Insanity

The Checkup

THIS DAY had been planned since the last checkup they'd had.

      It had been a slow day at school, learning chemistry, algebra two, and world history. Nothing really caught her interest. She flipped the page of the book she was reading, trying to make herself appear as if she was truly doing what she was supposed to, instead of dozing off.

The teacher seemed to drone on and on, as if the more he said, the more everyone would pay attention. It worked the opposite, as the only people who would ever pay attention in his class were polite, and not willing to make the teacher feel bad.

Terra moved her head to the side, watching as her best friend Lily sat with her hands clasped on her desk, leaning forward and nodding as if she was paying attention. Terra rolled her eyes, not in the mood to pretend she cared. She turned her head the other way, where her other friend Carson sat snoring. She chuckled softly to herself. The difference between her friends was what made them so interesting.

The bell rang, but no one jumped up. They all knew better than that. The teacher hadn't dismissed them, and it wasn't worth trying to escape when he'd just make them stay longer. Sooner rather than later, he wrapped up, and the class dashed out of the classroom.

       "I've been waiting for this for practically forever," Lily groaned, shaking her head in annoyance as her pink backpack bounced up and down. "I just want to get it over with."

     "This is the worst part of the year," Carson wailed, his brown hair sticking up as usual. "Checkups are horrible! You guys know I don't like needles."

      "I don't think anyone does," Terra sighed, brushing her red hair behind her shoulder. "But we don't have a choice. At least we get to hang out afterwards."

      "Why are you always so positive?" Carson questioned, with a shake of his head. "There's nothing fun about this."

     "Well, tell us how you really feel!" Lily crossed her arms. "What's wrong with us?"

     "That's not what I meant!"

     Terra laughed as the bickering continued. Their walk down to the checkup building consisted of their usual laughing and talking.

    As they neared the building, she noticed the normal security guards that fanned around the building. She'd always found them creepy, but it seemed she was the only one. She shuddered as one watched them as they entered the building.

    "Welcome to StayHealthy! Here for a checkup?" The receptionist asked with a fake smile. Her teeth were stained pink from her lipstick, and Terra cringed. Everyone was able to do their own makeup in the country of Ordinance, so to purposely mess it up was to make everyone uncomfortable. "Of course you are, ahah. Name and age, please?"

      "Terra Bracken. Fifteen years old. Lily Pross, fifteen. Carson Rossi, fifteen."

      "Perfect! You're all checked in. Please head down the hallway."

      Lily managed a quick 'thank you' before the three left, heading to their assigned rooms. They'd been there years previous, and now it was just to be expected. They separated, promising to meet up after like usual.

     Terra sat down on her bed as the doctor came into the room. As usual, two security guards stood in the room. Everyone had to be female, as the process later required the participant to strip down to check for a birthmark.

     "Hi Terra," Doctor Swenda smiled, her blonde hair pulled back. "I'm just going to check for your vital signs, okay?"

    Those always went quick. Nothing changed there- and Terra was just left wondering as to when it was going to end. Finally, it was time for the final process, which involved the doctor scanning for the birthmark.

    Terra quickly rid herself of her clothes and laid down on the bed. This was always the most awkward part of the checkup for obvious reasons, and her arms went to cover her private areas before Doctor Swenda pushed them away. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine she wasn't there, hoping that it would end.

    "Terra, please get dressed," Doctor Swenda frowned, her normally happy demeanor fading. "Hurry, please."

    "Wait, what?" Terra was confused, as she had yet to flip over. It was required to check both sides, and Doctor Swenda normally did a very thorough sweep. This time, she was done within seconds. "Get dressed? But you barely-"

   "Hurry, Terra."

    Confused, the redhead sat up and began to dress herself again. Once she was fully dressed, she watched in distress as Doctor Swenda motioned to the guards.

    "She's got one."

     SHE'S GOT ONE.

     The words echoed throughout her brain as the guards took hold of her arms, handcuffing her wrists in front of her. Terra protested at once, trying to break free, but they were trained to fight. Terra never was.

    Her weak attempts to get away made the guards hold on tighter to her arms as Terra began to yell in confusion.

    "Wait, what's happening? I don't understand!" Terra called out. "I've never had a birthmark if that's what you're implying-"

    "Miss Bracken, you are aware that these birthmarks can form during the years, yes?" Doctor Swenda asked, with a cold frown on her face. "Throughout all these years, you've had nothing. All of a sudden... check her left shoulder."

    Terra yelped as the top of her shirt was pushed down, and as she looked at her left shoulder, she screamed.

    A small, slightly darker flower laid on her once clear skin.

   All of a sudden, she felt the needle pierce her neck, and everything went black.