Interruption

Stepping into the blinding hallway, I see rows of similar doors like mine. All hard metallic doors with individual locks, while a green light is lit on the top of each side of them.

Multiple kids come out of their named rooms, already making me more confused.

“Everyone, head to the Common Area please for some social interaction and food.” Some unknown voice I can hear from the ceiling.

With no choice, I take steps towards the only door out of the hallway. Opening it, there are lots of tables spread around with matching metal chairs.

“Everyone, please mingle with one another.” The same mysterious voice commands through speakers.

I go for the closest chair close to me. Looking behind, other kids my age come out of their rooms. All of their faces are as confused as me, just looking around and having either a scared or upset expression.

Holding my hands together, I stare my eyes down as the other kids sit down around me or at other tables. Immediately, everyone begins chatting and the room turns noisy. Looking around, a boy beside me is talking to others further down. My eyes drift to another girl like me sitting in front.

She looks very tired, with messy black hair, although her hair is more poofy and thinner.

“Excuse me, um, do you want to talk?” I ask her.

Her large blue eyes lift up towards me; she nods as she wipes her eyes.

“Sure. I don’t even know why I’m here.” She speaks.

“Well, what’s your name? I’m Amaya.”

Fidgeting her fingers, she gulps down.

“My name is Itona. Well, that’s what was written on my door anyway.”

I edge closer, feeling my stomach grumble and my chest heavy.

“Um, do you know what this place is? Or why are you here?”

Itona shakes her head.

“I don’t even know. I can’t even remember where I’m from or where my family is. When I woke up, I…I…just felt tired.”

Swiping her face with both hands, she gulps down again.

“Are you okay? I think you need something to drink.” My legs press firmly on the floor, ready to approach her.

“I really need something. My throat feels very dry. How about you, do you know why we’re here or something about yourself?”

Looking around, I see no drinks set for us.

“Um, I woke up on a bed. What’s weird is that some rude nurse came into my room.”

Itona’s eyes looked straight towards me, full of surprise.

“A nurse checked on you?”

“Yeah, did one check up on you?” My voice says softly.

Itona shakes her head again.

“No one checked up on me. All I did was wait on my bed until the door opened. I really want to know when we can get something to drink because my throat hurts.” Itona clears her throat, closing her eyes from the rough pain.

“This lady named Doctor Tanaka told me that this is some kind of hospital and I’m here for a psychiatric evaluation.”

The girl in front of me widens her eyes hearing my news.

“This is a hospital? Wait, you said psychiatric?””

“Yes, she told me that I was wandering around my town like a zombie and was sent here to get better.”

Itona looks around and sees the other kids appearing troubled and scared.

“That means, I must have done something to be sent here too. I hope I didn’t hurt or kill anyone.”

I pat her hand calmly.

“I don’t think they would send dangerous kids to be here talking.

Brrrr

A sharp tone makes me, and everyone cover their ears. Everyone either shrieks or groan from our ears hearing the loud noise.

“Everyone, please step forward and line up for food.”

A steel gate opens to reveal some masked man wearing chef attire and preparing plates of food. Everybody, including me, gets up and forms a line. Itona is behind me as I see the few dozens of kids licking their lips at seeing food and drinks.

At a slow pace, my eyes squint to see the kids in front of me are given a plate of meat and something yellow. Step by step, I see what the chef gives us, it’s some sliced beef and corn with a small bottle of water.

“Are we given something to pick up our food?” I ask shyly.

“No, go back to your seat please.” The chef angrily says.

I walk fast back to my spot with Itona following behind. She immediately drinks half of her water gasping for air and sighing in relief.

“Finally, my throat feels better.” Itona begins to eat with her hands as everyone else eats the same way.

Using my fingers, I pick up the thin piece of beef and chew it thoroughly.

“Hey Amaya, does your throat hurt like mine?”

I shake my head while swallowing the food.

“No, I didn't wake up with my throat hurting. But something weird happened when that nurse left.” I ended my sentence with a whisper. Looking to the side, the chef closes the gate, making me sweat.

Itona swallowed her food fast, gulping down heavily.

“What happened?” She asks.

“Well, my room changed. Like, the ceiling wept warping and this camera in my room turned into this slithering creature like a snake.”

Itona’s eyes turn wide after hearing me.

“What?!” Itona yelps, catching some of the other kid’s attention.

“The thing is I kept screaming for someone, but no one came. My vision returned to normal for some reason. I don’t know if there's something wrong with my brain.” I rub my eyes, groaning from the experience earlier.

Slam

A loud noise comes from behind Itona, she looks behind as I get up to see what’s happening.

“Get away!” A girl a few tables behind yells.

“What’s the matter with you?!” A brown-haired boy asks, confused.

Slam

The delusional girl throws her tray to the side, spreading food to other close kids. Everyone gets up to avoid her as she begins clawing her way across the floor to a nearby wall.

“Just stop! Leave me alone!” The girl gets up stumbling to rush towards a chair.

Swinging it around, everyone begins to run back as Itona and I run away.

Some of the kids bang on a door and try to open it.

“Someone, help us!” A blond girl yells.

“That girl has lost it! Some please help!” A black-haired boy blurts out.

The girl has her eyes towards the group of scared kids as I go to a corner with Itona.

Immediately, some masked men and women wearing coats enter the room through another door. They dodge some chair strikes as they grab and pin her to the ground.

“Don’t eat me! Don’t kill me!” The crazy girl tries to wrestle off the adults to only fail.

A masked woman takes out a syringe full of white liquid and injects it to the girl.

“Aahhh!” Her screams sounded unhuman, as me and Itona cower in our corner.

Seconds pass by and the girl falls asleep, as the adults pick her up by each arm and grab her out of the room.

Brrrr

I quickly cover my ears as I see everyone doing the same hearing that hurtful noise.

“Attention everyone! We must ask you to go back to your rooms! We apologize if you haven’t eaten yet, we will make it up at dinner and make sure everyone here is talked to so you can get some answers.”

Bzzzz

The doors unlock as some kids rush to their rooms. Some kids get a handful of food in their mouths, including me.

However, my vision begins to turn fuzzy. For a moment, it looks like some of the chairs are twisting upon themselves to become hands. Closing my eyes, my vision returns normal again as I gulp down my food.

“Amaya, I’ll talk to you later.” Itona tells me as she heads back.

I nod back as I walk back to my room. With more questions than answers, I wonder if something is wrong with all of us or if I’ll turn into that girl that was taken away.