Hello! I have beed really busy working on this story! Hope you like it! =D
 

Chapter 3

I opened my eyes to see bright lights flashing above me on a white ceiling.

Light, ceiling, light, ceiling. All the way down the hall until we entered a dark room.

I could tell I was on a stretcher and being carried. I could feel the leather straps binding deep into my skin. One around my shoulders and one around my waist and another around my ankles.

Everything was fuzzy, I couldn’t see straight and my hearing was like I was in a big cave and everything was echoing.

A spark tickled in the back of my mind, Max!

Were was he? Where was my brother?

I felt myself being set down in the dark room. The leather straps loosened and I could breathe.

My eyes wanted to close, my mind wanted to shut down, but somehow I forced them to stay awake.

I wanted to sit up so I could see where I was but I really couldn’t move. I couldn’t see anyone or anything.

I could only feel at this point. I felt someone slip their arm under my neck and push me into and upright position. I felt them push a cold glass to my lips, the contents burning my nose.

But my thirst got the better of me and I drank it all.

I felt sleepy again,and weak, the person let me sink back down onto the stretcher. My head hurt as it touched the floor. I could feel their cold stare on my face as I drifted off into sleep again.

The next morning...

I woke up to people rushing past an open door. I got up and poked my head out.

“Grab ‘er!” a man yelled, when he saw me.

Two men jumped on top of me and I crumpled at the pain in my side. They must have noticed.

“Get her to the sick bay.” one said to the other.

One of the men helped me to my feet and half dragged me down the hall.

He took a sharp turn making me trip. The man helped me up again and lead me to a room.

The people in the room turned their head to face me.

“Is that subject 20.68?” one asked.

“Yes.” the man replied.

“How fascinating...” another trailed off.

I was confused. Subject 20.68? What was that supposed to mean?

“Please sit.” A woman said coming towards me.

I sat on the bed she pointed to.

“You can lay down honey...” her mesmerizing voice drifting off.

I made a face of pain as the back of my head touched the pillow. I had a sore spot there from when my head hit the floor of the moving van.

The woman closed the space between us, “Does it hurt?” she asked.

A string of her blond hair fell from the tight bun at the top of her head. She pushed it back as I nodded.

“Why don’t you let me look at it?” she asked tilting her head one way.

The two other nurses resumed their work as the woman looked at the back of my head.

She brushed dried blood from her fingertips as she let me lay back down.

“It’s a small crack in your skull. It’s going to be sore for a little while, but as long as you rest well it will be okay.” and then she walked off.

I closed my eyes for the moment and listened to the noises around me. At times they seemed to blur together. At other times they seemed to be in slow motion.

“Emily!” I heard a voice say.

It took every last bit of strength to open my eyes.

“Emily! Glad to see you are awake!” said Max leaning over me.

I smiled.

“How’re you feeling?” he asked.

I nodded. Telling him I was okay.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Just my head.” I said barely above a whisper.

“Oh. These guys are miracle workers!” he said. “They fixed me up pretty good. It might be in your best interest to stay here.”

I nodded rubbing the back of my neck.

I closed my eyes again and I heard Max walk off. I must have fallen asleep at one point but I woke up and almost no one was around.

Some of the lights were turned off, the only lights that were visible to me were the office lights in the next room. I didn’t see anyone in there.

I sat up, sighing. I was sore all over, it wasn’t just my head.

The linoleum was cold against my bare feet, but it wiped away any lingering grogginess.

I padded through the halls ducking behind anything as someone would pass.

“You aren’t supposed to be out here.” a woman said behind me, as I ducked behind a large box in the hallway.

I stood up, squeezing my eyes shut, with my back to her. I was busted.

I turned around and saw her. She was pushing a wheelchair with a small figure in it. he figure was hunched over, I saw their tiny frame rise and fall as they took shallow breaths.

“I- I- I was looking for the bathroom.” I stammered looking from her to the small figure.

“Behind a box... come with me.” She took me just above the elbow. As another person came and took the little child away as the woman lead me down the hall.

She brought me to a tall man, I soon realized it was Michael.

“Watch your patient carefully.” with that she shoved me towards him.

He looked me up and down with his beady eyes.

“Ah, Emily... were you sneaking around? Well I have the perfect solution for that.” Michael said with an evil grin.

He took my arm like the woman had and lead me through a labyrinth of halls and doors.

As we approached a large metal door, I dug my heels in.

Micheal turned to me.

“Move it!” he spat in my face.

I stared at him with hatred in the depths of my eyes.

“I said MOVE IT!” He yelled taking a fistful of my hair and dragging me towards the door.

He opened it and shoved me inside. I landed on my knees and elbows.

As Michael closed the door he said, “Have a good night.”

And then I was plunged into darkness.

Chapter 4

I jumped back up and slammed my fist onto the door.

“Michael!” I screamed, pounding on the door. I knew he could hear me.

*    *    *

Michael

*    *    *

As I slammed the metal door shut I felt a pang of guilt. Emily... she was only 18, she shouldn’t be treated like this.

I shook my head to push that thought away. It didn’t matter, she would be dead by next week...

I heard pounding on the door behind me and I smiled. I knew it was her.

I kept walking.

Waking through the halls wasn’t an easy task. Nurses and doctors rushing to tend to the sick or hurt, kids being brought in off the streets everyday.

I dodged quickly to one side as a few men came running through with  stretcher.

On the stretcher was a young boy, probably 15, he had a large gash on his head.

He must have put up a fight... I thought.

*    *    *

Emily

*    *    *

I kept pounding, but I knew that Michael was gone. He didn’t care. I slid to the ground in the darkness. I felt a presence next to me. I slowly turned my head and I saw the girl again.

I had seen her once,on the bus. She was wearing the same clothes and this time she was holding a teddy bear.

“Emily...” she said in a bone-chilling voice.

“Hi?” I said quietly. The last time we had met she was telling me to watch out for ‘them’ they they would take me away.

“I thought I told you to be careful.” she said with her expression not changing.

“I... was careful...” I replied pulling my legs up against my chest.

“No, you weren't, you are here aren’t you?”

“Yes, but...” I started.

“No buts!” she said loudly.

I was silent.

“You are scheduled to die! Emily, you have to understand! We need to get you out of here.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“But- but- how?” I asked.

“Not easily.”

I controlled my breathing.

“How.. hard?”

“Well, I’ve seen how it ends and there is much pain and suffering.” her black eyes revealing nothing.

“What do you mean by, pain and suffering?” I asked shakily.

“I saw backstabbing, death, and much more.” she said starting to fade away.

“What where are you going!” I screamed.

“We will meet again...” and then she was completely gone.

I was in that vault for six days. I had waited that long with no food and no water. I was so happy to see the light on the other side of the door. I wanted to jump up and run out of her. But I remembered that these guys had great power over me.

The man came into the cell with what looked like a nightstick. I didn't think much of it until I saw the dazzling sparks fly out of one end.

My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe what was happening until it was too late. He was getting closer to me. I didn't move. He extended the rod and I felt a horrible shock on my side.

I jumped to my feet and stopped myself from throwing a punch to his face.

He hit a button on the side of the rod and sparks shot out again. I dodged it as it came towards my arm. The man smiled wildly and thrust it to my arm again. I caught it. His smile faded.

He took his free hand and shoved me towards the door. I stumbled and regained my balance.

"C'mon chickie!" the man teased, "We don't have all day!"

I glared at him with burning hatred. I wanted to go home! I wish this never had happened!

He lead me through a labyrinth they call hallways. The man stopped me at a door. He opened it.

"Go make friends!" he snarled and shoved me outside.

There were many other kids my age out there. I looked around for any possible ways to escape. There was a ten foot high chain-link fence surrounding the the yard. Barbed wire was placed atop the fence.

I scanned the people in the yard. I spotted Max.

I made my way over to him.

“Hey Emily.” he said lazily.

I smiled.

“How has your day been?”

“Fine.”

We heard a whistle and Max pushed me towards the fence.

“Max, what are we doing?” I asked.

“Keep moving!” he barked.

I ran with him to the fence. He jumped up onto the fence, looping his fingers through the openings.

“Hurry Emily!” he yelled down at me.

I started climbing after him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three gunshots rang out. Before I could make sense of that they WERE gunshots, I was hit...

I felt a horrible sting in my upper arm. I released the fence and fell to the ground. I saw Max and two other people jump to the other side of the fence.

“Max!” I choked out.

“Emily!”

I saw a giant mutant wolf pounce on him.

I watched as the creature tore my brother limb from limb.

“Max!” I screamed jumping up to the fence.

The last thing I saw was the creature chase after the other two people. Then I was out...