled a metal cart-looking table and positioned it near my bed. She took out a syringe that looked exactly like what my papa used and injected my shoulder. I thought that was it but she pulled another set of syringes -- a shucking lot of them. She applied something on my arm and assisted me to lie down.

"This will only be for a bit." She smiled before everything turned black again.

There was a slight change of routine because I spent the following days locked in the same room. Different doctors came in to check and monitor my state. They gave me tests regarding my gift as a clairvoyant. I've been put to therapy on a regular basis since they found out about my speech impairment which was heavily influenced by my traumatizing past. It was a slow process but I learned how to read and do things other than staring at nothing. The therapy couldn't fully get rid of my stuttering, unfortunately. The doctors educated me with things I've been deprived of. Until one day, they changed something important to me.

"Starting now, you'll no longer be (Y/N)," Mary spoke gently as she handed me a nutrition bar, "WCKD decided to give you a brand new name, Maya."

"Maya? The fuck is that?" I grumbled. Mary's eyes widened at the sudden use of vulgar language coming from someone still so young.

"There's no need to be upset, dear. Since you arrived here, that meant you were already a different person. You now have the chance to start new."

"I don't want that."

"You don't have a choice. It's for your own good. They'll punish you if you disagree," She sighed deeply and pursed her lips before continuing, "You are named after someone who discovered Miss Mitchell's Comet. That's somethig not a lot of people can achieve."

"I don't care." I frowned.

"Please, Maya. Don't do this to yourself." Her soft voice trembled.

"Don't....don't call me that."

I felt so lost and enraged ever since I got here but when I stared at her sleepy eyes, in some way, I felt hopeful. Hopeful that maybe things are going to be okay. Being an ignorant and sickly coward was neither doing any good.

Mary stood up and handed me my bag. I opened and took out the radio.

"Is that yours?"

I nodded my head. She smiled and started to extend her hand to touch the radio but I quickly jerked it away from her.

"You killed him." I scowled while glaring at her. Her smile vanished and an upset expression replaced instead. She clenched her hand before letting it rest back on the bed. I hugged the radio closer, thinking it would make me feel better. Mary sniffled and left the room all of a sudden.

When the next appointed doctor came in to check and test me, I decided to unleash my stubborn and aggressive side. I had an unusual desire to kill someone. I wanted to be violent for some reason.

"Hello Maya, I am Dr. Fitrei and I'll.."

"Don't call me that!" I growled.

"Well, that's your new name."

"Mention that name....that name again, I'll k-kill you."

Dr. Fitrei quickly wrote something down before looking at me again. "Well, it appears that therapy is not as effective as we hope. But don't worry, Ma..."

"Shut up!" I screamed and started throwing things at the doctor. Before she could even call for the others, I instantly pounced on her back and attacked her. I wrapped a single arm around her neck in a tight chokehold. She tried to scream for help and to get me off her. But her desperation only fueled my rampage.

I ripped a chunk of her short brown hair using my teeth, causing her to wail in pain. All those rage that had been building up inside me was unleashed to the poor doctor. Even I was terrified by my behavior because it felt like I was slowly descending into madness. Her screams were strangely pleasant to my ears. She tried slamming me against the walls but it only made me angrier. I dug my teeth on her shoulders until I could taste blood seeping out of her pale skin. Several doctors came rushing into the room and when they arrived, somebody injected my neck and my body felt like it was being punctured by a thousand nails. I plopped to the floor, shaking and gasping for air.

"Dr. Fitrei, what happened?" One of the doctors asked.

"Can't you tell? She attacked me."

I slowly lifted my head up and saw a familiar young boy and girl by the door standing beside the doctors. Dr. Fitrei diverted her attention back to me as I laid on the floor helplessly.

"There are consequences for your actions, Maya. You learned it the hard, painful way." She warned before exiting the room together with the others, living me limp on the cold floor, whimpering and begging for my misery to end.

"Go.....to...hell." I whispered before drifting again into unconsciousness.

[end]