Chapter Three (Edited)

I whipped around to see who was shouting. "Me?"

"Yes do not continue that way! It's not safe!" The voice demanded.

I turned around and addressed the voice. "Thanks"

He smiled and nodded "No worries, my name is Cory. What's yours?"

I was surprised to see a small boy in such a state, his eyes wore heavy bags as if he was deprived from sleep. He had scars all over his body from what I could see. For a fact I knew they were not self-inflicted. His hair was like mine, black. His eyes however were a strange orange colour.

"My name is Seth, it's nice to meet you." I answered

"Seth? The Hybrid Seth?!" Cory asked excitedly.

I nodded and grinned "Yes, I am the Hybrid Seth. Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course you can!" Cory seemed rather hyper and bouncy.

"Okay, first question I want to know what your power is. Second question where did you get your wounds, lastly can you take me to the quarters?" I asked.

"My power is Illusion Manipulation, I got my wounds from...from being bullied and yes I can take you. I can also show you how to change the appearance of your room." Cory replied.

Cory showed me the way to my quarters and asked for my identification number, it turned out that we were neighbours. Which was great news. Unfortunately my room was obnoxiously bright.

"You said I could change the appearance? How do I do that?" I asked glaring at my room.

"Easy. Watch me." Cory replied as he walked over to a control panel. "Press this button here, select the colour section and select the colour you want. Judging by your style you want black"

I nodded "Yes, also my room is rather empty how do I get my wardrobes and a bed?"

Cory walked over to yet another panel and pressed a different button. "These are holograms. It shows you the different types of wardrobes you can have. I'll give you the standard one for now."

Out of nowhere a wardrobe appeared in the corner. "Thanks Cory!"

He laughed "No problem! Now for your Bed. I'm thinking skulls and Grim Reapers?"

"Yes!" I nodded.

Another item generated in my room it was a double bed with two Grim Reapers stood on a mountain of skulls.

I walked into the centre of my newly decorated room. "Whoa! Wait my wardrobe is empty..."

Inside of course was a button. So I pressed it. I was given a list of choices in clothing. In the end of chose Alternative World. Which basically took me too another list of clothes that suited me perfectly.

"The more missions you complete the more items you can have in your room" Cory informed me.

"That makes sense. Anyway, why don't you tell me the truth behind those scars and scabs? I doubt they are from bullies" I observed.

He lowered his head in shame "I'm sorry I lied. These scars are from experiments. The staff here are trying to give the younger kids a second power. They want me to be able to heal myself. So they cut my skin and wait for it to heal automatically while they insert new toxins into my bloodstream, so far it's not working. I'm like a Lab rat to them. Only I get rewards for helping them out."

He removed his shirt and revealed yet more scars. Long slashes across his stomach, some reaching from side to side. It almost looked like he was doing it himself, but something caught my eye. Two curly letters EE. I chose to ignore it for now as more scars became visible. How this boy was alive was beyond my explanation.

"Looks like you've healed well. So tell me. Are you a Hybrid too?" I asked as I was circling him.

"I'm not exactly a Hybrid. You're the only Hybrid in the facility. They call me the Upgrade." He replied.

"Upgrade? Did they run out of imagination on what to call it? I laughed.

"Upgrade is also my code name." He informed me.

I suddenly remembered something "Speaking of which, I'd like you to join my group. I have a few people including my sister but we could use your power."

Cory nodded eagerly "Of course I'll join you, just note that Friday mornings are for my appointments with Dr Shepard."

I yawned "Listen, I'm going to head to bed I'll see you in the morning okay?

Cory nodded and left the room. Today was so random. I found out that I had powers like some superhero film, I then discovered I had a badass sister who was being sent on suicidal missions and then I made friends on the first day of my new life. I had no clue on what tomorrow would bring, but I hoped and wished that it wouldn't be as chaotic as today.

A familiar voice addressed me "134, it's time to wake up. You are late for training!"

I stirred but did not wake up until I was harshly hit across the face by the person who was attempting to wake me up. I looked up and realized it was Dr Shepard" Alright, alright I'm up, jeez."

He dragged me out of bed and punched my stomach "You are an hour late! Come with me this instant."

I doubled over in pain. "Yes sir..."

He literally grabbed me by my hair and dragged me out of the room before I could even fight back.

"Let me go!" I growled.

"No, you must face the consequences for being late!" Dr Shepard spat.

I didn't understand why being late was such an ordeal, but it was. It was a mistake I'll never make again. He threw me into a room and started to beat me. I was being abused for waking up late, how silly was that? A chemical that was inserted onto my arm had numbed my nerves I couldn't feel a thing, even though my lip had burst and my right eye had swelled so much I couldn't see out of it.

"Right, consider this as a warning 134. Go to training." The beatings had finally stopped and he handed me the same liquid as yesterday.

I nodded and drank the liquid, the taste wasn't as bad as it was yesterday. Dr Shepard led me to the training centre that I was in yesterday and threw me to my section again.

"Hybrid! What the hell happened to you?!" Clara had come rushing over.

"Ha, I got beaten. I woke up late" I laughed.

"Trust my idiot of a brother to wake up late and get beaten. Still think this facility is safe?" Sarah had once again sneaked up on me.

"You got beaten up? Are you okay?" Phoenix had run over from the Necro section.

I just laughed at them. I got beaten just for waking up late. It was too funny.

"Who's the kid who's following you Seth" Clara pointed behind me.

I turned around and grinned. "That's Cory. He helped me out last night. I think he said his code name is Upgrade or something? Oh and I invited him to the group"

Sarah groaned "Is he at all useful?"

"I think Illusions could be helpful, we could put it to use. Wait here" I told them.

I went looking for Dr Shepard, I had a little trick up my sleeve. I basically use the emotions that I have access to and I manipulate people with them. If I could trick Dr Shepard into letting my group go outside then we could put all our powers into practice. However, Dr Shepard seemed to be a man of bargain. After 10 minutes of wondering around the office block I bumped into Dr Shepard.

"134, what are you doing here?" He demanded.

"I've come to make a deal with you. Let me and my group outside into the world for a mission to practice using our skills together if we succeed then we will work for the Elite group. If we fail our mission you can use me as your lab rat instead of Cory, I think Upgraded Hybrid has a nice ring to it, don't you agree?" I bargained.

Dr Shepard looked shocked, but he laughed at me" You strike a good deal, I have a better idea. I will let you and your group outside on a mission if you let me use you as a lab rat for anything. Not just the Upgrade and I will leave Cory alone. If you fail your mission then the deal is off and I carry on using Cory and you. You won't be joining the Elite group ever even if you pass the mission."

"Deal" I stuck my arm out and waited for him to shake on it.

He took my hand and shook it, a sickening grin appeared on his face "I look forward to our Friday appointments."