The Testing, a Merome Story

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

*Jerome's POV*

We sat on my bed this time, joking and laughing in the male ward before we had to go to sleep. 

But this time Hunter joins us. He's talking about how difficult it is to be leader of a ward.

"Yea, and this one time, there was a rabbit hybrid.  He got startled by any noise. He actually had these bunny ears and a cotton ball tail." Hunter says, laughing a bit.

"What was his name?" I ask.

"I think it was Vikk. I only knew him for a few days though." Hunter says. He pushed some of his brown hair out of his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

Mitch and I exchange glances. Vikk! He was one of our friends but he was taken on The Day two years ago.

"Is he still here? But like, not in this ward?" I ask, now excited at the prospect of one of my other friends being with me. Well, not excited that they'd be stuck here, but that I'd have another friend I've been missing.

"Jerome." Mitch says quietly. I turn my head to look at him. "Vikk died in testing." I see his eyes water.

"Well." Hunter interrupts. I look at him, now hopeful again. "Vikk didn't die in testing. He went in for another round of testing after a few days. He didn't come back. So he's either dead or in the cages."

"What are the cages?" I ask, trying not to lose my cool and strangle him for not telling me sooner.

"Okay." hunter leans in close and started whispering. "I'm about to tell you something, but you can't speak a word of it to anyone else."

Mitch and I both lean in as well. Mitch says, now whispering, "We promise we won't tell a soul." i nod and Hunter continues.

"There aren't as many deaths in testing as they lead you to believe. If you're to dangerous, or insane, they'll put you in the cages. They'll use harsher tests and treat you like an animal."

*Mitch's POV*

I look at Hunter's face closely. He's not kidding. Jerome looked like he was about to ask another question when the door opened. 

All of the boys stood, and I did as well, my mind still spinning. So Vikk is in one of those cages? Well, He could be dead, but still, I'm going to think as if he's still alive. 

A rabbit hybrid probably isn't dangerous. So the other possibility is.... he's insane? But Vikk seemed so stable back home. Yet again, I was too.

But is there another reason?

My thoughts get cut off by Dr. Lock walking into the room. 

"Hello boys!" Dr. Lock says, grinning. This can't be good.

"Many of you are probably worried about one of our newer ones, Damian." I look around to try and find Damian's face, but I realized I haven't seen him since Jerome got back from his Animal Test.

"I'm not sorry to tell you all that his tests had cancerous results. He will not make it. That's all. Goodnight." With that he left the room.

Only a few people looked shocked, Jerome included. I put my arm around his shoulders and tried to comfort him.

Hunter started walking away to his bed.

"Wait." Jerome said softly and Hunter stopped walking.

"What?"

"Are there any other reason someone is caged?" Jerome asked.

"If you try, or really want to, escape." Hunter says. The bell rings to go to bed and the lights go out.

A/N

Hai guys! I hope you like this chapter, thought it's basically learning things. Whelp, you take what you can get, right?

Anyway, comment your Thoughts/Opinions as you so choose!