Manticore Facility; Gillette, Wyoming; 2009
Assemble, Zack's hands signaled. We all looked around, checking over our shoulders and to our sides before crouching low and running to Zack. Standing tall, Zack did a head count. I waited patiently as he made sure we were all there. Next to me, my brother Zane reached over and squeezed my hand without a word. I smiled, taking a deep breath. Time's up Zack signaled to us. Using his hands, Zack showed us where the danger zone was. I glanced at Zane, trembling with fear.
My eyes lingered back to Zack when Zane let go of my hand. He was pairing us off and sending us in different directions. Each pair took off without any complaint. Everyone trusted Zack, loved him. He was our CO, our brother, and we had full faith that he would do everything to get us to the perimeter fence. Zack paired Zane and me off in the third to last group. He pointed to the left and without a word, Zane and I began towards the left.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Zack watching each group, making sure they were clear, before running off himself. Zane jabbed me with his elbow, signaling for me to pay attention. I nodded and looked around. We were clear. Zane and I ran as fast as we could towards the fence. This is almost too easy, I thought.
As if the Blue Lady had heard my thoughts, two soldiers appeared out of nowhere, reaching blindly for us. I felt a light tug on my sleeve but they hadn't been able to stop me. I kept running and glanced to my left. Then to my right. Where was Zane? I heard guns in the background and a cry come from one of my sisters. I looked back and saw that both of the soldiers had gotten Zane. He was doing his best to attack them but couldn't fight them off. I took another step towards the perimeter fence, knowing we weren't supposed to go back if our partners were caught and then looked at Zane again. My brother. He looked so scared.
I turned around and ran full speed at the soldiers, ramming my head into one of them and knocking him down. Zane used the opportunity to pull his arm away from the other as I held off the other soldier. The soldier put up a fight against Zane, knocking him down. I left the soldier and went to help Zane. I fought against the soldier as Zane pulled himself to his feet. We both began running but before I'd gotten more then two steps away, the soldiers dove at my feet and wrapped their arms around my ankles.
Zane kept running, thinking I was right behind him. The other soldier got a hold of my shoulders as another appeared with a taser. Zane looked back and saw the blue electricity being shot throughout my body. "Keri!" he yelled, his eyes wide. He couldn't fight against a taser and he knew it. I began to feel dizzy as the shocks didn't stop.
Another soldier took off after Zane and he had no choice but to keep running. He climbed over the fence but stopped on the other side, looking back at me. Go, I mouthed as my eyes became clouded over. Zane looked at me hesitantly as the gun shots started firing. I watched as Zane's eyes filled with tears and then he turned and ran off into the woods.
My eyes shut as I received a final blow. I regained consciousness being held next to Colonel Donald Lydecker. He was staring at me, his expression cold. "Take her back inside," he told the soldier. "Isolation."
Assemble, Zack's hands signaled. We all looked around, checking over our shoulders and to our sides before crouching low and running to Zack. Standing tall, Zack did a head count. I waited patiently as he made sure we were all there. Next to me, my brother Zane reached over and squeezed my hand without a word. I smiled, taking a deep breath. Time's up Zack signaled to us. Using his hands, Zack showed us where the danger zone was. I glanced at Zane, trembling with fear.
My eyes lingered back to Zack when Zane let go of my hand. He was pairing us off and sending us in different directions. Each pair took off without any complaint. Everyone trusted Zack, loved him. He was our CO, our brother, and we had full faith that he would do everything to get us to the perimeter fence. Zack paired Zane and me off in the third to last group. He pointed to the left and without a word, Zane and I began towards the left.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Zack watching each group, making sure they were clear, before running off himself. Zane jabbed me with his elbow, signaling for me to pay attention. I nodded and looked around. We were clear. Zane and I ran as fast as we could towards the fence. This is almost too easy, I thought.
As if the Blue Lady had heard my thoughts, two soldiers appeared out of nowhere, reaching blindly for us. I felt a light tug on my sleeve but they hadn't been able to stop me. I kept running and glanced to my left. Then to my right. Where was Zane? I heard guns in the background and a cry come from one of my sisters. I looked back and saw that both of the soldiers had gotten Zane. He was doing his best to attack them but couldn't fight them off. I took another step towards the perimeter fence, knowing we weren't supposed to go back if our partners were caught and then looked at Zane again. My brother. He looked so scared.
I turned around and ran full speed at the soldiers, ramming my head into one of them and knocking him down. Zane used the opportunity to pull his arm away from the other as I held off the other soldier. The soldier put up a fight against Zane, knocking him down. I left the soldier and went to help Zane. I fought against the soldier as Zane pulled himself to his feet. We both began running but before I'd gotten more then two steps away, the soldiers dove at my feet and wrapped their arms around my ankles.
Zane kept running, thinking I was right behind him. The other soldier got a hold of my shoulders as another appeared with a taser. Zane looked back and saw the blue electricity being shot throughout my body. "Keri!" he yelled, his eyes wide. He couldn't fight against a taser and he knew it. I began to feel dizzy as the shocks didn't stop.
Another soldier took off after Zane and he had no choice but to keep running. He climbed over the fence but stopped on the other side, looking back at me. Go, I mouthed as my eyes became clouded over. Zane looked at me hesitantly as the gun shots started firing. I watched as Zane's eyes filled with tears and then he turned and ran off into the woods.
My eyes shut as I received a final blow. I regained consciousness being held next to Colonel Donald Lydecker. He was staring at me, his expression cold. "Take her back inside," he told the soldier. "Isolation."