Project Flux {Book one of the Flux Files}-Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I jumped up on my feet from a long night. My body was ready for whatever the government might throw at me; but my mind was still focused on last night’s dream. I stood close to the glass window and watched the officials come in with grinning faces, and watchful eyes. I looked at the small camera lens in the corner of the room and remembered the vision from last night. The woman's watchful eyes still making me question the government's authority.

The head official came to the front of the glass window, and started asking me questions.

“How’d you sleep last night?” he asked me searching for answers.

“I slept just fine thank-you.” I said, trying to act like nothing was eating away at me.

“Well good.” he said, walking around the room, pacing even. He stopped over at the corner of the room and signaled for some people to come in, eyeing me as he did so. Then, he turned towards me to inform me about what was about to happen. He stepped closer to the middle of the room, parting his legs slightly and putting his hands behind his back for effect.

"The director wants to see your results on how you do with combat, this will test not only your physical endurance but your mental knowledge as well. Try your best, we will be recording all results."

"W-wait, why does the director care about my combat skills." I asked, my face flushed.

Before the official even answered me, three huge soldiers came into the room, trying to strike fear into my heart. This was combat, I was taught combat when I was in the Flux program, and I was one of the best. They want me to pass these tests, and show them how much of a super soldier I am. I was going to show them, and I was going to succeed. The soldiers each were stronger than I have seen anybody look before. Biceps so large that they looked like they were going to tear a hole in the shirt. Veins popping out of their muscles as they pulsated with blood, their hands as large as my face. They looked at me, their grinning faces the look of defeat. They cracked their knuckles and stepped closer, signaling that they were ready to proceed.

The soldiers came over to me and started swinging punches at me, their fists barely missing my flesh. I backed up closer to the edge of the wall, my back nearing the cold forefront frozen in fear. As they began approaching me I decided to fully commence the test. I ran towards them on at a time, my eyes filled with anger, glowing as I ran. I punched one of them with my swinging fists in the nose, but it was only like a light tap for him; making me seem like no match for him. The same soldier stepped closer to me with rage and smacked me down with his forearm, making me lower to the ground, my nose spilling blood. I quickly crawled a little over the floor, trying to find courage to face them; but there was none to be found. The soldier grabbed me from behind and lifted me up in the air by my neck, leaving me dangling there as if I were some kind of wild animal. I could feel his dirty hand closing in around my neck, constricting my airways. I struggled for breath, and watched as the officials eyed me as if I were part of some movie, waiting for me to break free. I thought about what my next move was gonna be, but there was nothing I could do. I could feel the pressure in my throat increasing as the soldier grinned,

amused by his own self righteousness. I thought that this time, this time they were really going to kill me.

"Alright, that's enough, I've seen enough." The official said, holding up his hand.

The soldier dropped me from his grasp and let me fall on the hard floor, hurting my knees. I lied there, curled up in a ball, trying immensely to catch my breath. Everytime I breathed in I felt rejuvenated, but soon I felt like the constant heavy breathing was never going to end. Like the oxygen was forever knocked out of my lungs. I breathed constantly and harshly, trying desperately to inhale the breath back into my body.

The official shook his head as he came closer to the thin piece of glass separating us; the look of disappointment lingering in his eyes. He scratched his chin, and ran his fingers through his hair, looking as though he were trying to find the right words to say.

"What was that?" He asked me, pure agitation within his voice. I just shrugged, trying to look comfortable with the question. He moved his hands up in the air and placed them behind his head, trying to calm himself. "You-" he started trying to keep a steady voice that didn’t last long. "You do not just get to fail these tests just because you are scared of getting hit, or just don’t feel like it! Your Flux report said that you had high combat levels so I just don’t understand!" He paused, spending a brief moment to chuckle. He paced around the room and conversed with other officials, then turned back to me. "I know exactly what test you are going to do next, I'll just have to run it over with the director. Everybody else, when I come back we will start preparing!" He yelled. "Hopefully this test will show her that there is something getting in the way of her success here." He turned towards the hallway and briskly walked down, his clipboard in hand. The other officials eyed me one by one, some gathering equipment and leaving me in the room, to worry about what the next test will be.

. . .

“It’s time to start preparing for the next test.”

I looked over at the head official and asked him, “What’s this test testing?”

He answered, “This test is testing how your emotions work with the mission. This is a hard test for some people, let’s see how you do.”

People came in and brought in another white dentist like chair, and sat me down in it. They put straps around my hands so that I couldn’t escape during the test, and carried a pointy syringe over to me. They pushed my head down with their hands, and injected me with the serum in their syringe. I felt the needle pierce through my neck and the liquid squirt into my body as the test began. I looked up at the ceiling and before I knew it my eyes were closed. And the test had begun.

I was darting through a corn maze, running from someone behind me I hear gunshots on my left, and screams on my right. This test was testing my emotions, but I don’t know if I want my emotions to be let loose. I heard a person stomping up behind me, cutting the corn in its way. And when I saw a

man holding a knife in his hands, I did the only thing I could do, run. I ran through tall stalks of corn, and kept on darting forward. The man was still behind me, lunging forward with every move, and knife in front of him. I tried to pull him off my trail but he was too swift for that, he just kept on running and wouldn’t stop. By the time I reached the end of the corn field, I couldn’t see the man with the knife; but still I went on running. I ran up a grassy hill, and slid down another. Making sure to be as fast and as precise as possible. I ended up running through long prairie grass, looking at all my surroundings. When out of nowhere the man with the knife came darting toward me, with is knife held out high. I screamed and ran as far as I could, until I heard no more footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw the man, but this time he was holding a young girl in his greasy hands.

“Hand over your abilities and I won’t kill the girl.” the man said.

I looked over at the girl who was struggling in his hands, and I felt compassion and love for her. Those feelings bubbling up inside me were emotions, and I couldn’t let my emotions affect the mission.

“Just give me the abilities; I have something right here that will take them away. I won’t kill the girl if you hand them over, come on you know you won’t win this fight.” the man said convincingly.

“No! I won’t hand them over.” I screamed back.

“Then suffer the consequences.” the man said, who was ready to kill.

“No!” I screamed, “Don’t kill her, she’s innocent!”

The man looked back at me and said, “Are you going to let your emotions get in the way of the mission? Huh? Are you?” he said gripping the knife. “The mission is to protect the abilities, and the asset, which is you! Are you going to let some random girl get in the way of that?” he finished.

“No. I mean I don’t know. I can’t just let you kill a random girl. That would go against every humanly emotion.” I said.

“Then let go of those emotions for the sake of the mission.” the man said.

I talked through the problem to myself, and then I remembered this was only a test. A test that I needed to pass. I walked over to the man, and closed my eyes.

“Do it. I’ll let go of my emotions to let the mission succeed.” I said while closing my eyes shut.

“Well, if you’re so willing why don’t you take care of it yourself? This is your mission, and you will do anything to protect the asset and keep your performance up.” he said, chipping away tiny pieces of my dignity.

He handed me a gun and I took it. I raised it steadily, and aimed, but I couldn’t do it.

“Come on!” he screamed. “Are you really going to forfeit what really matters because of some silly emotions? Control the emotions, control the mission, and control your actions!” Do it for the sake of the mission!” He screamed.

As the man kept on screaming I realized what I had to do. This is only a test, it’s not real; no one’s really getting hurt. I aimed the gun and was ready to fire. Before I did so I whispered sorry to the little girl, and closed my eyes and looked away. Just in time to hear the gunshot ring agony into my ear. I looked at the little girl, lying dead on the floor, watching her blood and life drain out of her. She was just an innocent. I walked over to the man, and laid the gun on the floor before him. I walked away while crying and choking on tears. Next thing I knew, I wasn’t in a field anymore. I was standing next to a building with a teenage boy, who looked scared out of his mind. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I knew that this was another test based on pain, agony, and bitter, bitter betrayal. The boy was running toward me and started to back away as soon as he met my eyes. I looked down at myself and realized that I was wearing a slim fitting black suit, with the words US Government printed across.

“What’s going on?” I asked the frightened boy. He didn’t answer; he just stayed frozen in his own fear.

“There you are boy!” an official screamed in front of me.

The boy looked in both directions but didn’t budge. I guess that he thought that I was on their side. The official and his crew grabbed the boy’s arms, and punched him in the stomach. Leaving the boy weak in the knees. I walked over to the boy and the official, a bucket load of emotion raging inside me.

“Hey!” I screamed grabbing the officials’ shoulders, “What did he ever do?”

The officials struggled free and answered, “Nothing. We’re just taking him in for questioning. And when he refused and ran away the only thing we could resort to was violence. You should know this, this is your mission.”

I looked at the man all confused and said, “What?”

“This is your mission,” he answered, “are you really going to let this boy and your emotions get in the way of success?” the man questioned.

The boy was struggling to be free after recovering from a hit in the stomach. I could see the pain and the regret on his face. I couldn’t bring in an innocent boy. This is only a test, but I knew that they were going to do more than question him.

“So, what’s your decision?” the official asked while violently pushing the victim to the ground. “Are you going to follow procedure, or follow your hurt heart?”

I looked up at the man, anger burning up inside me. “I’ll follow procedure.” I said reluctantly.

“Good.” he said, “Then bring him in, and lock him up.”

I walked sadly over to the teenage boy who was trying to get up. Once he got up, he darted for it. He ran as fast as his mind would let him, and flew around the next corner. I didn’t want to go after him, but I needed to pass this horrid test. I raced after him and stopped when he was about ten feet away from me. I used some of my absorbed energy to give him a zap, so that he would stay still. I took

both of his arms and pulled them behind his back. I walked him over to the officials, and they pointed for me to shove him in the truck. I walked him over to the truck and shoved him on the hard floor. As I watched the boy soak his face in tears and pain, my heart began to melt. They can expect me to pass this test; but they better not think that they can make me stop feeling humanly emotions. I walked back over to the officials and looked at them with two eyes. Before I even knew what was happening I was in the grass looking at a building.

I looked around at my surroundings and saw one man standing behind me. He looked and acted like a commanding officer.

“What are you waiting for?” the man said. “Terminate the threat!”

I looked back at the man all confused. “What?” I asked.

“Complete the mission.” He said.

“What? I don’t even know what I’m doing here!” I screamed back.

“Terminate the threat. Complete the mission.” he said back.

I looked down at my hands and realized that I was holding a firearm. Some men and women came out of the building and walked over to me. They didn’t speak one single word and were as stiff as a stick. It was almost as if they didn’t have any emotion.

“Terminate the threat.” the people all said in unison while making a pathway.

A young man came up through the walkway. He looked confused, but as he spotted me his face filled with anger. He came darting toward me with a gun in his hand and pushed me down to the ground. This must be it, this must be the threat. I grabbed my gun and pointed it at his head. The man just grinned and laughed, and got up on his feet after tackling me. The people who had cleared the walkway had gone away by now, and were slightly watching from afar. The young man backed up so he was fifteen feet away from me, and kept on chuckling.

“You can’t do it!” he screamed at me, “You won’t! You’re too weak and wrapped up in your own emotions. You can’t kill, you’re too soft!” he screamed. “They know, and you know that you let your emotions get in the way of your performance. You’d let me kill you so that you wouldn’t have to kill me!” he said.

He filled my heart with anger and surprise. I knew that I had to kill or be killed. I pointed the gun at his head. He laughed and ran over to me. Once he reached where I stood he put the barrel of his gun up to my forehead.

“You can’t let go of your emotions. So say goodbye.” he said.

I could feel him getting ready to pull the trigger and let my dead body fall. I wasn’t willing for that to happen. I lifted my gun up to his head and made aim. I pulled the trigger, a loud bang sound echoed through the trees. I saw his dead body and his crimson blood fall. Each drop that tricked from his head made me think of despair and loss. I looked away from the body because I knew that it was too much at that time. I walked away trying to tell myself that none of this stuff is real. That I didn’t really kill anybody; but the pain and the sadness made it feel a little too real for comfort. 

I woke up, panting in the white chair. Memories of things, people, who never existed because they were part of a test. I rustled my hands trying to break them free from the straps holding me down. I looked down at my hands, expecting to see blood staining guilt in my very soul. I took many deep breaths and looked out at the officials on the other side of the glass. They seemed pleased or happy that I did the wrong thing to innocent people, killing and murdering is not in my human nature.

“I have to say,” the head official started, “you definitely surpassed our expectations. You at least tried to let go of your emotions, but you did complete the task at hand.” He finished, seeming impressed.

There were so many emotions storming up inside, so many that I eventually just burst.

“Why?” I began, “Why did you make me take these tests? Why are they so important? Do you enjoy killing and despair?” I asked while tearing up.

The official walked up closer to the glass and answered. “You will soon learn the purpose in time. And Emma, you can’t escape your destiny, you have to choose. So choose the one you know is going to win. And leave the losing side alone.” he said, and began to walk away from the glass.

I thought about what he said, how I have to choose my destiny. I thought more about how he said about how I can’t escape my destiny. It sounded a lot like what the woman in my visions say. I wonder if they both have to do with what’s going on here. And what’s going to happen in the near future. I stayed thinking in the white chair until the officials came marching in, they loosened my hand straps so that I could move my hands and be free. They took my hands out for my, and told me to get up. I stood up as they took the chair away and then I dropped back down on the cold white ground. Another official walked in with my late dinner, and set the tray beside me and left. The officials looked at me with eyes of appreciation since I had passed the test, and started to exit the room and turn off the lights since it was getting late. I sat down on the ground quietly and began to pick at my dinner in the darkness. I ate the piece of chicken and the corn that lay on my plate. I took several sips of water and pushed the tray off to the side to be picked up later. I lightly lay on the ground, and closed my eyes, trying hard to go to sleep after an agonizing day. I moved and moved trying to get in the right position, and jumped at the smallest of noises. Then, all of a sudden I didn’t hear anything and my mind went blank. I started to hear a woman’s sweet voice, and the smell of burning buildings. I wasn’t looking at darkness anymore; I was looking at a woman’s face. The same person I’ve seen in my visions.

I looked around at where I was I was standing. I was lying down in a small room and breathing heavily; I looked to my left and saw a woman. She walked over to me and as she did so I stood up. I looked at her dead in the eyes, and she looked at me dead in mine.

“What’s going on?” I asked, “Why am I trapped in a government base, and why do I always see you in my visions?”

The woman looked down at the floor, and then looked back at me with eyes of truth.

“This base, what’s going on here, are not what you think.” the woman said. “The people who work here are indeed government officials, but there’s something going on here that’s being kept a secret. These people tracked you down and are keeping you here for a purpose. They want to make you the ultimate weapon, to kill and destroy at no cost to them. They’re testing you to make sure that you’ll be strong and compatible enough, to someday help them take over and rule. These officials at this base are working behind the real leader’s back. They’re keeping this a secret from their government leader, who’s not at this base, and from the President of the United States. They need to make sure that you pass each harsh test so that you’re ready to be the ultimate weapon when the time comes. So, Emma. You have to choose one destiny, so make the choice you know is right and stop their plans. They might already be planning more that I don’t know of.” The woman finished.

“So, that’s what my destiny is? To destroy the world?” I asked frantically.

“No!” the woman started, “That doesn’t have to be your destiny if you don’t want it to be. You can choose to stop them, even though it might be harder than working with them. You can choose the right destiny. And I suggest that you don’t choose the one that you destroy the world. Do what’s right, for me and for you.” She finished.

As she finished speaking the place that in with the woman seemed to slip away. I started to drift awake, knowing the truth about this base, and the truth behind the tests. I opened my eyes and stood up right away. I looked up in the corner of the room and looked straight into the eye of the camera. I tried hard to not show any clues that would lead them to think that I’m on to them. I just silently sat back down and went through everything in my head about these people and what their plans are. I sat down and couldn’t stop thinking about how they want me to take over the world for them, and rule. One thing’s for sure, I was going to choose the right destiny. And it sure isn’t going to be the one the officials want me to choose.

(This may be a little choppy and un-organized simply because it NEEDS to be edited. Hope that you enjoyed the beginning of the novel)