Hi everyone! I'm back with a Darkest Minds Fanficition ready! I love this series so much! This story is basically about what was happening to other kids during the Darkest Minds book. Disclaimer: I do not own the Darkest Minds series. Hopefully you guys enjoy!

Small, I think. Just be small.

The sound of my classmates screaming and the smell of the smoke clouds my vision. When the soldiers in black came in, I didn't know who they were, but everyone else did. They reacted immediately, and started running in all directions. Then the lights went nuts, the fires started, objects went flying everywhere, the men would shout out for no reason. The chaos couldn't reach me here, though, here between the cases of books and the curtain. No teachers will find me. No soldiers can find me. They can't take me away. They can't see me.

I used to do this all the time. No, not hiding between bookcases. During school I would sink down into my chair so the teacher would not see me, and call on me to answer a question. I was too afraid, too shy. I never knew the answer. When kids started dying out of nowhere, I wanted to skip school altogether. But my parents never let me, they forced me to go. Recently my grades have been increasing and I felt more confident about my knowledge in school, so when I was called on, I answered.

Now I must remember how to be small again. My life depends on it.

We were in the middle of math class when it happened. We were learning about the digits of pi, and of course I knew many of them, more than most kids would. It seemed like a normal day, except for the fact that only half my class was alive. My parents wouldn't give me any details, only the name. IAAN. Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration. That's all I knew about it then.

Earlier that day I heard teachers in the halls whispering the words, "Collection Day." I had never heard the term before, so I just shrugged it off. It was a few seconds before the soldiers barged in when our teacher said that it was time for the collection, and to move in an orderly fashion.

The men in the black uniforms burst in, and the kids screamed. Fires started out of nowhere. Where did they come from? Textbooks and pencils flew around the room (were people throwing them?). It was pandemonium. Panic erupted inside me. The men were grabbing kids, punching, kicking. I had to hide.

I slipped into my hiding place between the bookcases. I only watched the other kids, fighting, being dragged away, screaming. What in the world was going on? The soldiers couldn't fight the kids off. Then the sound came.

It was agonizing. The noise ripped through my ears and began slamming my brain, determined to rip it to shreds. Even I couldn't stay quiet while I was supposed to be hiding. I screamed and screamed. Some kids passed out, some were bleeding, some were whimpering, and some just surrendered to the men in black. The room was emptied quickly, and the teacher was the only one left.

She seemed a bit shaken, but she knew this would happen. She began to tidy up the room, as if her own students weren't just dragged away against their will.

I have to get out. I have to run. I can't stay here. They will kill me. They will take me with the others.

With no real plan in mind, I jumped from my hiding spot, sprinted to the door, and darted out of the room.

"Hey! Stop!" The teacher shouted, but I was already gone. I sped through the halls and towards the front door. I burst through it, an action I immediately regretted.

The kids were outside, boarding buses. The soldiers made sure they were cooperating, and pushed them in, not caring if they tripped. All of them had zip ties on their wrists to restrain them. All looked like they had given up. I don't blame them, the machine that made that wretched sound was still in the soldiers' possession.

They hadn't seen me yet, though. Carefully, I tiptoed away from the buses. Slowly. Cautiously. I was quiet, I was small. Almost there, I told myself. Almost-

"Hey!"

I froze. Oh no. They saw me.

"Turn around!"

Obediently, I turned around, hands up.

"As a member of the Psi Special Forces, I am authorized to take you to Tristen, a rehabilitation camp."

Rehabilitation camp? What the heck? What is wrong with us? Why do we need to be rehabilitated?

"Now! Come here!" The soldier stared at me in the eye. He had zip ties in his hands, ready. I don't want to be locked up. I am not going with them.

I turned and ran. Shots rang around me. They were shooting at me. I ran as fast as I could, then dove behind the school where the woods were.

I skidded across the grass and fell. I panted and knelt in front of the bush. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping me conscious right now.

I heard footsteps.

"...went this way..."

"...fast for a kid..."

They were coming closer, I saw their shadows growing on the school's brick walls. I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna-

"Pssst!"

I turned sharply and smacked right into the bush. Did the bush just say something?

No. There was someone in the bush.

Two pairs of eyes were staring at me. I jumped in surprise. I could only contain my shout.

One pair of eyes was green, and one was blue. The one with the blue eyes was the one to speak.

"Come in here!" The one with the blue eyes whispered. A girl's voice. A kid's voice.

She reached out a hand, and I grabbed it. I was pulled in.

Yeah, I know it was short and it sucked, but things will get more interesting and chapters will become longer! Thanks for reading!