AN: I have a long explanation below. Please bear with me. This isn't my best work so far, but I promise I'll do better in the next chapter. You'll see the plot twist here though. Disclaimer is at the first chapter! Reviews are highly appreciated and taken to heart. (::)
Em felt her blood go cold. Something was off with the incident with Rose. It was almost as if it was planned. Or maybe she was losing her senses? She was unsure.
Sitting with Gale and talking to her for who-knows-how-long, she wanted to say something that she could correlate to Rose's incident. She was trying her hardest to grab the rope a hand too short from her. Mentally of course.
"Hey, shank. Have you been listening?" Gale glared.
"Sorry. I just-"
"Never mind. I'll try to talk to Rose. The shuck-face might've woke up already." Gale snapped. Her eyes widened comically.
"I'm sorry. Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. I'm such a slinthead." Gale apologized relentlessly.
"I get it, klunk-face. We all have bad days. But in the end, I have your back, and you have mine. Promise?"
Gale nodded as she left. Em gasped. And for a second she could've sworn she was dreaming.
"Is the subject here?" Em could see herself, hunched in a corner. The room was chrome and white. Blinding white lights seemed to glare at her and voices seem to taunt her.
"Yes." Em could see the hurt flashing in the eyes of the boy who was a little older than her.
"Excellent." Em could sense some recognition of the boy. Although it felt like a faded, past-life memory. She didn't think she could ever recall again.
"Thank you, doctor Paige." The boy replied monotonously. And from that tone, Em knew he was never grateful.
"You're welcome. Now run along with Thomas and Teresa. The others have set up activities for you to do." The boy scurried off to who-knows-where, disappearing in the seemingly maze-like halls of this building.
The woman, Paige, seemed to notice Em's unease and assured her,
"Everything we do is for the future. And one day, everyone will see that my efforts will have paid off, Amelia."
"Go to hell." The Em in the memory spat.
The woman merely laughed.
"We're already in hell. And unless you help me and this wicked, wicked, world, then we'll never see paradise." The woman left. Her laughter still bringing a chill to memory Em's spine.
Rose woke to a MAJOR headache. That memory that she had somehow recalled had her head buzzing with questions. Too much questions it seemed, that may have been the cause of her headache.
She blearily opened her eyes, seeing the duo, Gale and Bear at either side.
"Nath's outside, and so is Margie. They're both helping to cook since you've been out for a week. Food's been a bit klunky without you." Bear replied cheerily.
Rose's eyes widened. How in hell did she stay unconscious for that long?
"I know that look. Just take little steps." Bear chided.
"Everything is fine in the kitchen. Have some rest first." Gale assured, her tone demanding.
"Let me go! I need to get out of here! Let me go, you shanks!" Rose yelled to protest. Gale flinched. Rose quickly realised her mistake and apologized profusely.
"Gale, she didn't mean that." Bear comforted. Gale didn't say anything and stormed off.
"Sorry about that. Ever since the Changing happened, she acted more aloof than she already is." Bear said as he saw Rose's expression of guilt.
"Can I go now? They must have a hard time in the kitchen." Rose asked. Nath entered, bringing a tray of food.
"This is for you, the longest sleeping shank there ever was." He teased light-heartedly and handed Rose the tray and Rose had to admit she was impressed. Margie could cook almost as well as she could. ALMOST.
"Thank you, this actually looks good."
"Oh and, after eating, we'll be having a council meeting." Nath added.
"Will do. I'm hungry." Rose caved into her cravings and ate to her heart's content.
Council meeting...
Rose was seated beside Em and some others. Why Teddy had the urge to call out a meeting was something she knew nothing of.
"I know this meeting was really sudden and all but ever since last week, people got stung. And I want to prevent that. All of us have to survive. I'm setting up a curfew for all of us shanks," Some groaned at this.
"and no one but the runners are allowed to make rounds. That is also applicable to you, Nath,"
"Teddy, I'd like to say something." Rose uttered slowly.
"Later, Rose I have to-"
"This is urgent! More urgent than anything I've ever tried to say. So let me say it, klunk-head." Rose insisted. James looked at the two back and forth, thinking they might start a fight.
"Go on, then." Teddy wasn't the most aggressive one here but if someone interrupts a meeting about survival then surely the one conducting it is going to be pissed.
"I remember something from my shuckin' past."
"What?" Several asked.
"Me too." Both Em and Mei added simultaneously.
"That's impossible." Lilli retorted.
"You were never stung by Grievers, except you, Em so of course, you'd remember, but Rose and Mei?" Leo recalled, his silver eye looking around uneasily.
"Tell us what you remember," Nicole urged.
"I know I had a little sister." Mei answered.
"I remember my mother. She told me she couldn't take care of me anymore. She left me in an orphanage." Rose replied softly.
"Guys. I think I know who put us here." Em whispered, silencing everyone.
"What?" Lilli asked.
"Where's Mark and Nath anyway?" Flo questioned.
"Nath's out with Margie, cooking." Gale answered.
"I guess Mark joined them as well." Bear added.
"Well, this meeting has helped a bit, I guess. I'll see you all for dinner." Teddy left the homestead with Nicole, James, Leo and Ello, the last one who was silent throughout the whole meeting ordeal. They were about to discuss important things about the rounds.
2 weeks later…
She wasn't afraid of the dark. It wasn't like that. But when you can't remember anything, of course fear settles in, digging into your skin like a parasite who found the perfect host. Then it feeds.
She didn't even know her name.
As the lift began moving upward, she panicked. She couldn't see anything above. It was all dark. The stale air and the rusty smell of metal permeated her senses, mainly her nose, irritating it. The lift was moving faster than ever, and if there was no opening above, she'd be squished like a bug.
Lights blared as the lift stopped abruptly. And a loud alarm was heard by her.
There seemed to be a hatch above that made light seep into the lift. The girl blinked quickly, the new light too bright to easily adjust to.
It was then that she heard voices.
"C'mon up, greenie. We've got not much time." A girl with an odd accent greeted. What was greenie? More importantly, what was this place?
"Do you need someone to carry you, princess?" A boy added sarcastically. The girl shook in anger. Deep down, she knew she always hated jerks.
"Stop it, James. I'm Teddy, you can come out now." Teddy jumped down after saying that, momentarily shocking the girl.
"I…" The girl badly wanted to remember anything about her past. Even her name, and she can't even figure it out. Teddy seemed to have seen her unease.
"Don't worry about it, greenie. You'll be getting that name in a day or two." Teddy assured.
"Okay." The girl replied, nodding.
She reached for her pocket, her gut telling her to do so. There, she felt a metal object. It was tiny and cool. She'll have to check that out later on.
"Get up, then, let's get out of here." Teddy ordered. The girl followed and with a rope, both of them got out safely.
"Teddy-kins, I'll take her on zee tour." The odd accented girl added.
"Sure. And go get Mark. We've some things to discuss."
Before I'll be replying, I need everyone to know this first. This week, I've been in a tornado of events. My exams had lasted for two days, my Christmas party didn't give me enough time to finish writing this chapter. Last night, I had an important event to go to as well. To top everything off, I had gotten sore eyes. So there was no using of the laptop for me. The least I could do was use my tablet to read. And even then, I could only read so little. I hope you guys understand. If you have any suggestions, ideas, corrections, or criticisms, feel free to leave them in a review.
The replies:
softball007: Thank you, and you're welcome. I'm still waiting for that update! ;)
Wafflelover06: Thanks, and yes, do you love Bad Boy Valdez? :)
Newtie: I love you too, Newtie! Thanks for your review! And of course, Em's role will be discussed here further.
Nerdicarp: Well, here's a little more elaborated explanation regarding the family question. And thanks for that rating. I appreciate it.
Don't be afraid to review. All are appreciated and thanked for. Thanks for the 800+ views, guys! (::)
Slight edit made on 12/20/14 11:12