Chapter 2 Untitled Chapter
CLAIRE
A chilly scream echoed from the cell down the hall, startling me awake. I looked around as a wave of relief washed over me, pleased with the fact that it wasn’t me.
It was selfish of me to think like that, but that is what the council institution had turned me into. Selfish, cold, miserable, sad…any negative emotions one could think of.
Letting my head rest against the harsh coldness of the concrete wall of my cell, I mentally drowned out the screams as I tried to drift back to sleep. It was a fruitless attempt, the weight of angst and agony the voice carried made it near impossible to fall asleep.
So I began tracing my fingers along the tiny cracks on the wall, drawing imaginary pictures of things I could still recall. However, within minutes, I lost track of the current image I was drawing which made me pause, scratching my head really hard to trigger the memory.
That was not a habit I was born with, instead it was a habit I had to develop for survival during the first weeks I was brought into the institution. When the pain gets too intense, I scratch myself, numbing out their pain and only focusing on the one I was inflicting on myself to trick my body into not reacting.
It worked…at least for a while. The more intense the experiment got, the harder it became for it to work until in a last separate result, I found my head to be a better spot. I scratched until I bleed out, coursing me uproot half of my hair.
The doctor was furious—my fingers stilled again, my head jerking upright involuntarily as the announcement speaker came on, announcing it was time for dinner.
My starving body hummed with excitement as I haven’t eaten anything since this morning. One only gets to eat twice a day if you were experimented on that day. It was a reward, a reward that’s worth the pain at the end of it.
Pushing my weakened body from the ground, I stood up, flinching away from the entrance silver gate of each cell block automatically began to stop. Pressing my back against the cold wall while panting heavily, I scratch my hair trying to still my racing heart.
Once the gates came to a halt, I quickly stepped out and joined the long queue moving slowly to the dining hall. I was the last person on the line until we arrived at the next cell and another person stepped onto the line.
The line continued that way until we arrived at the dining hall where the line finally scattered in various directions. Everyone went to get the meal of their choice while I stood rooted on the spot, confused and lost.
Barefooted, I rubbed my feet together, coming in terms with my environment. Moving in the opposite direction, I grabbed an empty tray and looked over my shoulder as I became aware of someone watching me.
It was a strange sensation because people were everyone in the institute along with cameras…that I was used to. After checking for a few seconds and not finding anybody’s eyes on me, I continued with what I was doing.
I chose a steak and a frozen pizza for dessert then found a table near the tall glass window, outlooking the forest. As I devoured the steak with my bare hands, I glanced into the forest, trying to distract myself from the sensation of being watched.
Looking into the deep forest, the thought of escaping never crossed my mind… Why would I want to leave? According to Dr. Gianna, I have everything I ever need.
As long as I behave and listen to her, she will reward me with good food and make sure my cell is always secured so I don’t get taken away to another doctor. I have always been good, and I don’t scream that much anymore.
At the end of every section, she always looks so proud of me and I want to always please her. Being in my cell all day was lonely to the point where I’m now looking forward to our sections together, it’s the only time I get to speak with someone other than myself.
The steak was gone within minutes and even though I was feeling a little full, I pulled the pizza plate closer as I didn’t know when next I would be allowed to have a meal again.
Again, I felt the eyes on me, coursing me to shoot a quick look over my shoulder as the hairs at the back of my neck stood up like tiny needles. Everyone was busy with their meals like I expected and the guards? They continued patrolling as usual until my eyes rested on a certain one not far into the distance.
Like the rest, he was wearing his mask, and carrying a giant weapon as well. My eyes moved slowly up his body until our eyes met and held…
A shiver passed through my body, coursing my blood to run hot and cold at the same time. How is it that I sense a familiarity to this guard when I knew very well I have never seen him a day in my life until today.
Actually, speaking of life, where does mine begin exactly? Because I certainly did not grow up in the institution—or did I?
Thinking hurts my head so to stop myself from thinking too much about it, I pulled at it my hair, closing at the satisfaction that whelmed me. Swallowing hard, I darted my gaze away from the guard to focus on my frozen pizza.
In the distance, an alarm goes off, announcing that dinner time was over. I stood up immediately, almost losing my footing because I was too conscious of the guard eyes on me.
Did Gianna order him to keep an eye on me? Did I mess up? Did I eat the pizza wrong? Meals like that were very foreign to me and I still struggle to eat them.
Gripping the edges of my tray, I dropped them and joined the line that was starting to form back to the cell floor. In an effort not to look in the guard’s direction again, I kept my head really down when it was my turn to walk past them.
However, I was abruptly snatched out of line and slammed against the wall. I gasped, coming face to face with the same guard I was trying to avoid. Panic swells up inside my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe.
I looked back at the line, tears rolling down my face. If Gianna knows I’m not in my cell, she’s going to be disappointed and that will make her punish me.
I do not want to be punished.
I want to be on my best behavior.
My thoughts melted away like it was never there as the stranger tilted my face towards his, his hands quivering against my face. An action that aroused both my puzzlement and curiosity.
“Claire…” He breathed, brushing a lock of my hair away from my face.
Claire?
I echoed the name, something inside me was reaching, it felt so close but yet I could never seem to get to it. This isn’t the first time I will be feeling this way but this man…this stranger, scares me in a way I know Gianna will not be pleased.
“Please! Let me go! I need to be in my cell.” I pleaded, now close to tears.
“My Claire…it’s me Hunter.” His fingers move unsteadily across my face as he continues to speak, his voice deep and full of emotions. “I will get you out of here, I vow to you…”