little did we know

Ella 3

"What?!" I shout. "I don't remember this! Let me see!" Maris willingly passes over the paper. I furiously read it over. "This... this makes no sense. Why would I sign that!" Maris has uncurled herself from the couch and is pacing around the room.

"It doesn't matter why you signed it. All that matters is that you did. I suppose you should go back to your room now. Josiah, will you take her?" Even though she worded it as a question, it was more of a demand. Josiah and I exit the room leaving a smiling Maris behind.

Josiah is fuming. I don't know why he's mad. I'm the one whos life has been sworn away.

"Sooooo... you promise you didn't know anything about this whole pledging my eternal loyalty to Maris?" I question Josiah quietly.

"No! I promise. I'm new in this department anyways. That's why Mr Galloway was with me. I'm kind of like an intern." We silently continue to my room. My door is still wide open, Mr G's body is nowhere to be found.

"Where is he?" I ask. Josiah shrugs.

"Maybe back in his room? I don't know." We stare awkwardly at each other for a few seconds.

"I'm at my room, Josiah. You can leave."

"Oh. Oh yeah! Um, I'll be back at about six, I'm supposed to escort you to supper... Bye," Josiah says. He spins on his heels and walks away.

Once I'm alone, I collapse on the bed. I'm stressing over the fact that Maris is in control of my life. I mean, could it really be that bad? What could Maris do to me anyways?

I see the book on the nightstand and pick it up. Maybe I can pass the time by reading. I flip open to a random page, quickly seeing words inked across the page by a pen. This isn't a story book. This is someone's notebook. It's made of black leather with the words journal engraved in it. It looks expensive. I flip back to the first page, immediately recognizing the printing. It's mine. I wrote it. Why don't I remember writing this?

April 24th

It's late. I just finished my training. It's crazy what they make us do in there. It makes me wonder what they are preparing us for. War? I don't know. Maris's corporation is planning something huge. And it's not what they say it is. The reason I'm starting this journal is to have proof of what they're doing. It needs to be written down on paper. Oh no. Footsteps. I've gotta go now because it might be Mr Gallow—

I look up from my journal. Why can't I remember this!? It's frustrating beyond words. I flip the page to the next entry.

April 26th

Yesterday we started with the pills. They say they're to make us stronger, to make us faster. I didn't take mine. Who knows what kind of poison they're putting into us? We did some more experiments today. I had to run 75 miles without stopping. Then they measured my heart rate and blood pressure and stuff.

75 miles?! That's a little bit extreme. I wonder how long it takes to run such a distance.

Maris told my my results were extraordinary. My heart rate only went up a tiny bit, and I finished in 6 hours. That means I was running at a pace of 5 minutes per mile, but Katelyn wasn't impressed. She tells me that it's because I probably took extra pills. If only she knew that I didn't take any. Katelyn told me that because of the attention I was getting, she was going to take extra pills tonight. I wonder how she's going to manage that. Mr. Galloway isn't going to give her more than Maris tells him to. I've gotta go now. It's pill time. I'm not taking mine. I'll just hide it underneath my tongue. Bye.

That's fast. I'm impressed with myself for running at that pace. Even though I know that this is my writing, it seems like I'm reading a book.) It doesn't feel like this has happened to me. I turn the page, and immediately indulge in the words.

April 27th

Katelyn is dead. I don't know how she managed, but Mr. Galloway told us that she somehow got ahold of extra pills and overdosed. Everyone but me just accepted it and moved on. How? How in the world did my best friend attain more pills? Did she bribe anyone? Maybe Mr Galloway did it voluntarily, I mean, Katelyn has always gotten on his nerves. Was Katelyn's death an accident? Or was it murder...?