Dr. Knives told me that five years have passed, and then asked me, "Does that effect you in any way?" He was holding a pen in one hand and a clip board in the other. I shook my head, "No." He nodded with approval and wrote down what I said, my glassy eyes show him that I broke a long time ago. I'm not completely out of it, I can think for myself once and a while. The training is actually working, it now takes seven guys to fight me, and a bigger room. The fight usually lasts twenty minutes, I can't pass until I kill one…But what little consciences I have left, says don't do it.

All I do is dodge and dodge. I don't fight back, everything they throw at me I either counter it and not attack, or I just dodge it completely. Whichever comes first. Right now, I'm against seven people. Each one I know it strong enough to kill me, but the Doctor tells them to keep me alive, which they normally do, but nowadays. It's just when the time runs out, so I'm not so beat up anymore. But when they actually get a hold of me…I end up with bruises and scars. Sometimes a broken arm.

I've come to think it's all luck when they finally hit me. But then again there's seven of them. Maybe it's because I'm out numbered, who knows, I mean I'm just a kid. An emotionless ten year old. The next year was me constantly learning about new fighting techniques, and fighting stances, there were so many that it took me a while to actually remember them. The doctor had me try them out on his new guards, three smaller ones and four about my size and the last two was these buff dudes.

"Ready?" Dr. Knives asked, I nodded and took a fighting stance. "Begin." He said and then I switched to a defence stance and got ready to throw one of them over my shoulder. The first to attack was a small guy, he ran at me with full speed and jumped, I can't run from this forever, but I still hesitate, I grab his leg in mid-air and spin us so I can throw him back at the one that's running at me already. He tried stopping, he was caught off guard.

Suddenly the tension in the room increased, I've never fought back before so this is new for them. They approach me cautiously. Each one ready to attack back when I do. One right behind me and three in front of me, I take a deep breath and quickly punch the three in front of me, they look stunned, I kick my leg back and I hear a grunt. Two on my right and two on my left. I jump and extend my leg kicking three of them in the head, they laid on the ground. The last one had an angry expression. I just walked to him, he advanced as well. He's far more skilled and intelligent than the others. He ducks as soon as I punch him, he then grabs my hand and pulls on me. I use my left hand to push off his face when he pulls me. He staggered backwards.

Most of them got back up. Once again I breathed slowly and they get ready. I move in quickly and hit them softly on spots that would normally paralyze them. They growl and try again. I use more force and then four are knocked out. I'm still effortlessly fighting them. Each one I hit with more force then the last. They got back up but then they get sent back down just as fast. My movements are unpredictable for them. I'm too quick. Plus whatever they throw at me, I wouldn't feel anyway.

After the sixth one fell, the other three came together and attacked at once. I dodged and then I attacked, I repeated the same thing until there was one left. He stared at me, wide eyed. Unbelievable…Right? But remember this is what you did to me. So don't be surprised. I moved in on him he looked terrified. That's funny. I think I had that same expression when I was five years old when you punched me in the damn eye. He backed up and tripped over one of his buddies. I jumped on top of him and punched him right in the eye, he grabs my shoulders and then I roll onto my back. He still has some strength left. No matter.

He lifts his hand high and gets ready to hit me as hard as he can, he smiles and brings his fist down, I moved my head at the last second and he cries out in pain. It's definitely broken. I push him off and stand over him. He clutches his hand and looks up at me, "Do it!" I blink and don't do anything. He spits at me, "Coward."

For the first time in six years, I laughed, "Who's the one who kidnapped a five year old?" And then I return to my cell. A new challenge every day. But it becomes easier every day. Three years later, I am completely out of their league, even the Doctor is cautious around me. This is what he did, soon he'll find out how well he did it. What he's built, is about to kill him someday…But that's the only person I'm ever going to kill, because he deserves it. These other guys are being ordered around by him. I don't see why they have to listen to him. I mean he does nothing but make trouble. I mean look at me, it's because of him they can't even lay a finger on me anymore.

I am fourteen years old now, the Doctor is slowly running out of things to do. Or things for me to do I mean. So he leaves me alone for a long time before coming to get me, every time he calls for me, there's more security. Like today there was twenty guys here. They all surround me and I follow them. Today…Is when I leave this place, I've learned all I could from him. And the fact that I'm stronger than he proves that he can't control me anymore. When we reached the room the Doctor is waiting in, he says, "Ah good. Come here Zero. I have something for you." I walk towards him and replay what I'm going to do.

When I reach him, he smiles, my stomach turns. Goodbye Doctor. I grab the back of his head and smash it against the computer screen. He screams out in surprise, "What are you doing Zero!?" He demanded, "I have no use of you anymore, It's time I leave." I brought his head back once more and pressed it hard against the tabletop "No!" He yelled. I hit him once and then again, and again. Blood was all over my hand and the white clothes the Doctor gave me. I bring my elbow up, "You should have seen this coming." I said, he breathes in and says, "I made you!" I smirk and bring my elbow down as hard as I could, the table broke and then he laid there motionless. I bent down to feel his pulse, there was nothing.

Excellent.

I turned and saw the others smiling, "What's so funny?" I asked. They shook their heads, "After nine years, you finally turn on him, huh?" One of them ask. I nodded, "But that is the only human I will ever kill."

He nods and lets me pass. I've watch carefully when the doctor left, he always goes down this hallway and never comes out, what exactly was he doing in here? When I entered this room was decorated different than the rest, and it was actually a little darker too. At the end out the room was a desk with lots of papers on it, I walked up to it and picked one up, I read it, "2003, September 15th. Project Zero continues to frustrate me with his stubbornness. He hasn't yet passed one of my tests. I know it's only been a month since he 'arrived' but it would be nice if he could cooperate with me." What a joke, I grab the papers and get out of that room.

I walked around until I found an elevator, it was guarded by two guys. Damn I don't want to fight them. I walked towards them cautiously, they saw me and pulled out a firearm from their side. "Don't move!" One ordered and he looked past me, "Why aren't you with Dr. Knives?!"

I stared at him blankly, "I killed him." They looked at each other and laughed, again I stared at them blankly, they aimed at me once more, but this time one of them shot at me. I ducked. The bullet pasted right by my head. Once I dodged the first bullet he fired multiple bullets, I jumped on the wall and pushed off it and ended up not getting hit at all. I ran up to them. They didn't try to fire again, "I'm leaving. You're not going to stop me." I muttered in his ear. They seemed to be stunned, like this isn't what they expected.

I walked past them and then the elevator door opened. No one came out. I guess it just opens randomly, good timing. I walked inside, there was mirrors in the elevator, it's been years since I got a good look at myself. I can't remember what my hair or face looked like, in front of me was a stranger. I had no colour in my skin, and the with my hair, it's completely white. The only thing that stood out more than the skin was my eyes, yellow piercing eyes. My hair was well past my shoulders. As I stare at this stranger, I punch the mirror and everything is disoriented. Disgusting.

It'll probably take months for the colour to return to my skin, I looked at my arms, they were a bit bigger then I remember, and my height was different too. I looked weird. Muscular with long white hair and these damn yellow eyes. It's kind of odd to look this strong at my age, after a few minutes, I was in an abandoned building, there was dust everywhere and Crete's that were collating dust bunnies.

I breathed in and smelled nothing but dust, to my right was a door and in front of me was thirty feet of nothing. I went to the door, why didn't those guy try and stop me? They had the advantage in numbers. When I walked out of the abandoned warehouse, there was nothing but trees near me, the sun was shining, my starts to hurt when it comes in contact when it. I step back and let my body readjust to the pain. I stepped back out and it felt warm, but it didn't hurt.

I was thinking about walking to just anywhere. But then I looked at my clothes, they were stained with blood. I'll get questioned about this, but it could work to my advantage, they might think it's my blood.

I decided to just go with it. In front of me was a hill. Once I reached the top, I saw a town. It's not a very big town, I guess Dr. Knives put a lot of thought into this...Why invest in something like kidnaping random kids and torturing them? What could he have possibly gained from this? I push the thought away and look to my right, about two miles is a sign.

It took me thirty minutes to get it, it says, 'WELCOME TO PARADISE, OHIO POPULATION 5,234.' I decided it was best to stay out of sight and walk along the outskirts of the town. Even from here I could see people walking past each other and interacting with one another. I walked around until it was dark. It doesn't hurt to sleep outdoors. I slept in the grass about thirty feet from a house, the white paint looked faded. The back of the yard had long grass and the grass around me was also long. I laid down and fell asleep instantly.

I thought I would have taken longer to sleep, but I guess finally being out of Dr. Knives clutches, I can't help but sleep without having to think I'll be stuck there forever. Anyway the next day I was awoken to the sound someone sounding excited, "Amazing!" With all that time I've spent in that cell, not only did my sight increase, but my hearing as well.

It's coming from the house next to me. I walked closer and heard, "It's protected by a Loric charm, just like you are. It can't be broken. You could run over it with a steam-roller and it wouldn't even be dented. Only the two of us can open it together. Unless I die; then you can open it yourself."

I stopped...But I ended up stepping on a twig on my last step. I looked down, "Great." I muttered and looked forward, "I heard something in the back." A boy said, he sounded like he was in his early teens.

I heard them start walking towards the back door. One of them stopped and opened something. A drawer probably, I heard a click, I sighed and put my hands up as he came out with an interesting looking gun. He didn't even hesitate, he pulled the trigger and a blue blast was flying towards me, I sidestepped, it whistled past me, "There's no need for that." I said. "It's just a kid." The boy said.

I stared at boy, he had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. "I know you..." I said and scratched my head, but where do I know him from? The older man stopped firing, "Who sent you and how do you know him?" His eyes darting from left to right. The boy even looked confused. Like no one was supposed to know him. An image popped up in my mind, we were about five years old when we met, and we played together and talked together for a couple of weeks. "N...Nathen...?" I asked.

He tilted his head and looked at the man, "Answer me." The older man warned, I took a deep breath, "When I was five I met him. We went to the same school for a couple of weeks but then..." Should I tell them?

Nathen looked down and was thinking, "I've never seen you in my life."

I touched my face. That's right...I'm a completely different person. "I went through a change." I told him. There isn't much I can tell them, "No one sent me." I said. The man watched me closely. Like he was deciding what to do with me.

"What did you hear?"

I told him everything I heard and he said I couldn't leave this place. I shrugged, "That's Fine. I have nowhere to go anyway." The man frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I have no parents or friends. I am completely alone." As soon as I say that, he puts up his gun again. "Answer me, what is your number?"

I guess he's asking my name, "Zero." I said, they look at each other. I realize why they look confused, "I'm not what you think I am. I'm not one of you." I pieced it together, they're aliens. "That name was given to me. It doesn't mean anything, I just can't remember my old name." I told them. Everything that comes out of my mouth confuses them. But it's the truth, he lowered his gun and looked at the kid, "My name isn't Nathen, it's John Smith, I'm sorry but I think you have the wrong person."

"You both have the same eyes, blonde hair and can both pass as a model." That last bit seemed to jog his memory, "Only one person has ever said that to me with a straight face..."

The older man looked at John mad, suddenly John looked like he made the biggest mistake in his life. John kept quiet. He lowered his gun and waved me over, "You know too much...I'm afraid that I have to-

"Kill me?" I interrupted, he cleared his throat and said, "No, but we will have to keep you under survei- "No." I said instantly.

I've just gotten out of a place where I was forced to live for nine years, I'm not going through that again. "I'm sorry but we can't let you go, you know what we are and we can't let you go and tell everyone."

I almost laughed, "Like I said earlier, I have no one. I'm all alone. Don't believe me? Look into my eyes." I said without blinking, he frowned when he look at me. He was about to say something but then I grabbed at my stomach, it growled at me to eat something, shit...It's been weeks since the last time I ate.

I guess it would've been smart to eat before leaving my...Prison. John slowly walked to me, while the older guy approached me cautiously. I backed up a little when they get five feet in front of me. They look like they want to help me, but I don't know them and they don't know me. How are we supposed to trust each other? Maybe I can just…Use them? Let them think they're actually keeping me as their prisoner, and then when it's the right time, I'll leave, I mean it's not like they can stop me.

"Can I have some food?" I asked.

John looked at the older man for an answer. He nodded at John, I walked towards them and let them take me inside. Later on I learn that the older guys name was Henri Smith. He made some food and then we ate. I asked if I could sleep on the couch, even though they offered me to sleep in the guest room, where there's a warm bed. A few minutes after we finished eating, Henri and John were talking about me in another room, Henri said, 'I'm going to enroll him into your school, I need you to keep an eye on him for me.'

John answered with, 'You saw that earlier...Didn't you?'

I heard Henri sigh and say, 'Yes…He has had a troubled past, so I guess that's why he doesn't want to tell us anything.'

'But the way he dodged that shot…How was he able to do that?' John asked.

Henri was quiet for a while, but then he said, 'I'll try to see if I could find out anything about him tomorrow.'

I should tell them about myself sometime…Maybe. It was dark out and I was laying on the couch, I can't sleep. A whole new day tomorrow…School. What does it feel like to be in school? I sighed and walked towards the front door. I opened it quietly and walked out onto the porch, I walked down the steps and looked at the stars. Aliens huh?

After five minutes, on the roof, John was looking down at me, "You think I'm running away?" I asked him.

Everything wasn't as bright as when I woke up today, but I can still see pretty well. John shook his head and jumped down. "No, I just thought you couldn't sleep because of what you know about us." He told me.

I looked back at the stars, "No…I can't sleep because of a different reason, and aliens don't interest me." Once I said that John looked surprised. "Seriously?" He asked. I nodded, "Humans are more interesting than aliens…Far more interesting." I almost sounded sinister. John stood next to me, "You talk like you aren't one of them."

I inhaled deeply and exhaled, "I wish I wasn't."

He could tell I did not care for the humans, but I think they're interesting. I mean they talk bad to one another, threaten war to each other, lie to each other, and even torture each other. Plus if you look closely, you can see that everyone is but a stranger to each other, even when they've spent years with each other. They're nothing but strangers to one another.

We stood there for ten minutes and went back inside. "Goodnight Zero." John said before heading back up to his room. I watched him march up the stairs until he disappeared, when was the last time someone…Said that to me? I pushed the thought aside and tried to sleep. Under a minute I finally went to sleep.

I was the first to be awake. I sat on the couch quietly, for now I have to do as they say. Just for food and shelter. It was six thirty when John came down to try and wake me, "Oh, you're awake already. Come up, I have some clothes for you." He told me. I nodded and went up with him. He went into his room and gave me some clothes, a yellow t-shirt. And black jeans. I stared at the shirt, "Do you have any shirts that have sleeves?"

He raised his brow, "Yeah…Just a sec." He sad and went back and came out with a gray long sleeved shirt. I nodded, "Thanks." He did the same and showed me where the washroom was. I entered and took my bloody white shirt. A long white scar ran across my chest. On my arms was twice as many scars. They can never know about these…No one can.

I change into the clothes John gave me. Once I was done, John and Henri were waiting for me at the front door. Henri had somethings in his hand. I walked up to him, "These for me?" I asked. He nodded, "Yes, because we don't know who you are and don't know anything about you. I made you these." He said. He gave me papers and an I.D so that's why he wanted to take my picture…I thought he was just going to use it to look me up somewhere. I looked at the name, "…Eric Smith?" Why not just use a different last name, they'll think it's suspicious, another kid showing up out of the blue. "Anything wrong?" Henri asked, I shook my head, "No."

After that we got into a truck. When I was going to get in, they realized for the first time how big I was. "I'm not going to fit in there."

Henri sighed, "I suppose you can sit in the back."

Which is a bad idea…But I can lay down, make sure people don't see me. I nod and jump in the back and laid down. "It's going to be bumpy!" Henri told me. I brace myself as he drove. He was right, but not so much that I could get hurt.

After ten minutes of driving, we stop. I wait for Henri to tell me it's okay to get up. He walked over and said, "Follow John, he'll take you to the principal's office. I nod and get up. I look around, whoa…It's been so long since I saw a school. A sign read, 'WELCOME TO PARADISE HIGHSCHOOL' after that we entered while we left Henri behind.

John first takes me to his locker, "Just let me…" He trailed off and looked at the metal handle, it's covered with dirt…I think. He forces the handle up and then he opens it to find it half filled with manure and as he swings the door open, much of it comes pouring out onto the floor, covering his shoes I back up at the sight of it, like I said humans are interesting creatures. The smell is horrendous. John slams the door shut.

When he closed it I noticed a kid standing right behind the door. John looks startled. He is looking forlorn, wearing a white NASA T-shirt. "Hi, Sam," John says.

He looks down at the pile of manure on the floor, then back at John.

"You, too?" John asked.

Sam nods.

"I'm going to the principal's office. Do you want to come?" John asks.

Sam shook his head, then turns and walks away without saying a word. I guess we're going to the principal's office. We walked to his office and then John knocks on the door, but doesn't wait for an answer. When we enter there's a fat man sitting behind a desk. "It's a big day, John," The man says. I don't know what he is talking about. "The reporters from the Gazette should be here within the hour. Front page!"

The man sees me and smiles, "A new student?" He asked.

I nod and look at John, he still has something to tell him. John sighs, "I just wanted to let you know that my locker was filled with manure this morning."

"What do you mean 'filled'?" He asked.

"I mean the whole thing was full of manure." John said.

"With manure?" he asks confusedly.

"Yes." John said.

"I wanted to let you know so it could be cleaned. Sam Goode's locker is filled with it, too."

He sighs and shakes his head. "I'll send Mr. Hobbs, the janitor, down immediately and we'll make a full investigation."

He then turns to me, "Okay I'll take those." He points to the papers in my hand, "Oh you're John's brother?" I nod, although it's a lie. He looks suspicious, "You look nothing alike, why is that, if you don't mind my asking."

I quickly say, "He has my father's looks and I have my mother's. He buys it and nods. "Then this'll be a breeze. You'll take the same classes as John. Say do you also have Asthma?" He asks. I shake my head, "No, but I don't play sports."

He looks disappointed. "Alright, John, if you mind, will you show him your next class.?" John nods and takes me with him. John tells me out first class is English. I nod and follow him. Classrooms look so different than I remember. Instead of desks they use tables big enough for three students. In front of me was a man, he looked to be in his early thirties, he smiled at us, "Another new student?" He asked. John nods and tells him everything about me…My fake identity I mean. He nods and then said, "Class, let's give him a warm welcome."

The teachers name is Mr. Williams. This class was easy, but the next hour and a half was spent doing work. Which I finished quickly. John found that strange and so did everyone else. The next class was astronomy. When the bell rings kids spill out onto the hall. John quickly heads to our next class, I was able to follow him, although I bumped into a lot of kids on my way here. We're the first ones here, I decide to wait at the front so the teacher can give me something to work on.

When everyone is seated they look at me, some were whispering about me. "Can you tell me your name?" The teacher asks. I nod and tell her, "So you're John Smith's brother then?" She asked.

I nod, "I got my mom's looks." I said and waited for her to say something. She nodded, "Alright, it's nice to meet you, I'm Mrs. Burton." She said. I nod, and then she told me to take a seat. The only one available was in the third row, beside a girl with blond hair and blue eyes, with high cheekbones. I walked over to my seat while everyone just stared at me, I ignored everyone. Before I could sit, I realize someone who was sitting beside her switched places with her. He had black hair filled with hair gel. I sat down and paid no attention to him. Mrs. Burton began the lecture. I whole class was basically the teacher talking. Or giving a lecture I mean, so teaching, but not many were writing down what she was saying.

A moment later Mr. Harris opened the door and said, "Sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Burton. I'm going to have to snag Mark from you. The Gazette reporters are here to interview him for the paper," he says loudly enough so everyone in the class can hear.

Mark stands, grabs his bag and instead of going the other way, he tries to make me move. I look up at him, "What?"

He looks annoyed, like he's wondering why no one is afraid of him anymore. I see, he's one of those people who pick on other people, he said, "Move." I shook my head, "No thanks."

Again he looked annoyed and maybe a little mad, "Hurry now, we can't keep the press waiting." Mr. Harris said, the girl on the other side was already out of the way, "Mark, just go this way." She told him. He glared at me and went the other direction and left the classroom, after that I paid no attention to the other classes, well except physical education, I like running and doing stuff, but maybe not sports. I was standing beside John and his friend. The gym teacher Mr. Wallace, stands firmly in front of us, his feet shoulder width apart, his hands clenched into fists on his hips.

"All right, guys, listen up. This is probably the last chance we'll get to work outdoors, so make it count. One-mile run, as hard as you can. Your times will be noted and saved for when we run the mile again in the spring. So run hard!"

I didn't change into anything, but I have scars almost all over my body. "Have you run this before?" john asked his friend.

He nods. "We ran it the second week of class."

"What was your time?" John asked.

"Nine minutes and fifty-four seconds." His friend said.

John looked at him. "I thought skinny kids are supposed to be fast."

"Shut up," he says.

When it began I ran at full speed, I passed everyone about two times, making it a total of four laps around the track. Everyone was still running, once I was finish the gym teacher approached me and asked me if I ever thought about joining a sport, I said no and he looked disappointed. I watched them run, but then something came out of the bushes and started chasing John, it looked like a dog, and john increased his speed. I thought that was weird so I went to him.

When I caught up, he ran faster, he is really freaking fast, but I was able to keep up, we stopped halfway through the track, "Why are you running from a dog?" I ask, John was staring at me, "Where's the…" He turned and saw the dog, "Bernie Kosar!" He yelled. "You scared the hell out of me!"

After a few seconds he resumed jogging. I walked back over to where I was before, in the shade. I didn't do anything in P.E class besides that run. John came up to me, "We got Home ec class." I nod and follow him. I don't want to cook, so I do the one thing that will piss of Henri, I walk out of school and go home.

I'll have another one up later on in the week.

Thanks for reading! I hope you have an awesome day!

Rilurz~