Ida's POV
I gasp awake. I don't remember falling asleep, nor do I remember where I am. I look around to see a fairly plain room; at further inspection I notice a small, crumpled piece of paper sitting on a table beside the cozy bed on which I lay. I stand up to find a neatly folded outfit laying at the foot of my bed. I reach for the note and find the words: "Meet me for breakfast in the lounge room—Isaiah" printed in italicized font. I put the note down and turn to the outfit. It's a simple pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. After putting on the outfit, I turn the knob on the door and exit the room. I trace my fingers down the crisp, white walls of the compound. I reach a room labeled 'Subjects'. My curiosity begins to get the better of me, but I remember what Charlotte told me about the rooms.
"These rooms are old. I did not get to name them so don't be too curious about what I store in them. I promise nothing here will hurt you in the slightest."
The conversation replays in my head until I get to the lounge room labeled 'Break'. Isaiah stands looking at a high-tech phone Charlotte gave him.
"Morning, Little Sister." He says without looking up from his phone. I sigh and push open the door.
He follows me in the room, and I begin to braid my hair before reaching for a plate. When I started working with Charlotte, I learned how well she treats her employees, especially Isaiah and me. I place food on the plate while Isaiah talks about the plan for the day.
"Today you will prove your loyalty to Charlotte, understood?" I nod and begin to eat when Isaiah continues. "We are keeping your friends locked up for information." I flinch. Torturing them? A bit far-fetched even for Charlotte. I think. Isaiah stares daggers at me as I put my fork down. "Go get ready for your task." He says with his face blank.
I start to walk back to my room when a scream comes from the room marked 'Subjects'. I look around before twisting the knob and walking in. There are four identical rooms and a fifth room slightly different from the others. I step towards the room closest to my left. The door has the name 'Traitor' inscribed on it. I turn to the room opposite the previous one. 'Loyal' is printed on the door. I look at the other doors. 'Unrequited', 'Gullible', and 'Far-Fetched' are the titles of the other rooms. I start to turn the knob when I see a gun on the floor. I pick it up and notice that there is one bullet left in the barrel.
Holding the gun away from my body, I twist the knob and walk into the room. I don't know how to shoot a gun. This is terrifying. Somehow, the thoughts in my head are louder than my heartbeat, both blocking out any other noise. I shake my head and look forward to the room to see a shadowed figure sitting in the middle of the room with their legs crossed. I start to step forward, careful I'm silent, but I stop. I stand close to the door before deciding on a plan, hoping it will work. This must be the test…I hope this is the test Isaiah meant.
I march forward announcing I'm here. The figure stirs and I realize with a stabbing ache…the figure is Abby. I shake my head again and continue on with my plan. Prove you are loyal. Prove you can do this. "I'm here to save you," I say with mock sympathy. Abby sighs before I place the gun to her head, my fingers shaking.
She grabs the gun spinning me so that she can stand. I kick her knees to knock her down and she groans before I try to shoot at her. Nothing comes out of the gun. Where did the bullet go? Is it jammed? Thoughts swirl in my head as I toss the gun across the room and give an irritated groan. Abby turns and grabs a rickety pipe off of the wall. I turn to the door and find a loose pipe opposite hers, almost as if it was planned. I turn and try to hit her, but she parries the blow making my heart skip a beat. I shouldn't be glad she's alive. I should be exactly what Isaiah is training me to be, a killer. I try and hit lower, aiming for her stomach, but she knocks the pipe from my hands. Blood begins to trail down my hand from the serrated edge.
"Betrayal hurts worse coming from a friend," I smirk, a mischievous and mocking look reaching my eyes.
I feel an invisible punch to the gut as she says," You should know."
Angry, I turn and kick her stomach. She falls to her knees in pain, and I walk towards the door, hoping my job is done. Alas, she walks after me and throws a punch. I catch it, relishing the annoyed groan she gives. She uses this time to throw me on the ground off of her arm. The wind is knocked out of my lungs, and I gasp. She gives a panicked glance to me as I struggle to regain a solid breathing pattern. She runs over to me and throws her arm out to me, letting me get off the floor. I turn and push her against a wall, trapping her. I kick at her knees hoping to knock her down, but it doesn't. She kicks at me, but it does nothing as well. She ducks out of the way as a loud crack comes from the wall. Sheet-rock, steel, and pieces of wood fly and land on top of me. My vision goes spotty, tears swimming in my eyes. My ankle is throbbing with pain, and my head is bloody. Abby rushes over to me and helps pull me from underneath the rubble.
I force her onto the pile of rubble and hold her down, my knee on her stomach; my hands on her shoulders. Even though I am shorter, my strength far surpasses hers. I smirk, knowing just what to say to make her angry.
"I wonder why the pretty boy would ever love anyone as weak as you?" She visibly grits her teeth. Blood and sweat cover her hands and face, but she still throws another punch at my face. I catch it just before it hits my nose.
"Don't think about hittin' me. You can try all you want, but that will never make you stronger." I give a devilish smile before dragging her up and pinning her against the wall closest to us. "Oh, look at Abby. All pinned up against a wall like this. It's almost cute…almost isn't enough though." My eyes harden, the steel blue of them like blades. Just like Isaiah. I falter my grip on her wrists, and she shakes my hands free, punching me in the nose. I stumble back, losing my balance and tripping over the rubble.
"Oh, look at Ida on the floor. " I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes. I hoist myself up and find the pipe she threw from me earlier. I turn on my heel and run toward Abby.
"Remember where you came from." She mutters. I hit her with the pipe and she passes out. I turn and find Isaiah at the door so I leave Abby and walk out of the room.
I walk down the corridor, lingering around the door marked 'Traitor'. This wasn't right. I shouldn't have…actually, if I prove my 'trust' to Charlotte maybe my friends can go free. I march down to my room, determined to figure this out.