The Beginning (part 2)

It had felt like they were holding their breath the whole time. As soon as the visitors made their exit, both girls took a deep, steadying breath. Nothing bad happened this time around.

The girl who stood with her turned to her with a nervous smile. "That was a close one 103. I was worried what would happen if you didn't wake up."

With a wink, she responded, "You know me. I am a glutton for punishment, 78."

In this place every person was referred to as a code name. Even if you were born with an actual name, that didn't exist anymore. Last time she tried to correct them she got a sweet taste of what happens to people who are obstinate.

The girl she referred to as 78 was here long before she arrived. Her soul was crushed and all of her will drained away. If anything, she was the greatest asset to her survival. She taught her everything she needed to know in order to avoid problems in the future. They had spent portions of time getting to know each other through their downtime between visits from what they assumed to be doctors.

Both girls were about the same age. Based on what Sister Hanna told her, she was about the age of 14. Since she was an orphan that was surrendered with no paperwork of any kind, they estimated her date of birth. Code 78 looked like a normal girl. Dull, brunette hair, curled and falling over her shoulders. She was more on the thin side, some of her frame poking out where normally muscle would fill. She assumed it was because of lack of nutrition.

"You should know better than go around provoking the Warden! Don't you know what happens if you anger him? We should just keep our heads low and let them look over us... We would survive longer if we did." Her voice dropped at the end, hesitating on the last bit.

"What do you mean, survive longer? What do you know?" 103 crossed her arms, raising a brow. On the inside she was shuddering at the thought of what existed beyond that door.

"You will find out... eventually." she muttered. Without another sound she pivoted around and shuffled back to her bed in the corner, settling upon it with hands folded in her lap.

One thing 103 had learned about 78 was that she was afraid of everything involving this facility. How long had she been here? What had she seen? How many were here before she arrived?

"I have been here for a few weeks and so far I know nothing. That man has visited more than once and he always talks about making me ready for something. Do you know something about it?" As she spoke, she also made her way to her bed which happened to be a couple feet across from 78's.

78 didn't look up. She stared at her feet, hands folded neatly in her lap while she fiddled her thumbs. "The last girl... they took her away not long before you arrived. She never came back. They said that she wasn't the one they needed. I am not sure what they meant or what they are looking for... but there are more like us. I have only left this room once since I've arrived. The corridor has multiple doors like ours. Where they escorted me to, they took some of my blood and tested it. They said I have a rare genetic code that they needed. That is as much as I know..."

103 listened to her intently. Something felt like she wasn't giving the whole story. She probably had her reasons, so she let her end the conversation as it was.

There wasn't much else to do in this room other than talk to your roommate or sleep. 103 found herself favoring the latter since her roommate was few of words. With that, she decided to lay back into her pillows and will herself to sleep. In time she would find out answers to her questions. Maybe not today... but soon.