We're Broken People

Chapter Six | A New Friend

"So... Who are you again?" The boy stared at the cards as he spoke. His hand floated over the deck, splitting the cards, and dealt them out.

"I'm Gwen. And I'm here for the same reason you are." My mind shifted over to the game. "I'm awfully surprised you wanted to play this game. I mean, it's incredibly simple."

He sighed. "Then why are you losing? Do you have any 9's?"

"Go Fish. How long do we get to play?"

He looked at me, thinking. "I suppose you have your tests today. We might get an hour."

My heart stopped. I had almost forgotten about the tests.

The boy could see my fright plan as day. "Um... I think today you take the fear test?" When I didn't reply he kept talking. "You know, the test where they inject a serum into you and you live out your fears? The scientists watch and see how you can be helped." He paused. "Wait, after all the years you've been here, you've never taken this test?"

I turned to him. My head pounded, I couldn't face my fears. They would end up killing me, scarring me for life. "Are... Are you sure this is what happens?"

"Positive. It's why I'm still here. Do you have any 2's?"

I threw a card over to him. The game continued with no more conversation.

When it ended, I stood out of my chair and walked calmly to the door. "What did you say your name was again?"

A smile cracked onto his face. "Xavier. Xavier Fortris. Since we know each other's names, do we get to be friends?"

I chuckled, "Goodbye Xavier."

"Good luck on your test."

He got out of his chair and left the room with his personal guard waiting outside the door. My guard wouldn't be coming for another few minutes, so I was left alone with my thoughts.

.....
I felt the needle go into my neck and lights flashed before my eyes. Then, everything went dark
....

The dark room diminished all the light. My hands searched for a way out, but I was enclosed in the nightmare. I screamed until my throat was raw. My eyes burned, stung with the tears that fell endlessly down my face. Then the cold swept over me.

Even in the darkness I could see them. The Shadows here to reclaim their prize. My feet slipped under me and the floor came rushing up. The Shadows loomed closer as my hands clawed at the walls, echoing noises throughout the room. I crawled helplessly into the corner, curled up, and waited for the inevitable. It never came.

....

I stood with my back to a tree. The sun just rising in the horizon. I knew this day. Twelve years have only sharpened my memory of it.

In the distance stood a house. It was old, but beautiful. A young girl with black hair was swinging on a tire swing in the front yard. Her laughter bounced in the wind and landed in my ears. She was small, maybe four, and her smile radiated the meadow I stood in. Happiness flooded my system.

I looked upon the young girl, envying the normality of her life. But I turned away for fear of what was to come.

The smoke filled my nose and burned my throat as I breathed. The heat of the flamed penetrated the peaceful scene and the screams erupted from the house. My knees hit the ground as sobs racked my body. I couldn't do anything.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." My whisper was useless, but it dragged me back into reality.

....

I sat on the floor of the experiment room in front of a one way mirror. The doctors barged in through the door clapping and cheering. All around I heard:

"Good job, Miss Parker."

"Thank you for the help."

"You are doing just fine."

Yet, I sat there with a cold expression vivid in my features. I had tried so hard to run away from the past, but the scientists only dug it up and showed it as a presentation. They didn't know the pain or the fury that my broken body was made of.

I felt the guards lift me up and carry me to my room. The mattress sighed in agony as they sat me down, emotionless and frozen. They left me, alone and damaged, in the room staring at the walls.

....

Night came agonizingly slow. My mind drifted and sank into a sea of emotions. Sleep began washing over me, but a knock came at my door.

"Gwen, are you there?" The door creaked open, and in walked Xavier.

"Hello, would you like to go on an adventure?"

"How the hell did you get in here?"

Xavier dangled keys from his hand. "I stole them from one of the guards at lunch. It was that Marshall guy, the one who guards your room."

He walked over to me, the lite hallway shining brightly into my pitch black room. His shadow stretched across and came to my feet, I backed away.

A frown passed over his features, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Where would you like to go?" Xavier's hand tapped on his leg playing an imaginary piano. His brown hair was swept over his eyes, barely hiding the excitement beaming from them.

"Outside. I want to see the stars." My mind was made up quickly.

A sharp whistle pierced the air. "Okay Gwen, we'll go outside. But I can think of at least ten other places besides the cold outdoors." He held out his hand and gestured for me to come. "Let's go on our adventure."

For the first time in a long time, I found myself smiling out of happiness.