010

Part Two

"Uh, honey are you okay?" She asks, looking me over again.
"She might not-"
"Shh!" The Woman snaps at the teenager, jingling her keys at him.
"I'm fine." I reply, she looks surprised I can even talk.
"She talks." The teen says, looking even more shocked. Just then the woman snatches my wrist and yanks up my sloppy sleeve, revealing my number.
"She's one of them." The Woman says, turning to the teen with wide eyes. I snap my hand back, her grip was gentle, but I hate my number, the way it stares at me, reminding me who I am, and what they've done to me.
"Who are you?" I ask, I can't call her "the woman" forever.
"I- I'm Joyce and uh, this, this is my son Jonathan." She answers, pointing to the teen. "Sweetie, uh, where did you come from?"
"Home." I point towards the lab, it's the only home I remember. Again she turns back to him. Jonathan seems uncomfortable, but the woman, Joyce looks more calm.
Someone raps on the back door, and yells something I don't pick up. Then Jonathan looks as if he's remembered something he forgot, and races to the door, opening it to a smaller boy.
"Um, this is my other son, Will." Joyce says. I take a good look at him, he's on the thinner side, and has definitely inherited his mothers small frame. He stares at me, confused.
"Mom who is-"
"She's like Jane... she's got a number." She whispers, I can't help but eavesdrop. It's so good to hear real voices. Jonathan I now realize, he's much taller than she is. I've never seen a whole family before, it's kind of sweet, I guess. Something thumps outside and I jump, i still feel like someone is after me. But I'm sure they're all gone. I hope they're all gone. And then I come to realize:
"Did you say I'm like someone? Do you know someone with a number?" I question, hungry for the answer.
"I- I think we do." Joyce replies, confirming what I heard. My mind races. One of my sisters is alive...
Joyce told me earlier that I was freezing, and I needed a bath. She led me to a room they called the bathroom. Father told me about a bath, but the baths were different at the lab, this is only a tub full of water. The small woman insisted I warm up and just clean myself. I know how, I just haven't done it in awhile, and it must be obvious. So after hesitating, I test the water, it's warm, definitely not what I'm used to, father made us bathe in sometimes cold or room temperature water. Im thankful just to sit and relax.
After a few minutes, I feel a tear roll down my cheek. Someone I don't know cares for me more than my own father. I'm crying. Father didn't like it when I cried. He'd make me do more, work more. I try to shake off my feelings, it's never going to happen again. I lay back, and just float. I'm not sure how long I float for, but I know that suddenly I feel calm, like something here is good for me. I feel safe. I feel at home. Before I know it, the woman knocks on the door, snapping me back. I stand up, and slide, catching sight of myself in the mirror. I haven't seen myself in a really long time, the mirrors I couldn't use because I'd get seen, but now, I can see...
My hair is dark red, it's wavy and bouncy, my nose is thin and long, I'm taller than I thought, and pale. I hop out of the tub and run to the door, opening it only enough to see Joyce's face. She hands me something new to wear, I'm overjoyed. They're soft and clean but smell of cigarettes. I pull the top over my head and slip into the bottoms, my new clothes fit well.