The Project

No One

-Arista's POV-

I couldn't eat anymore, the feeling of unease was too great and as it built inside me I knew I had to get out of this crowded room. I didn't even pick up my tray, I stood abruptly and without thinking ran through the crowd, ignoring the protests and curses that were being rained down on my head. I pushed and shoved, knocking over anyone who stood in my way with all my mental power focused on getting out of this place. Finally I made it against the flow of youth to the door and paused momentarily, whipping my head side to side in a temporary state of confusion.

I have no idea where I'm going.

I pick the hall which is less crowded and continue sprinting in that direction, which happens to be to the right. As it was less crowded I could pick up my pace and sprint like hell, giving vent to every feeling of unrest that had been simmering inside me for the past, what was it now, two days? Three? The rage I contain is my energy that pushes me faster and faster, my thoughts racing as they compete with the speed of my feet.

I was kidnapped. I am a number. I will never see my friends again. I will be used here to whatever purpose is seen fit for me. I am alone. I am nothing. And if I don't do something, I will die here in the darkness where children are treated like animals. I have to do something. I have to.

I skid to a stop, breathless.

What can I do?

I lean against the cool wall and slide down it so I am squatting a foot off the ground, enjoying the pain in my legs as they are forced into this position, because the pain lets me know I'm still alive. I look straight up at the white ceiling above me, I am now in the employee sector. My thoughts slow down with my heart rate, but they are still whirling through my head. I want to scream and beat the wall, but I can't bring my body to move from its current place.

What can I do?

I answer myself out-loud this time.

"Nothing. I can do nothing. Because I am trapped here and I don't know where here is. I am surrounded by people who will kill me if I look at them sideways. I am going to die. I am going to die here and no one will care."

My thoughts are cascading off my tongue and I am helpless as to how to stop them. I feel eyes on me and I slowly twist my head to my left, there he is. Looking at me with so much confusion, and at the same time understanding.

-Cade's POV-

God she runs fast.

I have been weaving through the many pissed off teens who were left in her wake, trying to catch up to her. The look on her face before she took off is still plastered across my mind, and it scared me. It was as though something fragile snapped and all hell inside her broke loose. Once out the door I turn right, following the faint sound of her footsteps. I force myself into a jog to attempt to keep her from doing something stupid which she seems to have a knack for.

Oh no...

She is headed to the employees only area, and if she bumps into just one of them she might as well kill herself. It'd be better than what they'd do to her. I round a bend and stop in my tracks, what I see shocks me. Arista is squatting, leaning against the wall and talking to herself.

I knew she was crazy but I didn't know it was this bad.

Stepping closer I catch a few words and they make my heart wrench. Not even for her, simply because I know every one of us have felt these thoughts upon arrival here, I've never heard the thoughts given voice though. It isn't something I want to hear, not from anyone.

She senses my presence and swivels her head to look at me, causing my heart to stop at the expression of sheer insanity on her face, with it is pure and utter torment. She laughs suddenly, a hollow laugh which causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. Standing she sways, and laughs again, her eyes looking like shattered sapphires.

Funny...I thought her eyes were grey or green.

Her lips part and a broken whisper escapes them, and the only word I catch is "no one." before she suddenly crumples to the ground.

Crap.

I stride over to her and check her pulse, which I can feel pounding away underneath her pale skin. Sighing I resign myself to the fact that I will have to carry her to her room because there is no way in hell I can wake her up right now. I slide her torso over my shoulder and lift, grunting at her weight. I have muscle, every guy here does, but a girl built like her is not easily lifted. She's not even that heavy come to think of it.

But she's not as light as her...

My mind hisses at me, dredging up horrific memories that I would rather not think of right now, so I shove them aside.

I reach her room after about five minutes of walking and some very odd looks, but there was no attempt to stop the man carrying the unconscious girl over his shoulder. I'm reminded of how apathatic everyone here is to each other, because someone should have at least asked some questions. I sling her limp body off my shoulder and lay her on the floor, her head elevated by the wall. I take her hand and pull it so it touches the control panel and the door vanishes. This time I pick her up with my left hand under her shoulders and my right hand under her knees, which balances her weight a little better. It's dark in her room but thats normal, the lights always shut off after the kid leaves. But as I lay her on the bed I realize that, as the light turns off when the kid leaves, it should also turn back on when the kid re-enters. And it's still pitch black in here aside from the shaft of light that is left by the open door. Suddenly the door clicks shut, leaving me in utter darkness.

This is not good.