Chapter 16: Outcasted

I contacted the Organization on the beacon they gave me. Then a metallic silver car came slowly driving up to me. The door automatically opened and I got in. As the car started driving again, the driver handed me a tablet that had a video call happening. I hit accept and a man appeared on the screen “Hello 1859.” The man said. “Hello, Dr. Atlas.”  I responded. “So, I’m guessing your little skirmish with 9320 ended in a loss?” I looked away and didn’t respond. “Ah well can't win them all, I suppose,” Dr. Atlas continued, “But that does mean that 9320 became stronger than you, right?” I nodded, “Yes, sir.” “I see. *sigh* Well, try not to beat yourself up too much, and I’ll see you when you get back.” “Yes, sir.” The call ended and I put the tablet down. Kinda odd, he didn’t sound disappointed. It almost seemed like he was happy that I lost.

Once I got back to the Facility, I started walking toward the medical room to patch up the rest of my wounds. As I did, I passed some of the cells that held the other experiments. A lemur, an armadillo, a falcon, and a king cobra. “Well, well, well. Look, it’s the REAL failure.” Cobra said as I was walking past his cell. I ignored him and kept walking. “Figures you’d lose. I’d expect nothing less from a woman!” I stopped and turned around, “You lost too you idiot.” I told him. “Yes, but the difference is I don’t care. You lionesses are such stuck-up bitches, you could be knocked down a peg or two. Heh, and it looks like you got your ass handed to you.” I didn’t respond at first, then I sighed. “It’s hard to fend off a mindless barbaric savage.” He looked at me with a smug look, “That’s your story and you’re stickin’ to it? We both know he’s not as dumb as he looks. Well sure he’s a dumbass, but he learns…very quickly.” I scoffed and walked off. But he wasn’t wrong, Ferral was able to catch up and surpass me in such a short amount of time. As I rounded the corner, I was stopped by my pride. “Oh, hey guys.” I said, but they all looked with disgust. “Uhh, guys?” “Sorry, but like, did we give you permission to speak to us?” One of the lionesses said. I was confused, “I…don’t understand.” “I’m sorry, do you hear something?” Another lioness said. “No, do you?” “I don’t.” “Me neither.” They all agreed with one another. I became annoyed, “Alright, what’s going on? I’m the head lioness.” “Correction,” A male voice said behind them. It was Leonidas, the only male, and leader of the pride. “You WERE the head lioness.”

“W-What’re you talking about?” I asked. “The doctor told us about your fight with The Failure….and how you lost.” I stepped back, and grit my teeth. “The fact you lost to a literal nobody.” He continued. “Ferral was far stronger than you think, he…” “Wait,” Leonidas stopped me, “Ferral?” “It has a name?” A lioness asked. “I’m the only experiment who has a REAL name. Clearly, someone must’ve given it to that trash.” The moment he called Ferral “trash,” I felt a spark of anger. But I wasn’t going to show it, “Yeah, and I have a name now too.” “You?” “Yes. My name is Leona…Ferral gave it to me.” They didn’t say anything, just looked at each other. Then, the lionesses burst out in laughter. “You actually let that thing give you a name?” “And it sounds so tacky, lame.” “Guess it’s a perfect name for a loser like you.” They continued laughing, and my face got red with anger. “Shut up! Shut up or I’ll…!” “Or you’ll what?” Leonidas spoke, causing the lionesses to stop laughing. He walked up in my face, looking down at me. “You’re weak. Worthless. A piece of trash just like The Failure.” I clenched my fists, but I knew I couldn’t beat him. He was the strongest in the facility. He moved back and crossed his arms, “Starting today, you are exiled from this pride.” “W-What?” “Don’t act so surprised. And don’t expect to ever come back. We don’t keep nor take trash.” He turned and walked off, making the lionesses follow suit. Some of them turned to look at me, then turned back around laughing. I was left alone in the hallway, pissed. I was clenching my fists and teeth so hard…but I felt like I wanted to cry. I shook my head to try and forget it and decided to just head to my cell.

That night, I stared up at the ceiling in my cell, still pissed off. I knew this would happen, but I didn’t think I would’ve been this bad. All because I lost to The Fail-I mean, Ferral. Thinking about him reminded me of what he told me before I left. *“Are you sure you don’t wanna stay here? It’s way better than that place. You can be free….”* Those words stirred around my mind for most of the night, then I sat up and looked out the window of my cell to see the clear blue ocean. “Maybe I do wanna be free,” I said, “Yeah, I’m gettin’ out of this palace.”