When I talk about prison, I do not speak literally. Rather, the land that I am in is vast… and oddly familiar. However, it is this familiarity that repulses me so. This world is similar to mine, but is just different enough to make me feel like I'm missing something. It is like a robot that looks almost like a human, but has enough subtle differences to register in our minds as "creepy." This world, while expansive, feels empty to me.

In this wide open land, I have never before felt so trapped.

In this densely populated world, I have never before felt so alone.

(ILH)

"Hey, guess what?" Ness asked, characteristically excited.

"No idea," Claus replied. "What is it?"

Ness sighed.

"That's not a guess, Claus. Lucas, do you have a guess?"

"We get to use a cool new machine?" Lucas offered.

"Good guess," Ness replied with a light smile, "But no. There's a new student arriving today!"

Right after Ness' announcement, a pink haired girl wearing a blue jacket and gloves started walking down the hallway. She looked downright furious; her clenched fists and fiery eyes that seared the steel floor floor could attest to that. She didn't seem to notice that there were people standing in front of her. Unfortunately, she bumped into Lucas, who himself was not aware of her presence. She scowled at him, causing Lucas took a step back in fear.

"You're in my way, kid," the girl said venomously and proceeded to shove Lucas against the hard, metal wall. Claus could feel the anger rising in his system now. Nobody pushed his little brother around and got away with it. Not on Claus' watch.

"What gives you the right to treat him like that?" Claus demanded, ignoring the part of his mind that told him not to mess with someone so angry. "Who do you think that you are, going around shoving anyone that you please?"

The girl turned her death glare to Claus. That glare was scary! Claus had to make a conscious effort not to let out a scream.

You may have made a mistake there, Lucas sent.

No shit, Sherlock, Claus sent back. He gave the girl a confident look that masked his fear.

The girl walked up to Claus, who tried and failed to match her glare. She sneered and shoved him in the chest, causing him to fall to the floor.

"I can shove anyone I want, thanks," she said in a superior tone.

Claus' anger began to boil.

For the record, this is how being bullied feels, Lucas sent, but Claus barely registered the message. He got up and clenched his fists. With a shout, he charged forward and shoved her, sending her sprawling on the metal floor. Faster than Claus could believe, she was back on her feet and fumed with anger even more than she had before, if that was possible. Claus' anger fled him, only leaving him with fear. Running away did not seem like a bad option right now…

"What is the meaning of this!" Dr. Andonuts shouted. Claus hadn't even noticed that he was there. "What are you two doing?"

"They were engaged in a minor scuffle," Ness explained casually. "They just shoved each other. No biggie."

Ness' explanation lacked the brutal intensity of the girl's death stare, which seemed to be making Dr. Andonuts uncomfortable.

"Shame on you, Claus," Dr. Andonuts said. "That's no way to be treating a young lady."

Claus couldn't tell if he or the girl was more annoyed by that comment.

"Oh, so because she's a girl I can't defend myself? Your logic is infallible, doctor," Claus said with sarcastic venom in his voice.

"Oh, so because I lack a Y chromosome, I should be exempt from anything that might cause me to stub my pinkie? Get real, gramps!" The girl exclaimed.

"I think," Ness started calmly, "That these two should be separated for the time being. They just need some time to cool off. Dr. Andonuts, would you mind taking this girl away?"

Dr. Andonuts snapped back into reality after being given a lashing by Claus and the girl. He nodded and led the girl away.

Good job Claus, standing up against female gender roles, Lucas sent. The feminists would be so proud.

Gah! Claus sent back. I didn't mean it like that…

Yes you did, which is why you are getting so defensive now.

Shut up, Claus sent, knowing that Lucas was right.

Lucas giggled.

It's just so entertaining to have your anger directed at someone other than me for once! Lucas sent eagerly. Seriously, though, thanks for sticking up for me. I really appreciate it.

Claus felt a warm, comforting feeling wash over him when Lucas expressed his thanks. It felt so good to help the people that he loved… and it felt so painful when he couldn't. Claus shook his head. He would not think about that now.

"We should go to the cafeteria," Ness said with a knowing smile. "Breakfast doesn't eat itself, you know?"

I would be a bit disturbed if it did, Lucas sent. Claus couldn't help but smile. For being prisoners, Claus and Lucas were certainly enjoying their time here.

(ILH)

The girl walked in while the psychic kids were eating breakfast. She looked sullen but didn't wear a murderous glare this time. That was a good start.

"Your name," Lucas peeped nervously. "Is it… Kumatora?"

The girl flinched in shock.

"How did you know?" She inquired. Thankfully, she had taken the venom out of her words.

Lucas shrugged.

"I don't really know. It's just that… whenever I look at you, the word 'Kumatora' pops into my head."

"Hmm, that's interesting," Kumatora replied. "I don't recall ever having seen you before…" she shook her head. "I guess that it doesn't really matter. I… came here to apologize. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Lucas and Claus." Noting their surprise, she added: "Dr. Andonuts told me your names. That's how I know."

Claus wasn't surprised that she knew their names; he was surprised that she was apologizing! How could someone so enraged be so calm a few minutes later? He blinked and remembered when he had pushed Jeff out of anger two days ago. He had been completely calm just a few minutes later after he started talking with Lucas.

Lucas seemed to be thinking the same thing. You two have so much in common already, he sent. I guess she's your type, huh?

Shut up, Claus sent back with a scowl, which just provoked a smile from Lucas. Claus had never realized how sassy Lucas would be when he knew that only Claus could hear. He behaved… just like everyone else.

"Yeah, Ness told me all about the incident," Ninten chimed in with a cocky smile. "You are one vicious girl! Is it your time of month or something?"

Kumatora responded by striding up to Ninten and punching him in the eye. Claus flinched at the sheer power of Kumatora's fist. He shuddered, thinking how close he had been to being on the receiving end of such an attack. Kumatora smiled cockily back at Ninten and cracked her knuckles. Ninten moaned in pain like clichéd ghosts in the movies.

"Man, it feels good punching someone who deserves it!" Kumatora exclaimed.

Claus laughed, mostly because it was true, which earned him a smile from Kumatora. It seemed like there were no hard feelings left between them.

"That's not true," Ninten groaned. "I did not deserve that. Don't encourage her, Claus."

Claus just laughed even harder.

"You had it coming, Ninten. You should know that there are some questions that you should never ask."

At that point, a man wearing foreign attire entered, followed by a collared monkey.

"Listen up, kids!" The man shouted in a tone that brooked no argument. "My name is Fassad, and I will be your military trainer at this school. Don't expect me to go easy on you, either! I've heard that some students have been talking back to Dr. Andonuts. I'll have you all know that I won't tolerate that in the slightest," he finished with a hiss.

See? Lucas sent. Military camp. Claus felt a sinking feeling enter his system and subconsciously slouched, feeling the weight of yet another stone on his back.

To their credit, Ness and Ninten looked confused, indicating that this was a first for them as well. Kumatora kept her face emotionless. Lucas fidgeted nervously.

"Military trainer?" Ness asked.

"Are you stupid?" Fassad asked. "Do I have to say everything twice? King Porky has announced that he wishes for you to train by fighting chimeras. You will be among the first to see our chimera prototypes. Consider it to be an honor."

Ness raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Claus had originally thrown Ness into the same category as Ninten, but he began to see that he was mistaken. Ninten would have talked back to Fassad while Ness rationed his words. Ninten was impulsive; Ness only appeared to be impulsive.

Ninten proved Claus' point further with his next words: "I think that I just got some military experience a couple of minutes ago. May I be exempt from the lesson today?" he asked, nursing the eye that Kumatora had punched earlier.

Kumatora and Claus laughed, while Ness just stared intently at Fassad. That was surprising; Ness would be the first one that Claus would expect to laugh at a statement like that from Ninten. Lucas was looking at the monkey standing near Fassad.

"Do you think that this is funny?" Fassad snarled. Claus and Kumatora fell silent.

"We'll see who's laughing when you kids are stuck in the chimera pit," Fassad snickered, and Claus felt a wave of dread pass over the students.


*Updated on 5/6

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my writing. I know that the plot is progressing slowly, but I do not want to risk under explaining key characters. I felt that it was very important to introduce Kumatora and Fassad in a meaningful way. I hope that you still enjoyed it! Readers are more than welcome to write reviews; it really helps me out as a writer to know what I need to improve on.

Also, I'm going to change up POVs a bit, the next chapter will include a Lucas POV (I know that he's overused, but he's the only character who I can write a POV for without revealing anything that I don't want to).

I think that I will post new chapters once every three days (at least for a while).