Escape

Chapter 20

"Stop buying so many candies," I begged Michael, who almost filled our shopping cart with all sorts of candies and other sweets he could find in the departmental store, nearest to our facility.

"All these people have been doing is making us run miles while they serve us cardboard to eat, you can't stop me. I AM BUYING ALL OF THESE," He yelled out the last part.

People around stopped to stare at us, some passing a displeased look. I sheepishly smiled at them and mumbled a quiet sorry, instantly pushing the cart and pulling Michael with me to the next aisle before he could empty the next shelf of candy in the cart.

We decided to stop at the departmental store after our morning jog, to buy some actual food. Our health instructor has put us into a strict diet and a routine of exercise that we did daily.

Leaving that, we have been also involved in various other self-defence skills. Our shooting has effectively improved. We are also being trained on how to use other weapons, handling knives, combat moves, tackling methods. Using numerous other gadgets, installing trackers, hiding a camera and whatnot. We have been working day and night, trying to not repeat what happened before. It has been three weeks since the incident at the hospital. Her face always flashes in front of my eyes, whenever I land a punch in the gym, whenever I shoot a gun in the arena, whenever I ease myself down after running miles every morning. Reminding myself why I am here, who I am fighting for, who we all are against, risking our lives.

"Hey, shall we head to check out?" Michael asked, breaking me out of the trance.

"Yeah," I said silently, passing a smile at him, he nodded and started pushing the cart towards the cashier. The wheels of the shopping cart speeding on the smooth tiled floor. Faint beeping noise from the cash counter could be heard amidst the chatter and activities in the store. I see kids, of my age, goofing around buying whatever they like while they hang out with their friends. Their face, smiling, their act, careless. They are not looking behind their shoulder expecting an attack. Their hands held skateboards, keys and books, not guns and knives like mine. Two people of the same age, yet the lives so contrast that no one would even like to dream of as there's.

Sighing, I looked ahead at the line and saw we were next.

"We split the bill," I said to Michael.

"Okay," Michael agreed. I smiled and got my wallet out. We got allowances every month from the facility for our necessities. My card balance was almost full, as I hardly bought anything.

Paying the bill, we moved out. Carrying the groceries out, we picked up the bags and started walking towards the building.

The scenery was so different yet so similar to the place I used to live at. The place where my home was. The same place where my home was snatched away. Walking down towards the facility my head started to wonder how my life has changed. From walking to school and back to walking into the most protected facility in the whole world. From having no one to talk to, to finding these three, Brian, Michael and Noah who have taken a place in my heart. A very special place in a very short period of time.

My face held a smile as I walked in and nodded my head to all the familiar people inside, starting their day, and some going to their rooms as their night shift ended.

We had an hour for taking shower and getting ready for the day.

Walking to our rooms, I saw Brian and Noah standing in the hallway. Brian's face was covered in sweat, his shirt bunched in his one hand, while his torso glistened under the lights of the hallway. My eyes started to roam around his tattoo, his toned back. Clearing my throat, I moved my gaze away as we started to get nearer to them.