Chapter 1: Outside

13 Years Later:

The wolf boy, now eighteen, scratched his right index finger against the stone walls of his updated room. He was waiting patiently for someone to come. Then, he started to hear the faint sound of heels clicking on the outside, coming closer to his room. His eyes lit up, and the boy’s tail wagged with excitement. The door opened, and his “mother” entered, a glowing smile on her face. It was Dr. Amber.

“Hello, Mother!” The boy waved his hand rapidly, excited. She waved back, “Good morning, 9320.” Her voice was soft and kind, “You know, you don’t have to keep calling me 'mother,' right?” 9320 giggled childishly, “But, you ARE my mother.” She sighed, shaking her head before walking to the boy’s bed and sitting on the side. She patted it on her right side, and the boy quickly raced over and sat next to her. “What we doing today, Mother?” He asked, joyfully. The boy hadn’t quite perfected his speech yet, so sometimes, his sentences would sound weird.

Dr. Amber rubbed her hand through his messy hair. “Well, today is a very special day.” She replied. The boy cocked his head, confused. “It is?” Dr. Amber nodded, “Yes, because today is your eighteenth birthday, and you and I are going to take a trip outside.” The boy’s grin grew larger, “We are seeing big window again?!” He bounced, ecstatic. “I like the trees and birds and the…” Dr. Amber giggled, “Not that outside, silly. We’re going…to the surface.” The boy stopped, his eyes widened with disbelief. Dr. Amber continued, “You have been chosen as the first experiment to leave the Facility and go up to see the real world.”

9320’s mouth was hanging; he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “With oceans and buildings….and people?” He asked. Dr. Amber nodded, “Mhm, just you and me.” The boy sprang off the bed, jumping with overwhelming joy. “YESSSSS!! YESSSSS!!! YESSSSS!!!!" He cheered.

He was excited beyond belief. It was his dream for so many years to see the outside world. His mother had always read him stories of what it was like: the beautiful blue sky, mountains tall enough to cut through the clouds, oceans larger than any puddle he had ever seen. And there were cities, filled with tall buildings nearly the size of mountains, filled with lots of kind people. That was the part that excited him the most, being able to meet other people who weren’t scientists or guards. “Let us go, let us go, let us go!” He pulled his mother up, ready to run out of the room. She laughed before calmly stopping him, “Now now, you have to take a bath first,” She told him, “I’ll lay out some new clothes for you to wear, okay?” He nodded rapidly, “Okay, okay!” He dashed toward the large bathroom in his room, slamming the door shut so he could bathe.

Amber walked out of the room and waited. As she did, a pair of scientists came walking over. On the right was a tall, skinny man, his hair was blonde, and his stern eyes were a deep blue. He was old, his face scrunched in a permanent scowl. Next to him was a shorter but still skinny younger man. Not much younger, only by about a seven to eight-year difference. He too sported blonde hair and blue eyes. “Dr. Atlas, Dr. Aero.” Amber greeted, “To what do I owe the pleasure?” “You know, we still don’t fully condone Experiment 9320 going to the outside world.” Dr. Atlas replied, his voice rough and callous.

She narrowed her eyes, “Yes, I’m fully aware. Had to fight the organization to let him go.” Ms. Amber responded. Dr. Aero chuckled nasally, “And do you know WHY that is?” He asked. “Because you treat him like a thing rather than an actual human being.” She remarked. “Well, do you expect? He is a killing machine.” Dr. Aero commented. “He’s just a boy!” Amber snapped, “Do you realize that all his life he’s only known violence…” “Because that’s what he was made for.” Dr. Atlas interjected. “That’s not the point! All the others have lived relatively normal lives; they even got to go see the real world before he did. And at younger ages.” Amber’s face was turning red with frustration, “All he’s ever known is isolation and pain! If it wasn’t for me…”

“If it wasn’t for you, he would serve his only purpose.” Dr. Aero interrupted. Ms. Amber looked at the two with annoyance and sighed, “One day, he’s going to leave this place. And when he does, he’ll get to be free and live the life HE wants. Not to be a captive and treated like an animal.” She turned around and started walking back to 9320’s room. “I expect him back,” Dr. Atlas said, “You know that, don’t you, Dr. Amber?” She didn’t say a word, keeping her back turned. “You’re not the first member to grow some disgusting soft spot for these things. However, unlike the rest, this one’s valuable.” His face turned dark, “So, once this day is over, bring him back. Or else…” Amber still kept silent, clenching her fists as she continued walking off.

After finishing his bath, 9320 grabbed the clothes Dr. Amber put out for him. A plain black t-shirt, light blue jeans, and some white sneakers….all of which he had trouble putting on. Eventually, Amber and he walked to a parking lot inside the facility where a steel gray van was ready to take them. “Ohhhh! I know what this is!” I exclaimed, “It is a car, yes?” Dr. Amber nodded, 9320 staring at it in awe. He walked up and put his hands on it, feeling how smooth it was…prompting him to lick the vehicle. “EWWWW!” Amber cringed in disgust, “Why did you do that?!” “To see if it tasted good,” He scratched his tongue, “It is not.” Amber smiled and shook her head, “Just get in the car, silly.” She opened the door, letting him go in first. The first thing he noticed was the driver sitting in the front. “Hello!” 9320 greeted, but didn’t get a response.

He examined everything inside the card, fascinated by every little thing he could see. Once Amber got in, she sat down and buckled herself, prompting 9320 to do the same after seeing her. He had trouble at first, but figured it out. Then, Amber told the driver to go, and the car began to move forward. “I wanna climb a mountain, then swim the ocean, then…” She cut him off, “We’ll do those another time, okay? Today, we’re just going to head to the nearby city and do some sightseeing.” He looked at her with a blank expression. “Sigh-t-seeing? What is that?” He asked. “Sightseeing means we’re just going to look around the city,” Amber responded, “You know, try some food, maybe go watch a sports game, talk to some people. Simple stuff.” The moment she said ‘talk to people,'  his eyes lit up. “I will talk to people?! WOW! I want them ALL to be my friends!” Mother giggled, “Now I don’t know about all of them, but I’m sure you’ll definitely make a friend or two.” She replied.

9320 sighed wistfully, “This is going to be the best day of my life.” He looked at Mother and smiled, “And I will be with you, Mother.” She looked at him with a heartwarming smile. “I’m glad to be with you, too. You deserve this.” She patted his head.