The girl saw nothing but darkness. Metal clattered around her, and she could feel herself being lifted upward quickly. She cautiously felt her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. She concluded that she must have been in a metal box. Nothing else was in the box with her except for a few other cardboard boxes and what must have been a guitar. The girl clutched onto the guitar, waiting for the box to slow down and eventually stop.
She wondered if sparks flew outside. It was obviously metal, and obviously moving very quickly. She decided she would write a song about that, if only the box would stop. Maybe there were cute boys. Then she would really write a song.
She vaguely remembered writing songs, but she quickly realized that no specific memories came to mind. She remembered how to play the guitar, but couldn't remember what songs she had liked to play.
The box screeched to a halt. She took in a deep breath, wondering what would come next.
Suddenly, she remembered her name. It was Jennifer.
Above her, the box opened. Jennifer winced at the sudden entry of light. Then, the light dissolved as it was replaced by shadows.
The shadows of people.
For the first time that she could remember, she felt afraid. Although she hadn't expected to do so, she pushed her body against the corner of the box in what might have been an attempt to hide. She still held to the guitar tightly. Voices filled the air above her.
"We've got a new one!"
"Greenie!"
"What does he look like, Alby?"
A tall, dark-skinned boy jumped into the box. Jennifer drew in a sharp breath and let out a whimper. The boy peered at her as though she was an alien. She turned away so that she could forget that he was looking at her. Even so, she still felt his stare.
"He's a she," he said.
Nobody spoke for a moment. Then suddenly, everyone spoke at once.
"WHAT did you say?"
"He doesn't mean-"
"But we've never-"
"Quiet!" the boy yelled, silencing the crowd and causing Jennifer to jump. He looked down at the girl and offered her his hand. "Come on, Greenie. We're gonna have to get this over with sooner or later."
"Get what over with?" she whimpered.
"Just come with me," he said, and he reached his hand towards her.
She pushed herself as far as she could into the corner. "No!" she cried.
"It's okay," he said.
"Please," she cried. "I don't know what's happening to me!"
"It happened to all of us."
Jennifer squinted up at him, unsure of whether or not to trust anything he said.
"We're not going to hurt you," he said. He took a breath in, unsure of what to say . "Listen, greenbean. I can't promise you're gonna have fun here. This isn't going to be the time of your life. But we're a family here. This is all we have. And I won't let anyone or anything hurt you as long as you can follow the rules."
"What are you doing in there?" came a loud voice from outside.
"We have a new one, Gally!" the boy called back.
"Well, hurry up! We don't have time," the voice said.
"Alright," the boy said. "We need to go."
Jennifer took a deep breath, dried up her tears and went with him.