Chapter 3

I stared at him in disbelief. I didn't know what to say or do.

"It took me all this time to get over it, Tara. When I finally stopped hurting and found someone new, you reappeared," he said. "Now I don't know what to do with myself. I want to hold you again." He stood, and looked at the ground. His shoulders were shaking, his fists clenching. I wanted to help, but didn't know what to do.

"Dy..ten," I managed to get his name out. He looked up at me with sad eyes.

"My fiance, Calina," he said, "she knows I had a wife, but she doesn't know it was you."

He came towards me and hugged me. His arms were warm, and he smelled spicey. I melted into his coziness. Soon, he pulled away and looked at me. His face was coming closer to mine. I tried to pull away.

"Everything will be okay," he whispered on my lips. "It's okay."

I let him come closer. His lips brushed mine.

Knock, knock. Dyten pulled away almost immediately at the sound of the tapping at the door. He opened it.

"I just wanted to talk to Tara for a second, is all," came a voice. It was Milo.

As Dyten was leaving I heard him say, "Tara is exhausted, just let her rest."

I heard their voices fade, and pouted. Nothing seemed fair at all.

Do I even get to meet my daughter? She wouldn't remember me, would she? I sighed. Would they still love me?

Questions like this continued in my mind, until I fell asleep.

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When I woke up, I felt extremely nauseous. I was so hungry, I felt like I was going to throw up. I got up and when to the door, looking for a button. I found it, and started pressing it. I pressed it multiple times, and started whining when no one came. I continued pressing it.

Finally, Milo came to the door, obviously tired, "what in the world could you possibly need at 3 A.M., Tara?"

My stomach groaned and I clenched at it, whining again. He rolled his eyes and brought me downstairs to the dining hall. 

"All you're getting is cereal. Try eating at a regular time," he told me. 

When I finished my cereal, he took the bowl into the kitchen, and then sat across from me.

"I wanted to apologize for putting my hands on you like that," he said. 

All I could do is nod.

"I shouldn't have done that. It wasn't your fault, sometimes I can just get ahead of myself," he told me. I nodded again. "Do you forgive me?" 

And again, I nodded. He smiled. Then, he suggested I go back to bed. 

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I didn't sleep for very long. Maybe three or four hours. I was escorted into the dining hall. Wasn't there anywhere else they could put me? It had only been two days and I was bored.

The other ones I saw the night before were already there. Mary looked up and beckoned me over. I sat down next to the woman with dark hair. 

She's the one who spoke first. 

"Did you all hear about that doctor getting killed this morning?" she said. Confused, I looked at her.

"Milo? Yeah, sad isn't it?" Mary responded. Who was sitting next to her?

"Menaah! Ile...eois...Mhnnnn..." frustrated with my gibberish, I grunted. 

"Oh, sorry," Mary said, "Milo died this morning, Tara. He was working with one of the abductees who didn't have their memories erased. Those are the dangerous ones. Their minds aren't right. When they do something like this, it's always accidental. They have strike counters for them. If they kill more than two people they're terminated."

Milo was dead?

The woman next to me giggled, "can you not speak?"

Mary gave her a look. "No, she can't. And it isn't her fault."

The man next to Mary was still quiet. They looked quite similar, though.

They both had some weird wire-looking shapes engraved on their faces. 

"My name is Mirella. I was one of the first ones to be in this place. I had only gone missing for 3 years. I hate not remembering anything, but I suppose it's for the best," the woman next to me said.  

"Stop talking Mirella," said a deep voice. "Does it look like she really wants to listen to anything you have to say?" 

It occurred to me that I was crying, and I guessed it was because of Milo. Why was I crying? I didn't even know him... 

Mirella rolled her eyes at him.

Mary spoke up, "Krone, leave it."

I stood, and went to the door. I just wanted to leave. Even my boring, tiny room would be better than this. 

Chapter 2

Later that day, I had been sent to the level they called Negative One. It had a long, white hallway, decorated with doors.

It scared me. Of course, right now, everything scared me. Who else was I going to meet? Who else was going to hurt me? Just because I'm different.
I started walking, not sure of where to go. My bare feet made slapping noises against the tiles. When I got to the first cross-section in the hallways, a door to my right opened. Milo was there.

I gasped. I wasn't sure whether I should be standing there. I tensed, ready to run.

"Tara, please, come in. Your appointment was scheduled for five minutes ago," he said calmly.

Slowly, I walked through the door. He asked me to sit down. The chair didn't look very hygienic to me.

"I just need to run a few blood tests," he told me. I was feeling awfully uncomfortable in the seat. I was at a major disadvantage if he wanted to try anything again.

He pulled a syringe out of his pocket and took the cap off, and got some tubes ready. I jumped at the sight of the needle. He came closer with it and I grunted, stiff against my seat. I took my arms away from him. He looked me directly in the eyes.

"It won't hurt, I promise," he told me. "Just a pinch, is all."

I nodded.

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When I got back to the dining hall I saw Mary again, but she was with two others. 

I didn't want to meet anymore people. I wanted to be alone. My arm was sore, and my head hurt, and I just wanted to sleep. I turned around and tried to turn the knob. Locked. I tried knocking on it.

"They lock it when you're escorted in," came a voice. It must have been the woman across from Mary. "Press the button on the knob, someone will come."

I pressed the button and waited. I was surprised when Dyten was the one to come and get me. He brought me out of the dining hall.

"Would you like to go up to your room?" he asked. I nodded slowly. "Are you alright?" 

I shook my head.

"Come on," he walked to the elevator. I followed. 

When we got back to the room he sat down. I chose the other side of the room. I just wanted to be alone. Even if he made me feel better, I just wanted to sleep.

"I have something to tell you," he started.

"My name is Dyten. Does that sound familiar?" 

I thought for a moment. It didn't sound familiar, but it felt familiar. I shook my head.

He closed his eyes, disappointed. "I have a daughter," he told me. It looked as if he was trying to find a way to tell me something important. It seemed he couldn't find the right words. 

I was tired of this already. Whatever he needed me to know could wait. I was exhausted, and hungry, and upset. My arm was sore, my feet were cold, my headache was turning into a migraine... My stomach made noises at me.

"She's seven," he said. "Almost 8. She was born some months before you were abducted. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

I shook my head again. I didn't really care. I needed to sleep. I tried pointing to the bed, but he shook his head. 

"Tara, you were my wife," he said. 

Chapter 1

When my sobs had quieted, I lay on the floor sulking. Then I heard footsteps. They were getting louder. I heard a door open outside mine, and then someone was jiggling my doorknob. It turned.

It was the man in the suit.

"Get up," he said. I didn't like the look on his face. He scared me. "Get UP!"

I must've looked terrified. He grabbed my arm and yanked me up.

I tried my best to hide my tears. He looked at my eyes. He stabbed me with his glare for what felt like the longest time.

"You're dangerous. I don't know if I'll keep you around," he spat. "Bitch."

He finally left. Through the door I saw the man that I thought was familiar. He walked away with the man in the suit. Soon the woman from earlier came to see me, too. She was dressed differently than before.

She looked angry. I was scared, I backed away.

"I know what you did to Milo," she told me, and I got confused. "I will tell you now that if you seduce my fiance the same way you made Milo put his hands on you, there will be consequences. You are one euthanization away from being out of here. But I suppose you don't understand that, do you Tara?"

I swallowed hard. I do understand.

"No, I suppose you don't," she said more quietly. "You're not so lucky. I'm your nurse while you're living here. I don't plan to be gentle. I'm not afraid of you. Nicholas is the only person who can save you if I decide you're not worth it, and he's merciless." So that's his name. I wondered why she was mad at me. I didn't tell him to touch me. I wouldn't tell anyone to go anywhere near me. She turned to the door. "If you're hungry, you better come eat. I can take you to the dining hall.

I had honestly lost my appetite, but I'd do anything to get out of this room. I followed her out the door.

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I was locked into the dining hall. 

I saw another girl there. She couldn't have been human. The hair gave her away. I didn't get any bad vibes from her, though. I was too shy to try and say anything, as if I could anyway. She turned around when she happened to hear my footsteps. I got scared when she started walking towards me. I didn't know if I wanted anymore people to yell at me. 

She stopped in front of me. There was pity in her eyes. 

"Have you been crying?" she asked.

I blinked. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know if I could say anything.

"You poor thing. They're really rough on some of the newbies," she put her hand on my shoulder. "My name is Mary." 

I tried to pronounce her name, "Mah... ree..." I said slowly. 

Her eyes widened, "Can you not talk?" 

I mumbled something. It came out as gibberish again.

"Oh, goodness! You're the worst case I've seen. Here, I'll make you some breakfast. I promise it will make you feel better! Wipe your eyes, okay?" she handed me a handkerchief. 

I dabbed at my eyes with it. I sat down at a table. At least she was nice. If only I could tell her my name... 

I heard someone come into the room. I didn't want to turn around. I did anyway. I stood when I saw who it was.

My heart automatically felt warmer. Why did I feel this way? 

"Tara..." he said with sad eyes. "I wanted to apologize for my fiance's behavior earlier. I want you to know that we don't technically have the right to kill you. She can't and won't. That's not even Nicholas's choice. I will talk to Nicholas and ask him to treat you better. Their actions were completely uncalled for, as were Milo's. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

I waited. It seemed like he wanted to say something else. I nodded, because it was the only thing I could do. 

"So you do understand?" he asked.

I nodded enthusiastically. 

For a second I saw happiness. "Do you remember who I am, Tara?"

My spirits dropped. I shook my head and looked at the floor. 

"Okay. I'll be back in about an hour to bring you into the lower levels. I-" he said, but stopped, as if he was mistaking saying something. He left, and my eyes watered. I felt lonely again.

Prologue

The first thing I saw when I woke up was white. All white. It was so bright.

I stood shakily on the cold tile floors, wondering where I was. When I looked around, I saw people in the window above.

One looked like he was in charge. He was wearing a suit, and seemed to be the oldest. He had seniority. The one next to him looked confused and scared, but he couldn't possibly be as scared as I was... I looked around some more.
I saw him. He was so familiar.

Everything about him was just so right. I wondered why he was so familiar to me. For the first time since I woke up I didn't feel so empty. I almost smiled...

I felt the urge to be near him. I tried to step forward, but then I saw a woman.

She looked distressed about something. They soon left.

"Hello," a voice said. I flinched. What was it? "Can you tell us your name?"

"Mwneeahh!! Ahnnaaiee.... mnnn..," I said. They didn't understand me, and I started mumbling something. Frustrated, I tried again. Everything came out as gibberish. I screamed, panicked, and tried to open the door, but not by the handle. Instincts guiding me, I lifted my hands and charged a force of light...

I didn't get very far with it. Before I could focus enough energy into it, I heard a loud beeping noise. I stopped and looked around, and then I felt dizzy. Everything was turning black. I couldn't tell how long I resisted until I fell to the cold floor, going into another dreamless sleep.

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The next time I woke up, I was in a small room. I pouted, and my eyes watered. What is happening? More cold tile floors. I tried to search my mind. I don't remember anything, except for what happened in the big white room.

I looked around. A tiny window, a bed, nightstand, a big dresser, and a chair... This room is so small...

A man came in. I saw him earlier, in the big white room. He sat in the chair.

"My name is Milo," he told me. "Can you say it? Mi... Lo."

"Mi... Lo," I repeated, confused.

"Good. Do you know why you're here?"

All I could do was give him a confused look. He stared for a few seconds.

"You have been missing for the past seven years," he paused, as if wondering if I'd believe him. "You, along with many others, were abducted by aliens. When abducted humans started showing up again, it became a dangerous place. People are still being abducted randomly every few months. 

"Some of them came back with memories. Memories of their past, of the place they were taken. Some had no memories. You seem to be one of those without any memories. You're the only one who lost the ability to speak. Some came back with special powers. Some didn't. Because of how dangerous those abducted can be, we had to build this facility. We have been unsuccessful in bringing back the memories of anyone.

"To be honest, we don't know if we would want to. The ones that came back with memories of what happened... They're emotionally scarred. They're different. They were tortured out there. If you ever want to bring your memories back, it's at your own risk."

I became scared. 

"I wonder if you even understand what I'm saying," he told me.

My face grew a perplexed look. 

"Your name is Tara," he told me. After about a minute of silence he looked at me again. Right into my eyes, and stood. "Your eyes..."

He put his hands on my waist and bent in. He put his face near mine. I wondered what he was doing. He grabbed at my chest, and I tried to back away. He pulled away.

"You're... No. Goodbye," he said, frustrated, and left. 

I touched my breast where he touched me. I didn't understand. I started to cry. Was it my fault he was angry? I lay on the floor and sob through the night.