11.

It is early in the morning when I'm conducted to the basement area of the base by guards. I'm not restrained, but I don't try to attack. The armed guards marches me all the way to my new room. My room is small and white. White walls, white ceiling, and white floors. No windows, just the white entrance door with tons of locks on it.

There's nothing in this room, expect a small bed, a tiny bathroom, and one drab dresser in the counter. There's no toys, no accessories, nothing colorful or entertaining. I'm given new clothes, drab, plain clothing. Once I'm inside, the guards leaves me, locking the door behind them. I'm numb, as if I took a powerful drug. I struggle to wrap my mind around what is happening right now. I think about crying my heart out. I already did that before I was sent here and now I'm dry out of tears. I'm tempted to start screaming and throwing a tantrum out of anger, but I'm too low on energy. I'm just drained at this point.

I sit on my bed, it is hard and uncomfortable. I think about my previous bedroom. Harlow, Nina, Nick, and Alexa zooms through my mind. A pang of sorrow hits me and I try to think of something else. Felix is still here, from what I've been told, Felix will be released within three to four weeks.

Anger and pain lingers within me. I hate Felix for abandoning me like this, I saved his life by killing Tim! But at the same time, I wanted to kill him as well, but then it changed when the Fireflies attacked us. I don't know. Deep down I was hoping Felix would overlook everything that happened and would take me back home.

I constantly debate if this was all my fault almost every night. I keep coming to the conclusion of no. Nick could have left me to die out there with that Clicker. Felix was willing to let me. Felix saw me as a burden. But Nick has a heart, I remember how loving and doting Nick was to his children. He seemed to have a good relationship with his two daughters and obviously cherished his wife. He saved my life when he didn't have to and I respect him for that. But at that same time, I hate him for it.

I decide to accept my fate here. The Yeagers family are safer that way. Now that I'm with these people, I'm a danger with a target on my head. I push the Yeagers family far into the depths of my mind and I lay idly on my bed.

….

BAM! BAM! BAM! I'm jolted awake with my heart roaring in my chest. I stir in my bed and the door flies out.

"It is time for your training." I grimaces at the voice of Winters. I glare at him and I perched myself defiantly on my bed. "What training?" I demand.

Winters flashes me a broad smile. "Come with me and you'll see."

I'm rebellious, I just sit there and stare at him intensely. My hatred for him increases every second, I abhor the sight of this man. I'm determined to not move a muscle.

Winters quickly realizes my defiance. "Don't make get me a guard, Faye. Get up right now." He warns. I consider listening to this order, but I still sit. Winters yells out to a guard and within a second, one armed guard is in the room. Fear forces my legs to stand and I'm near Winters.

Winters walks me out my room and I'm escorted out the base. From what Winters told me, the training center is a mile away from the original base. He also explains to me that will be my secondary home. The training center is apart of the secondary base of the Fireflies, the area between the original base and this one is protected with wide wired fences and armed guards patrolling. The van drives on a narrow pathway to the center, I'm stripped tightly in my seat belt, Winters sits in the front seat. I look out the car window and gaze at the nature outside.

Once the drive is over, I'm escorted out by guards and I follow Winters into the base. It's a large building with dozens of windows and four stories.

Winters leads me through a iron gate with guards lurking near it and we enter the building.

Winters takes me to a elevator and I'm taken down the basement. When the elevator doors open, Winters leads me to the a open training room.

I'm shocked to see R-100 and C-101 sitting down on a light blue mat that covered the entire floor.

They are wearing odd, white robe outfits, R-100 has a black belt wrapped around her waist and C-101 has a yellow belt. The two pay me no attention as I enter, they are listening to an old man with silver hair and gleaming green eyes. The man is lecturing them, but I don't pay attention to it. The man wears the same outfit as the two children did with black belt.

Winters gestures a hand to them. "Faye, this will be your new training session." Winters explains.

Then he calls out to the old man. "Sensei, you will make Faye train with R-100." He orders. The man raises up a bushy eyebrow. "The child is a beginner, Red is top rank." He expresses. "Why with Red for her first time?"

Winters narrows his eyes. "Because I want Faye to learn what obedience is." He replies in a dry voice. "Do it now. Faye will fight R-100. Don't stop no matter what."

I have so many questions. But I have no time to ask any further questions as Winters vanishes into the hallway.

"Child." I whirl around to the husky voice of the man in the robe. R-100 and C-101 stare at me in silence. Sensei points a stiff finger to a spot next to C-101. "Sit." He orders.

There is so much intense urgency in his tone, I obey. The old man's eyes locks into mine.

"Child, you will fight with Red." He say. "As Winters order, child."

My eyes flickers to R-100, her expression is blank and stone. R-100 rises from her spot and makes her way to the center of the mat. My heart thunders in my chest as my mind tries to figure out what's going on. I feel a soft nudge. I turn my head to C-101. He gives me a small smile.

"Good luck. You'll need it." He say bluntly.

I raise my eyebrow and examine R-100, she's in a firm stance, fists up and legs balanced. Her eyes are glued to mine, challenging and daring. I break away from her stare and turn back to C-101.

"Um...why am I going to fight her?" I ask.

C-101 looks at me as if I'm stupid. "Because Winters said so." Then he screws up his face. "Just don't get hit. At all."

"Up. Child, please come." The old man say slowly. Haltingly, I get up and make my way to R-100. I'm right in front of her, feets away from her. Don't get hit. Don't get hit.

I never been in a fight before, let alone hand to hand combat. But I can at least try to fight. Or dodge. I copy R-100's stance.

The old man raises up his hand and only say one word. "Begin!"

I'm not ready for R-100's speed. I have no time to react as R-100 flashes towards me with a firm fist that lands on my nose. I let out a sharp cry, blinded with tears of pain, I stagger back, R-100 is inches away from me, she swings a swift kick that hits the back of my head. I nearly lose my balance as I'm seeing stars. R-100 lunges at me and this time I'm able to narrowly dive out her way. I fall flat on my face and I pick myself up quickly, my upper body is on fire.

A chill runs down my spine when I see R-100's scowl. Angry and menacing. She lets out a shrill scream as she lunges at me once again. I just run. I'm speeding away from her like a mouse fleeing from a cat. I glance at the old man for help, but he's stiff as a statue.

I run blindly through the room until I slam myself into the wall. The wall knocks the air out of me, then R-100 comes. And puts me into a world of hurt.

I'm kicked from left to right and punched in the stomach and chest almost endlessly. I'm able to slip away and I'm kicked to the floor. I feel a burning sensation in my chest as I let out an angry cry.

R-100 stands over me and I'm fuming with anger. I rocket myself up and hurl a sharp punch to her face. After I hit her, I don't stop. I give her a flurry of punches, every punch becomes stronger and stronger as I slam my fists into her face.

I finally stop, gasping for air. I back up cautiously. R-100 is simply on her knees, silent and blood seeping her now bruised face. I examine my hands and there's crimson in my palms. I feel a pang of excitement. I feel so much pride at this moment. My heart is racing with adrenaline. I look at C-101 and the old man for their reactions. The old man is calm as water, he just stands there, looking at us. But C-101's expression is what jars me. Eyes wide as saucers, mouth open, and his rapid shaking head.

"Can I stop, please?" I plead. Then a horrid, high pitched scream pierces my ears. I grow rigid with fear as I turn back to R-100. Then I nearly pee myself. R-100 is hunched around, breathing heavily, teeth clenched, and eyes full of rage. My eyes are glued to only one thing that terrifies me to death. Her hands are drastically different. I immediately think of a Clicker. There's odd claws that covers her fingers. The claws appear to be hardened fungus. Just like a Clicker, their body is basically a rough piece of armor. The fungus claws are jagged and long. C-101 is looking on with horror. I'm inching away, watching her keenly. R-100 only takes a step close to me, baring her teeth. Beads of sweat runs down my face.

Then it happens. R-100 lunges at me, swinging her hands wildly. I'm trapped as I'm swaying violently back and forth, trying to get out of her range. I get a bright idea and send a desperate kick to her face. I miss and fall to the floor pathetically. R-100 is on top of me within seconds. She goes insane, screaming and screeching as she jabs her claws into my stomach repeatedly. I'm convulsing erratically, my arms flailing. I'm in unbearable pain, a warm screech of agony releases itself out my chest. "Enough!" Then I feel tons of weight whisked off of me. The old man pulls R-100 off of me and holds her in place.

"Red, you are done for this session. Please, go to your room." He orders. R-100 looks the old man in the eyes and solemnly nods. I turn my head to look at them, the world is slowly becoming blurry. I watch in awe as R-100's claws seems to slip back into her skin.

Then R-100 turns her back to the old man and exits the room. The Sensei comes to my aid and grabs my shoulders to lift me up and leans me on the wall.

"You are healing as we speak. You will feel better within an hour or so. Would you like a beverage as you heal, Child?" The Sensei say.

I'm barely paying attention to his words, but I thoughtlessly nod anyway. The old man shuffles away from me and into a room connected to this room. The old man was correct on the healing, even though I'm in great pain, I do feel the tingling sensation of my body. The air is tainted with my blood, my pants and my shirt is darkened with red.

C-101 crawls over to me. "Well I told you not to get hit." He say. "You should have quit when you had the chance. That's what I do. I don't have time to bleed." He lazily shrugs his shoulders.

I struggle to speak. "Why…...what….just happened?" I stutter.

C-101 sits right next to me. "Red is the best one here. She's the most successful project here. Basically what you saw was one of Red's weird abilities. Like Clickers, she can use her fungus as a defense. But instead of a shield, she uses it in a combat way. She can stab through human flesh with ease. Not sure how she got it. I think it's a mutation from her DNA." C-101 elucidate.

I think of Mucker of that moment. Mucker studied me from head to toe and was always intrigued on my DNA. I tend to find it interesting as well. I'm mixed with the feeling of terror and amazement. I believed for a long time that I was the only fungal child in the world. Then when I met these two, I believed they were the same as me. But no. At this point, I'm scared of R-100. I wonder why she acted so feral before. Is that apart of DNA as well?

"C-101, why…..is R-100 like the way she is?" I inquire. C-101 opens his mouth to speak, but then Winters enters the room. He takes one look at me and the blood. Then he smiles proudly.

"Faye, get up. It is time for a break." He declares. I hate this man so much.

I want to be rebellious, but something in me makes me struggle to get up. When I'm up, I'm limping and sore. Blood follows me in a wet trail.

I ignore the pain still within me as I walk weakly with Winters. All I have on my mind are questions.

"Winters," I start. "Why is R-100 so…"

"Flawless." Winters exclaims. "Faye, I suppose I should tell you about FMG's rules." He suddenly stops in the middle of the hallway, I do as well, listening to the humming of the air vents.

"Here at FMG, we are focused on the concept of attachments. You see when R-100 and C-101 was born, the mothers died. We made sure the projects didn't form any emotional attachments to anyone in the area. We made sure the nurses didn't hold them or cuddle them. We only feed them through tubes and care for them with very little human interactions. Faye, you and the others are not children. You were not born naturally, you were made. Children don't have highly advanced abilities. R-100 is our perfect example for this concept. No emotional bonds, devoid of humanity and will. R-100 only obeys. She listens, not speak."

I glare at Winters full of disgust. "That's not flawless!" I protest.

"You, Faye, have many flaws." His words are sharp and cold. "Mucker never seemed like a fatherly man. But he obviously cared for you. You have emotional attachments and free will. We need to break those bonds to make you stronger, Faye."

I'm just looking at this guy as if he has three heads. I'm speechless at this point. Break those bonds to make you stronger, Faye. His words rings in my ears. I just want him to drop dead! I hold in my anger as I see a guard lurking nearby.

Winters leads me to my cell/room and leaves me there. I did nothing but lay on my bed, soaking my once white sheets with my blood. I'm not worried because again I can heal. But I'm still shaking from my ordeal. Does Winters want me to be like R-100? Then I ponder on R-100. I feel a hint of pity for her. (Only a little because she stabbed me a dozen times.)

Is R-100 what I could have been? What if Mucker never held me as a baby? Or cared for me in general? Mucker cared for me, but he was distant and standoffish. Nick and Nina flash in my mind with painful memories. They nurtured their children with love and care. They treated me with pure kindness. Almost like I was a child of their own. But did Mucker even see me as a daughter? I saw him as a Father and loved him like a daughter would. But how did he feel about me? A rush of emotions flows through me rapidly. Tears runs down my cheeks.

Memories of me killing him stabs me like a knife. I'll never forgive myself for it.

….

Today I will not fight. I chant in my head. I hear the rapid knocking of my room's door. Winters comes in, as expected. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling.

"Time for training, Faye." I try to ignore Winters's voice. I distract myself by tracing my fingers on the lumpy scars on my stomach. I got new clothes after my ordeal yesterday and my stomach already healed.

"Faye, please. Come here."

I say nothing and do nothing.

His voice becomes strained and impatient. "Faye, do you hear me? Come here right this instant."

I do nothing.

"Faye."

I roll to my side and close my eyes. This sets Winters off immediately. "GUARDS!" I flinch at the intensity of his voice.

I have no time to react as dozens of hostile hands snatch me from my bed, I'm hauled onto someone's shoulder and carried down the hallway in a flash. Fear reels through me. My voice becomes shrill. "Where are you taking me?" I shriek.

No one answers my question.

The guards takes me to a small hospital room and tossed onto a soft bed. I immediately begin to squirm violently. Hands pin me down. "Nurses. Now. Sedate her." Winters's voice echoes through the room. As I roughly wiggle, I feel a pinch of sharp pain in my shoulder.

I feel the coldness seep through my veins. I feel weak, my movement slows down. I'm not numb, I'm just weak and limp now.

"Sever her fingers." Winters orders.

I can't move my head, but my eyes watches keenly as one nurse putting on her gloves and grabbing a scalpel. My heart thunders. Then I'm in agony. I scream at the top of my lungs as the nurse chops off my right pinky finger.

I lose my ability to form words, I can only scream. Every nerve in my body is aching. Tears runs down my face hysterically.

"Her thumb."

The nurse slices off my right thumb. I smell the tainted air, fresh with blood. Then I black out.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I wake up when a sudden twinge makes me convulse. I feel something rough around my neck. My eyes flicker to the sight of a dark collar wrapped around my neck. I'm finally able to move some parts of my body. I looked down at my hands immediately, my fingers were burning, but I still have them. I bend my stitched up fingers with anxiety.

"Faye."

My eyes widen when I hear Winters. I look up to see him standing in a corner near my hospital bed. I see that we're alone and I'm happy about it. I muster up all my strength to get out of the bed and I bared my teeth, ready to lunge at him.

With an angry cry, I leap for him. Then he smiles and a blue light flashes on my collar. Then I'm shocked with electricity. My muscles twist and jerks violently, I do a crazy dance as I scream at the top of my lungs. Then it ceases and I immediately fall to my knees. I look up dazed and realize Winters had a black remote like object in his hand. "Faye, I told you to get up. And you chose to be defiant. Do not disobey me." He takes a bold step towards me. "I need to break you, Faye. I wanted to be civil with you, Faye. I truly did. But you have more defiance than I thought. Defiance is not welcomed here. You will be severely punished. Do you understand me?" He kneels down and locks eyes with me. Winters is not longer genial. His eyes are devoid of kindness. His eyes are just threatening and cold. I feel a icy chill run down my spine. I feel myself trembling like a leaf. My mind unravels every passing second. I'm still trying to comprehend what just happened. I got my finger and thumb severed off and sewed back on and shocked with an electric collar, simply because I didn't get out of bed?!

I slowly nod my head.

"Speak, Faye."

I force out my small voice. "Yes." I squeak.

…

When I go to bed, all I have are nightmares. Vivid, realistic ones. I relive my recent ordeal, I would dream about Tim attacking Felix, I dream about R-100 and her claws. I turn and toss, murmuring to myself. At one point, I wake up and I can't sleep. I lay in my bed idly, thinking to myself. The room is pitch black, my mind goes wild and I think someone is in the room with me. I shake in my thin sheets in a cold sweat.

Then I hear a light knock on the door. I rise my head up to see the door crack open and Nora pokes out her head.

"Faye, are you alright?" She whispers.

I say nothing. I barely knew Nora. And she doesn't know much about me. Nora shuts the door and turns on the lights, brightening the room. I then realize she is holding a light blue tray with a handful of rice, a cookie, a cup of milk, and an apple.

She flashes me a sweet smile as she walks towards me. "Here, Faye. I thought you would need something to make you feel better."

I sit up in bed, full of distrust. "No." I say hollow. I take one look at the food and realize how empty my stomach was. After that event of madness, I was sent to my room without a meal. But my distrust is stronger than my stomach. This is a test. A trick. I warn myself silently.

Nora gives me a sympathetic look. "Faye, it's okay. I will not hurt you." She says gently. With that she sits on the edge of my bed. "You need to eat, Faye." She coax. "Please."

I ponder for a moment. Is Nora tricking me? She doesn't seem to be the type of person to trick someone. Then again why would she trick me?

Haltingly, I pick the cookie and enjoy the sweet taste of it. Next thing, I know, I'm stuffing my face with food. Nora only smiles and waits for me to finish my meal patiently.

Nora reminds me of Nina. Nice and gentle.

"Faye, what happened today? I heard so much screaming." Her voice deep with concern.

I see no point in lying. "I disobeyed Winters. So he punished me."

"How?"

"He cut my finger and thumb off," Nora's face fills with horror, her eyes become glassy. I show her my hands. "They….stitched them back….but…." My voice drifts off. I take a deep breath. "Then I…..was shocked….and…" Suddenly a unexpected sob escapes my throat. Before I knew, I'm full on weeping my heart out. My sobs are long and broken. Nora embraces me warmly, rocking me slowly like a small child.

"Calm down, Faye. It's okay….I promise….." She whispers into my ear.

It feels so strange to cry like this. To sob in the arms of a stranger. But I don't want to pull away. Then her voice becomes strict. "Faye, I will speak to Dr. Winters. What he did to you was…..inhuman!" She fumes.

"Drink your milk, sweetheart. You'll feel a lot better." She gives me a reassuring pat on the back before releasing me. She hands me the cup and looks me in the eyes. "Faye, the next time, Winters does anything to you, tell me!" Nora declares passionately. "I will help you in anyway I can." I take the cup and avert my eyes from hers. I appreciate her kindness, but I dread Winters's ruthlessness. "There's nothing you can do." I say bluntly. I take a quick sip of the warm milk. I savor the sweet, soothing taste of it.

Then it happens. A sudden twitch occurs and everything becomes black.

When I wake up, I taste something different in my mouth. A bitter, metallic taste. I'm drenched with the blood of Nora. I'm on top of her, gazing at her gruesome body with terror. I can't speak anymore. Nora's eyes are open and lifeless, her throat is an open, bloody gash. Her skin is covered with cuts and deep, red marks. A pool of blood surrounds her on the floor.

I leap off of her and fall on my butt, gasping hysterically. My hand touches something wet and I looked down to see a puddle of spilled milk.

12 will come soon. Leave reviews and thoughts.