The pic above is Kaiden

"Kaiden!" A firm hand gripped my shoulder, "That rascal of a girl escaped again. This place is sealed shut. I honestly am amazed at what she can do and if directed correctly she could be very valuable. Right now, however, she needs to be dealt with more harshly than we normally would. If we don't correct her now there are worse places she could end up."

I look at James and see his face. I knew exactly what he meant I really didn't want to do it, but the thought of someplace worse than this...

"Look Kaiden, I'm only trying to help you." James started, "This experience will be really good for you and you might even be given an opportunity to graduate early like only a few others have."

I shook my head. "I'm in no rush, I can wait five more years until I'm twenty one just like everyone else."

James dragged me forward. "Well let's go because we have to end this either way."

I nodded as James walked ahead of me. This matter was too small to be dealt with by the officials, but a matter to be dealt with nonetheless. I knew that James was skilled at everything taught here and this task was rightfully his. Most times he still came to me though. My memory never deceived me and my skill reached beyond anyone else's. Only I knew why though. Also, it wasn't unusual for a student to assist a graduate. I still remember the stories James would tell me of him helping his friend who graduated. His name had been Steven, but he had left soon after I came.

The dark metal walls surrounded me which were terrifying to me when I first came here. There were no windows or even a sliver of sunlight down here. It was completely underground and hidden.

Finally James rounded a corner I didn't recognise and punched in a code I couldn't see to unlock a door. The door had been sealed shut and had no windows.

"Oh, James," Said a sharp female voice.

James and I immediately bowed our heads and held our hands behind our backs recognising the voice. That was the High Female Official Athena. Knowone was allowed to look her or the High Male Official Hector in the eye unless they told you to. Kaiden was still technically a student so he wasn't even addressed by someone of such high authority. He was simply overlooked and left for someone closer to his rank to deal with.

"I was just speaking with the girl. I think you'll do well to teach her a lesson." I could feel Athena's gaze sway over to me momentarily as she spoke. Her voice was so silky and smooth, but Kaiden wasn't fooled for a second. They were all taught to speak and appear as they wished. Athena would only show what she wanted you to see.

James didn't look up even though it was shocking that Athena had taken the time to see such a lowly girl. "Yes High Official Athena,"

Without even taking the time to say anything more Athena glided off with only the crisp click of her heel to tell them she was gone.

James let out a sigh of relief and straightened his shoulders. "I don't like how we have to act around Athena and Hector." He sighed, "It always feels so wrong to basically bow to them." he walked on weaving through unknown halls to Kaiden repetitively unlocking doors each more complicated as they went.

I sometimes worried about James. He obviously had lots of opinions he didn't share. He only vocalized a few of them to me, but that was one of them. I never said anything to him and I would never tell, but I still worried. He should have learned better not to encourage his own thoughts and opinions. They were dangerous. We were told right from wrong no matter what we thought. What we thought was merely what some human minds had developed. It wasn't right, so we were supposed to go off of what we were told.

"How far in here is this girl?" I finally asked after James unlocked three more doors. "Is she really that bad?"

James let out a dry laugh. "Don't be deceived by how innocent she looks. I know there has to be some kind of monster hiding in her. She gets out of everything without even leaving a scratch." James just shook his head.

"Well it would be one thing to unlock the doors," I said, "but another to figure out this mase." I was able to track where we were going and lay out a mental map so I knew how to get out and it was basically going in a circle. From time to time the path would change directions, but continue inwards. There were also a lot of doors that I assumed were just placed there to confuse a subject because James didn't take them as a shortcut.

"I don't know, Kaiden." James shrugged as he came to a very secure door with at least five locks. "I just hope you can get through to her."

I nodded, but stopped him to ask one more question before he opened the door. "Why is there a room this secure? It's not like they could have expected that we would ever come upon someone like this."

James sighed again with his whole body. "Even I don't get to know everything Kaiden, would you just accept that?"

"Fine, so are you coming with me?" I asked, thinking back at my questioning the secure room with regret. I really needed to get that under control. James was open with me and would tell me most things, but I was only supposed to know what I was told. Asking questions only ever leads to trouble.

James winced, "You see, she doesn't really like me and for a good reason. I may or may not have taken a wrong approach right at first. I would suggest being gentle."

I glared at James not fully knowing what exactly he did, but it probably involved yelling. He had a very short temper. Or at least he chose to show that side. Or was that just a mask? You could never know who a person was there underneath everything. You never saw the true them.

"Have fun," James said with a sarcastic smile as he opened the door.

I rolled my eyes and stepped in. Immediately James shut the door and I saw an empty chair with handcuffs, a gag and blind fold laying around. I sensed someone sneaking up beside me so I changed my posture to a non defensive stance. There wasn't much this girl could do to me. Besides I could all too easily take her on from any position. My reflexes were also extraordinary. The training here was next to endless.

"I can hear you, you know." I said softly. It wasn't my regular voice, but as I said we were trained to appear as we wanted to not as we really were. I also had really forgotten what my real voice was. I mean I had a voice I used more often than others, but I knew it wasn't really natural. Nothing about this place was. You had to learn and adapt to fit in their box.

"I don't want to play your games, what do you want?" She demanded, but I could have sworn I heard her voice waver.

Slowly and non threateningly, I made my way over to the extra chair where I turned to see the girl. Slowly I sat down slouching a little to look more friendly and less hostile.

"What do you want?" She asked again.

I just watched her for a moment before ignoring her question. "What's your name? I Kaiden by the way."

She let out a laugh, "They sent you in here and didn't tell you may name? I don't believe it."

I shrugged. She was right. James had shown me her file when he had first been assigned to her. There were often people that were brought in who needed some special talks just never quite like her. So, yes I knew her name was Bridget and she was fifteen years old. I knew she had lost all her family and was a foster run away kid who was sent here by the government. They hadn't really known what else to do with her.

"Fine, I know your name is Bridget, but there's only so much you can learn from a file." I stated, "Come sit down. I only want to talk."

Bridget laughed dryly and stalked closer to me. "Do you really think I would sit down just so you can tie me up again?"

"No," I said defensively, "I honestly don't care if you're tied up or not. I'm just trying to help you. Do you re—"

"Yeah, I know just like everyone else in this demented underground cult, you want to help me." She said with that spunk, quirking an eyebrow, "Why wouldn't I accept help from you guys I know nothing about?"

"First of all," I start, "we're not a cult—"

"Then what are you?" She cut in quickly.

I scrambled for words to answer that question as all my training left me. I however managed to keep myself looking confident and finally said with only slight hesitation. "We are an organization formed to..." then when I thought about it, what were we? Know one ever told me that. No one ever asked questions. I just knew that graduates were hand picked by certain people and sent away for who knows what.

Bridget chuckled, "So, you don't even know why you're here?"

I barely held back a grumble and said back, "I came here to ask you questions not to be questioned."

"Just because you don't like my question doesn't make it invalid." Bridget argued, crossing her arms.

I stood up and slowly strolled towards her, speaking slowly, "Look, it doesn't matter how or why we got here. We're not even supposed to know or talk about it. And it definitely doesn't matter what we're here to do. All I know is that they will inject you with Poenamiser a poison that puts you through that feels like death itself—"

"How would you know if apparently we can't talk about anything here?" She questioned, cockily.

I gritted my teeth and stood firmly right in front of her. "Because I've felt it's wrath and if that isn't enough for you there are worse places they can send you." I leaned closer to Bridget who was standing stone still not bothering to interrupt me again. "I've only heard horror stories of the people who were sent there because the Poenamiser wasn't enough. I hear that they've looked back at this place as a haven compared to where they are now."

"So, you couldn't even withstand the Poenamiser?" Bridget asked in a soft voice, no longer coming across as harsh.

I took a step back and softened my voice as well. "No, I did, just they told me that I could either stay here and comply willingly or I could go into misery and be forced to comply. I'm just helping you skip that step and come straight to complying."

"Why?" She barely whispered.

"Because as I have said, I'm only here to help you." I inwardly winced at the fimalar words spoken to me all those years ago.

I still didn't know if I believed them or not. At this point I didn't know if I meant what I said or not. It was like there was no real me anymore. Like by saying I would comply was signing my own mind away. Were any of my friendships even real? We all could controle anything we said, did, or let on. We never had any real conversations. Nothing went deeper than the surface. We couldn't talk about how we really felt. We were taught that what we felt doesn't matter, what is convenient or helpful is.

Now I naturally just read a situation and bring to that table what is called for not what I believe in. I don't even know what I believe in anymore.

"I..." Bridget drew me back to earth, "I don't know."

I strolled towards the door and turned around when I reached it. "I will inform them that you have made up your mind and some one will be with you shortly. I would advise you to choose wisely."

"Who's 'them'?" Bridget questioned, regaining her quirkiness.

Another question I didn't have an answer to. All I knew is I would tell James and he would inform whoever was qualified to talk to her. I groaned inwardly again. This was why they taught us to keep our thoughts to ourself and under control. They were right. Everything was so much simpler when everyone followed the same rules, had the same thoughts and compiled.

***

I glared down at my plate full of fruits, vegetables, and protein. The high officials required us to be kept on a balanced healthy diet so they would get the best results. I glanced across the dining hall where I saw Bridget sitting with Elliery. I remembered the days when I had to be constantly watched by James. I too had been a rebel when I first came here at the age of eleven, but there was no room for rebels.

I finished my last bite of eggs and stood up. I broke Bridget so that made her my responsibility, but I of course could't watch her at night so Elliery had been granted that choure. She, however, was my responsibility immediately following breakfast and from then until after diner.

After I disposed of my plate I walked over to Elliery and gave her a nod. I noticed she had bags under her eyes showing lack of sleep. She stood up while Bridget quickly finished her food.

"Have fun with that little nightmare, she doesn't seem to understand two phrases so far; 'go to bed' and 'no questions'." Elliery said angrily before storming off.

I looked down at Bridget who was staring at me with two big green eyes. "I just don't understand."

I shook my head, but only said. "Just stop asking questions the professors and trainers will tell you everything you need to know and nothing more." I looked Bridget up and down. She was wearing the black uniform we all wore straight black paints, boots, and a black jacket with the womens grey collar and cuffs. Her red hair was pulled back in a tight bun revealing all her freckles that had been mostly hidden with her wavy hair down before.

The men's uniform was similar with the collar and cuffs midnight black instead of grey. We all had the same haircut with it shorter on the sides and longer on top. None of us were allowed to be different.

I gave her a nod of approval. "The uniform makes you fit in well so, if you keep your mouth shut like everyone else you'll do good here."

Bridget frowned, but nodded and followed me when I walked off. I no longer had any classes left to master so, most mornings I would assist professors and listen in on classes. It was the afternoon when we practiced combat with the trainers. I had reached the expectation here, but there's always room to improve.

"Where are we going?" Bridget asked as she joged slightly to walk beside me. I chose to stay silent in response to her question. Obviously answering her questions and telling her not to ask questions didn't work, so I took a different approach. Ignoring her seemed to do the trick for a while because she stayed silent and fell into step behind me. Maybe this won't be as miserable as I thought, I told myself.

***

By the end of the day Bridget had completed a variety of classes and I'd just about gone def from all the questions that followed between classes. We now had two hours before dinner when I would be relieved of my duties, but the only problem was that we had nothing to do. Generally I would take this time to myself and go punch a punching bag or something, but I now had Bridget to watch so that wouldn't happen. I might get in trouble for not actively watching her if I did that.

"Why were you taken here?" Bridget asked after being silent for a full ten minutes—her current record.

I sighed, "You know I can't answer that."

"But why not?" She persisted, "do they have video cameras everywhere in this place?"

"Yes, actually." That was the first question I had answered of hers all day. "But only the cameras in classrooms have audio."

"How do you know that?" Bridget questioned, she was skeptical of everything I said.

I sent her a glare. "Because my friend James works in the surveillance room in fact that's where he is right now. That's why I'm not hanging out with him like I normally would be. Under normal circumstances you would be with the girls building up acquaintances with them."

Bridget econored what I called normal and continued to push me. "Do you know why or how I got here?"

I nodded, "Yes, I know why and read a brief review of your upbringing, but I don't know how you were physically brought here."

Bridget nodded considering my words. "So, you can know why I'm here, but I can't know why you're here?"

I nodded again, "Only James know's why I'm here." The stinging memories of my childhood hit me, but they no longer hurt me. I couldn't find it in me to feel pain for what happened. I couldn't determine what emotions were mine and which were just my instinct kicking in with the most convenient emotion.

Bridget glared at the floor seeming to be putting something together in her brain. "So, when you came here you rebelled like me?"

"Yes, but I've since learned the pointlessness of rebelling. It only slowly draws out a process that is meant to be quick." I said, "It's not hard once you comply."

Bridget shook her head, "You said that you witnessed the Poenamiser first hand, right?" I nodded and she continued, "Okay so James did it and you call him your friend? He caused you all that pain and you still hang around him?"

I shook my head. She really knew nothing of this place, "He did me a great service. I was ignorant and burriend in my own mind, thoughts and opinions. He freed me of that by forcing me to comply. Sure I wasn't happy at first, but I greatly respect him now."

"You disgust me." Bridget said in the same plane voice I had been using the entire conversation. "I don't understand how inflicting pain then losing everything that makes you, you makes a friend. You are all just mindless zombies being controlled." "You'll understand someday." I said almost pitying her for her own ignorance.

Though the one thought of my upbringing remained in my head. Was that pain? Hurt? No, it wouldn't be because we were all taught that those emotions are never relevant to any situation. They are only in the way. No close connections are even allowed.

What I had with James was as close to an actual friend as was allowed. James was my friend, but I would still pull the trigger if it came between me and him. What we had was more of mutual respect than an actual friendship, but that was what the label 'friend' was put on down here. Close friends caused problems and if it ever came down to that the weaker friend was disposed of.

***

William my father charged towards me with that look of anger in his eyes. He was often angry with me but never like this. William ripped his belt off and beat my back.

"You worthless rat!" He shouted, his voice was already raw from how much he had already screamed. "If I still believed there was a God I would ask why he burdened me with you."

I winced biting back a cry of pain as a tear slipped down my cheek. When will this end I wondered. William was never the same after Mother and my siblings died. I hardly ever knew them, they died when I was very young. A rough hand grabbed my chin, "I said look at me boy!" William's hard eyes started me down. "Why did you do it?"

I looked up into William's eyes and for the first time in years I saw pain. That was something he always kept in check. He never showed pain. I always tried not to so I could show him I was good enough, but I always failed.

"Why would you bring back such wretched memories of this family!" All signs of pain or weakness were now gone and I doubted I would ever see them again. "I will teach you a lesson you will never forget." He growled.

I sat up abruptly realizing it had only been a dream. I rubbed my sweaty palms over my face as I remembered where I was. That memory had been from over five years ago when I was eleven. That had been the day before I was brought here. My father had had contacts with certain people who took me. All I had wanted was to get away when I first came, but after some convincing from James I was able to comply. After complying all I wanted to do was become the best I could and show my father that I was good enough. That I could accomplish something.

I haven't asked any questions about my father knowing it wouldn't be wise, but I knew that he would see my success if he cared.

No matter what I did I couldn't seem to find a way to stop this fear. No one knew about it. I could conceal it and control it, but it was still always there. Whenever life slowed down it was always waiting for me. Was I good enough? I tried my best and worked harder and harder. I listened to the same words repetitively forced into my brain. I consumed every drop of information given to me and achieved greatness, but still worried it wasn't enough.

My worries and fears that I wasn't good enough lead me to the conclusion that I wasn't good enough because of my fear.

"Kaiden?" The voice of one of my roommates Fredrick pierced my thoughts.

"What?" I asked, rolling out of my bed.

"You moved a lot last night," Fred inquired, "is that girl you have to watch that difficult?"

I reached into my dresser and grabbed my clothes. "You wouldn't be able to begin to understand how she gets into your head. There's a reason we have rules and all keep our mouths shut." I shook my head and headed towards the bathroom. "I can't wait until she learns that."

The conversation ended as I left the room to get ready for another day stuck with Bridget. I just needed to figure her out. Once the training set in I knew I wouldn't have a chance, but while she was new and weak I had a chase.

After getting into my uniform I set out to the dining hall where I saw Bridget sitting in the spot I always sat in. Ellery was watching her while she ate from a distance. She sent me a sarcastic smile and nodded towards Bridget. That was her snotty way of saying Bridget was now my responsibility even though she wasn't until after breakfast.

I quickly grabbed a tray and sat down across from Bridget. "Why are you over here?"

"Because I wanted to talk to you." She said confidently.

I rolled my eyes, but accepted the fact that there was no stopping her. "About what?"

"I want to tell you my whole story. You don't understand me. I'd like to know more about you and how you came about, but I've gathered that you don't really like talking." Bridget continued speaking as I shook my head.

"No," was the only response I could give, "that's not allowed." I had wanted to know how to get through to her, not her story.

"You already know a lot about me and-"

"No I'm not your therapist. Just forget about your past. Forget about your feelings. Forget about your thoughts. Controle everything that comes in and out of your head. The future is what matters not the past." After I spoke I realized that I had come across a little too harsh because she said nothing more. I didn't regret it though. She had to hear it.

From that point on most of the bumps had passed. Bridget still asked questions every now and then, but gradually she complied and I gained success. James informed the authorities of my success and extra credits were added to my file. Everyone had a file full of how they did each day in their work and such.

Everyday when I looked at Bridget however, I still saw that rebellious little girl. I was never really able to put my past behind me after her. There was something about her that just hung onto me. It was unsettling and though she was able to comply it tempted me to stop complying. That possibility had faded away long ago though.

There was no going back for me. I didn't know what was ahead or what I was being trained for, but I somehow found a way to not care. Maybe it was the years of their words being forced into my brain, but I knew there would never be freedom for me again.

***

A/N Hi guys I'm new here but I would love it if you guys would share any thoughts in the comments. I will be reading and possibly replying! If you could vote for me (I believe that's how it works here, correct?) I would love that! Also this is my own story that I created so I would really appreciate it if know one copied. This has been a story I have written and rewritten and I've put my blood, sweat, and tears into it so please don't copy. Thanks! Anyway God bless you this week!