Chapter One~ The Everyday
[17:35]
Quickly, carefully, Distort secured the loop. The blue colt narrowed his grey gaze as he pulled on it, checking the strength. The scientist grinned at the colt's work before moving on to the other youngsters. This was his daily schedule; wake up, breakfast, classes, lunch, tests, dinner, then some leisure time before bed. He was no more than an experiment, his life meant little more than nothing to the scientists that kept him hostage. There were others there, too, who had to endure the same hell. There were probably about 150 in the entire experimentation, but he only knew 8 well.
Eternal, Hazy and Universe were the oldest that he knew of. As teenagers, they had a few more rights than the younger ones, for example, they were allowed up until 9:30, half an hour later. The younger ones were Melancholy, Prism, Veil, Shattered, Glimpse, and Distort himself. The organisation had no name that he knew of, but what he did know was that they were being raised as sharp-minded pawns of the law.
"Hey, Dis." Turning, Distort saw Melancholy, a bright smile planted upon her light face. Her tri-coloured mane was tied up in a neat bun, just how the scientists liked. She knew of no other style for her mane. "I can't figure out how to do the loop." Though the filly was behind him and far along the queue, the scientists were quick at checking the loops and soon she'd be next. If she couldn't do it, she'd obviously be punished. Sighing, he went ahead and looped the rope for her.
Dressed in a long, white coat, with masks and goggles obscuring their identities, the scientists always had a watchful eye on the ponies they had in the lab. One wrong move and they'd snatch up the youngster and make it so they'd never be found again. It was a demoralising thought, but no pony really knew where you went when the scientists took you away. They just... Disappeared. No pony ever found any corpses, and it wasn't as if there was a world outside of the lab. If there was, it was probably just a simple wasteland for all eternity. Perhaps this world was all they'd ever see.
Distort patted his friend's head gently. "Just keep it like that, they shouldn't suspect a thing." He advised. Melancholy grinned and uttered a quiet thanks. When the scientists got round to her, they watched her closely, their intimidating goggles fogging up as they breathed upon her. Getting nervous, she trembled slightly, sweat dripping down her face. Then, as a miracle, they moved on.
[20:00]
At the start of leisure time, Melancholy took her friend's hoof. "Can I repay you with something interesting?" Distort felt his eyebrows raise. Intrigued, he nodded quickly, curious for what she'd found. Nimbly, she trotted to the library, keeping in the shadows of the laboratory. The corridor was long and echoed loudly, but if you kept your voice down to a volume just lower than a whisper, the echo wouldn't reach the other rooms. Wouldn't reach the scientists.
"Why are we being sneaky, again?" He enquired. Teasing, he added, "Did some pony find something they weren't supposed to?" Melancholy sighed, truly a burden upon her, but remained silent. The apprehension raised as the duo trotted past numerous doors and other lab rats. When they finally reached the great oak door to the library, Melancholy turned to him.
"Yes." She replied in a low, quiet voice, a dark and haunted expression plastered upon her face. "And you can't tell anypony we know of its existence."