[So here's my first chapter. I'm only posting the first one or two chapters, testing out the story. If it's good, I'll keep it going. If otherwise, I'll delete it or something. So, please please please review. For the sake of the story, review and give your thoughts. I need feedback on this story in order to continue with it. So review, and enjoy the story!]
Chapter 1: Aftermath
A sharp ring echoed through the halls. Young men and women exited each of the doors that lined the halls, and hurried outside. Everyone was celebrating, joking with friends and making plans for the summer, being that it was the last day of the college school year. Almost every student had gotten in their cars, nearly all of the vehicles occupying more than two or three young adults. Only one didn't have a car, and she preferred it that way. She would rather walk the couple of blocks to her apartment than waste the gas and money to drive. Besides, what harm could a little of exercise do now and then?
Chell walked home, in no rush to get anywhere soon, letting the sun warm her skin. Her friend was walking right next to her, blabbing away about parties and plans for the summer.
"Oh! We can go to that movie next weekend! You said you wanted to watch it, right?" Her hyperactive friend chirped excitedly. Chell only nodded, and the girl went right back to talking. For several weeks she's been going through speech therapy, strengthening her voice after 99999- many years of neglect. Although she could talk fairly well, she chose not to; it felt natural for her. Still, she would go through therapy and talk now and again, only because the therapist recommended it.
They finally arrived at the small apartment complex that Chell called home. She turned to her friend and gave her a hug, "We'll make plans, Macy. See you tomorrow." Chell said, giving a small smile and walked up the stairs and to her door. She went inside and to her room, placing her bag on her bed. Sitting on her bed for a minute, she looked at her watch. Only half an hour before work; what could she do until then? A subtle growl of her stomach gave the suggestion of dinner. Good idea, she thought to herself, I won't be back until late anyway. She stood up and headed for the door, passing by her closet. The door was only slightly ajar, but just enough to show the corner of a light grey box. This caught her eye, and she changed course for the closet. Sitting peacefully by the door was her first loyal friend. The Companion Cube still glowed faintly, humming the lullaby she had once loved before. Now it only brought bad thoughts and painful memories. Surprisedshe had forgotten about it, Chell pulled the cube towards her and looked over the metallic square. Memories flooded her mind instantly, and she was back in Aperture. She saw empty white rooms, monitors with test numbers, childish Turrets, and worst of all; the menacing golden eye of the giant, bloodthirsty AI. Shivers went down her spine as she stared into the machine, so still, like she was concocting a plan of revenge.
A weak beep brought her back to the present. Chell quickly looked down to her wrist; 4:00. Crap! She jumped up and ran downstairs; turning her jog into a sprint once she reached the road. She race through the small town, dodging oncoming pedestrians and jumping over a sleeping homeless man. She quickly burst through the doors of a restaurant and went to the back kitchen. Just as she clocked in, her boss walked up.
"You're late again, Chell," He said, although showing no anger towards her. Chell nodded and glanced to the ground; her universal sign of "I'm sorry". The chef nodded to the tables and Chell took off to get to work. She put on her apron, tying it around her waist, and pulled out a notepad ad pen from the pocket. This is where she required words, but being a small town, everyone knew she didn't talk, and instead gave their orders without a word from the waitress. She always happily took down the orders and rushed to give them to the cooks in the back.
One trip towards the back, she ran into a boy the same age. He apologized and helped the girl up, wearing a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, Chell. I wasn't looking." The boy said, rubbing his hand against the back of his neck. Chell smiled and waved it off, "don't worry about it."
The boy smiled and picked up his ordering pad, "hey, maybe do you think we could hang out? You know, go to a movie or something?" And with that, Chell only nodded and went back to work, leaving the waiter in a dazed thought.
Chell continued through work, just like any normal day, and finally clocked out at eleven PM. She hung up her apron and left through the door, heading straight home for some dinner and some rest. She made a small bowl of Ramen and sat in her room, slurping away at the noodles. The Companion Cube sat in front of her, forbidding her to look at anything else. Her thoughts were constantly focused on the facility and the many horrors hidden beneath its floor. It had been six months since she left the facility; five months and one week since she found this town. For five months she had college and work to keep her mind preoccupied and away from Aperture. To her surprise, she was even beginning to get better; fewer nightmares, fewer ninja-escapes when she heard a buzz or children playing outside, calling "I see you". She was finally gaining control of her life and her PTSD, which she had been titled to by a doctor, was starting to get better. And when she seems fully recovered, she finds her Companion Cube, lost in the darkness of the closet, and everything comes back in the blink of an eye.
She stayed up all night, terrified of sleep. Each time she closed her eyes she was welcomed by Turrets and portals; long jumps and frightening drops; GLaDOS and Wheatly. Wheatley…Chell looked up to the starry sky, wondering if Wheatley was still drifting through the black, alert and alone, or finally out of power and out of his misery. You know, even though he betrayed her and tried killing her, destroying the facility with his moronic decisions, she missed him. Even though he had lost his mind, drunk with power, he was still her friend, in a way. He was the only one that treated her like a real person; talking to her, asking her opinions, helping her escape from the facility (until things took a turn for the worst). Chell sighed and looked back at the ceiling of her room, wishing she could get just one bit of sleep that night. Finally, at long last, exhaustion dominated over nightmares, and Chell fell asleep.
