Experiment Number One (Slow Updates)

Chapter Two

"Bye!" I call to my friend, Samantha.

"Bye!" She calls back with a big smile. I keep walking towards home. Riiiing! I click the Talk button on my cell phone and hold it to my ear.

"How long will you be? A ten old shouldn't be out walking for so long!" My mom cries in my ear. She freaks out so easily. I wait a moment for her to calm down.

"Mom, it's okay. I'm taking the long way because Sammy wanted me to walk with her for a while. I'm going to cut through a few alleys and I'll be home in ten minutes."

"But-" I hang up the phone and put my headphones in my ear, cranking up the volume to its max. I veer left into the alleyway and turn my attention to the phone in my hands. Most of my friends don't have phones, but my parents are really worried about me. They got one for me to make sure they knew where I was at all times.

Hey pops up on my screen. Whoa, the hottest guy in school just texted me. I look up as I'm nearing the end of the alley. Hey Jake I say. The screech of a car catches my attention and I look up just in time to see a big black van with men racing towards me. Someone runs up and shoves a damp rag over my mouth and nose. My vision starts fading. I try to click the number one on my phone to speed dial my mom but the phone so clearly in front of  me is thrown from my hands by an unknown assailant.

Now I know I'm doomed. They won't even be able to track me.

My eyes shot open. I noticed that my breathing was quick and ragged. Adri sat next to me and gently rubbed my arm.

"Are you okay?" she asked, quietly. I blinked.

"Yeah, I'm- I'm fine. It's just a bad dream," I told her. Adri nodded and left the subject alone, seeing that it was too fresh in my mind.  I got out of bed and we started walking to the cafeteria.

"You were crying you know," Adri mumbled. I could believe it. My eyes felt raw and damp around the corners, cold from the soft breeze whle I walked down the hallway. We entered the cafeteria and saw that Jace was already sitting down and eating. I took a deep breath and tried to look like I was okay, quickly touching my sleeve to the edges of my eyes..

"Two pieces of toast please," I told the chef.

"Butter or jam?" My preference varied so he always asked.

"Butter," I said after a moment of hesitation. Adri ordered too and we sat down. Jace was nearly done with his food already.

"This stuff is so much better than hospital food usually is."

 I nodded weakly, trying desperately not to look gloomy. I must have failed because he looked up at me and stared.  "What's wrong?"

"I... just miss my family." He nodded.

"I know how that feels. How long have you been here anyway?"

"Six years and nine months." I answered. Jace almost choked on his food and his eyes widened showing off his gorgeous hazel irises. I watched his mouth open and close as he searched for the right words.

"I'm... I'm really sorry. Your family, what must they be thinking?" Tears welled up in my eyes. After a moment, I answered.

"I was brought into a special little room to watch a news report a week after I came here. My mom was on the TV crying. She said that she was sorry we fought and she hoped I'd come back home. She thought I ran away because of our fight the night before. I would give anything to be back there." Jace put down his fork and pushed his plate away. I wiped my tears away and tried to stop sobbing. I covered my blotchy, red face with my hands. "I can't even remember what she looks like."