Chapter 2: Chapter 2: First Life
I woke up from the metal bed that I was laying before waking up. The room was a bit chilly but still bearable. In front of me was a glass wall where clicking sounds could be heard behind the glass wall. The room that I was in is white in color, while the only furniture in my so called room was the small desk fit for a seven-year-old child aside from the metal bed.
The room was clean from a single dust. I am very sure that I just woke up from the experiments that 'they' continue to work on me. I am not the only child here in this project of theirs. Many were kidnapped or taken away just for this experiment. What they can do? The government, no, the whole nation is in the middle of the war. And they need disposable test subjects like me.
The country Grisaia where I was in, is being run by the imperial family his majesty King Luppine and her majesty Queen Kayla. It is a rich country filled with minerals and stones making the country the largest exporter of gold, iron and many other industrial raw ingredients. But the country does not have many fields for planting as it is situated near the mountain ranges and volcanic arcs also making us the most importer of goods necessary for daily life. Because of mineral riches, Grisaia focuses on making machines that helps in labor or in advancement of technology. Also, research labs are important in our country to the point of the ban for slavery was lifted for the purpose of economy improvement.
I originally have a loving family before the people of the research lab thought that I was one of the candidates suited for their current experimentation of human enhancement. So, they blackmailed my parents to get their hands on me. Authorities look the other way around for my family was part of low status called 'commoners'. 'Was' because the scientist silence them in fear of second prince, Prince Tuliér, who is currently fighting for the slavery to be ban again ending the growing corruption in the country. It is becoming toxic in the society according to them. But for me, I am still hoping to see the glimpse of my younger brother who was also taken in by the lab.
Anyways, back to my current condition. I am not that skinny unlike the children that got taken in this research institute. Why? Because they said I am one of the five children that is very suitable in their human enhancement project. Nourishing us and treating us way different from some weak children. I am doing my best to perform just fine meeting their expectations while trying to find a way out of this torture chamber.
The door of my room opened and revealing Professor which every children call 'Uncle' for some reason. I stood up straight facing him while he walked to my front.
"How are you subject 24?", ask Uncle.
"Feeling a lot better than the last time sir", I said while looking down to avoid his eyes not wanting to displease him.
"Your training will start an hour after I got out of this room, but before that let me check if your body for better inspection", then forcefully sit me on the chair. Tying both my hands on the armchair and putting a cloth in my mouth to prevent me from making any noise which he dislikes when he is studying his specimen.
He started to slice my arm deeply and I muffled my screams and pouring cold sweats and tears because of the pain it brings. I was bleeding fast. Not changing emotions from his face, he started to observe my arms which is healing faster than the last time he cut me. "Not bad", he said after noting some on his stationary notebook the results. After that he straighten up my legs, stomp on my knee cap bending it inwards. I almost pass out of the pain. I maybe experiencing this same treatment everyday but it does not mean it hurt less. Every method of his is getting brutal making sure that his subjects would bear astonishing results calling us the new generation of humanity.
My bended knee slowly turn back into its original form, the process of my regeneration is as painful as breaking my knee. Crying silently not to annoy the devil himself. After that he pierced my chest with a sharp knife. Sitting on the chair bleeding from the stabbing, my chest slowly heals itself making it seems like I didn't get stabbed in the first place. My white one piece hospital gown was in a mess and stained of my blood. My face is not so adorable to look at, pain and fear can be seen on my face.
He tossed a new cloth on the floor and untie me from the chair. "Changed into this before heading out. Cause I don't want my little sweet children to look like rags", he said after exiting my room. I know I can't see behind the glass wall behind my back, but I know some pervert scientist is watching me undressing and putting the clothes Uncle tossed. I am wearing a plain white round-neck short and white ankle length pants. It doesn't have any pockets as a preventive measure of bringing something inside the room for escape attempt. I wore my slippers and head out.
As I walk at the white hall, I began thinking of different scenarios of escaping. There are many ways to escape, but the safest bet are: in the vent and in the supply room. The 'secret vent' which I like to call, is located near Uncle's office. It doesn't have guards roaming around there but it is surrounded by eyes. Eyes is the device the scientist created to look like a hand-size stationary notebook that only needs magic to operate, and is connected to Uncle and Tech's room for surveillance. It is easy to hack those if you have the right equipment and you know how it works. It is pretty sensitive when it comes to handling but it is nothing that I can't do. The supply room does have guards everywhere but less eyes. I only need to fit myself in one of those drugs they smuggle in and out the country. Risky but less dangerous than the vent option were Uncle usually stays. The level of his awareness is not something that I must underestimate.
As I reach the end of the hallway I can already see the points where these hallway meet. Four more children like me went out of the tunnels in different direction. We all stopped to look at each other without changing our emotion. The oldest among us, being at the age of 16 years old, sighed and went ahead inside the room in front of us.
The door slide open letting us in the room, only to be met by a red-haired, muscle head looking guy wearing tight black shirt, gray pants, combat boots, and black hand gloves. His messy hair was tied into a ponytail while his face have a big scar from his left eye to the right corner of his lips making him look like a gangster. Grinning at us, he crossed his arms across his chest and stood straight, "Listen up! 5 minutes from now will be the start of your combat training. Show us some improvements or else you will go for a 'vacation' all right?" he said while giving us a devilish smile. We shudder from hearing 'vacation' it is not something we would like to go.
After he left the room, we all changed into our black combat suits paired with black gloves and knee-length combat shoes. I sat on the floor after changing while tying my shoulder-length hair into ponytail. Suddenly, a boy who is taller than me by 4 inches sat beside me.
"How is Uncle with this morning?", he asked.
"As usual 18, except for my regeneration improved", I said and then sighed.
The boy named 18 combed his black hair back. Looking straight towards the other subjects in the room he whispered in a low voice as to not let anyone hear our conversation.
"This coming Wednesday, a new shipment will come. It will be our escape route from this hell chamber. I already scouted the possible and safest paths we could go, and later while eating in the lounge area I will talk to them about this", 18 explained.
"That will be next week right?", receiving a nod I sighed a relief breath. Hope is still not extinguished. The opportunity will be there for us to grab, it will be dangerous but the risk of getting out of here is a must. Although we can't bring other children other than us five chosen ones, it will still make a difference to comeback and rescue the remaining or to shut this institute down for good.
"How is your power? It is improving like mine?"
"Yes. But I still need to train new moves that I came up with. What about you? Having the privilege of going to the library for studying and improvement of your power regen sure sounds good", 18 said with a hint of jealousy.
"Come on don't be like that. I sneak you guys some books for you to use and it paid off"
"Agree though. Each one of us improved because of you sneaking books. Lucky you for being a healer, Wait! Could you heal others than yourself?", 18 ask me for reassurance. I just nod my head.
"But it is still a secret from them. I need to kept it under wraps as it will help us to escape", I said placing my forefinger near in my lips as to shut his mouth.
"Hey you! The training is about to start! Get your asses here!", shouted the oldest among us. Both me and 18 stood up and walked towards them leaving the escape thoughts behind. Getting distracted during training is a no go if you want to keep yourself from 'vacation'. Close quarter combat is one of my specialties for I could only heal myself. That is what they thought. As much as I could heal myself and other people, I can also hurt them by maintaining eye contact and channelling my energy I could hurt them internally or externally. Although I haven't fully mastered this technique of mine it could be deemed useful for fighting and our current objective which is to escape from this facility.
"Ok listen up midgets! I am Collins and I will be supervising your training for this day. As for your old teach, he is already on a 'vacation' and will not be coming back anymore. Your training this time will be about surviving. Work together as to not die but watch out for beast, they are not your usual idiot ones but the intelligent ones. You all will only have 3 full days to survive in the makeshift island we made so be thankful, that's all", the man called Collins ended the announcement and head back to observatory room to observe and evaluate us.
Our surrounding changed after they teleported us into an unknown island. Base on the temperature and greeneries we are seeing, I think we are in some tropical island. I saw some flying drones positioning itself to some points maybe to watch us closely. After that we heard some noises coming from the bushes. We all gulped and ready ourselves for an incoming battle as we saw a 5-meter-tall hybrid gorilla with three eyes, two sharp poisonous tail, long claws, four arms and a very sharp and long teeth.
"You gotta be kidding me. Fighting this monster is like courting death", said one of the subject as we look to the giant thinking of ways to survive in this island within 3 days without dying.
"This is going to be tough", I said as we all started to dodge the incoming attack from the said giant.
The gorilla's fist landed towards the ground where we are standing earlier. Spider webs like cracks can be seen. Cold sweats were seething through my skin as I thought to myself that we have a long day with us.
On the observatory room, a brown-haired man in a white lab coat can be seen entering the room standing beside Collins as they watched the performance of the test subjects. The subjects are fighting to survive the trial that was given to them. The subjects' age was varied from 7 to 16 years old.
"How they are faring with the trial?", Uncle asked the man beside him without taking his eyes from the screen.
"They are doing good. Better I must say. Their power, control and combat prowess were improving with constant training I think by next month they are ready to go for a mission", said Collins as he walked forward towards the controls as to zoom the screens to monitor the subjects closely.
"Good, Crown Prince André would like to use them as soon as possible. He does not like his investments go to waste", said Uncle as he sat down deeply thinking about the first mission that the subjects were going to receive next month.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone