Messier-17

Chapter 2

I look into his eyes and see all the emotions lying just beyond the surface: Guilt, regret, pain, but among all the negative emotions and thoughts that must be running through his head, the strongest of them all; fear.

He is unbelievably terrified. Terrified of the fact that he is going to die by my hands, an assassin who is supposed to get her job done without hesitation, but has failed even that. A machine that isn't supposed to feel pity or remorse for her victims, a murderer who was stripped of her morals and given powers she couldn't comprehend. A puppet who's puppeteer is a psychopath. And most of all, a girl who was taken from her family and friends to be turned into something she despised the most: A monster. But even still, I obey. I obey the horrible people who did this to me. Why? I don't know. I don't know anything but what I was trained relentlessly into being. I don't know who I am. I don't remember anything at all. I can't even remember my own damn name. It both pisses me off, and terrifies me to no end. I am horrified of the things I've done. But I can't stop. I can't stop obeying what's been programmed into me since the night I was stolen from my home. But how do I know that? How do I know I was taken? How do I know anything? Honestly, I don't know. I hate it. I hate how confused I am. So even as I set his veins on fire and watch him turn into dust, I go back.

I go back to that god forsaken place that puts me in excruciating pain to make me forget again, and again and again, until I can't remember how much I hate these horrible people. Until I don't even remember what hate feels like. And putting me into cryogenic sleep for what feels an eternity of empty, emotionless, darkness until they need their merciless killing machine again. Why me? Why did they choose me to be their weapon? Why turn me into this monster? But I wouldn't wish this hell on anyone else. So I guess that's why. Why I keep coming back. Because this is the bottom of hell and I don't know if I can crawl my way out this time.

I gasp awake, panting hard and sweating profusely. I quickly scan the room I'm in and realize I'm still in the cell I fell asleep in. Everything seems to be in place, save for the burning feeling in my throat. Actually, the more I think about it, everything burns. Why does everything burn? I feel like my veins and arteries are on fire. I stand up, breathing a sigh of relief as I feel myself start to cool down. I walk over to my cell door and bang on it, gaining the attention of the soldiers guarding it. I hear one of the two guards shift their stance and open the slit in the door. "What?" He demands, probably aggravated that I disturbed the peace. "Water." I stated simply.

What? I'm thirsty. I might be practically half metal because of my legs, but I'm still human, I need water to survive. He rolls his eyes but grabs a walkie-talkie from his belt and makes eye contact with me while he speaks, "M-17 requests water." He looks away from me as he waits for a response. "Copy that. We'll send someone down." Was the reply he got. "You hear that? Water is on its way." The guard stated annoyingly in a sarcastically over dramatic tone. I simply turned and walked back to my cot. I hear the slot slam shut and a quiet sigh escapes my lips. My thoughts travel back to my dream. Was that a memory? I can't recall the last time I had a memory. I wonder why. God, I'm even thinking sarcastically. Why do I think so loudly? You know, I have a feeling I did a lot of talking to myself before I ended up here, in this – what is this? I don't even know where I actually am. Is this a prison? Or some joke of a hospital? No, that's not right. This wouldn't be a hospital. It would be some sort of experiment center where all the mad scientists are. You know what? I'm just gonna stop trying to make ridiculous guesses on where I am and just read the file that I apparently need to memorize. I pick up the file and skim through the pages. As I read about who I'm supposed to bring back here, I slowly come to the assumption that Director Volkov doesn't want her because she did something wrong, but Instead to use her skills.

Great. Another mad scientist.

I groan internally and roll my eyes. I continue looking through the file on Vanessa Black until I hear keys rattling and then the metal door opening. I jump to my feet and watch with calculating eyes as a different soldier walks halfway through the door and places a large plastic bottle of water on the floor before quickly exits my cell and slams the door closed. I didn't recognize him, he must be new. Poor kid. He didn't look to be a day over eighteen. I grab the water and gulp it down, finishing it just before the door opens again, revealing another soldier. He tossed me some clothes and closed the door. I lay the outfit on my bed before quickly putting it on. It's a pair of black shorts that only reveal my silver, metal legs, a green, camo, fitted tee-shirt and a black leather jacket. There aren't any shoes because I usually end up ruining them and then kicking them off anyway. So I just go barefoot. I actually don't mind the outfit or the person who put it together, Valarie actually has some fashion sense and doesn't act like I'm just a machine. She treats me like a human being, unlike everyone else in this hellhole. By the time night falls, I am prepared to leave, and bored out of my mind. There is nothing, and I mean nothing to do in this almost completely bare cell except re-read the file that I've already read a billion times and think until my brain hurts.