Escape

Part 1

You live in a nice world, don't you? You have a choice, to be good or bad. To follow the rules and live free or misbehave and be thrown in a cell. I never had that choice. You see when powered people are born, a Clairvoyant is always present. These Clairvoyants will determine if we are stable enough to live in Arcadia or if we’re to be sent to Scholomance.

My name is Lamia. I live in the city of Arcadia. It's where all the powered people live. Most of us are lucky enough to live outside of Scholomance. Most of us that is, I’m one of the unlucky ones. The reason behind that is I was born with two souls inside of me. Originally, my parents thought they were having twins, but it didn't turn out that way. My sister's name is Luana. She is my opposite, the light to my dark. The water to my fire. She's also the one who usually has control of our shared body, but since she's not conscious yet, I get to have our body all to myself.

I throw the white sheets off our body, so I can get out of our white bed. I walk across the white floor of our very white bedroom and sit at the bay window. I hate this room. For some reason the wardens, oh I'm sorry, the doctors thought that a room with white furniture, white walls, and a white floor was a good idea. I sigh and look out the window. The windows are barred and probably bulletproof, but it's the only break we get from the blankness of our room. It’s so bright and colorful out there. There are trees and flowers everywhere and if I’m positioned just right I can see a bit of the ocean. I trace my fingers along the bars longingly and they begin to heat up glowing red. I sit up and look around. When I’m sure I won't be caught I put my hand back on the metal. I smile as it starts to melt.

That's the other thing, every day, twice a day we are given pills to suppress our powers. Apparently, it's because they don't want our ‘unstable’ powers hurting ourselves or anyone else. I think it's just because without our abilities it makes it almost impossible to escape. Almost. I’ve been working on a way to get out. Having my abilities will make it so much easier. I just need to make sure Luana stays asleep. If she wakes up, she’ll make us stay. They’ve convinced her that this is the safest place for us, that they’re trying to help, but I’m not naive enough to believe they’re doing anything more than holding us, prisoner. For that reason and that reason only, they taught Luana how to take control of our shared body. They taught her to shut me out. She's their puppet so it's up to me to get us out. I was zoned out watching the bars melt in my hand, so I didn't hear the door open or the footsteps coming towards me.

“Lamia,” One of the doctors speaks, snapping me out of my trance. I turn and see three doctors. All men, I suppose that's so they can restrain me if they need to. And they will need to if they’re going to make me take those pills. I stand as my eyes dart around the room looking for an exit or weapon. That's when I feel her stir, she’s starting to wake up. “Why are you awake? Where’s Luana?” The doctor continues his voice soft, almost caring, but utterly fake.

“Asleep,” I answer, trying to sound strong, to stand my ground. He smiles at me and I tense. They never smile at me. Something must be wrong.

“Well, I suppose that's for the best. It’s you I wanted to talk to anyhow.”  He finishes.

Okay, now I know something's definitely wrong. I’ve been here for 15 years and not once have they ever asked to talk to me. I’m stunned into silence. Taking that as an invitation the doctor takes a seat on the bed and starts explaining. “We have noticed some physical changes that come with your change from Luana to yourself. We’d love to study this more.” That's when it clicks. They don't wanna talk to me, they wanna study me. Which will no doubt involve experiments I won't agree with.  I back away slowly, only stopping when my back hits the cold stone wall.

“I’ve seen the way you ‘studied’ Luana. It took days for our body to fully recover. No way I’m letting you do that to me.” I spit, cursing the way my voice breaks near the end. I’m surprised at the barking laughter the doctor lets slip. I wait in stunned silence while his laughter dies.

“I see what they mean when they say you’re a feisty one. You think you have a choice in the matter? I promise you, my dear, you don't.” The doctor concludes signaling to the other men to move. They move towards my hands out as if approaching a frightened animal. You know there‘s a saying I like to think of when in situations like this. It goes something like this, ‘A cornered cat becomes as fierce as a lion’. I read it somewhere though I’m not sure where. I think of this quote because I hope to channel it somehow. To become as strong as I act. But, as luck would have it Luana chooses that moment to fully awaken, rendering me helpless to the outside world as we fight for control. I feel two sets of hands clasp my arms. I feel someone lean in towards my ear and whisper, “Stop fighting Luana we need her in control… for now.” with that Luana recedes. My knees buckle and if it weren't for the iron clasps on my arms I would've fallen. I'm breathing heavily and my vision swims, I can't see straight. Well, that's gonna make this harder. They drag me out of my room and into the hall. I get glimpses of doors, windows,  the floor, but it doesn't last long before my vision goes black again. I'm trying to save some energy so I go limp in their hands. The good thing about all of this though is that with everything happening so quickly they forgot that the pills Luana had taken yesterday have worn off. I still have my abilities so even with my energy sapped due to the mental battle with my sister I can still make this work.

This of course being the genius plan I was talking about earlier. I have three versions of this plan. One the hands catch me and I'm thrown back into my cell with Luana in control and no doubt scolding me like the mother hen she is. Two I get out and Luana takes control, bringing me back. And three the one in which everything goes right. I get out and because Scholomance has no legal authority in the outside world I would be free.  But if I want the chance to escape I have a relatively small window. I count the steps we take to try and take my mind off the growing anxiety. Five more steps until we’re to my first checkpoint. I open my eyes the best I can when we get other, checking that it's clear. There are two doors there that lead to the outside. I’ll be going out the left one, it leads to the forest so it’ll be easier to hide. My heads stopped spinning which I am insanely grateful for. I don't close my eyes again because there's no need to. It only takes another minute for us to get to the ‘lab’. This ‘lab’ however consists of a metal table and their instruments of torture. I continue to play possum as they practically throw me onto the table. The doctor turns to talk to the other men and I take that as the que to start my plan.