The Experiment

The Capsules

The Experiment

I watch through the slivers of my fingers as the guards pull my father out of his bed. I should probably do something, but I can't move. To afraid to speak, I search for shelter under my blanket. I really wish they didn't have to take my father. They will torture him. Even though he hasn't done anything wrong, he's been good to these people and now they decide to torture him and use him for a science experiment?

Earlier this week a man that came to our tent, he said he needed my father for a science experiment. He didn't say much else.

The two guards leave the tent with my father between them, holding him by his upper arms. I need to find out what they're planning to do to him, I decide I must follow them.

I wait until I can't hear them anymore, I slowly slip out from under the covers. I gently push myself up from the floor to stand, I have no shoes to slip my feet into. No one in the camp has shoes, we can't afford them so we travel barefoot. We have to buy things like clothing, toys, and blankets from a truck that shows up at camp, there are also trucks for water and food. We don't have to pay for water and food, we get a certain amount per family.

I take a step towards the door, but I step on a jagged rock. Pain jabs through my foot and travels up my leg, I cover my mouth to keep myself from screaming. Our tents all have dirt and gravel floors, unlike the camp leaders. They get the pleasure of having cement floors, and a wooden cabin. Our tents are made up of a wooden frame and stitched together cloths draped over the frame, a small slit in the fabric resembles the door.

The refugees don't even get a bed, we have to sleep on the floor. We do get with a blanket, but it's thin and usually has holes in it. My sleeping area is near the door, my little sister next to me on the floor. Across from me is my younger brother beside him is my older brother. My mother sleeps beside my sister and my father across from her beside my older brother.

I'm glad my bed is near the door, I won't wake my family that way. I can barely see anything, but there seems to be someone sitting up in their bed. The only possible light comes from the small slit in the fabric, but even that is kept shut at night to keep out the cold.

I recognize the person as my mother, she's sitting up in her bed. Facing the back of the tent, I can hear her sobbing. She is worried for my father, she loves him dearly. I'm tempted to sit with her and comfort her, but I can't. I have to find out where they're taking my father.

My siblings are all fast asleep, I watch their blankets rise and fall as they take long breaths. I have to hurry, I might not be able to find my father if I wait any longer. I slip out of the door, trying to make sure my mother doesn't hear me.

"Acura?" She manages to get out between sobs. "Is that you? Where are you going?"

"Just, um." I stumble for a believable response, " I, um. I just need a breath of fresh air, I can't sleep."

"Oh," She sniffs, trying to hide that she's been crying this whole time. "Okay, just don't be too long. Alright?"

"Alright mother." I reply, I exit the tent.

I take in a deep breath of night air. The air is comforting, like a cool blanket wrapped around me. Though I can't enjoy it too long, I need to catch up to my father. The ground outside the tent is the same as in the tent, dirt and gravel. I try to ignore the pain and keep walking.

There are many other tents around us, the tents are arranged in a rows stretching farther out in the back. Our tent is fairly close to the middle row, there were only a couple rows ahead of us. I try to find my father, I see him to my left heading into the forest. I follow, hiding behind tents incase they look my way. My feet ache but I must keep going.