Natalie layed on the bottom bunk, the blanket doing little to ward off the cold air. She kept replaying the officer's words in her mind "Your brother, Carter Clove was found dead this morning." Carter's death felling like a nightmare she couldn't wake from. Carter, her strong, protective brother, gone? It was impossible. It all just fell to impossible.
Yet, here she was, in this strange, sterile room, surrounded by equally lost and frightened children, all because of these so-called psychic abilities they had. The suited figures explanation about psychic energy and creatures from across this so-called veil felt like something out of a bad science fiction movie, an excuse to keep them locked away.
A wave of loneliness washed over her, sharp and suffocating. Carter's absence leaving a hole in her heart, a silence where his comforting presence used to be. Now, there was only uncertainty, a chilling premonition of danger.
Sleep remained elusive. Every creak of the building, every footstep in the hallway outside their door, sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She squeezed her eyes shut, unintentionally imagining the detached faces of the suited figures and the terrified eyes of the other children.
Hours crawled by, marked only by the moving shadows cast by the dim overhead light. Finally, a harsh buzzer sounded through the building, jolting Natalie awake. A woman in a black suit entered their room, her expression devoid of any warmth.
"Breakfast in the mess hall. Be quick about it," she stated flatly, her gaze sweeping over the girls before she turned and left.
The mess hall was a large, echoing room filled with long tables and rows of silent children. The air was thick with a mixture of fear and forced compliance. The suited figures stood guard at intervals, their presence a constant reminder of their captivity.
Natalie picked at the tasteless food on her tray, her appetite nonexistent. She watched the other children, their eyes downcast, their movements stiff, like broken dolls, their spirits already dulled by what this place was doing to them.
After breakfast, they were herded into a large classroom. Vonya, the head of the girls group, stood at the front, a forced smile plastered on her face. She began droning on about the importance of their "unique abilities" and the "threat" they faced from the creatures of the veil. Natalie's mind wandered.
The day passed in a blur of lessons and hushed whispers among the girls. Natalie found herself gravitating towards Cassandra, the girl her age in their room. Cassandra was quiet and observant, her eyes holding a deep sadness that mirrored Natalie's own.
Later that afternoon, they were taken to a different room, a sterile white space filled with strange equipment. Vonya explained that it was time for their "awakening procedure," a process that would unlock their psychic abilities. Fear rippled through the room.Natalie felt a surge of panic. She didn't want any abilities. She just wanted her brother back.
A suited figure approached her, holding a small device that hummed with an unsettling energy. Natalie flinched, closing her eyes tightly. She felt a cold pressure against her forehead, a brief sting, and then… nothing.
When she opened her eyes, the room seemed sharper, the colors more vibrant. She could hear the faint buzzing of the fluorescent lights above. It was as if her senses had been amplified.
Over the next few days, the changes continued. Natalie found herself noticing things she had never noticed before – the subtle shifts in the guards' expressions, the faint vibrations in the walls. She could sometimes sense others emotions too, a confusing jumble of sadness, anger, and anxiety.
The suited figures began training them, teaching them rudimentary forms of self-defense and explaining the basics of their newfound abilities. Natalie felt detached, going through the motions, her mind still consumed by thoughts of Carter.
One evening, as she laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, a faint shimmer of silver caught her eye. It was near the edge of her bunk, almost hidden. She reached out and picked it up. It was her locket, the one her mother had given her. How had it gotten here? She didn't remember having it with her when they were taken.
Clutching the locket tightly in her hand, a sudden image of Carter flashed through her mind, a fleeting sense of a familiar presence. It was gone as quickly as it came, but a seed of hope began to sprout in Natalie's heart. Could Carter… could he somehow still be out there? Could he be trying to reach her? The thought, however improbable, gave her a sliver of strength in the suffocating darkness. She wouldn't give up. For Carter.