Chapter 2: Out of the Fire
The ride in the van took a little over four and a half hours. I watched the clock as each hour eventually moved on to the next. I read a sign that read "Now Entering Sarasota." Boy our trip did not end in the city. We stopped in a small harbor where we then got on a private ferry. I was as nervous as I could be. I ha no idea where we were anymore. The ferry ride quick, lasting about half an hour. We docked on an island with a sign that read "Stay Away, Nuclear Testing." The island did not look like an for nuclear testing; it was like an abandoned city. Vines were growing on old buildings, and not one sound of life could be heard. I was taken to a bunker that went underground.
Underground, it was a completely different story. It was the most advanced thing I have seen in my life; not saying much since I was homeless my whole life. I was in an underground facility of some sort.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"Underground testing facility," one of the escorts said. "You're our next test subject. We are looking for one who can survive the test."
His words only made me even more nervous.
I was brought to the head scientist.
"Here he is." The escort said.
"Ah, yes. I'm professor Gilligan. I hope you can survive the test, unlike the others."
Professor Gilligan was a shorter older man, standing at 5'7 and seemed to be in his mid 60s with short grey hair and a thin beard.
I was only getting more nervous. No one had survived the test, and I was the next subject.
"The test is ready, take him to the testing chamber." Gilligan said.
I was escorted to the chamber. It was basically a white box. There were no windows at all, and it had an air tight seal. I was quickly locked in the pod.
"Are you ready?" Gilligan said over the intercom.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"The test will start momentarily."
The testing sirens went off.
"Here we go." I told myself.
A thin, red gas was released into the chamber. The gas level rose, higher and higher. One thing was unusual, I was not suffocating. I was breathing it like it was clean air. I felt a bit drowsy, but I was not suffocating. I eventually past out from being so drowsy.
I slowly began to wake up. I was still in the chamber, and the gas was gone. I knew the test was over. I had an odd feeling, a physical feeling. I felt stronger, more agile, and as if I had so much endurance. I walked up to the door of the chamber.
Time to find out if my strength was just a feeling.
I put my hands on the door, took a deep breath, and pushed.
The door flew open! It was not just a feeling, but it was real! I stepped out of the chamber. A guard noticed me out of the chamber.
"Hey! What are you doing out of the chamber?" He yelled.
I began to walk towards him, and he came to me. We were soon within arm's reach of each other.
"What?" I asked.
"Why are you out of the cham—''
I killed the guard with one punch. I continued down the hall. I got to the end and peered around the corner; it was clear. I kept going through the facility. I passed a clock and noticed it was just passed midnight.
"Everyone must be asleep." I told myself.
After continuing through the maze-like base for another half an hour, I finally made it back to the surface. There were a few guards patrolling the dock, but not too many to handle. Since it was dark, it was pretty easy to sneak around; I just had to keep quiet. I sneaked up on a guard who was on the edge of the dock, and I snapped his neck. None of the other guards seemed to notice. I dumped his body into the water and jumped in myself.
I began to swim towards the shore. After about fifteen minutes, I noticed I was not getting tired. I got to the shore about half an hour later, and I still was not tired.
"What now?" I asked myself. "What do I do now?"
All I could do is the only thing I have done most of my life, steal to survive.