001 - A Rainbow Friends AU - Part 1

Instructions

TW! MENTIONS OF NEEDLES, BL00D, AND DE@TH! PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION)) //Its been so long.// ... //What did the outside world look like again?// ... //Tested on constantly.// ... //Many dropped dead.// ... //Will this ever end?// ~~~ ``Wake up, lowling.`` A scientist grumbled as they prodded me awake. I opened my eyes and blinding light overflowed my vision. Nothing I hadn't been used to before though. ``Professor wants all test subjects to head to the cafeteria.`` I learned not to question anything and got up. I went over to the rusty "sink" and washed my face with the icy water. My arm acting as my towel, I dried off and walked towards the scientist. ``Hurry up. Anyone who's late gets double tests for a week.`` I shuddered at that thought and scurried to the mess hall, so I liked to call it. Made it sound more cheerful. About 200 kids were crowded into the room, all wearing the same outfit. I blended in easily, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Professor went over to the microphone and tapped it twice. ``Attention all test subjects.`` She called out, no emotion in her voice. ``We will be doing a special exam today. 15 and only 15 of you will be sent to another lab for separate tests. More information will not be given. I will call the names down for testing.`` She grabbed a thin stack of papers and started to call names. ``007. 013. 015. 016. and 024.`` 5 thin and pale kids walked up and stood still. Professor gave them a good look, waved 015 and 016 away, and nodded at the rest. 007, 013, and 024 walked on behind a curtain and Professor continued. ``026, 030, 039, 043, and 046.`` This repeated for what seemed like forever. Professor looking at the kids, waving some off, and sending some onward. Sometimes all 5 went on, and sometimes they were all waved back to the crowd. ``196, 200, 211, 224, and 228." I was 224. I walked up with the other four kids and Professor looked us up and down. She grimaced at 200, and wrote something down. I pitied them. They were probably going to get a lethal injection next. Surprisingly, she nodded at all of us. We went behind the curtain and saw strange equipment unlike anything before. There were things hooked up to other things, and no needles or IVs. I got called over again and sat down on a creaky metal chair. The doctor hooked up something on my arm and activated it. It squeezed my bicep uncomfortably strong, but I said nothing. They then checked my breathing, heart rate, and reflexes. Next they brought over an empty needle. //Great, they're gonna inject another substance into me. Why am I not surprised?// To my confusion, they didn't inject anything. They drew my bl00d out instead. They slapped a bandage on my arm, said they were done, and showed me out. ~~~ After an eternity of waiting, Professor finally stopped calling out names. ``Please come back tomorrow at 10 o'clock sharp.`` Everyone fled the area. The rest of the day consisted of waiting in your "quarters" until lights out, which seemingly came by faster than normal. The next day, I waited until around 10:00 and shuffled into the cafeteria with the 200 other kids. Professor cleared her throat and started to speak. ``15 of you will be sent to another lab.`` she repeated from the day before. ``The 15 kids are: 096, 177, 183, 200, 224, 252, 271, 299, 305, 308, 338, 354, 360, 390, and 402.`` My mind swirled around. //I-I made it! Is this a good thing?// ``Congratulations test subjects. You will leave immediately.`` We are blindfolded and herded into a truck where we ride for hours until we stop on a bumpy road. We are guided indoors and our blindfolds are taken off. A man with sleek black hair smiles at us. ``Hello children. My name is Oswald. What are yours?`` We introduce ourselves and he frowns. ``I think you all will need new names.`` He points at me. ``Your name is now 001.``