Child Control

Downstairs

I woke up when the lights turned on and Tink and Raynett started moving around. I opened my eyes to see Tink and raynett getting out of bed and stretching. I did the same and followed them out of the room to the cafeteria to eat and quick breakfast. We ate together silently, each of us lost in our thoughts. I was wondering what was going to happen today when Sunny sat down next to me. I smiled and her and gave her a quick hug.

"How did you sleep?" I asked her.

"Good. I felt better since I wasn't sleeping alone." My smile faltered at her statement but I kept it up so she wouldn't know what she said bothered me. She was only a child but then again, we all were.

While everyone was eating David came in and stood at the front of the room for an announcement.

"Finish eating quickly you guys, we should start moving in the next 5-10 minutes." We all looked at each other and were done eating within 5 minutes and ready in the room we first came in. I guess we didn't have to rush because David didn't come in until 8 minutes after he gave his announcement.

He didn't say anything but went to the front of the group, opened the door and led us down another set of stairs. I walked with Sunny, Raynett, and Tink, who I had quietly introduced during breakfast and made my way down.

As I walked I let my thoughts drift. I wonder what awaits us at the bottom of the stairway? Can Child Control no longer get us? Then I thought about something I never had before. Why does Child control exist in the first place? It surprised me because I had never thought about why the Facility existed, only that it did and I did not like it.

I contemplated the answer to my questions as we walked and could find no answer. In all the things I was forced to learn under strict supervision like basic math, reading and writing, and basic science about nature, they had never once mentioned what the world was like before child control existed, or why they existed in the first place.

People who asked questions were punished, like me.

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I was trying to sleep on my cot, listening to the breathing of my three roommates. I liked my roommates. They were nice enough but afraid. They were always worried about getting in trouble with the guards and shushed me when I talked to them. I think they shushed me because when I talk to them I was usually asking a question or making a comment they didn't like. They were the same age as me but acted like they were older because they never got scolded.

The last time the guards "talked" to me I came back black and blue, with no questions answered might I add, and they said the next time they caught me talking to my roommates about taboo things they would move me to solitary confinement, but they wouldn't do that, right?

I was wrong.

"Hey 672?" I asked the cot next to me?"

"Don't talk to me 559. I'm not going to get in trouble for you."

"But I just have one question?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No!"

"Come on!" I continued to plead. I just wanted to talk to them. I was naturally very curious and it had to get out somehow. Finally, I heard her sigh in resignation.

"Fine. What is it?"

"What do you think it is like in the outside world-" I started to ask when the door suddenly slammed open. I snapped my mouth closed but it was too late. I knew they had heard me ask about the outside world and that was strictly forbidden. The guards don't usually check our rooms at night but every once in a while they make night rounds and I guess tonight was the night.