The Equinox **DISCONTINUED**

Are You Running or Fighting?

The walk to their rooms was very quiet. The only noticeable sounds were Adam's heavy breath and the click, clack of Crystal's heels. The hallway was long and narrow, with a few tiny windows perfectly spread out from each other. Darkness was the only thing that could be seen on the other side.

The girl next to Adam tapped his shoulder, just like she had in the taxi. "What do you think they're gonna do with us?" she whispered.

Adam shrugged. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"Well, if I thought anything, I wouldn't have asked."

Adam opened his mouth to reply to the girl, but before he could snap back, Crystal stopped walking and spoke. "Here we are!" She motioned to two different doors. One was dark, the other light, and they were both covered with odd symbols. "Now, there are bunks set up already. You don't get to choose, because you've been assigned one: there will be a nametag on the frame. There are also a few changes of clothes. Make yourselves at home." Crystal didn't wait for questions. Instead, she began to leave, walking down the hallway with quick, purposeful steps.

Adam glanced at the girl next to him. She took a deep breath in before grabbing the door handle. Adam froze, not wanting to go inside. "Wait,"  He said. "I never caught your name."  He hoped he  could stall her.

The girl didn't turn to meet Adam's frantic eyes. "I never threw it ," she said before walking into the room. The door clicked behind her.

Adam took a deep breath and looked at the door. He had no clue what would be behind it, but he knew it would be something bad. He stood there, waiting, staring at the door, trying to stretch out time. Maybe he would never have to go in. Adam smiled at the thought. Maybe he could just leave.

He was just about to turn around and make a break for the room where the taxi parked when the door swung open. Adam's breath caught in his throat. A man stood there lazily with a questioning look. "You coming in or what?" he asked.

Adam met the man's eyes briefly.

"Well?"

He ran. He didn't want to go into that room. He didn't want to be here. All Adam wanted was to go back to school and graduate. He wanted to live his life normally, not do whatever job the people here were going to force him to.

The man's voice sounded behind him. "We gotta runner!"

Adam shivered at the words, wondering what would happen to him now. Hurried and excited voices filled the background. Adam glanced behind him, but no one was there. He sighed, closed his eyes, and ran faster. He could make it. He remembered the path Crystal had took him down to get to the room.

Adam opened his eyes. He was close now. He could see the large double doors that led into the entrance room. He pushed the doors open with a silent yell of triumph, but he crashed into something on the other side.

Adam fell to the floor. He looked up. The taxi driver, Alan, looked down on him, only now, he seemed twice a as big as Adam remembered him. "You do realize New York is over halfway across the country, and even if you did escape, you wouldn't be able to make it home, right?" He said.

Adam stayed completely still, frozen in fear and shock.

Alan picked Adam up by the arm, holding him high off the ground. He started walking, letting Adam hang freely from his wrist.

Adam lashed out with his other arm and kicked his feet, only to hit nothing. "Put me down!" he yelled.

Alan laughed. "Sorry, kid. I can't do that."

Adam shouted his frustration and kicked again, this time hitting Alan's side. "I said, put me down!"

"If you insist..." Alan dropped Adam, letting him fall to the floor before grabbing him by the ankle and dragging him back to the room.