"Uncle Riley...where we goin,?" a little blond haired girl asked. She was about eight years old now, and extremely curious for her age.
"To see an old friend, love. And convince him that he is doing something wrong," the man replied to his small niece.
He was a man of about 30 at the time, with fine, light brown hair and soft, brown eyes. The name was Riley Foster, and the little bundle of smiles sitting next to him was his brother's little girl. Of course she never knew her father. It was the year 2009, before anyone could know the devestation the Pulse would accomplish.
"Will there be kids my age, at least?"she asked.
"I'm sure of it, Chrissy, but stay away from them. They are growing up as soldiers, and people like you and me are seen as the enemy. Just stay where I leave you. I don't want to see you getting hurt,"he told her.
It was a long drive to Gillette, Wyoming. Riley had been long time friends with a Donald Lydecker, but in the last few years, they drifted, This Project Manticore Lydecker came up with was wrong and Riley knew it. They were just kids like his little Chrissy.
They arrive at the large area for Project Manticore.
"I'm here to see Mr. Lydecker."
"ID please,"a young soldier commanded.
"I'm Dr. Riley Foster,"giving the soldier his ID, he pats Chrissy on the head.
"Go ahead, Dr. Foster."
~*Later*~
"Now Chrissy, please be good and stay here where it is safe in the main building."
"Awright..I will."
He smiled at her. "I won't be long." Riley turned and left.
"*sighs*...Now what am I going to do?" She looked at the duoble bracelet around her small wrist and began to play with it. Looking up to see if anyone was looking, she walked out the door.
"It can't be as dangerous as he says."
Over in what looked like an sparring ground, there were some children, all in grey shirts and buzz-cuts, sparring. One started shaking violently, collapsing. A oud shot was heard, making Chrissy move quickly behind the fire escape.
Footsteps were heard, coming closer. Someone had heard her. A small, yet strong hand firmly gripped her shoulder and pulled her back into hiding.
"You shouldn't be here." It was a girl that seemed about a year older than she. She spoke softly and commandingly. "You could get killed." The girl looked to see if anyone saw them, then grabbed Chrissy's hand, dragging her to another hiding place.
"Why are you here?" the girl asked.
"Why are you?" Chrissy answered back.
"I live here."
"Doesn't look like much fun."
"What's fun?"
Those blue eyes of Chrissy's widened at that. "You never had fun?"
"No, I'm a soldier."
Chrissy then fooled with the bracelet around her wrist, the one her mother gave her, taking one of the bracelet rings off, and giving it to the girl. She was her first friend.
"Whenever I get realy bored, I twirl this around my wrist."she said.
The girl placed it on her wrist, looking at it strangely.
"You shouldn't be caged like this."Chrissy said.
"Why?"
"You're all human. Not animals..--"she was interrupted.
"Christine!."
The girl looked at Chrissy, almost sadly, having never received a gift before in her short life.
"I won't forget you."the girl said in a low whisper.
Chrissy smiled. "Then don't." She left, running to her uncle.
