Government Project X: Bolvangar chapter one
Morning Rounds. The dull white fluorescent lights flickered on and off as I walked by each of the other kids room. Some of the girls were doing each other's hair. Laughing, giggling, smiling, in other words, having fun. Didn't they know that this would be the last place they'd ever see before they die? I just shook my head and peeked into an all boys' room. Two of the younger ones were jumping on the weak beds, laughing and trying to knock each other down. The older boys, around the ages of 10 or 11, were wrestling each other to the cold tiled white ground, smiling and giggling.
Some of the thick wooden doors were still shut, blocking out of the nurse's, doctors, medical smells and just life in general. I'm with those kids. I don't want to be here any longer, just take my daemon away from me and let me return home. Speaking of daemons. where's me own? I felt my dull blonde hair being pushed around, and Nagataka slithered his scaly serpent body around my pale skin. A smile pressed itself coldly against my frosted pink lips, and my eyes sparkled for a second.
Nagataka was the only one here, besides Stella that could make me smile. His long tail curled itself around my dark navy sleeve and gave a slight squeeze. His way of hugging I suppose.
Mrs. Coulter is coming, Courtney. Smile wider!
Nagataka perched himself on my shoulder and did his best to smile, while I turned the corner and bumped into Mrs. Coulter. "Oh! I'm so sorry Mrs. Coulter! Please forgive me!" I pleaded, with a smirk. Her deep blood red lips curled upwards, as she pushed back her curly black hair. "It's alright Courtney dear. I see your making your morning rounds already?" She asked sweetly. "Yes ma'am! But most of the other children aren't up yet." I said, pointing to all the closed doors. "Well, most children aren't up at four in the morning, dressed and ready to go." She replied back with a short forced laugh. "I should finish up now Mrs. Coulter, if you don't mind. Please excuse me." I said, bowing to her. "Alright! That's a girl! Keep up the good work, and see you later!" She said with a twinkle in her eyes as she patted me on the head. After she was out of earshot, I started cursing at her under my breath. She was such a bitch, and no one else could see that! "Courtney, you really must be more optimistic, one of these days we'll get out of here UN-harmed, and return home. Won't that be nice?" Nagataka whispered to me. I didn't reply to him. I just kept wondering down the colorless hallway, looking in each of the rooms to see happy young children. Almost everyone here was happy. Maybe Mrs. Coulter forgot to tell them that she's a cold heartless murderer, planning to slowly kill them off. Courtney? How could you even think that? Nagataka asked me with a worried tone. "Nagataka, don't start with me and your happy-go lucky shit. You know it's no use." I said bitterly. All he did was shake his small head; probably figuring there was no use talking to me anymore.
Actually, I think a lot of people here have given up on me. The nurse's don't spare a passing glance, and the doctors turn the other way when they see me. I came to Bolvagar when I was 10, I'm 15 now and I've seen a lot of things most people shouldn't. I've lost all hope in ever seeing the sunshine brightly, the grass poking its way through icy snow and most of all. my family. Like all the other kids here, I was kid-napped and paid for. Sound fun? Not really.
Stella on the other hand, she's a laugh. She came in a few weeks after me, and right away found a friendly person in me. This whole time she's never lost faith that someday she'll return home. Although she's never really told me where home is to her. But, she could stay here and eternity and still smile. She's so joyful, perky, and nice. I really admire her for that, some of that rubs off on me once in a while, and sometimes I really need it.
Morning rounds are almost over. 90% of the kids are still asleep, and I don't blame them. Who would want to wake up to a dark blue dreary sky, smothered in thick gray clouds, while specks of snowflakes flittered across the horizon? The sun was no where in sight anyway, and wouldn't be for a few hours at least. The moon was still barely blaring its florescent beauty. I stepped over to a large window and pressed my hand against the chilled glass, starring up at the blurry moon. "I miss home Nagataka." I said quietly. He transformed into a tiger cub and jumped into my arms, nuzzling me very warmly. "I know Courtney, but you have to stay strong." He replied compassionately. I just sighed, knowing he was more than right, and I headed down to the kitchen.
I passed a few kids along the way. They all seemed like walking zombies, half-asleep and half-dead. Other kids were just starring off into space, and two boys went at it right in front of me. The kids all know I'm a moderator, so why start a fight in front of me? It wasn't even over anything important! I think it was over a muffin or something. I don't know, and it's not like I care either.
As I approached the cafeteria, scrambled eggs, sweet raspberry jelly, and the smell of pancakes filled the room, along with other breakfast type foods. I looked around to see the baby blue wallpaper peeling off the walls, chairs scattered around and tables still clinging onto bits and pieces of dinner last night. I peered out the large window at the front of the room, then turned my attention to a set of doors that concealed the breakfast within. Nagataka transformed into his normal pale blue small dragon form and climbed up my legs and wrapped himself around my neck gently. "How about some hot chocolate this beautiful morning?" I heard a sweet cheerful voice behind me say. I turned around and felt Nagataka jump off of me and tackle a tiger cub, while a soft brown hair girl stood there, holding a mug of hot chocolate. My face lit up instantly to see my friend standing there. "Stella! G'morning!" I replied to her, taking the hot chocolate with a smile. "Morning Courtney. Can I get you an early morning snack?" She asked. "No, I'm find, thanks though. How's breakfast coming?" I asked her. "It's going great! We're having blueberry pancakes!" She said proudly. I just laughed at her, and took a sip of my warm drink. One of the nurse's walked by, her spunky red hair vibrantly glowing, while a gray and black streak of fur scampered up the side of her body, finally resting on her shoulder. "Morning Girls!" Her voice rang out. Stella waved like a hyper active maniac, and I just looked up at her, at least acknowledging she was there. She pulled up a chair and sat backwards on it, resting her arms on the backrest. "Word around the building is that a new kid is in. He's about your age and his name is Seki." She lowered her voice to a whisper and continued. "He's not bad looking either you two. I saw him this morning, and he seems like he'd fit in great with you girls." She got up then and headed off. "Bye girls! See you soon!" She yelled out. Stella turned back to me, and had that mischievous look in her eyes. "How 'bout after breakfast we sneak out to the back and meet this Seki boy." She said in a spy-like tone.
Her and I have this ritual that we go through once Christine (that spunky red-headed nurse) tells us there's new kids in. Stella gets one of the younger gullible kids to do her work in the kitchen and Christine covers for me teaching a writing class. From there we slip out the fire exit on the fourth floor, climb down and run around the side to a lobby- like room, where all the new kids are kept for a few hours. Usually no one else is in the room but another moderator and the kid-napped children. Stella always introduces herself, then me, followed by our daemons and then we take them around the building introducing them to kids along the way. It's our unofficial job, and at times, it can be a good stress reliever. "Yeah! I'm in!" I said with a short burst of enthusiasm. "Like you had a choice any ways." She said with a playful smirk. I just shook my head and finished off my morning drink. "Well Stella, I'll see you back at breakfast. I think I'll go poke around the restricted areas." I said smiling. She laughed at me and tugged Masashiro away from Nagataka and headed back into the kitchen to finish making breakfast with the others. I worked my way through the tangle of chairs and stepped out the gap at the back of the large room. Once again, my steps bounced off the peach painting on the walls, my shoes tapped lightly against the bleached floor tiles, and instead of the friendly breakfast smells, the perfumes of ether, and anesthetic filled the hallways up to the ceiling. The endless corridor soon became darker, the air turned icy, and the only light visible was through the tiny square windows that was stuck within the steel doors. I looked down, and I was holding onto Nagataka so tightly that my knuckles where turning a bright white. "C-Courtney, we shouldn't be here, you know what happens here." Nagataka said skittishly. The more his words rang through my head, the more my breath got shorter, my heart was racing and fear was taking over me. I come down this way every so often, but each time it brings back one of my worst memories ever. I don't know why I torture myself, but I do.
Morning Rounds. The dull white fluorescent lights flickered on and off as I walked by each of the other kids room. Some of the girls were doing each other's hair. Laughing, giggling, smiling, in other words, having fun. Didn't they know that this would be the last place they'd ever see before they die? I just shook my head and peeked into an all boys' room. Two of the younger ones were jumping on the weak beds, laughing and trying to knock each other down. The older boys, around the ages of 10 or 11, were wrestling each other to the cold tiled white ground, smiling and giggling.
Some of the thick wooden doors were still shut, blocking out of the nurse's, doctors, medical smells and just life in general. I'm with those kids. I don't want to be here any longer, just take my daemon away from me and let me return home. Speaking of daemons. where's me own? I felt my dull blonde hair being pushed around, and Nagataka slithered his scaly serpent body around my pale skin. A smile pressed itself coldly against my frosted pink lips, and my eyes sparkled for a second.
Nagataka was the only one here, besides Stella that could make me smile. His long tail curled itself around my dark navy sleeve and gave a slight squeeze. His way of hugging I suppose.
Mrs. Coulter is coming, Courtney. Smile wider!
Nagataka perched himself on my shoulder and did his best to smile, while I turned the corner and bumped into Mrs. Coulter. "Oh! I'm so sorry Mrs. Coulter! Please forgive me!" I pleaded, with a smirk. Her deep blood red lips curled upwards, as she pushed back her curly black hair. "It's alright Courtney dear. I see your making your morning rounds already?" She asked sweetly. "Yes ma'am! But most of the other children aren't up yet." I said, pointing to all the closed doors. "Well, most children aren't up at four in the morning, dressed and ready to go." She replied back with a short forced laugh. "I should finish up now Mrs. Coulter, if you don't mind. Please excuse me." I said, bowing to her. "Alright! That's a girl! Keep up the good work, and see you later!" She said with a twinkle in her eyes as she patted me on the head. After she was out of earshot, I started cursing at her under my breath. She was such a bitch, and no one else could see that! "Courtney, you really must be more optimistic, one of these days we'll get out of here UN-harmed, and return home. Won't that be nice?" Nagataka whispered to me. I didn't reply to him. I just kept wondering down the colorless hallway, looking in each of the rooms to see happy young children. Almost everyone here was happy. Maybe Mrs. Coulter forgot to tell them that she's a cold heartless murderer, planning to slowly kill them off. Courtney? How could you even think that? Nagataka asked me with a worried tone. "Nagataka, don't start with me and your happy-go lucky shit. You know it's no use." I said bitterly. All he did was shake his small head; probably figuring there was no use talking to me anymore.
Actually, I think a lot of people here have given up on me. The nurse's don't spare a passing glance, and the doctors turn the other way when they see me. I came to Bolvagar when I was 10, I'm 15 now and I've seen a lot of things most people shouldn't. I've lost all hope in ever seeing the sunshine brightly, the grass poking its way through icy snow and most of all. my family. Like all the other kids here, I was kid-napped and paid for. Sound fun? Not really.
Stella on the other hand, she's a laugh. She came in a few weeks after me, and right away found a friendly person in me. This whole time she's never lost faith that someday she'll return home. Although she's never really told me where home is to her. But, she could stay here and eternity and still smile. She's so joyful, perky, and nice. I really admire her for that, some of that rubs off on me once in a while, and sometimes I really need it.
Morning rounds are almost over. 90% of the kids are still asleep, and I don't blame them. Who would want to wake up to a dark blue dreary sky, smothered in thick gray clouds, while specks of snowflakes flittered across the horizon? The sun was no where in sight anyway, and wouldn't be for a few hours at least. The moon was still barely blaring its florescent beauty. I stepped over to a large window and pressed my hand against the chilled glass, starring up at the blurry moon. "I miss home Nagataka." I said quietly. He transformed into a tiger cub and jumped into my arms, nuzzling me very warmly. "I know Courtney, but you have to stay strong." He replied compassionately. I just sighed, knowing he was more than right, and I headed down to the kitchen.
I passed a few kids along the way. They all seemed like walking zombies, half-asleep and half-dead. Other kids were just starring off into space, and two boys went at it right in front of me. The kids all know I'm a moderator, so why start a fight in front of me? It wasn't even over anything important! I think it was over a muffin or something. I don't know, and it's not like I care either.
As I approached the cafeteria, scrambled eggs, sweet raspberry jelly, and the smell of pancakes filled the room, along with other breakfast type foods. I looked around to see the baby blue wallpaper peeling off the walls, chairs scattered around and tables still clinging onto bits and pieces of dinner last night. I peered out the large window at the front of the room, then turned my attention to a set of doors that concealed the breakfast within. Nagataka transformed into his normal pale blue small dragon form and climbed up my legs and wrapped himself around my neck gently. "How about some hot chocolate this beautiful morning?" I heard a sweet cheerful voice behind me say. I turned around and felt Nagataka jump off of me and tackle a tiger cub, while a soft brown hair girl stood there, holding a mug of hot chocolate. My face lit up instantly to see my friend standing there. "Stella! G'morning!" I replied to her, taking the hot chocolate with a smile. "Morning Courtney. Can I get you an early morning snack?" She asked. "No, I'm find, thanks though. How's breakfast coming?" I asked her. "It's going great! We're having blueberry pancakes!" She said proudly. I just laughed at her, and took a sip of my warm drink. One of the nurse's walked by, her spunky red hair vibrantly glowing, while a gray and black streak of fur scampered up the side of her body, finally resting on her shoulder. "Morning Girls!" Her voice rang out. Stella waved like a hyper active maniac, and I just looked up at her, at least acknowledging she was there. She pulled up a chair and sat backwards on it, resting her arms on the backrest. "Word around the building is that a new kid is in. He's about your age and his name is Seki." She lowered her voice to a whisper and continued. "He's not bad looking either you two. I saw him this morning, and he seems like he'd fit in great with you girls." She got up then and headed off. "Bye girls! See you soon!" She yelled out. Stella turned back to me, and had that mischievous look in her eyes. "How 'bout after breakfast we sneak out to the back and meet this Seki boy." She said in a spy-like tone.
Her and I have this ritual that we go through once Christine (that spunky red-headed nurse) tells us there's new kids in. Stella gets one of the younger gullible kids to do her work in the kitchen and Christine covers for me teaching a writing class. From there we slip out the fire exit on the fourth floor, climb down and run around the side to a lobby- like room, where all the new kids are kept for a few hours. Usually no one else is in the room but another moderator and the kid-napped children. Stella always introduces herself, then me, followed by our daemons and then we take them around the building introducing them to kids along the way. It's our unofficial job, and at times, it can be a good stress reliever. "Yeah! I'm in!" I said with a short burst of enthusiasm. "Like you had a choice any ways." She said with a playful smirk. I just shook my head and finished off my morning drink. "Well Stella, I'll see you back at breakfast. I think I'll go poke around the restricted areas." I said smiling. She laughed at me and tugged Masashiro away from Nagataka and headed back into the kitchen to finish making breakfast with the others. I worked my way through the tangle of chairs and stepped out the gap at the back of the large room. Once again, my steps bounced off the peach painting on the walls, my shoes tapped lightly against the bleached floor tiles, and instead of the friendly breakfast smells, the perfumes of ether, and anesthetic filled the hallways up to the ceiling. The endless corridor soon became darker, the air turned icy, and the only light visible was through the tiny square windows that was stuck within the steel doors. I looked down, and I was holding onto Nagataka so tightly that my knuckles where turning a bright white. "C-Courtney, we shouldn't be here, you know what happens here." Nagataka said skittishly. The more his words rang through my head, the more my breath got shorter, my heart was racing and fear was taking over me. I come down this way every so often, but each time it brings back one of my worst memories ever. I don't know why I torture myself, but I do.