The Experimentals: Choose your own adventure

Part 1: The Red Door

Sariya's eyes fluttered and she could feel her head pounding like a migraine she had never experienced before. Her body felt heavy and stiff as she tried to sit up, but she realized she couldn't. She saw metal prongs across her body as she laid on a cool slab. There was enough room for her to wiggle out if she could, but she found she could not escape. She looked about the sparse, white room strangely smelling of formaldehyde and bleach, trying to make out where she was. The last thing she remembered was throwing a bunch of things into her backpack and sneaking out the 2nd story bedroom of her house. On her way out, she peered into the bedroom of her mom and step-father, who slept soundly in the dim glow of their television. She wanted to tell her that she loved her and she was sorry, but knew she couldn't. Next, she tip-toed into the twin's room and kissed Zach and Joe on their foreheads and ran her hand through their curly hair. She would miss them the most, but perhaps they would forgive her in time. Maybe they would understand one day.

The night air nipped at her and she clutched her sweater closer as she walked down the dark alleyway. She could see the brightness of the full moon reflected in the puddles on the glistening cement and wondered how such beauty could exist in the ugliness of the world. Sariya walked through her familiar neighborhood, where Rafi lived on the corner and waited to walk with her to school every day, and the next street over was where she spent countless nights at Mareka's house as they had late-night conversations while eating popcorn. She passed the corner store, where she bought chips and soda and the occasional grocery item if her mother forgot something for dinner. She walked until she reached one of the main roads and stood on the side with her thumb out, trying to act as normal as possible so someone would pick her up in the middle of the night. She almost gave up until a blue sedan pulled up and she hopped in. That was the last thing she remembered.

A soft, blue light flashed above a door, and the door slid up to reveal a man in white scrubs and glasses. He walked in and sat down before her. "I see you're awake. I'm going to remove the constraints around you, but you must promise not to do anything rash. I'm here to help you escape." Sariya agreed and he pressed on the panel in front of her and the metal prongs retracted into the sides.

Sariya sat up groggy and dizzy. "Where am I? Who are you?"

He smiled. "My name is Tom. I'm from where you are, too. I mean, I was at one point before they took me."

Sariya looked at him warily. "Is this a secret, government facility?"

He smiled once again. "'Fraid not. You wouldn't believe me if I told you, and we don't have time right now. All you need to know is that the Aceiavay have taken you. They like to take people who are runaways, worthless, or homeless because no one will notice. No one will report you missing. They take a lot of people. Some are just slave labor, and some have specialized skills. Apparently, you are very special and we've been waiting for you."

Sariya placed her arms on the table to steady herself. "I'm not understanding you. You don't make any sense. I'm not special and I don't know why anyone would take me. Just tell me where am!"

Tom looked at her. "It's nice to speak English without a translator. What's going on in the world now? Who won the pennant this year?"

"Listen, this is freaking me out. If you won't answer my questions, just tell me how you're going to help me escape."

Tom sighed. "You'll have to zap me out cold, then cut off my hand. You'll need it to grant you access through the doors. You have to be quick, or they will catch you."

Sariya looked around. "Is this some sick joke? Are you just taping this as a stunt? I'm not going to chop off your hand! You haven't told me anything useful."

"Like I said, we don't have a lot of time. If you don't do as I say, they will come in exactly 23 minutes and execute you. If you don't want that to happen, you need to follow my directions. Don't worry. It's pretty painless. I've taken some tranquilizers and all you need to do is use this gadget to stun me and then my hand. Once you get out, you'll be out there. Try not to get taken again. You have to lay low until Luke finds you. He'll take you to the The People and try to get you back home. If that's what you want. You're not where you think you are, Sariya. You're a long ways from home. They finally located you and waited for the right time to grab you because they're afraid of you. They want you gone, but you can escape. I'll give you a few things to help you." Tom handed her two ear pieces, a blue-beaded necklace, and a pewter ring in the shape of a ladybug that glowed orange. "Put these on. The ear pieces and necklace will translate so you can understand others and they you. This ring contains an A.I. I designed her to look like Tinkerbelle."

He placed the ring on her and tapped it. A small, see-through figurine that was mostly light appeared from the ring and landed on her shoulder. "My name is JoJo. How can I help you?"

Sariya stared in amazement at the ball of light perched on her shoulder. "Where am I? Am I on drugs right now? What am I looking at?"

The figurine giggled. "Tom designed me to help you out on your journey. He doesn't have time to explain anything to you, so when you need help, just tap on your ring and I'll appear. I'm going back now."

With that, the fairy disappeared back into the ring. Sariya's heart raced as she looked at the ring on her hand. "Okay, I'm officially scared."

Tom taped the panel and the whole wall in front of them became a projection of gray robots marching in two lines down a hallway. "Now, that's scary. They're coming for you in a while. If you want to get a jump on them, I would suggest you start the process." He handed her the white bar he held earlier. "This first button will send a shock through me and I'll be out cold. The second one will slice through my hand to take with you. It's the only way out."

"Why can't you just come with me?"

He smiled. "Everyone is tagged, so they would find me immediately and you. They haven't tagged you yet because you're to be terminated soon. The decision is yours. Are you ready?"

Use white bar                              Don't use white bar