One (A SPM AU BASED ON LN2)

The Lab: Part 3

"HEY!" One suddenly shouted, running over to the other side of the room and waving his arms, giving me the chance to get inside and shut the vent, giving me a brief moment of safety. I tried regaining my breath while I watched One through the cracks of the vent, trying to figure out what his plan for escape was.

He probably hadn't thought that through yet. He just knew he needed to give me a chance to escape. 

The teacher paused and looked over at One, seeming to raise an eyebrow as if curious. 

"You..." She muttered, her voice sweet and almost too lovely. 

Through the cracks in the vent, I could see her stretch her neck so her head was right in front of him as if she was staring him down. It was even more horrifying than when she turned her head to the side to glare at me. I didn't know what to do. Should I have crawled through the events and escaped, or wait for him?

"Well... look who came back," She teased, placing a finger under his paper bag and onto his chin, forcing him to look up at her. "I never did expect to see YOU here again..."

One just clenched his fists, glaring up at her and hardening his usually soft brown eyes, not replying with a verbal response.

"Why would you come back here?" She asked in a cold yet sweet tone, almost sounding amused. "After all the testing... after all the lessons... after all the time you spent locked away in solitary, why would you come back? Did you finally change your mind?"

"No," One stated, sounding confident and final in his words. "No matter what you guys try, you can't brainwash me like you've brainwashed all those other kids. No matter where you lock me, no matter what you inject me with, I'll never stop believing." He stated. 

I'm sorry, what did he just say? 

Was he from here? 

I knew he had been here before, but I assumed he had just passed through like we were now. I didn't think he was actually one of the kids being tested on!

Why wasn't he broken like the rest of them? I could only wonder how horrible that must have been for him.

"I'm just trying to help someone." He added. "That's all."

"Help someone?" She questioned, talking to him in a slightly high-pitched voice, like how adults talk to children. It was a little insulting. "Now, child, we've told you time and time again that you can't change anything. Not even you have the power. You're powerless..."

"My powers will come eventually, and then you'll see!" He exclaimed. "I can bring the sun back! I know it!"

"Not if you're dead. You shouldn't exist. We made a mistake keeping you and testing you instead of killing you on sight. I won't be making that mistake again..." She cooed, suddenly grabbing his neck and holding him up. I visibly winced, not sure what to do. I knew with the cuts on his neck and the already hurt arm, that must have only been another item on the list of injuries on him.

One didn't say anything while she lifted him up, squeezing tighter. I couldn't really see because she was blocking my view, but I could hear him trying to gasp for air. I could hear him grunting and trying to thrash free of her grip.

I didn't know what to do! Should I have just ran like he wanted me to, or should I have thrown his sacrifice away and placed myself into danger with no plan in an attempt to save him?!

Me, being the idiot child I was, chose the second option because truth to be told, I had no idea how to get home. I needed him! So, I kicked the vent open and brought my hands to my mouth, raising my voice to a shout.