Chapter 1

Two years ago...

"Patient number 132 escaped. Lock all doors and close the gates!", one of the men in white shouted into his communication device. "Elsa, you know what will happen when we get you. I don't think you want that. You are here for your own good, you don't deserve to live with the normal human beings."

I almost gave up, they taught me that I was a monster created by them, that I would be killed by the public out of fear, but they tortured me... "I'm leaving and I will do anything to do that." I began to run down the hall leaving the shouting voices behind me. Another set of guards block my path, "Please move I don't want to hurt you." I should've said that with more confidence.

The masked people laughed, "No we don't want to hurt you, number 132." They stopped laughing when icicles, impaled their bodies, lifting them up and their blood dripping down the ice.

I finally arrived to my apartment, my seventh maybe eighth if I count. When I got out of my car, the smell of weed and alcohol overwhelmed my senses and made me gag. I shook off the foul smell and went inside my room which wasn't much better. The walls had water stains, the kitchen was filthy, and the bathroom was horrendous.

"No wonder this was a cheap price," I mumbled to myself, who has been my friend for I'm not sure how long. I've never had any real friends either it has alway been me, myself, and I. It wasn't always that way, I remember having a home and a family, but after what I have been through I'm not sure if any of that is true.

I went back outside to grabs my bags, I have five things all together. Two bags of clothes, one bag for my necessities, which include, toothbrush, hair supplies, and etcetera. An air mattress and a box full of some of my valuables. I will try to decorate my living space and make it more alive, but each time I feel like I'm done, I have to move again. I will never have the luxury of happiness or content, that is what I have learned while I hid from my captors for the past two long years.

Once I placed my stuff on the floor and pumped up my air bed and plopped down on it stretching and felt as if I popped all my bones. My eyelids began to feel heavy and it wasn't going to be long until I sleep. I took a deep breath and closed them.

A growl came from my stomach startling me a tiny bit. I haven't ate since yesterday. I needed to get something to eat, so I pulled out my laptop, okay I guess I have one luxury and it's WIFI ,to look up nearby food places. One drew my attention, Wandering Oaken's Diner. I put the address in Google Maps on my phone and made it there safely without any cars following me or behind corners.

I walked inside to be welcomed by the delicious smell of burgers and coffee. I was immediately escorted to a small booth in the corner, isolated, just the way I like it. The surroundings was nice, it looked like a fifties malt shop, with a jukebox, black and white tile floors and the color red everywhere. I look at the waitresses and they have the classic look, but one in particular stood out.

She had bright red hair, I wasn't able to her eyes very well from this angle but they looked green. She was laughing and talking with all the customers. The girl seemed as if she had no problems at all with the world, just so happy and warm.

Oh she's coming this way. I felt as if something caught in my throat, she walked with such poise- nevermind she just tripped over her own feet. She dusted herself off and came to my table.

"Hi um I'm Anna I'll be your waitress for tonight, any drinks to start off with, gorgeous?" Her eyes grew wide they're teal not green, "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud. But I tend to do that when I'm nervous."

My mouth turned up at the corners, "I make you nervous?"

She blushed and crossed her arms over her chest, and chuckling nervously, "Um no of course not pft, I mean yes. No. Maybe? I don't know, but are you into women?" She turned her head to the side, "Anna you can't just ask people that."

I wasn't able to hold in my laugh, it felt strange, it was a genuine laugh. She gave me a warm feeling and I felt comfortable with her. No, I have to stay focused on running, hiding, conceal and don't -"In matter of fact I am into women." I instantly processed what I just said, and almost regretted it until Anna looked up with what I believe is hope in her eyes, they sparkled. Shit am I flirting?

She straightened herself up and cleared her throat, "Well um do know what you would like to order?"

I didn't look through the menu good enough, I was too busy thinking about this girl, "Do you have hot chocolate?" I came here for food…

"Yes we do. I love hot chocolate, it's one of my favorite things, well anything chocolate is my favorite. Is that all?"

I nodded not being able to form words because of how cute this person is in front of me. I shouldn't be thinking about this, I need to keep on track and avoid making strong connections with people. Could we could have a strong connection? No you can't. You'll hurt her.

Before I knew it a steaming cup of the drink was put in front of me. I didn't touch it for a while, the heat still bothers me.

Ten years ago

I saw the room next to me, it had a young girl twelve, or somewhere close to my age, but she was normal, she had parents who loved her. Yet she was taken from them and put here for tests and experiments.

The people in white stood outside the two way mirror staring at the two of us writing down notes for their sick and twisted minds. The window closed, so all I was able to see was my reflection. My chair began to freeze, I was scared, I knew that whenever the window closed, is when something bad is going to happen.

The girl in the other room looked over and I saw her sweating. Her room began to turned orange, she began to pant, she was dripping sweat at this time. The room glowed brighter and a scream for it to stop came from her mouth, nothing stopped, it never did.

My room was now slowly frosting over and the screaming in the room next to me faded into whimpers, cries. I saw the girl sweating and she looked burnt. I knew what was coming when the frost on the walls began to melt...

I stared at it a bit more until I finally reached out and took it. I looked at the red haired girl, she was on the other side of the diner now wiping tables down and still talking to her customers. This was my chance and I cooled the drink down with my hands by frosting the cup. Now it was warm enough not to burn when I drink it. I think it was the best I have ever had. It might have just been because she made it.

Anna smiled and walked back over, "Hi how is It?"

"This is really good, thank you."

"Um… can I ask you what your name is?"

I looked up and smiled, "Yeah my name's Elsa."

She reached out her hand, "My name's Anna, well you already knew that because I told you earlier."

I laughed quietly at the girl again, "Nice to meet you but I have to get going, it's kinda late." I hated leaving her but it was already eleven thirty.

Her face fell but perked back up again, "Oh of course well it was nice meeting you too. Have a good night!"

When I got back to the apartment my mattress had deflated. I went to grab the pump and plugged it into the wall. While it was refilling with air I went to change into some sweats and a loose shirt.

I came back to the bed, unplugged the pump and tried to get .comfortable on the cheap mattress. "Oh I almost forgot." I got up and opened the cardboard box and took out one of my favorite items. It was a simple night light, but it projected the aurora borealis across the ceiling. The colors shifted and moved, it relaxed me, it made feel warm.

I sighed, thinking about Anna from the diner. "She's nice, pretty, and just wow." I turned to my side, "If only I was normal. She shouldn't get close to me, I shouldn't get close to her either."

My heart was racing, I could feel the people in white staring at me through the fake mirror. I saw the frost that covered the room melt, I felt the heat. I tried to make it cold but my control is weak in the first place but even if the temperature would just turn it into a hot mist.

My throat got dry and I began to sweat. It felt like all the oxygen was being sucked out, my chest began to tighten. I could feel my skin being burned, the room was barely starting to change color. I looked at my pale hands and saw the fine hairs shrivel and burn.

I didn't realize I was screaming until I began to cough and needed to breathe.

"Stop! Please! It hurts." I still didn't know why I was even trying to tell them to stop.

A buzz on the intercom came the voice of the only man without a white suit or mask on. Papa. "Elsa you know we can't do that. We are determining if temperature affects you differently compared to a norm-"

I screamed again blocking the calm voice out, my skin was began to peel. I saw white lights dance across my vision-

I yelled when I heard my alarm go off, it almost sounded as if there was a echo in the room from how empty the space is. I turned it off and looked around to be blinded by the sun peaking through a crack in the curtain. "Ugh," I rubbed my eyes, "If only it was the sun that day."

I struggled to get out of the mattress, I realized then that I sunk to the bottom. I heard a whistling sound as I finally made my way out of the crater. "A hole, fantastic…"

Today was my first day at my new job, it's hard to get one when you constantly move and quit other jobs for that reason. I'll be working retail at Corona Outfitters, it is supposedly, based on its reviews and clothing line, a very popular store.

Long sleeve shirt and black slacks was the standard for work clothes right? This was my first job that didn't give a uniform. I looked at my appearance, I was presentable. I took a deep breath and pulled my left sleeve down to cover the number that was branded onto my skin, 0132.

The building was a good size not too big, yet It was still hard to find parking though, but since they emailed me a pass I was able to scan it and get private parking. This was good so I know only certain people can enter this lot, I won't have anyone waiting for me by my car.

Inside the store, there were mannequins that posed advertising outfits. They have always creeped me out, they remind me of the people in the facility, all white and no faces-

"Hey you're Alyssa? The new girl?" I turned around to a stylish girl with short brown hair and wearing one of the outfits on the mannequins, a light purple romper with large hoop earrings.

"Hi um it's Elsa," I chuckled, "But yes I'm the new girl."

"Perfect! Um well let me give you a tour, there's really not much to do here. It's basically walk up to customers, ask if they are finding everything okay, and help them if they do. Simple right?" She had a welcoming smile that I could only return, she helped her hand out, "My name is Rapunzel Corona, it's nice to meet you Elsa. Well I think you should be okay just working the floor for today, I can teach you the register tomorrow, sounds good?"

I smiled shook her hand "Yup, thanks."

It was a long eight hours, it was crowded yes, but it seemed like no one wanted my help. So I was literally wandering around the store pacing like a caged animal, which I almost felt like. Although I did get a couple compliments on my hair color, they asked where I got it done. They didn't believe me when I said it was natural, because it's not normal for someone to have this hair color.

I drove out of the now partially empty parking lot, still looked like a lot of people who were still shopping in the mall. The sun was barely setting but it was enough that the creepy orange lights in the tunnel leading to the exit were on. When I turned the corner and went on the main street home, a silver car with tinted windows turned out of a dark alley and trailed me.

I didn't think much of it, a lot of people have silver cars, so I turned down another main road, that led away from my home, they followed. I tried not to panic, "I barely moved and you found me already." I heard the familiar crackle of ice coating my steering wheel, when I turned another corner and the car still was behind me. Another turn on a main road and finally they continued straight.

I made a U-turn and made my way back home but I was going to stop at the diner again to get something to eat, get actual food this time. "Nope... "Just fries and a milkshake, please."

"Chocolate I hope! Or are you one of the weirdos who like strawberry."

I looked to Anna and chuckled, "Yeah, I prefer chocolate over strawberry."

Anna wrote it down in her notebook at was bedazzled with sequins, "Oh!" She saw me jump, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you but our sweet potato fries are amazing if you wanted to try those instead of the regular!"

"How can I refuse?" I smirked at her and making her blush a deep red. "Sure I'll try them."

"Okie dokie! I'll get those right out for you!" She walked quickly away allowing me to admire her perky butt. Elsa knock it off now! You know what will happen, if she finds out who- what you are, she'll run away. Damn she's fast!

Anna smiled as she walked over here with a plate of sweet potato fries and milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry on top. "Here's the spectacular milkshake and here is the plate of the best orange colored fries you'll ever eat!"

"Best orange colored fries?" I raised my eyebrow and laughed. I put one in my mouth, "Holy shit. This is amazing."

Anna crossed her freckled arms over her chest, "I told ya. Amazing." She quickly uncrossed her arms and looked at her watch. "Oh my shift is over! Um well i'll see you around."

I took her hand before she was able to leave completely, she shivered, was it because of my cold skin? "Why don't you stay and help me finish these orange sticks of amazingness."

Her eyes widened and she smiled, "Of course, yeah!" She sat down and I pushed the plate of fries for her to grab one, "Mmm. These are so good!"

It seemed as if she was in food paradise, her eyes were closed as she took a bit and her smile was just beautiful. I realized I was staring when she opened her eyes and they grew wide again, "I'm sorry um-" I felt my cheeks light up.

She reached over a found my hand, I felt the warmth that spread through my body, from just that one touch. I felt in my heart, "Elsa it's fine." She laughed. "I forgot to ask but I haven't seen you here often. I'm sure I would've recognized you, if you had."

So bold, I smiled, "I just moved here yesterday but I'm sure i would've recognized you as well."

Anna blushed and giggled, "Well I that makes things easier! Okay I get off at early at six thirty tomorrow, I can show you around newbie?"

Newbie, I looked at her and she looked as if she regretted the word she said. I laughed again, I squeezed her hand a little and it made her teal eyes look into mine. My breath caught when I saw them sparkle, I needed to shake myself out of the trance so I cleared my throat, "I get out at at six thirty too, so yeah I would love for you to show me the area."


Sorry for the short and quick chapter. Did we go too fast? We already know we aren't the best writers but feedback will help us with the story. This is an action story so we promise and plan for action of all sorts in future chapters. ;)