Chapter Two; 02

Rylee O'Neill�"Ms. Hothead

•••

The redhead laid back on the old, worn, and uncomfortable mattress. The ceiling was her only entertainment. In a blank, windowless room there wasn't much else to entertain. The sound of one long ring filled her ears; breakfast, and after sit in a room for hours, which was much more fun when she was a child than now. Her door opened and in stepped two guards wearing fireproof armour. She grew a smirk on her lips, sitting up on her mattress and running her hands over her blue eyes, “I just laid down," She complained, getting up from her bed.

“Sucks, breakfast time,” The man said, taking her by the arm and pulling her out.

She was one of the last in the cafeteria. Picking a bowl of cereal over the eggs and toast sitting on the counter, which worked as a window into the kitchen. She picked a strawberry from the basket and popped it in her mouth and throwing away the top before heading to the circular table where six out of the ten have already found their spots; Hazel, Emilia, Jasper, Rickard, Rhaella, and Jason. She took an open seat next to Jason and quickly caught on to the awkward feel between them all, she furrowed her eyebrows but resigned on saying anything, taking a spoonful of cereal and beginning to eat.
Tommy sat down at the table, furrowing his eyebrows when he did, "Did I miss something?" He questioned, Rylee shrugged in reply.
"No, nothing was missed, Tommy connect us," Emilia said quickly, taking his hand directly after he let go of his bowl. He mumbled to himself, taking a bite of the eggs in front of him before his other hand was taken by Rylee. Everyone around the table joined hands before being connected.
"Start the party without me why don't you," Jerome said as he approached the table, setting his bowl on the table, taking Jason and Jasper's hands.

'Off topic, back to the reason we're connected in the first place.' Emilia said. She looked behind her to see two guards at each of the exits 'We still can't leave quite yet, wait till tonight.' Emilia thought as she moved back to her original position in her chair.
'Not tonight, it won't work.' Rhaella thought "Anyone remember what day it is?" She questioned them out loud. Rylee gave her a confused look, soon her expression changing from confused to worried.
'It's Wednesday.' She realized, 'Testing day, there's no way it'll work today.' Rylee added.
'They'll be watching us like hawks all day; there's no way we'll even get out of our rooms without being thrown in Max.' Rhaella added.
'Then we do it tomorrow.' Emilia thought. Harper groaned in reply, eyes averting to her.
'Unless of course tomorrow something else comes up and we can't get out that day either.' She thought, running a hand through her short brown hair.
'Well we have to be safe Harp, but tomorrow and if not we'll figure it out, but we need to be patient.' Emilia thought to Harper, trying to reassure her 'We're going to do this and it's going to work.'
'Don't have too much faith sweetheart.' Jasper opened an eye, raising his eyebrow at her; she rolled her eyes at Jasper.
"Jerome." The blonde spoke aloud.
"Got it." He said, with the flick of a finger Jasper was thrown backward, and his back landed on the wall with a loud thud behind his seat. Rylee held back a laugh, much like many others at the table. Jerome sniffled back a drop of blood. Harper stood to help Jasper; Jasper let out a light groan as he hauled himself off the ground on his own.

Harper ended up sitting back down, not getting a chance to help Jasper. He sat back in his chair at the table, a smirk playing on his features and golden eyes shining dimly "Can't say I haven't done something to deserve that." He joked, cracking his neck and knuckles. He looked behind him to see the guards, caring less that he was thrown against a wall seconds before. He clicked his tongue and smirked, looking down at his food "Dicks." He mumbled, taking a bite of food.
"Anyways-" Emilia began speaking but they were interrupted by one long ring telling them that breakfast is over. Emilia let her head fall back as she let go of the hands she held, “You’re f*****g with me,” She groaned out, standing up.
"Activity room," Rylee said, getting up from her spot at the table, guards, one for the less dangerous and two for the ones that scared them.

"01!" A man in a doctors uniform shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Rhaella sighed as guards took hold of her, pushing her along, their type of escort to the Rat Room, where the testing was done.
The nine were guided to the activity room to wait for their turns. The door was shut and locked as always, one guard inside to watch them. The nine of them sat in a circle in the middle of the room, all with their eyes closed and hands holding each others, speaking through thought.

'What do you think is happening to Ray?' Harper asked them.
'I don't even want to think about it,' Jasper thought.
'Well we can't really know, all I can tell you is she's still being taken to the Rat Room.' Tommy thought.
'Well, no point in wondering right now, we need to figure out the rest of this plan.' Rylee interrupted.
'Rylee's right guys, did you cut Ray off Tommy?' She asked.
'Of course, she doesn't need voices going through her head while she's in the Rat Room.' He thought to her.
'So about this plan, tomorrow’s Thursday and we know how Thursday's go; breakfast, lunch, dinner, activity room for next few hours. We wait till we're in here.' Emilia explained in her head.
'Sounds great, except for the fact we still have no safe exit.' Rylee added in.
"Guys." Harper whispered, it was overlooked.
'Then some of us will have to sneak away at some point, I'll stay and create an illusion that whoever leaves is still here.' She thought.
"Guys," Harper whispered again, her hands starting to shake, sweat lining her forehead. Hazel opened her eyes, detaching her hand and cutting off her connection "Harper, what's-"

Screaming was heard down the hall, coming from the Rat Room resulting in Harper’s screams starting to echo through the room. It made them snap their eyes open. Jasper was the first to spring up, his fists coming to hit the wooden door, “Rhaella!” He screamed out, desperately trying to get to the screams. Jerome stood, running to his side. He tore him away from the door, “Jasper, stop,” Jerome ushered, pushing his back onto the wall. Rickard came to hold his other arm,

“They’re hurting her!” He yelled out, fighting against the boys, “Let me go!” He screamed. The boys pulled him off the wall, bringing him too his knees on the ground.

Hazel held Harper, Harper holding to Hazel’s chest tight as she can. Harper still cried, sobbed into her shoulder. The fabric of her shirt soaked up most of her tears, Harper pulling back to switch to the other.

The door opened, two men stepping in and dragging an unconscious Rhaella behind them. They laid her on the floor, Rickard and Jerome not letting go until they were gone, yet Jasper fought relentlessly, his golden eyes on Rhaella.

The door slid shut and Jasper was by her side in seconds, picking her up from the ground and carrying her to the couch. Emilia got a few blankets from a chest in the corner of the room, making one into a pillow for her and the second being a blanket. Jasper set her sleeping body on the cushions, resting her head on the pillow. Emilia draped the blanket over her, getting on her knees beside the couch. She took her arm out from under the scratchy blanket, looking over the popping veins on the inner arm

"She's not hurt," Emilia said, Jasper taking hold of her other hand. Rylee came to her side, looking over her,

“What happened?” She asked, her eyes focussing on the splats of blood across her skin.

“I don’t know yet, Rylee,” Emilia said, an attitude in her tone. Jasper turned back to Rylee, “Back the hell up,” He ordered, and she listened, taking a few steps back. He turned back to the girl, running his fingers along her forehead, moving hair from her face.

The door to the room opened again, a man in a white coat and a clipboard stepping in with a sickly sweet smile "02." He said in a demanding tone. Rylee stepped back slowly, taking a breath as she glanced at Rhaella then back up. She obeyed, walking towards the man.

'Rylee, don't,' Tommy sat on the other side of the room, staring straight at Rylee; they were all disconnected when they let go of each other. He stared at her but she didn't look back, instead followed the man out.
'I just have to cooperate, buy you guys a little time.' She thought, shutting her eyes. She took a step forward, leaving the room with the men. Tommy watched as she left, his eyes closing gently.

Jason stayed to himself, finding his way to a chair near the window to gaze outside. Jerome, on the other hand, found a spot near the couch with Rhaella, "Can we try and piece together what just happened or sit around and wait for Rylee to get back the same way?" He questioned. He earned a shrug from Jasper, "Well we know they aren't going to tell us, why aren't we trying to at least figure out what the hell made the guard die." He said, gesturing to the large blood stain on the floor where the guard laid.
"How are we supposed to know, we don't even know what they gave her until Rylee gets back or she wakes up." Emilia told Jerome, "We can't make a theory of nothing but speculations." Emilia said, chewing on her nails. Her eyes watched Jasper care for Rhaella, her arms wrapped around herself,
"That's what a theory is, Emilia." Jerome told her. Emilia sighed, raising her hand to run her fingers along her forehead,
"You know what I meant." She told him. He shook his head, walking past Emilia and too Rhaella, laying a gentle kiss atop her forehead,

“Wake up soon, Darling,” He whispered.

Rylee pulled against the restraints she was in as a needle was pushed into her arm "Stay still." The doctor ordered as he pushed down on the syringe, releasing the fluid into her body, slowly and coming with an agonizing pain.

It made her scream, and she tried to hold back, the feeling of molten rock coursing through her veins as the fluid spread, an oddly familiar feeling that she couldn't figure out. Small fires were set around the room, Rylee's cries refusing to go ignored. The needle was emptied into her skin, once it was pulled out she began shaking on the table, so violently her restraints were nearly pulled out of the table she was strapped to. The doctor hurried out, shutting the door behind him and locking it.

Once she stopped a blasting, skin boiling fire shook the room as it erupted from Rylee's body, knocking the men behind the window back a few steps. Rylee's eyes shot open, her blue eyes had turned a bright red, like the eyes of a demon. She blinked and the color disappeared back to her deep blue. She breathed heavily, guards approaching her, cold water washed over her skin, creating a steam that made her groan, undoing her restraints.
"Take her back and bring 03," The scientist ordered the guards that stood next to Rylee, holding her heated skin so she couldn't leave. They nodded and left, leaving the scientist to write on his clipboard.

Upon getting back to the room they opened the door, pushing Rylee on her knees to the floor "03," They said. Jason's eyes widened, looking around the room hurriedly, Emilia motioned for him to go. He slowly stood from his chair, the guards getting annoyed and one stepping forward and grabbing him roughly by the arm, walking out of the door with a near shaking Jason behind them. Once again they shut and locked the door behind them.

Rylee slowly got up to her knees shakily, weakly. Emilia stepped towards the girl, holding out a helping hand. Rylee grabbed it, pulling herself up weakly still. She sat in a chair, leaning back and letting her breathing relax, "What happened in there?" Emilia asked her, kneeling next to her. She shook her head and shrugged.
"Don't ask me that, please." She begged weakly.
"We need this Rylee." Emilia said as if it was urgent. Rylee hesitated, looking to Rhaella, still unconscious.  
"I-I don't know." She said, "I-It burned and it felt, it felt, like something they've given us before. Now f**k off, this isn't some kind of mystery." She told them, her fingers beginning to shake. Emilia sighed through her nose, her lips pursed tightly together.
"Well, we know one thing, they don’t do doubles," Tommy said as he approached the girls "Repeating the process? Anything that didn't work is improved now? We're their lab rats," He suggested. Emilia looked up at him, nodding unsure.
"Maybe." She said, questioning it "I don't see a reason they wouldn't," She told him. She looked to Rhaella, seeing she was still sleeping and Jasper still at her side. Hazel and Harper stayed against the wall, Hazel combing her fingers through Harper's light brown hair, quietly comforting her.

A groan arose from Rhaella’s throat, attracting Jasper's attention. He ran his fingers softly over her jawline, tilting her chin to face him. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing the wine red shade. She gazed at Jasper, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked up to him. She was sitting up in a split second, bringing her right arm up to see the gauze pad, ripping it off and looking over track marks. Rylee tilted her head so she looked at Ray as Emilia and Rickard walked towards her "What happened?" Emilia was quick to ask. Rhaella groaned quietly.
"F**k off." She told her. Emilia sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm serious, Ray." The blonde said, facing Rhaella who leans her back against the couch, facing the ceiling before looking back down to Emilia. She ran her hand through her dark hair, shaking her head, "Ray? Whatever happened in there, you have to tell us." Emilia told her, her tone turning from serious to soft.
"I don't know; it hurt I guess?" She said, shrugging, "It was too familiar not to know," She added, looking just past Emilia, staring off. Jasper reached towards her, cupping her face in his hand and turning her to look at him.
"What did they give you?" He asked her. She kept her eyes on him, and he kept his on hers "Remember what they gave us, how we got our... abilities?" She asked. Jasper nodded in reply, Rylee furrowing her brows and thinking back to what they gave her before she got her fire powers. It did have the same color but felt ten times worse. "That's what it was, but it hurt a whole hell of a lot more than the first time." She said.
“So-" Tommy was cut off by the door clicking open, two guards stepping through,
"Where's Jason?" Emilia asked them,
“03 is in his room, recovering,” One of the men spoke, not that Emilia could tell which one it was.

Jerome came from behind the wall, holding his hands up in a surrender, “I’m coming, boys,” He said, walking to the door. Rhaella sprang up, Jerome turning around to see her. Her arms wrapped around his torso,

Standing to her toes, she ran a hand through his dull red hair, “Come back with those papers,” She whispered to him. He wrapped his arms around her,

“I’ll get them,” He replied. She pulled away, looking up at him and giving him a nod. He gazed down

at her for a moment, turning around to the exit as Jasper came up behind her.

Jerome’s seemed to take the longest, and they assumed he put up one hell of a fight. Emilia sat next to Rhaella, Jasper twirling her hair around his finger, her head resting on his shoulder. Rhaella wanted to sleep, but knew she couldn’t. She wouldn’t, not now. Hazel and Harper sat in front of the couch, Hazel comforting a crying Harper, “Just focus on me, I’m right here, Harp,” She repeated gently. Harper’s head beat like a drum, swirling like a whirlpool. Tommy sat on the arm of the long couch, conversing with Emilia. Rickard stood pacing, back and forth, running his hand along the prickly hairs of his chin,

“Is he even coming back?” Emilia questioned, shrugging.

“This is Jerome we’re talking about.” Rhaella snapped to catch her eyes, “He’s coming back,” She told. Emilia turned away, letting out a little huff. She looked up to Tommy, who focused hard on Rhaella,

“Tommy, what�"” He shook his head, looking down to Emilia,

“What is she thinking?” He asked. Emilia’s eyebrows fell, being a bit moved,

“What, Tom�"”

“05!” Emilia was cut off, and Rickard stopped in his tracks. Tommy shook his head to Emilia, getting off the couch.  He walked to the men waiting, who took him by the arm and locked the door behind them.

Emilia sunk back in the couch, and Jerome pulled out the folders from beneath his shirt, “I got something,” He said, handing the papers to Rhaella. She threw her hands up, shaking her head

“You just pulled that from your a*s,” She said, smiling. Jasper reached past her,

“I’ll take it�"no homo though,” He said, smiling up at him, Jerome turned away with a sweet smile, making sure to shake it while he walked along.

Emilia stood, taking the papers from Jasper’s hands and opening them. She turned her back, Jasper standing to read over her shoulder, “You killed four guards, Rhaella,” Emilia stated, turning around quickly, “They thought you were dead, then four guards dropped dead, and you came back,” She continued. Rhaella visibly shrank, Harper turning to look at her, others following. She shrugged, looking to Emilia,

“I guess that’s just who I am,” She said, shaking her head, “It’s not like I had a say in it,” She defended, looking up to Jasper. Emilia closed the file and gave it to Jasper,

“That’s what makes it scary,” Emilia admitted. Rhaella opened her mouth to speak, but Jasper quickly interjected the girls, drawing the attention away,

“It’s not a do-over,” He said aloud, causing Emilia to furrowed her brows.

“Seriously? Then what is it?” She asked, her gaze falling back to Rhaella. Jasper turned a page, scanning over that one quickly,

“It’s an enhancement,” He said simply. They all were quite baffled at this. Rickard peered over, taking the three papers from the yellow file.

“Why would they enhance us when they have a hard enough time now?” He asked. He received shrugs back,

“Cause we’re weapons.” Jasper answered, “We’re all nineteen, how long before we become military weapons?” He asked. Rickard placed the papers back, Jasper continuing to look it over.

“We should’ve been drafted at eighteen, if that’s the case,” Rylee argued, tapping her hand on the table so they listened,

“Or they were waiting for the enhancement, and they need the right time, they can’t send us in there for some petty battle,” Jasper retorted,

“It’s not like we’re here for funsies, Rylee,” Emilia said,

“Well I know that,” She replied, “I just think this is a far fetched,” She crossed her legs in her chair, throwing her head back. She tried to rack her brain for something that made sense, but nothing really added up with her limited knowings. It was like she was solving a three-hundred piece puzzle with only ten of the pieces.

“Everything around us has seemed far fetched for eight years, we’re humans with powers some wouldn’t even imagine. That seems a bit far fetched, don’t it,” Jasper argued right back.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Jerome interrupted, stepping forward, “I think we need to not argue about what we are to them and argue about what to do next,” He suggested, clapping his hands together.

The room quieted, and all of them looked around at each other, hoping someone would think up something, "Anyone got any ideas??" Jasper spoke up, sitting up straighter than before and looking around,

"I say we go through with it, after it's done then, lucky us, we're in better shape than we were before," Rhaella suggested. Emilia stared at her, shaking her head.
"Are you insane?" Emilia asked, quite loudly.
"I agree with Ray, it'll hurt but it'll be worth it," Rickard said, shrugging lightly.
"I agree with her too,"  Jerome stated, moving to stand with Rickard. Emilia sighed in frustration, her gaze moving so she faced Hazel and Harper, who still haven't moved from their spot in front of the couch. Hazel caught on quickly, clearing her throat to catch everyone's attention and soon eyes were on her and Harper.
"Is that really the best idea? I mean, so much could go wrong." Hazel wanted to be careful, and for Harper’s sake, she didn’t want this to happen.
"And so much could go wrong if we fight it." Jasper says, "I'm siding with Ray, it’s not like we had the choice to begin with," Hazel looked to Emilia, Harper staring off with glazed eyes, arms wrapped tightly around her. Hazel gave her sympathetic eyes.
"They're right, Em, when have we ever been able to fight without losing. I don’t want this but it’s not like we can choose," Hazel said. Emilia threw her hands up over her head, turning her back to the group,
"Fine, whatever, we go with Ray's plan," Emilia said in frustration. She turned away from the group and walked to the other side of the room, standing near a large window so she could overlook the green forest past the fences, a sigh escaping her lips as she longed to be out there.

•••

What felt like hours later the door opened for a final time to let them to their rooms. Only six remained in the room, Harper, Jason, Tommy, and Jasper being escorted straight to their rooms after their dose. Rylee was the first out, hurrying out so the guard could grab her and escort her back. Soon after followed Rickard, Emilia, and Rhaella. The three exchanged looks before they were drug away to their rooms. Jerome and Hazel left silently.

Inside Rylee's room she slid down the back of her door slowly, a smile playing on her features. She almost couldn't believe it, and she didn't want to have hope, but she did, she had enough for a lifetime. She has a chance, and she would walk through Hell to take it.