“Do you know you have exactly 14 scars on your chest?” Derek said as he looked at my chest with concern. I had been staying for six months at the Inn and I was starting to settle into a normal life here. I knew that one day I would have to run from the Inn and away from Lab 14 again. On this night I was having trouble sleeping like every other night. Derek seemed to understand my anxiety, so he laid in bed beside me. That seemed to help because I felt safe with him.
The others were asleep and Derek and I were lying in bed and I took my shirt off for the moment. I finally felt comfortable enough to do something like that with him.
“And this one,” said Derek as he touched the right side of my rib cage, "looks like a branding! Wait a second…”
Derek traced the scar that had the number fourteen on my back and connected to the number fourteen on my chest.
Derek's eyes narrowed in anger. “I think Lab 14 makes it a point to show that you’re their property!”
Property! Last time I checked I’m human or am I a unicorn? I have no idea!
I rolled over so I didn’t face Derek.
Derek tapped me on the shoulder so I rolled back over to see what he wanted. "There's something I need to talk to you about."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Did The Higher speak to you when you flatlined a few weeks ago? About you and I going to go destroy Lab 14?" Derek said.
I nodded.
"You know, The Higher spoke to me a week before you arrived at the Inn. When The Higher told me about you and how you were treated it made me want to protect you more than anything else. I know why your voice is gone and I'm going to do everything in my power to get it back for you. I want you to speak again. I guess in wanting to protect you so much, I fell in love with you in the process." Derek said.
I wished that I could've told him that I loved him too. Then I remembered something, Discord gave me a notebook and a pen to help me communicate with people although I really didn't feel the need to use it yet. I think that now would be a good time to use it.
I went over to my bag and took the notebook and pen out. I wrote the words 'I love you' on it and showed it to Derek.
Derek smiled, "Well that confirms what I was going to ask you. I love you too! Don't worry we're going to destroy Lab 14! There's something I want to show you."
I looked at him with uncertainty wondering if I wanted to know what he was going to show me. Derek put two fingers in his left eye and took out his eyeball. I felt weirded out by this. You don't see that every day!
"I have a glass eye that's what this is," Derek said. "According to dad, the trees in this place have some sort of magic in them. It's not safe for a child to touch a tree until after the age of 3. I touched a tree on my third birthday and it burned my eye to a crisp."
I winced when Derek said that. I don't know which is worse, being tortured growing up at Lab 14 or having your eye burned to a crisp. I thought about it, I'd rather have my eye burned to crisp than have to grow up in a place like Lab 14. Derek put his eyeball back into his eye.
"I figured I should tell you this," said Derek, "I thought it might be a deal-breaker for our relationship."
I smiled and kissed him. Derek chuckled, "That settles it, but I still can't tell the others that I know about Lab 14 and why. Unfortunately, I can't tell you that at the moment either. It will have to wait until we have run from the Inn to escape from Lab 14. Yes, I'm coming with you. But you're going to find out how I know about Lab 14 very soon. My dad and Discord just told me a little while ago that we're going to have to leave first thing in the morning. The tracker cats will be here soon."
Although I didn't like the fact we had to run again from Lab 14, I knew this day was coming and that I couldn't stay here forever.
* * *
That morning, I had my backpack sitting next to me at the table and Derek did the same thing. When Sarah was halfway through eating, she looked under the table to see the bags.
“What’s with the backpacks?” Sarah said.
Earnest and Discord stopped eating and looked at us.
“You want to tell them or should I?” Earnest said.
“Tell us what?” Milton said.
Discord sighed, “Lab 14’s tracker cats have finally found where you guys are at. It’ll take them at least a week to get here. I suspect they’re mostly after Henry because I broke him out of Lab 14 recently. I’m just sorry I didn’t break him out of there sooner!”
“Anyway,” said Earnest, “even though it's going to take them a week for them to get here, Discord and I think it would be best that you’re out of here as soon as possible!”
Moria almost choked on her food. She quickly drank some water to get the food down. “Why didn’t Princess Celestia tell me about this?”
“That’s because Princess Celestia doesn’t have the skills to gather intel like I do!” Discord said smugly.
“Why’s Derek coming with us?” Sarah said with an eyebrow raised.
“We decided it would be best for Derek to go with you,” Earnest explained. “He'll help keep Lab 14 from getting Henry! And we’re pretty sure that other labs will be after you guys too.”
“Who wouldn’t be after us?” Milton said. “We’re experiments after all!”
“I hate that word!” Sarah snarled.
“That makes two of us!” Aria agreed.
“So why are we letting Derek into the group?” Sarah asked.
“You’re a knucklehead aren’t you?” Moria said.
“Why’s that?” Sarah said.
“You really need to grow up!” Moria barked. “Remember what I said about forcing answers out of Henry and that he trusts Derek?”
“Yeah so?” Sarah said.
“Why do you think Derek should go with us?” Moria inquired. “The keyword is trust! I’m pretty sure if Derek didn’t go, Henry won’t go either!”
“Just because Henry trusts Derek,” scoffed Sarah, “doesn’t mean he should go with us!”
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re just insecure!” Moria accused.
“And why do you say that?” Sarah said.
Milton rolled his eyes, “Do you want Henry to go back to Lab 14 or not?”
“No, I don’t want him back there!” Sarah said, crossing her arms.
“Think about it this way,” said Milton, “if Henry doesn’t want to go with us, he’ll be back at Lab 14 so quick we won’t even have time to blink! It will happen just because you don’t want to add another member to our group! Derek has done nothing but looked out for us to the best of his ability right along with his dad! Like Moria said, if Derek doesn’t go, Henry won’t go either! So if you don’t want Henry back at Lab 14 then you need to shut up and accept it! The reason why you’re insecure is because you don’t want to let anyone into the group that isn’t an experiment. The funny thing is that you let Moria into the group no problem!”
“Moria’s a dog,” Sarah growled, “she might as well be an experiment just like we are!”
“Hey!” Moria barked.
“Seriously Sarah!” Milton said. “If you don’t want to add another person into the group then maybe you should stay here and get caught by Lab 14 yourself!”
“Okay guys,” said Derek, “break it up! In any case, you guys pack your bags and make sure you have everything because we’re heading out asap!”
“Why does he get to be the leader!” Sarah snapped.
“You are the definition of the word insecure!” Milton said. “Do you want the job as leader?”
“No way!” Sarah quickly answered.
“If you don’t want Henry to go back to Lab 14, then let Derek into the group,” Milton said. “Also, if you don’t want to be leader, then shut up and follow!”
Sarah sat down and pouted. “Fine!”
* * *
As soon as we got ready to leave, Earnest and Discord pulled me and Derek off to the side. Earnest's eyes were full of tears and to my surprise Discord’s eyes were full of tears also. Earnest grabbed Derek and hugged him hard enough to break his rib cage.
“I’m going to miss you so much!” Earnest said. “But I know there’s something you have to do on your own. I can’t hover over you forever! And neither can your mother! The point is we knew you were going to have to leave sooner or later. I just didn’t think it would be this soon!”
“Okay, dad!” Derek said. “I can’t breathe you can let go now!”
I cracked up at the sight but I’m sure if I was a dad I’d choke up too. Without warning, Discord did the same thing to me that Earnest did to Derek.
“I’ve always thought of you as a son!” Discord cried.
I rolled my eyes at the waterworks.
“I wish I could destroy Lab 14 from the inside out! But I found out that’s impossible! I’m really sorry! Believe me when I say that!” Discord said.
Discord finally let go and gave me a kiss on the cheek and patted my head like a loving father. I gave him a look as if to say the word gross. I wiped his kiss off my cheek and glared at him. When Sarah and Milton saw that they fell out laughing. When Derek saw that he joined in.
Discord is probably the strangest creature I had ever had dealings with!
“Okay,” said Earnest, “that’s enough tears! It’s time for you guys to go!”
* * *
We started out running from Lab 14. After a while, we stopped to rest and set up a tent, narrowly escaping the oncoming rain. It reminded me of when I first woke up. The rain didn’t bother me that much but I decided to stay in the company of the others.
I guess my brain decided it was time for me to have another memory, along with a throbbing headache.
The memory was of being back at Lab 14. For some reason Lab 14 just loves to hang a person by their wrists to the ceiling why that is I have no idea. That’s what was happening in this memory. As I dangled from the ceiling, Cora was standing right in front of me looking at a big stack of papers.
She looked up and had a sick twisted smile on her face. “These test results are amazing, Experiment Henry! We actually made a scientific breakthrough because of you! With your blood mixing with the magic of the trees from this place it has boosted your powers triple! And that’s every single time we’ve tested you! I’m very impressed! I would expect nothing less coming from you! That’s because you’re the first experiment Lab 14 has ever created! Mommy’s so proud of you!”
I sneered at her, “If you’re a mother then I’m Santa Clause!”
Cora doubled over in laughter and I rolled my eyes snarling at her.
“You have a sense of humor too!” Cora said. “I’m just sad we can’t reprogram you for stand up comedy night! I have the perfect experiment for bearing your offspring. And she’s special just like you! I think Experiment Rose would be perfect for you!”
“You mean the creepy weirdo with all-white eyes! No thanks!” I said. “Besides I’m going to be busy delivering presents to every kid around the world! After that’s done I’ve checked my schedule, I’m overbooked. Sorry!”
Cora laughed so hard she almost dropped her papers.
“You know you won’t be able to make that decision when we reprogram you!” Cora said. “I have half a mind to make you have a desire for her and only her! I wouldn’t be surprised if you try to resist it! Every time we’ve tried to reprogram you so we can start Experiment 1 you’ve resisted it every time!”
“Yeah no, I wouldn’t fall for that creature even if you make me!” I snapped.
“Oh, you don’t like girls then?” Cora said. “Huh, I haven’t tried boys on you yet. But if we want offspring from you we’ll get offspring!”
“I'm flattered but I'll have to decline!” I growled.
“Oh well,” said Cora, “if you don’t like girls, then boys should give you an incentive to give us kids! Wouldn’t that be fun? More fun for me in any case. Are you scared yet?”
“I’m supposed to be scared because?” I said.
“It’s nothing I’m just teasing,” said Cora, “a mother should be able to tease her son once in a while don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” I said, “like I said before I’m Santa Clause and I’m busy oh well.”
“Tsk, tsk,” said Cora, “there is one more test that needs to be performed. I would think the pain from this one would be so great that you’ll do anything to make it stop!”
“I doubt that,” I said, “but if you must go right ahead!”
“Hmph,” said Cora, “very well then. After this, we won’t put the stitches in until after we reprogram you! And after that, you won’t remember a thing!”
“You’re a witch, you know that?” I snarled at her.
“Moi?” Cora said. “Witch? I’m not a witch, I'm your mother after all.”
I gagged, "Seriously? Yeah, I think you need help."
I almost gave her the satisfaction of showing her my fear when I saw the one-foot iron rod that she had in her hand. The rod that Cora was holding was in the shape of the number 14. Cora's face took on a demonic smile. “It makes me so proud to do this test myself! That’s because you’re my son after all.”
“Your son is so grateful!” I quipped sarcastically.
“Well, you should be!” Cora said. “I’m going to miss you after this is done. We won’t be seeing much of each other afterward. I guess the child has to be kicked out of the nest sooner or later! I’m going to have empty nest syndrome after this! I’ll shed my tears later!”
Cora then pressed a button on the rod and it turned red or maybe it was yellow. I have no idea what color it was and I didn’t care at the moment. Cora then put the iron rod up against my chest on the right side. I wasn’t going to scream if I had a thing or two to say about it. As she pushed the rod into my chest I could feel blood coming up into my mouth. I tried to keep the blood down but it was of no use. After the rod was pushed into my Cora yanked it out from my side.
Cora giggled diabolically after it happened, “Not a peep from you at all. I just ripped a couple of muscles in the process of yanking the rod out but I’m not gonna let you die anytime soon! Oh no, that’s not gonna happen. You must be in horrible pain! I can tell by the look on your face! You and Experiment Rose will be released into Experiment 1 finally! I think we’ll keep you awake for the reprogramming! I’ll have Eleanor, my assistant take you upstairs for that. Goodbye Experiment Henry! Mommy’s going to miss you!”
After Cora left Eleanor took me down from the ceiling. The last thing I remember is being put on a cold metal table.
* * *
I woke up and saw Derek, Sarah, and Milton standing over me with worried looks on their faces. Moria sniffed me and licked my face. Satisfied by whatever results she had got from what she just did.
“Don’t worry,” said Moria, “he’ll be fine. I think he just had a bad dream.”
When I sat up I grabbed my right side where the iron rod had gone in the memory. Although the wound had already healed, the pain of the memory had not. While Sarah breathed a sigh of relief, Derek and Milton did not. I balled my hand into a fist, tightly gripping blades of grass, almost pulling them from the ground.
“It was just a bad dream!” Sarah said.
“That wasn't a dream. That was a memory! I know exactly what memory it was!” Milton said.
I looked up to Milton as he lifted the side of his shirt revealing the same scar that I had. When Martin saw it he looked frustrated.
“How come I don’t remember that yet?” Martin said.
“Do you want to?” Milton snapped. “Seeing that we woke up in different areas I don’t think that they would keep us together even for that!”
“Has anyone else had that memory yet?” Derek said.
Martin, Sarah, Jane, and Aria shook their heads. Derek then put a hand on my right cheek and didn’t make me look at him. He just kept his hand there and the warmth of his hand was enough to keep me calm.
We then heard Princess Celestia’s voice come from Milton’s backpack.
“I forgot I still had the darn thing!” Milton said.
“What is it?" Derek said.
“It’s a stupid small Tv that Lab 14 gave us! It’s to send us messages for some reason!” Milton said. “Somehow, Princess Celestia was able to intercept Lab 14 and give us messages from her instead. Maybe I should let Moria talk to her?”
Moria shook her head, “Nope! She’s specifically asking for you! I have other ways of contacting her!”
Milton rolled his eyes and turned on the Tv.
“Hello Princess Celestia,” Milton said. I could hear the annoyance in Milton's voice.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Princess Celestia said.
“I guess you can say that,” Milton said.
“Sorry,” said Princess Celestia, “but I have to be the bearer of bad news. There’s another group of experiments headed in the same direction as you! And that would be thanks to Princess Luna! I beg you, please take a different path!”
“And where should we go?” Milton said.
“There’s a hideout in the next city here," Princess Celestia said. Milton titled the Tv enough so I could see and an address appeared on the display.
“I have a question,” Milton said.
“Yes,” said Princess Celestia, “what is it?”
“You seem to have a lot of hideouts just like Lab 14,” Milton said. “Exactly where are you taking us?”
“Huh,” said Princess Celestia, “you saw right through me didn’t you? Since you want to know, I’m sending you towards Celestial Labs for two reasons. One to fix the trackers in your ears since they’re not working anymore. The second reason is you’ll be safer with us than with Lab 14.”
“How do we know we can trust that?” Derek said.
“Ah!” Princess Celestia said. “Is that Derek the son of Earnest that broke his contract with us? Milton, can you tilt the screen so I can see him?”
“No way!” Milton said. “I can’t trust you anymore! It wasn’t me that saw right through you, it was Henry! And it was from day one of meeting you!”
Milton suddenly jerked his head like he had been shocked. Out of his ear came a tiny box that was small enough to fit in his ear so he wouldn’t notice it. Milton grinned and held up the box for Princess Celestia to see. “Is this your tracking device?”
When Princess Celestia saw it, her ears went flat against her head and she shouted, “Luna!”
Milton didn’t dare hide his laughter. He just laughed to his heart’s content. I suspect to spite Princess Celestia.
“That’s not funny Milton!” Princess Celestia said.
“Yeah, it is!” Milton said. “You people with your labs think you can push us around! But not anymore! We’re done with that!”
“And where do you think you’re going?” Princess Celestia said.
“I have no idea!” Milton snapped. “But as long as it’s away from you, it's good enough for me!”
Milton turned the Tv off and chucked it outside the tent.
“Well,” said Derek, “I know exactly where we can go!”
“What?” Jane said. “Where?”
Derek smiled, “I was going to wait for all of you to wake up to tell you.”
Derek took out a medium-sized box and pressed the button that was on top of it. Out of it came a holographic screen that looked like a map.
“What’s being shown on the map are systems,” Derek said.
“Systems?” Sarah said.
“Think of it as rivers that lead to a central place,” Derek said.
“Where do they lead?” Aria said, adjusting her glasses.
“They lead to a place called The Resistance,” said Derek. “Think of it as a temporary home until you get to your real homes and are returned back to your original parents.”
“You mean we weren’t born in Lab 14?” Sarah said.
“Of course not!” Derek said. "No one was born in the labs. The Resistance is against any lab that takes children from their cribs and does testing on them. The sad thing is that some of the labs every so often will take a child that was born in this place too. I don’t know why they do that but I’m guessing it's for the same reason they took you guys. I almost got taken myself thanks to a kid named Sebastian. Trust me it wasn’t willingly. And no, I don’t want to talk about it!”
Sarah and Jane burst into laughter when they heard this. Everyone else including me was not happy about that. I'd love to slap both of them for doing that.
“Sarah and Jane,” growled Milton, “stop laughing and listen!”
At that time Sarah, Jane, Martin, and Aria flinched at the small electric shock. A tiny box came out of their ears just like Milton’s. I flinched too as I felt an electric shock. Derek watched with excitement. He then motioned for us to step near the holographic box.
“What’s this all about?” Milton said.
“This is a map that detects and ejects any tracking devices that Celestial Labs, Lab 14, and Star Labs put in you,” Derek said. “I don’t know if anyone noticed that the words on your hand when you first woke up was your label. The label probably looked something like this.” Derek pulled out an index card.
We all stared at the label in horror as the index card that Derek showed us had my label on it. Ex-Henry.
“All three of the labs had a part in it,” said Derek, “Lab 14 did the Ex, Star Labs did the dash and Celestial Labs did your names. What all three labs were looking for in this experiment no one knows. The tracking devices that are on your hands are called nano. No one can see them with the naked eye. That’s another reason for the barrier. It zapped all of the nano in you. Did any of you notice that you felt sick when you first got to the Inn?”
Sarah, Jane, Aria, and Martin nodded their heads.
“Good,” said Derek, “now show me your hands.”
They did as told.
“Nice,” said Derek, “they’re all gone.”
“What about Milton and Henry?” Martin said.
“Their labels came out the very first night at the Inn,” said Derek, “that happened through a bad memory. I suspect that Henry had his when he fell asleep. That’s because there was a pile of ash sitting right next to him. The same thing happened to you didn’t it, Milton?”
Milton nodded, “It was the memory of that iron rod going by that psycho Cora!”
Derek sighed, “Let me see your right hands. Henry you can take your glove off, don’t worry I won’t show them.”
I took off my glove and showed Derek my hand. He shielded my hand with his hand so no one could see. I put my glove back on and Milton showed Derek his hand.
“Good!” Derek said. “Now we can really run from those labs!”