**Play West Coast : Lana Del Rey when reading this chapter. Trust me**
She slowly opened her eyes. Her head was still spinning. She clenched her jaw and noticed she wasn't in her bedroom. She was in a different room, one she had never seen before. She tried reaching for her head and was restrained. She looked down at her body. She was laying down on a chair, both her wrists and ankles chained to it. She frowned and looked around the room. There was a door to her right and a window to her left. "Papa" was standing there, with two others men. And he was there too. Except he was looking down. He had bruises all over his right eye. She became agitated.
"What's going on?" She asked while looking at "Papa"
"Well, I don't like that I'm doing this Twenty but you broke the rules. You must be punished now." Papa said before pressing a button. Then the pain hit. Electroshock started hitting the entirety of the body. Her body jerked, trying to get away from the chair. She screamed. It lasted around 5 seconds, then it stopped. She looked back at the window, eyes widened. The shocks came back and she winced in pain.
"There are rules here Twenty," Papa said while entering the room and walking next to her. "You cannot open doors that are unauthorized. You cannot go into the section of the lab workers either. You... need.... to obey... and do what you are told to do." He glanced at the man who took his place, and he pressed the button again. This time, the shocks were stronger. She screamed, feeling the nerves in her body pulsating. She clenched her fists and looked at "Papa."
"Let me go." She said in between her teeth.
"You need to obey, Twenty." He looked at the man behind the window again. The third round of shocks came through the chair. She closed her eyes, preparing her body to endure the pain. But nothing happened. She waited a few seconds before opening her eyes again and looking at "Papa" confused. He frowned and looked at the man again. The man shrugged, not understanding, and pressed the button again. No pain still. She started to smile and laughed.
"Is it broken?" She asked. She relaxed her shoulders and wiggle her fingers and toes around. She felt the same soreness from the first day she had woken up here. Papa didn't reply anything, but his expression spoke for him. He was terrified and seemed unsure. He walked back inside the room and started speaking with the two men. She looked over to Peter. He was still looking down. Why aren't looking at me? Papa came back into the room with a smile.
"I hope you will understand this time Twenty, I'll let you go back to your brothers and sisters now." He said while unclasping her chains. She didn't try to fight back. She decided it would be best to listen if she wanted to see him again. Oh to be in his room again, alone. She simply nodded and started walking away with the guards. She was escorted to the rainbow room and met with Eleven and Twelve.
"Good morning! Where were you? You slept a lot!"Twelve asked.
"Yes, I did! Too much, but it's ok, Papa wasn't mad." She replied with a smile. Eleven stayed quiet.
"Eleven? Good morning." She said. Eleven didn't reply. She was quieter than usual. "Not here." She continued while looking at the door. That's where he usually stands.
"He's okay." She whispered. Eleven nodded and continued looking down. She noticed a group of four children staring at her and giggling. The doors opened. He walked in, with two guards and "Papa." She felt relief. He was back. All of the children did their usual two lines, facing each other and Papa.
"Good Morning Children!" He said.
"Good Morning Papa." They replied.
"Today is our weekly activity. Twenty, you stay here. The rest of you, follow me!" Papa said and they all left the room. Even him. He stopped looking at her. He never was. Why? She didn't know. She started counting the days. One. Two. Five. Eight.
"Fourteen." She wrote a small line in her notebook. The lab had kindly furnished her room better, with a table and a chair. She had few books she could write on to pass some time. They also gave her a comb, to brush her long silky hair. She arrived in the Rainbow room, and he was there. He didn't look, nor spoke with her. He spoke to Eleven, but not here. She sat down on the opposite end of the room, carrying her notebook with her. She was angry. Very angry. She hated this place. Why could he speak to Eleven and not her? Maybe they were doing this on purpose. Papa entered the room, like every repetitive morning. She stood up and placed herself in line. She wasn't trying to look at him anymore.
"Good Morning Children"
"Good Morning Papa." They replied. She stayed silent, like always.
"Today, we are all going to have individual work to do. Twenty, we will start with you."
"Yes Papa," she nodded.
"Come along please," He said and she followed behind him. They entered a room with a table and a chair. There were a few machines on the table and the wired helmet. She sat down, and she noticed he was there with her. She never did the exercises with the others. Different, they said. Too different.
"I'm going to get a few people for this exercise Twenty. Stay here, just for a few minutes." The door closed.
For the first time, they were in a room together again, after two weeks. He placed the helmet on top of her hair. She kept on looking down. He then covered her eyes with a thin white piece of fabric. She felt his finger in the back of her head, making a knot. She could feel like he was still behind her and then, he spoke.
"I have to attach your hands behind your back for this exercise, try not to move," he said. She nodded and felt his hands bring her two arms behind her back. He snapped a pair of cuffs on her wrists. He caressed her forearms and she stayed quiet. He must have stood back up because she felt him pressed against her shoulders.
"Good luck," He said near her right ear. She felt an adrenaline rush shock through her body. "You will be a good girl like you always are." He whispered and walked away. Her face must have betrayed her. The door opened again.
"Something wrong Twenty? You look a bit distracted, and your face is... blushed?" Papa said before earing multiple footsteps.
"N-no Papa. Just a bit hot." She replied.
"Good. Now Twenty, I know the cuffs might be a bit scary, but it's because we have special guests, and they just wanted to see you and feel... In security."
"It's okay Papa. I understand." She replied.
"Excellent. Now twenty, would you please tell me what is Twelve doing right now?" She focused and find him with no effort. It was too easy.
"He is in the Rainbow Room with Eleven, Fifteen, Three, and Five." She replied.
"Good job, now, can you describe to me what our lovely guests are wearing?" He continued.
"Yes. There is a lady, she is wearing a black suit with strange pointy shoes. There are two men with her, both wearing the same black ensemble, and with dark brown leather shoes?" She detailed.
"Excellent. Now, would you mind doing a demonstration for them? This might sting a little."
"That's okay Papa." She replied.
"You have become such an obedient girl..." He said before the doors opened again. More footsteps. She heard someone to her left. She felt a light poke in her ribs and then heard electric shocks. She couldn't feel a thing.
"Raise the voltage please. 120 volts," Papa said. She felt the poking again, except this time it stung a bit more. She was a bit uncomfortable. "Are we okay there Twenty. Tell me how you feel."
"It stings a little bit, but doesn't hurt." She replied.
"Good. You did a good job today Twenty. I am very proud of you. Please, follow me outside." There were more footsteps, and then the door closed. She felt someone uncuffing her, and then removing her blindfold. She looked up, expecting to see him but it was another guard.
"What? Not happy to see me? I can leave you here if you want." He snapped before rolling his eyes. She lowered her head and her lips turned into a frown. Why wasn't he there again? She removed her wired helmet and placed it on the table.
"Hurry up, we don't have all day. Go back to either your bedroom or the Rainbow room" The guard said before opening the door. She nodded, following him. She decided to skip dinner, and stayed in her room. She was upset. She missed him. His blue eyes. She remembered the feeling of his breath on her neck. She reminisced the way he touched her forearms and hands. She looked at her wrist and followed the visible veins. She remember the kiss he planted and the way he looked in her eyes. She brought her wrist to her lips and planted a kiss in the same area. If only that could be his lips. Why don't you look at me? Was he scared about her getting hurt? If only she could speak without being watched. This place was a nightmare. She craved his touch and gaze. She shook her head and sighed. There must be a way to speak without being watched... And then she realized. Paper. She could write to him instead. Maybe, this was the way.