Chapter 1: The Plan

I yawn as I wake up, looking out the only window in this dark room and seeing that the sky is just now starting to get lighter, meaning that it's a new day. I sigh and grab the piece of chalk that the guards allow us to use to count the days with before adding another tally mark to the wall. "Guys, congratulations. We've survived one more Night."

I hear the others shift around a bit before sitting up. There are seven of us living in one large, dark room lined with small cages, each one about three by three feet and five feet tall. Every one of us looks different. Every one of us have a different personality. The only thing we all have in common is the fact that we are mutants...and the fact that we all live in this hell hole.

There were others, just a few years ago the room had so many of us that we had two people per cell, but one by one they went for testing and never came back. I was the first one of us to come here, the oldest surviving kid. I was kidnapped when I was three months old.

I was born with the name Leah Black. Because I am the oldest living lab rat I'm considered the leader. I was born with the ability to control and generate electricity but due to several experiments performed by the lab I also have large black angel wings that I can hide as a tattoo on my back, a sirens voice, which means I can control people for as long as I want too when I sing to them, and empathy. I live in the cell closest to the back of the room. It's a tradition among the lab rats to choose a new name if you turn two. The others know me as Shock'n'awe, or Shock for short, because of the awe inspiring effect I have when my wings are out and my electric powers.

In the cell across from me is the first of my brothers, he was born with the name Hadrian Potter; he and the person in the cell next to his, who was born with the name Neville Longbottom, were brought on the same day by a man named Albus Dumbledore when they were sixteen months old, a few weeks after I chose my name. He has white angel wings, controls the wind, and, through experiments, telepathy, super healing and mild empathy. He chose the name Aeolus for himself.

Neville has the ability to speak to and control plants. The lab has given him the ability to emit and control a toxin that makes people fall into a deep sleep that lasts for a varied amount of time, and cause earthquakes. Usually the sleep mist lasts several hours to a few months. He chose to be called Nightshade because of his plant ability.

Across the room from him, in the cell next to mine, is a boy who was born with the name Draco Malfoy. He came here with the only other girl here, who is in the cell next to him and was born with the name Luna Lovegood, they're a set of twins in our minds. Draco was brought here when he was three by his father. He can control blood, heal anyone he touches, and, through testing, also has Telepathy like Aeolus; he chose the name Apollo.

Luna was kidnapped at the same age as Draco. She can see the future and turn into a wolf, through testing she also gained the ability to control ice. She chose the name Artemis because it matches Apollo's name and fits her.

Across the room from Luna is the only set of blood related twins, born with the names James and Jessie Lestrange. They were kidnapped when they were five and brought to the lab. James controls the light while his brother controls the dark. They chose the names Jekyll and Hyde, respectively.

We're all pretty close, considering the fact that we're the only ones we can all count on. Artemis and I are the strategists of the group and I have been working on an escape plan for as long as I can remember. Now we're finally almost ready to put it into action. "Morning Shock." Apollo says to me as he yawns and stretches to the best of his abilities. "Did you sleep well?"

"Do I ever sleep well in here, Apollo?" I ask him. "Open the link."

I feel the mind link that we have Apollo and Aeolus create when we want to speak privately open and hear Artemis speak through it, 'Good morning everyone.'

'Morning Artemis.' everyone calls out.

'I want to review the plan.' I think to them and feel their focus shift to me, 'So we wait until one of them pulls one of us out. That one does their test like a good little lab rat. After they bring whoever it is back one of my minions-'

'Do you have to call them that, Shock?' Jekyll interrupts, causing me to sigh as I send him an irritated look. We've had this conversations a thousand times before.

'Yes. That is what I have to call them.' I tell him

'Why?' Hyde asks for his twin.

'Because it's better than calling them my mind controlled slaves who have no choice but to obey my every will and command.' I tell him, my mental voice becoming irritated. 'Now back to the plan; one of my minions will discreetly leave the keys to the cells in that persons cell. Once the scientists have left the building for the day, which will be confirmed by Hyde who will be watching through the shadows, the one with the keys will unlock us all. Soon as we're out of the cells we'll be able to use our powers on any door or guard that gets in our way. Are there any problems or things to add?'

'How much force do you want us to use on the guards?' Aeolus asks, sending images of the time I almost killed a guy three years ago. I had snapped that day and attempted to escape on my own. That attempt ended with me going a week without food.

'As much force as they use.' I say, sending a small glare his way, 'That guard survived with minimal injuries, by the way. I don't understand why you keep bringing it up.'

'You removed his arms!' the voices of Aeolus, Jekyll and Apollo yell at me.

'But he lived, didn't he? Besides, Apollo reattached them.' I say, choosing to ignore their glares as I add, 'We don't have to do anything today. They won't come in here which means that no one is coming to get us out of the cells today, so the plan has to be done tomorrow.'

'Is there something special about tomorrow?' Jekyll asks me and I blink a few times, confused.

'Jekyll...did you forget what tomorrow is the start of?' I ask him

'What are you...' he trails off for a minute as realization dawns on his face. 'That's this week?'

He sounds angry at himself, probably because he forgot something important. 'Yes Jekyll. I am sorry to say it but...' I pause, glancing around the room again before saying out loud, "This week is injection week."

We all shudder at those words. Injection week is the worst week of the year. It's when the scientists attempt to give us all new powers. They labeled it Injection Week; a week full of torture and pain. It's only been considered a major success with one mutant so far; me. Which makes me their favorite lab rat and generates quite a bit of my hatred towards the scientists. The only good thing that comes from injections is the fact that when they succeed they give the one that they succeeded on some food that is actually good. The guards call it Steak and Baked Potatoes with Cheese.

The pain from the injections isn't worth the taste of the meal. I hate this place. I hate the guards, the scientists, everything about it, probably more than any eight year old should be able to hate someone. I would love nothing more then to watch them all turn to dust.

'Shock, you're projecting your thoughts and breakfast is here.' I look up at Nightshade's voice and see the others looking worriedly at me. 'Are you alright?'

'I will be alright soon as we are free.' I tell him. 'Shut me out of the link. I need to think on my own for a while.' I feel the mind link close and look at the tray of food in front of me.

Breakfast here consists of what is either cold chili or very expired soup in a can, a small roll of slightly expired bread, and a small metal cup of, for me, coffee. The others have water. I glare at the slop presented to me before sighing and grabbing the coffee, which the scientists started giving me when they realized that my electric ability made me volatile. Caffeine is the only thing that balances that out and keeps me from attacking anything that talks to me.

I drink the coffee quickly before eating the food and lying on my back, looking up at the blank gray ceiling. 'Some day, I'm going to be free.' I think to myself. 'When that happens, I will make sure that this place is burned to the ground. It and everyone who works for it.'

I turn over onto my side, and send out the signal to give the order to my minion before deciding to sleep the day away and calling out, "I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

"Night." they all call back to me before I fall asleep.