A/N:Chapter 16

Never Give In

Chapter 16

Riley

"Ms…" The man in a suit paused. He looked around his thirties but there was an air of how he carried himself. As if he had seen some dreadful things, she wondered if she looked that way. His name was Simon. He was there when they found her in that hallway, almost in a catatonic state. She remembered his face in front of her, mouth moving as if trying to relay a message before she was lifted. Carried gently to what she assumed was a safe area. She was passed to a group of people who quickly attended to her.

That might have been days ago, she woke up in a bed at an infirmary of some sort, alone. The walls were not a bleak grey and there were no narrow hallways that made you feel enclosed. Instead there were wide windows letting natural sunlight pass was relieved that there was no signs of any recent injections to her. She was about to remove her blankets and find her way around when Simon stepped through the doors and introduced himself.

He was sitting on the chair to the right of her bed, trying to find a way to address her.

"271," She supplied, "That's what they called me."

If anything that disturbed Simon even more. She saw a brief look pass through his face before he schooled his features and asked her, "What would you like to be call?"

"I don't know," She admitted looking at the fray of the blanket. She did not know why she was suddenly so ashamed of it. She had gone for a long period of time not knowing her name and being forced to obey, but when someone finally presented her with a choice, she was lost.

"How old are you?" Simon asked again. "Do you know who your family is?"

The way he said it made her turn sharply toward him. She could feel her heart thump unevenly in her chest. Simon knew who she was.

"You know," her mouth going dry. She wanted to know everything, her name, her family, her age, where she lived, what she was like before."

"Slow down," Simon cautioned, "The doctors here think I shouldn't overload you with too much information at a time."

She felt herself deflate and lean back on the pillows. She knew that these people were different and she knew that if she could persuade Simon and he would tell her everything. It was her given right. But for now she just wanted to know one thing.

"My name. I want to know my name," She said so quietly.

"Riley Matthews," He answered.

She closed her eyes. The name was everything she had wanted to hear. It was so fitting and yet she can't help wonder it that name is who she is anymore. The name brought up so many more questions.

"You said that I had a family, how long was I away?" She asked. She turned to face Simon who she noticed hesitated.

"I think you should get some rest," he said before standing up, "I will tell you but I think you need to get better first."

"Where is this place?"

"It's a rehabilitation center, for people who got hurt, people who need to heal," Simon replied easily. She could tell he was being careful with the words he spoke. "When you are all better you can have a look around."

"I can?" She asked surprised feeding in her voice. The look passed on Simon's face again and she found herself wondering what was his story.

"You are not a prisoner here, you can go wherever you want to, although I think maybe it would be a good idea to tell someone if you are off wandering," Simon answered before saying, "Get some rest Riley, we will talk more."

Riley padded through the hallways. The were wide and painted a calm yellow that made the place looked like an almost home. She was introduced to Elaine shortly after Simon left. Elaine was a bubbly doctor who told her about every procedure and test that she was running on Riley before she administered it. It made her feel better, knowing. Elaine also brought her various clothes saying, "I'm not sure what you would like but I brought out a few. You can choose whatever you like."

Riley hesitated at first. She didn't know what to choose from that sea of fabric but slowly her hands reached for a blue long sleeve sweater and some light color jeans. She wanted to hide the scars and ugly bruises. If she did not see them, maybe she could pretend that they were not even there. She was walking around bare footed her head clouded with thoughts when she saw Simon again. He had just stepped out of one of the doors that decorated the hallways.

"Am I the only one here, besides you and Elaine?" Riley asked falling into step with him. He was wearing something more casual than the last time she had seen him.

Simon smiled, "No, the other kids are probably in the garden."

"There is a garden?"

"There is also a library and about a dozen other stuff here"

"What is this place again?" Riley questioned.

"Like I said, its a rehabilitation center for people who have gone through some bad things. This place is for you to be taken care off. You don't need to stay here if you don't want to. We can find other arrangements."

Taken care off. She had not been taken care off in a while. She had not had options in a while too.

"What day is it?"

"Tuesday, April, you've been declared missing for about eleven months, close to twelve."

She followed Simon to a doorway that lead to the outside. The sky was clear blue, some clouds rolled lazily. There were flowers and trees and over the wind she could here peals of laughter. Eleven months. A year had almost gone by.

"Who were those people?" Riley asked, " The one's who took me."

Simon sighed, "they were a group of extremist who thought that experimenting with children were okay."

"Why did they pick me?"

"They have specific criterias," Simon said trying to explain it without scarring her. The girl he thought had been through so much, then again all the children here did, "When a child peeked their interest, the observe him or her for months at a time, learning their schedule before they took you.."

Whatever else that Simon was saying passed through though the day was warm, Riley suddenly felt cold. They had watched her for months. And she was unaware of it. She felt Simon place his hand on her shoulder and kneeled so that he was at her eye level.

"You are safe now. They won't get their hand on you ever again," Simon promised.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I am."

Simon had then introduced her to the other children there. Some she recognized and some completely new. All of them were friendly and yet she could detect a hint of caution with one another as if they were trying to gauge whether or not the person beside them could be fully trusted. Riley was sure she carried herself the same way. And then there were other children who were friendly and reckless. Reckless is probably a bad word to describe it, but their eyes spoke of their innocence, that they trusted fully. It made her wonder why they were at this place.

Riley could measure the days that passed by. She was almost here a week now. She had made some new acquaintances and she was able to get through most nights. Riley knew she had a long way up ahead for her to even try to be okay. Everything was different again and Elaine had told her that things are not going to be easy. That there might be triggers and untold trauma that her mind has blocked from her that she was going to find out with time.

Still her mind often wondered about her family. She could barely remember them and she wondered what they would think of her now. Would they like what they saw? Because she could barely look at herself in the mirror

"You can go back home if you want," Elaine said sliding up to her. Riley was sitting at the bench watching the sunset. She was in another sweater, white this time. The streetlamp were already lit up but it did not take away from the orange-ish, pink hues that the sun cast. Elaine passed her a cup of hot chocolate.

"What if I can't," Riley finally voice out what was troubling her, "What if I can't go back to who I was."

Riley saw a thoughtful look pass through her face, "I don't think you are meant to be who you were before. People always change."

"But not like this," Riley insisted bitterly. Who would want her now that she is so heavily damaged? Why would anyone want something so broken?

"We don't get to choose whatever happens to us. But we can choose how to respond to it," Elaine repeated, "You can go back to your family if you want to."

Family.

"And if I don't?"

"There is a place," Elaine said slowly, "For people like you. Who have been exposed to different skill sets. If you are interested."

A place for people like her? Was it possible to forget who Riley Matthews was and recreate herself. Could she rebuild herself from ground up? Was she strong enough to leave behind the idea of a family and just move forward?

"Tell me more."

Chapter 16 done.

So normally I would not do this, but I just have to voice out something. I am very grateful for all the reviews that I get. It means a lot that you have taken time to write something down and I know that some of you might not always agree on the way I project my story. And I am really not trying to pick a fight or offend someone. I know negative comments are just part and parcel of writing, and usually those reviews have made me think of ways to better my story telling. But telling me to get on with my story and that you are done with this is a bit much. I don't know if this is just one person or a few but I guess I just need to clarify things.

I wrote the last chapter not to make anyone feel bad a bout missing a loved one during the holidays. Yes maybe my timing was not smart, but that was also the reason that I put it out. Not because I'm sick and twisted but just to show that even when you are missing someone, you could still be able to enjoy certain moments. That it is not all about being mopey and sad all the time. That life still can give you moments that can make you happy if you let it. I am sorry that you did not like my story and I will even apologize for the timing but I will not apologize for writing the way I do.

And for that one comment after that defending me, thank you. You really made me feel better. Thank you, all of you who read this story. I have one more chapter left. So until next time :)