Im shaking, I'm cold, I can't breathe, wait....I can't breathe, oh God, what do I do I can-
Waking groggily with a hot burning pain in my head, I slowly looked around seeing the all white room and rows of beds with curtains around them, I started to feel a little worried, where was I? "Charles!" Getting up and falling over with a loud thump as a tray that was next to my bed falls with me. I slowly push myself up, using the bed for leverage "CHARLES!"
...
not hearing a response my heart started racing, where was Charles? Where was...Steven? I think his name was?
Where is everyone? Suddenly I heard doors burst open hitting the walls with a heavy Thwak Startled I turned around quickly, seeing Charles standing there face full of worry. Panting like he had just run a marathon "sorry kiddo, I came as fast as I could" walking up to me he patted my head "how are ya feeling?"
Looking away slightly "I'm still hungry"
Laughing a little he put his hand on my shoulder and started leading me towards to doors he busted in from "I know where some food is, no breakfast, they got some good spaghetti. Im sure you'll love it"
Slowly walking I started to look around some more, long hallways, colored strips on the walls and floors doors that's seemed to go to nowhere, I mean why does a hallway need 3 doors right next to each other? Just makes no sense.
Sniff sniff smelling food I suddenly felt my stomach growl fiercely, looking up at Charles hoping he didn't notice, he was just looking forward smiling, good, "what happened?" I question while looking around some more hoping to see something interesting
"Well kiddo, you started shaking real bad, breathing got all erratic, heart nearly stopped. Luckily we managed to rush you to a medical team in time, shouldn't be any lasting effects"
Well thats good I guess, "so where are we?" This place was weird, some doors felt very cold and others felt rather hot, plus the long hallways that no one seemed to have ever existed in.
"Private research center, they refer to it as The Lab, kinda boring name if you ask me" Charles responded turning me down another hallway. I've never been in a lab before, do they all look so... decrepit?
Soon we arrived before a set of double doors that actually had lots of sound coming from it, I think I heard other kids? Why would they be in a lab? Slowly turning to Charles "why are there other kids here? What kind of lab needs kids?"
"Ah, that's a complicated question, these other kids are kinda like you, a little different, and a little alone, think of them as classmates you got nothing to worry about." Smiling warmly he pushed the door open and led me inside, what I saw was... confusing and chaotic, colors and shapes of all different weird sizes were running around jumping climbing some of them were...flying?!?! Since when could humans fly!?! As soon as I was done being entirely surprised by my surroundings I realized it was rather quiet.
Looking around I noticed every single set of eyes all starting at me, gulping nervously I coughed ahem "um hi...I'm Orthas...nice to meet you?" Barley above a whisper I realized that my face was kind of burning which meant it was probably pretty red, so I looked straight down to hopefully hide my embarrassment.
Feeling a rough pat on my back that almost made me stumble, I looked back at Charles and saw him nod, then I looked up and saw 4 of the kids come forward, all looking totally different. One had black hair along with black skin, and...horns?? More like little nubs on his forehead along with his piercing purple eyes he looked rather scary.
Another was a short girl with almost see through skin, her hair a platinum white and her eyes a striking grey that looked like two moons, they ware very pretty, although they also looked extremely tired.
The third was a rather tall boy with very broad shoulders, he had a square face with short cut hair similar to the military men id seen in newspapers, the only difference was that he only had one giant eye in his head that was a deep brown, almost reminding me of soil or mulch from a potted plant.
And the fourth was the coolest, red skin, small bat like wings, red eyes, small tufts of hair and an extremely wide smile, he was buzzing around like crazy almost unable to stand still. That's when I realized he wasn't standing, he was flying just above the ground almost going in circles.
"I'm Nolan" said the kid with black skin and horns, his voice was strange, like cracking two rocks against each other and yet somehow being enchanted by the sound. Giving him a nod I smiled slightly.
"Hello, my name is Sandra, I am the oldest among this bunch, it's nice to meet you" this was the only girl to step forward of the four, her voice was calm and soothing, almost reminding him of his mother...nows not the time to think about that. I also have her a nod, and a much more relaxed smile.
Third came the very tall one his deep voice reverberateating through my bones "I am Oscar, it is a pleasure to meet you Orthas" he seems to be staring through me which was a little weird "likewise" as I smiled warmly.
And last was the one I wanted to know the most about, "hi my names Hiriko, my friends call me hiri, we can be friends hey what are you? Why are you here? Do you have a last name? Can you fight? Where are you from? What about food? Do you have a favorite? Mines ice cream with hot sauce." Hearing the barrage of questions I could barely answer from the speed alone "ice cream with hot sauce?
Hiriko nodded fast enough that it seemed like his head would fly off his neck "yes yes yes, would you like some? I snuck some in..." He looked around nervously and then directly at the girl, Sandra "I mean...I don't have anything that I'm not supposed I don't ever sneak anything in fact I'm allergic to sneaking"
She looked at him with what I could only imagine to be an unimpressed look, then slowly looked back to me, "you never answered the question, what are you? You look rather regular" she hesitated "um no offense meant of course, just curious".
"What am I?? I'm human" my response seemed to stop the room dead more then my presence already had, then the whisper started
"A human? Humans don't come here unless they..."
"Why would they put one of there..."
"Holy crap he just said hes human of my God what the fuck"
That last one was less of a whisper and more of a scream, one which made me have to cover my ears "um...is being human weird around here?" I looked around slowly realizing...humans didn't have red skin and wings nor did they have one eye in the middle of their forehead..."wait...wait...wait... yOu ArEnT hUmAnS???" My voice was practically a squeak at this point and I was slowly backing away towards Charles who was calmly looking around.
"Charles um...what's going on??...why am I here...why aren't they" I gulped nervously "human????" Looking up as he put his hand on my should I also realized he was way to calm about this, I mean there was a weird thing with red skin and wings, I mean sure it was kinda cool but like what is happening.
He then looked down and sighed "well I'm here to introduce my devotee, this is Orthas, he is a changeling"
...
...
...
The silence was deafening to my ears, I swear I could hear heartbeats throughout the room, then I started looking around, they all looked...scared? But why? What is a changeling? Am I not human? What about my mom? Is she human? I'm lost, what is going on...of god what is going on... With that last thought I suddenly heard my heartbeat in my ears, rampaging through the silence like a wild animal, I could feel the sweat crawling down my back like spiders on a wall
Then I felt a warmth, one that reminded me of my mom, looking up I saw Charles kneeling, his face right next to mine his breathing slightly off "hey hey it's okay son calm down, everything will be explained soon I promise" he pulled away and looked me in my eyes "just stay with me okay? I got you, promise".
I felt the dread slowly receding, I nodded slowly. "Yea...okay..." Looking around again is was still quiet, and everyone still looked scared "can we go? Somewhere? Anywhere? Please..."
"Yes of course" he grabbed my hand and slowly led me further towards the back of the room, to another set of double doors, "there's some food in here, and someone who will be able to explain things a little better, I'll be right outside"
As he led me gently towards the doors I saw a yellow warning sticker *this is a restricted area, all personal are to receive proper inspection and reveal all personal belongings*, thats...scary, as I walked in I saw three people, one tall man who was lanky, one smaller man with broad stocky shoulders and a weird... monocle? I think it was called, then a girl in a pristine white lab coat, she was looking at me with slit eyes that reminded me of a viper.
With a slight shiver I looked around "um...what am I supposed to do?" Seeing the tall man move forward my heart rate increased slightly "um...I'm sorry I'm kinda scared right now, could I please know whats happening sir?"
The lanky man smiled politely "ah yes an introduction, my name is Dr.Yasof, the small man next to me is Dr.Crowly and the young women is Dr.Black, and you are test subject 0357, welcome to the lab. Your coming with us" with a sudden lunge and firm grip he pulled me forward making my shoulder hurt.
"Wait wait why I didn't do anything I swear please, it hurts please stop it hurts. CHARLES!! CHARLES HELP!!" I cried desperately for anyone to intervene, yet no answer came, slowly being dragged away I saw a shadow by the door getting farther away, eventually I was thrown in a white room with a bed, toilet and sink.
"Welcome 0357, to your new home, I hope your stay will be satisfactory, your next test is in 4 hours. Until then, please sleep" as he said that final word Dr.Yasof opened his mouth and a slow moving grey mist enshrouded my room, making me dizzy, then tired, and eventually darkness.