The Fallen

Kat

You don't understand because you're not one of us.

Emms's words echo in my mind as I drift off again from listening to Blake. For the past twenty minutes of changing into our uniforms, she has been telling me about how much she hates her mathematics class.

"I don't understand how people get everything in that class. Especially Danny! Oh my, that guy is like a genius. Thank God he's in that class because what would have been ...." She stops for the third time to shake me back to reality. "Kat? Are you listening?"

I put my thumb on the black glass beside my glassed box on the wall. Immediately, a small sound of air starts blowing inside my box with my regular clothes in it. All over the wall, there are so many glassed boxes, each carrying different colors inside of it depending on that person's outfit.

"Uh yeah. You were telling me that you hate that class." I don't even convince myself as I lean on the wall and wipe my clammy hands on my tight leggings. I'm still getting used to how they adjust with your size and height. Everything moves in a pixely form, including the shoes.

Blake puts on her shirt and its blue pixely movement starts it's job on her as it turns into a long sleeve this time. I would be watching it's formation with awe if I weren't so distracted by the voices in my head. Blake watches me with concern. She knows what's on my mind.

"Hey." I look up from a spot on the shiny black floor beneath my feet. She quickly does the last process of dressing up and leans on the wall next to me.

"You okay?" Her kind eyes bring tears to my eyes. Her softness seems to bring such a blurry memory and a familiar feeling of peace.

"Yeah. I'm fine. It's just..." I can't seem to find the words even if I'm with her. "I'm just a little tired."

"It's about Emms, right?"

I don't say anything at all this time. It's amazing how she knows me so well. We haven't even known each other our whole lives and yet she can read me like a book. Or...that's what I think.

Blake does a sad sigh and says, "You know she didn't mean it."

"Yeah I know," I lie.

"Look we're all messed up from yesterday. All we need to do is forget about it." Blake starts walking out the door.

The announcer on the wall has given us five minutes to be in our positions outside. I follow her outside and a cold breeze immediately hits my bare arms. I wish my outfit would have chosen long sleeves for me today.

As I hug myself, I continue the conversation. "I know and I think it's the best thing to do right now, but I'm....I guess I'm just worried about Emms."

"Why do you say that?" I don't have to look at Blake to know that she's doing her confused frown.

"It's just the things she says. They're just...they're too dangerous." I have to be careful with Blake about what I say about Emms. Even though she is my "sister," she is much closer with Emms.

To my surprise, Blake nods in agreement. "I know what you mean, but we still shouldn't fight like you guys did in the morning. That was really...it was horrible."

"Yeah," I say sadly. We look at our bracelets when it vibrates on our skin.

On the first day, we were amazed when we put our wrists under a neon hole in the wall as we entered the locker room. A red light and a loud beeping sound started when the woman in charge of the locker rooms explained that the installation was done. As we walked out, the letters on our bracelets immediately changed into the designated building we were supposed to be in for that hour. With amazement, we watched as our wrists glew with neon numbers.