Sarah
I huddled in the back of my cage, rocking back and forth. I knew what time it was. I knew everything they did. I wish I didn't. Do you know why?
Because I also knew that they were coming back.
Which one was it that we needed?
Number 68.
I whimpered. I was number 68. I didn't want them coming back. I didn't want to be put in test after test, again and again. Running through mazes, sitting in an electric chair, being stuffed into a box and dropped into water, and much, much more. I didn't want that.
I heard their footsteps, coming down the white tiles, sounds echoing off the white steel walls. Door after door being slammed shut and locked, that sound echoing, also. All were final sounds. All were useless measures. I had no hope of escape, no desire to. They had broken me. And I was going to stay broken. Forever until my death. I envied Hannah, Brad, Delany, Chris and Ruby. I was the only one who knew their names. I am the only one who knows anyone's name. The scientists don't want us to be in contact. But I know. I know the names they had given themselves. I gave myself a name. I forget it now. I don't care. I wish I were dead. Then I could have some peace. I clutch my head. I hear everything. I see everything. I feel everything. Thoughts aren't just words, you know. The mind is always talking, visualizing, hearing. All the senses in this facility, everything here, I sense. I clutch my head harder, and close my eyes. But it doesn't help. It never does. I can't shut it off, I never could. I want to scream.
Tick tick, it's eleven forty seven.
Jump to the left, dodge, dodge, DODGE!
Soundless, nothing. What if it breaks? I'll drown, I'll drown…
Pressure building, don't drop it… don't drop it…
(Visual) Diagram of 68's brain…
(Feel) Itchy… itchy…
I hear the scientists' thoughts; they think we are animals. Nothing worth more than scraps of food, soon to be tossed. Except for when we are needed in experiments. Then we are the opportunity of a lifetime. The way to get a pay raise, and get that face lift, or get that new car. That's when we are materials that are not too gross to touch.
Here we are, Number 68.
Yes.
Tick tick, eleven forty eight…
Nothing but pain… pain…. Burning, searing pain… please just let me go…
I felt that pain.
Don't let go! DON'T LET GO!
I felt sweat breaking out on my forehead.
8, 7, 9, 4, 3, 2, 6, 7, 2, 5, 0, 0, 0, 1, 7, 3, 2, 4.
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Whoosh….
Whoosh….
Then my door opens. They peer in, and I huddle in the back of my cage, covering my eyes with my arm against the light. I hear their thoughts now, they are thinking about who to grab. And the experiments. I whimper again, and then I hear the one come closer. Did I forget to mention I can't shut down my 'special talents'? So I always hear, see, smell, feel, and taste what others are hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling, and tasting. It's always so confusing. Right now, I see myself in the man's eyes, huddled in the back of the cage, brown eyes filled with terror. Dingy brown hair hanging to my shoulders. My ripped clothes barley covering my thin body. I hear myself whimpering, three times, three echoes. I taste the breakfast that both of them have eaten, and I feel the scratchy cloth of their uniforms. I also hear their thoughts.
This one we can put into room 218.
"This one we can put into room 218."
I can't tell which is spoken and which is thought. I see the other nod through two sets of eyes, and feel his tie choking him as the muscles in his neck tighten.
I hate room 218. I hate all rooms. I don't want to go, but the man over powers me. What do I expect? I haven't eaten in more than three days. I am weak. The most I can do is swat halfheartedly at him. He pulls me out and uses a pair of iron cuffs to latch my hands together and leads me to room 218. I want to stay. I want to resist. But I can't. All is broken for me.
They lead me in through a door and sit me at a table. I look at the dull gray walls, and the tall gray walls diving the room in parts. Each was a different width. I know that there are three men behind each wall. I hear their thoughts about their time. I feel their suits, which are all identical, and actually comfortable. I slouch in my seat.
A man behind a window talks into a microphone, explaining to the men how it works. I already know how. I clutch my head, I'm hearing this speech six times. In my head, out loud, in each of the four men's head, and in the speaker's head.
"Here's how this is going to work."
"Here's how this is going to work."
"Going to work."
"Work."
"Work."
"Each of you three men will think of a single word, behind your walls. One is two feet thick, one is three, and one is six. You are each to think of something no one else knows, or is very complicated, and keep saying it in your head. 68 will say it out loud. Be honest, and say yes if she got it right, and no if she got it wrong."
"Yes if she got it…"
"No…"
"If she…"
" It wrong…"
The men nodded, and each stared at me.
"Say yes when you have your thought." "Say yes…" "Have your thought…" "Thought…"
"Yes," shouted one immediately.
"Yes,"
"Yes,"
"Yes,"
"Yes,"
"Yes,"
I clutched my head tighter.
"Sarah, begin."
"Begin."
"Begin."
I grab onto their thoughts. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can leave.
"Chesnuts."
"Chesnuts." I said aloud, and pointed to the two foot wall, the direction I heard the thought from. I felt him frown, and he said, "Yes."
"Antidisestablishmentarianism."
"Antidisestablishmentarianism."
The man who is behind the six foot wall. I felt him raise his eyebrows, and he said yes.
I listened for the last man's thoughts.
"I'll just say 'no', no matter what. There is no way that girl can read minds. This is all a setup. I bet they did something, something to make it seem like she can."
I said all this out loud after he finished and pointed to the three foot thick wall. I looked down and tried to drown out all the senses overwhelming me… especially his loud, swearing thoughts.