10/31/2018
Chapter 1 (No Title yet):
I wake up in a strange place. I am in a hospital bed in clothes I don't recognize. I feel okay, but must have amnesia because I can't remember my name. I don't remember anything prior to this moment.
I begin checking my body for wounds or any indication as to what's happened to me. I get up and cross the the room to a small vanity sink. I examine myself in the mirror, not even a blemish.
I am distracted by a flashing red light in the hallway as I see through the window in the hospital room door. I move to investigate, but take one last look in the room. I am looking for any hospital file on myself, but come up empty. I move into the hallway looking for a nurse's station. Again I need to know what brought me to this state of being without any memory.
The hallway seems eerily deserted and annoyingly bright with the flashing of the emergency lights. I find the nurse's station and a tablet has been left on, on the desk. I find my room number and my name isn't given. I am subject 133.
/'Subject 133 does not seem to react the same as the other subjects. All attempts to sedate have been unsuccessful for more than a few minutes. Subject 133 comes out of sedation before the implant procedure can be completed. Subject 133 comes awake, alert and strips the device as agitation sets in. We have tried several methods, subject is not viable and will be terminated.'/
"I am Subject 133?! Subject 133 is not viable and will be terminated?! What the hell?!" As I come to terms with my situation, a sound comes from somewhere down the corridor.
I duck behind the nurse's station keeping the tablet with me, as I crawl into a back office. I need shoes and pants. Looking for clothes, I hope for nurse's lockers or some other scrubs. My current attire is quite open to the world. I rummage as quietly as I can through a row of lockers and find a backpack. 'Jasmine's' backpack has her gym clothes and sneakers in it. I am thrilled and layer up quickly. The shoes are a little roomy so put on a second pair of socks.
With the backpack now empty I begin filling it with first aid and other supplies I might need. I stuff the tablet in the front pocket and look for a battery charger. I need information, but I need to get some place safe first. I don't want to lose this data commodity. A realization hits me that I may need a weapon to defend myself. I dig through the desk drawers to find scissors and an antique fancy letter opener. It's quite sharp and it will make a good weapon. I pack the scissors and I palm the letter opener.
I slowly creep out of the office. The sneakers are quiet on the floor and I move down the hall looking in all directions. I check each room to see if there are any occupants. 'I can't be the only person here!' I don't know what has caused the emergency lights, but there has to be someone around somewhere. My stomach growls and I am hungrier than I'd like. I haven't eaten in a really long time it feels like. I see a directions panel on the wall up ahead and I decided I should fill my pack with food. If there is any left in the deserted cafeteria.
I see noone along my way as I follow the arrow markers along the corridor. My palm begins to sweat, as I continue to clutch the letter opener for dear life as my own only defense from disposal.
'What the hell is my name?! And why can't I remember anything?! One of those drugs must have fu**ed up my mind,' the thought makes me want to cry in frustration and defeat. But my body keeps propelling me, moving me toward preservation, so I seek out food.
The cafeteria is a large multi-table open space and I suddenly feel very exposed. I creep along one wall with my letter opener extended in front of me, as I moved toward the staff area. I feel like I'm being watched. I make it behind the counter, only to be tackled to the ground. My letter opener goes clattering across the floor as the guy straddled over me covers my mouth with his hand.
"Are you a patient or a captor," he huskily whispers at me.
"I'm a patient," I respond through his hands. My eyes are probably the size of Easter eggs and he losens his grip.
"I'm Jake."
"I'm subject 133. I can't remember my name."
Jake assesses me a moment. Still on top of me, he leans across me and grabs my letter opener. He hesitates another moment and then hands it back to me. He stands and helps me up. We crouch together behind the counter and move to the back kitchen.
"I was coming to fill my pack with food before I make my escape I feel like I haven't been fed in a long while."
"When I woke up, I was hungry, too. But I was also strapped down. It took me a long time to get out of the restraints. They were still evacuating then. That was a day and a half ago."
We are both rummaging in the cupboards, cabinets and shelves. I am looking for canned goods that aren't industrial-sized. Only one of those industrial cans would take it my entire backpack and it would be too much to carry. I find the big walk-in freezer and step in to see what I can from there. Jake finds a couple of grocery style bags that he can shoulder, so I leave him to the canned goods. I look around the freezer and find hamburger meat. It won't keep long, but it will get us over are hunger pains now. In the refrigerator, I find eggs and butter and sack them. I look for salt on the shelves and take two full canisters. I also see boxes of baking soda and knowing that that could come in handy I take it. I also look for baggies so we can store food and use it for other things too.
I pull Jake to the floor in the corner of the kitchen, as I hear something from the dining room. I indicate the exit at the back of the kitchen. We keep low and quiet, as we move with our parcels out the back door. I realize as we cautiously step into the light outside, that I must have set down my letter opener at some point. Then I noticed, as Jake takes the lead he is brandishing the tiny dagger himself.
