Subject A250: The Flame (COMPLETED)

One: Water Warrior

SEQUEL TO SUBJECT A250: THE FANGIRL. Read that before you read this, or you'll be confused out of your mind.

Let's begin the next adventure, shall we??

Hatred.

It coursed through her body, rendering her unable to breathe, unable to think straight, unable to even speak.

And that was a big deal for Trace. She liked to speak. She liked it a lot. Being unable to do so made her incredibly uncomfortable. It was unnatural; she didn't feel like herself.

"What is wrong with you?"

Teresa. The sound of her voice only made Trace's blood boil. She was sitting on the bottom bunk, cross-legged on the bed in the corner of the room, across from the door, where Trace was still standing. How could this girl just sit here, waiting, knowing what was about to happen and doing nothing to stop it?

Trace despised her.

"Trace? You can talk to me. We're alone."

Trace snorted. Like she'd actually want to talk to Teresa. Like she'd even consider holding a conversation with her. The very notion revolted her.

Trace had been taken away. She'd been kidnapped entirely against her will. She'd tried to fight back, tried to stay, tried to escape, but it was all in vain. The only people she loved, knew, and trusted were gathered in a room mere metres away, but Trace couldn't reach them. She probably wouldn't even see them for what would feel like a very long time. If she ever did see them again.

"Ava?"

"Don't. Don't call me that. Don't even speak to me."

Trace hated that name. Ava. It made her skin crawl. How could they give her that nickname? Of all possible nicknames? They just had to name her after the most vile human being on this entire earth.

Dr Ava Paige.

She didn't deserve that title. Doctor. She was barely even human. She had no moral standing and certainly no empathy. She called herself the leader of WICKED: World In Catastrophe Killzone Experiment Department. More like: We Imprison Children Knowing Everyone Disapproves.

It wasn't a great alternative acronym, but Trace would have a lot of time to think of a better one.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about the many ways I could get you to shut up, Terescum."

"Terescum? Really, Ava? You're the one who's covered in Griever slime."

Trace glared at her. She'd literally thrown herself underneath a terrifying half-monster-half-robot, almost getting herself killed in the process of trying to save her friends, and Teresa was ridiculing her because of that?

"I did more than you'll ever do, you coward. It's like I said: I don't doom my friends; I defend them."

Teresa sat back, crossing her arms against her chest like she had something important to say; Trace doubted that very much. The only thing Teresa had going for her were her looks, and they weren't much good in a post-apocalyptic world. Teresa had the personality of a sheep; she followed every order and never stopped for one second to think about what she could achieve if she only stepped outside of her perfect little green meadow.