Empedocles' Four (Ricki/Todd and BothReachedForTheGun)

[BothReachedForTheGun]

"There's no need to shove, I'm goin'," Ray said, as he entered the two room suite that he and three others called home, stumbling a bit as he did so. He had been walking slowly as he tried to take one last peak down the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the outside world, but that was beside the point. The accused shover, one of the many nameless adults that accompanied the subject around the Facility, merely grunted in reply. In his hands were a pen and a folder marked "E0012" in white on a green sticker, Ray's subject number. The shover opened the folder and scribbled into it before leaving the suite and shutting the door with the telltale click that Ray knew meant the door was locked.


As soon as he heard the click, Ray reached up and rubbed at his upper arm, where he had just been given a shot. He hated shots. They could poke and prod at him all day long, but shots? Yuck. And poke and prod they had, alright. Back in the examination room that he had been in more times than he could count, Ray had been subjected to almost every routine test, from blood pressure and eye sight checks, to peeing in a cup. They even tested the control of his element. He had thought he was all finished, but then the shot had come, brutal and painful like it was every time he received one. He scowled at his arm as he remembered the event, as if it had betrayed him. He gave the offending arm a little shake to push the memory away.


Turning to look around the room, Ray put on his award-winning fake smile, and shouted, "Honey, I'm home!" like he did every time he came back, to any who would listen. The adults termed it a suite, but Ray would not have called the two rooms he lived in that. It seemed little more than a furnished cage to him, industrial and with little of nature inside.


The farther room held four twin beds, identical in every way down to the faded blue sheets on each one. The other room, twice as large as the bedroom, was where the four spent most of their time in the suite. The room itself had a few different pieces of furniture, but the one thing most anyone would notice if they toured the Facility was the large two-way mirror that spanned one wall of the room. Ray wasn't sure what was on the other side of that mirror, but he had made up many amusing stories to tell about what that unknown place might be. His recent favorite revolved around a dancing polar bear that had stage freight. Those stories were usually a lot better than the one he thought was actually true.


He walked over to the largest table in the room, which currenty had a mess of books and odd objects on its surface. One of the oddest was November. She sat cross legged in the center of the table, a bunch of small pieces of black plastic with different colors on them in front of her.


Ray came up behind her and peered over her shoulder. He noticed that her skirt was covering her knees today instead of riding up around her waist, which was good. November sometimes had to be reminded that she couldn't always sit however she pleased. "Unlike boys," she would always grumble before fixing her skirt. Ray sometimes thought about hiding her skirts so she would have to wear the shorts and pants provided for her, but knew messing with any of November's things could rock her little world.


"How many more times you gonna take that Rubik's cube apart, huh?" He asked good-naturedly, picking up a piece and pretending to examine it himself. November stopped her work of investigating a corner piece to contemplate his question. She piped a simple, "two," before going back to her piece, never having looked at Ray. Ray didn't take offense, knowing she showed her love for the boys in her own way. Ray gave her mass of curls an affectionate toss before returning the piece he had grabbed to the table.


 
@Ricki/Todd

 

[Michi]

It was like being in prison. Except no visitation, no one knew where you were. No one knew who you were, and you had not a clue where you were either. It wasn't too bad for the kids who'd been here their whole lives. But for the volunteers like Kaede this was awful. He missed the sun. He missed seeing other people. Hell. He missed going to his freaking classes.


Originally the plan had been, a few tests, and experiments and he would be able to make it through school without hving to worry. A full scholarship. That's what they had told him. But that was two years and hundreds of tests ago. The days seemed to blend into the next. It was hard to tell when it was day or night. At least it was when it came to being trapped in this room. Whenever he was called in for another test sometimes they announced it before they begun. Or there would be a clock in the room. Of course that wouldn't tell him the day but it would give him idea of the time at least.


They'd taken Ray and Grae earlier. How sad was it that this was the new normal? Sitting in a closed off room, with a kid, a girl and a dude who looked like he's just begun hitting puberty. Sometimes it felt pathetic. But at the same time, they were all he had. Knowing that they were going through the same thing he was.


Shortly after Ray came back. He'd gone over to talk to November. She was back to playing with the rubik's cube again. He was sick of those things. Every puzzle they gave him was just another test of how much he was forgetting. Seeing if they'd gone wrong somewhere again. He looked over at Ray with a nod before turning back to his book turning another page. It was the same book he'd read 15 times already. The story was burned into his mind, just like... well he could say things from the past. But those things were fading from his momery fast. And everyday a little more was gone.


(Imma introduce Graeson later.)

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

As he had walked over to November, Ray had nonchalantly nodded back over at the oldest member of their odd group. Or, at least, he hoped he was being nonchalant. He never knew exactly how to act around people older than himself. Give him a younger crowd any day, and he knew what to do. But with Kaede, he was constantly trying to make sure he made a good impression, so Ray always over-thought anything he did around him.


Ray had grown to admire and look up to the other guy, something he would never admit out loud. He had not had an older male figure to look up to, and it was clear that Ray desperately needed that role in his life filled. At first, he had tried to puff out his chest and prove that he was 'cool', but learned quickly that wasn't going to work. He eventually settled down and showed his true character, that of a barely teenage boy who tried when he could to enjoy life and get others to do the same when possible.


He also enjoyed hearing about the outside world, whatever Kaede happened to remember of it. Being the only other person in the group who had lived out of the Facility for any length of time, Ray quietly sucked up any little thing the older male mentioned. It had been a little over seven years since Ray had last seen the world out of the Facility. He longed for nature, but now could not image what his life would have been like without living here.


Ray went over to sit in the chair he had been lounging in before his exam and plopped back into it. Picking up his pad and pencil, he continued working on the sketch of a forest he had begun a few days ago. His sketch pad was filled with places he longed to go or animals he wished to see again. He tried to focus on the drawing in front of him, but his annoying test kept creeping back into his head. That was the second time in a row they had given him a shot. It was more typical for him to receive a shot every other time, or maybe once every three times. But he couldn't understand why he had been given a shot in two consecutive examinations, and the thought kept poking at him.


"They gave me a shot again," He blurted to the room after he had worked on a tree in his sketch, glaring at the paper as he said it. He just could not stop remembering the shot, and thought saying the problem out loud might make his mood better.


November, who had begun putting the Rubik's cube back together for the seventh time, looked over at Ray as he broke the silence in the room. Not sure how to react to it, she reverted her gaze over at the eldest of the four, hoping he would save her from having to talk about the examination room. She had recently become better at talking with the group, but usually clammed up any time the tests were mentioned. They were not fun.

 

[Michi]

The room was quiet. Kaede missed the days when all they did was give him shots and physicals. He turned his attention to Ray who was still staring at the piece of paper in front of him. He then looked at November who was watching him. He gave her a slight nod, letting her know not to worry about anything as he closed his book and sat up on the couch.


"Be glad you're still getting shots. When they start messing around inside your head let me know. Then you can start complaining." He said standing up and stretching. He didn't know why he bothered standing up. He would walk around the room a few times before taking his place back on the couch. There wasn't much else to do. The room had nearly nothing of entertaining value. They couldn't have even spring for an xbox? Or PS3? He'd have even been happy with basic cable.


He still didn't fully understand why he was there. They hadn't given many details on the experiment. But he knew water was really weird now. It was like he could manipulate it. Like he was aquaman or something. Was that what aquaman did? Or did he just breath underwater and talk to fish?

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

The tree wasn't turning out quite right. Most of the time, his drawings turned out fine, but every once and a while he would get hung up. Flipping his pencil around, he started to erase the tree. He stopped to listen to Kaede. He opened his mouth to respond, thought better to talk about the testing in front of November, and shut it with a simple nod of the head as he watched Kaede pace the room. November let out the little puff of air she had been holding, the only sign of her gratuity to Kaede. Ray gave the girl a reassuring smile and she went back to her pieces. She was now starting to put them back together, balance in the room restored for her.


The truth was, he did not think they would ever mess with his head. Ray had learned pretty quickly how to appease the examiners. He did just about anything they asked of him, knowing it was easier that way. On a few occasions, he had spent what felt like hours forcing items of nature to his will, working until he fainted from exhaustion. He would wake up in his bed, not sure how he got there. Sometimes they gave him simpler tasks, like helping an animal heal or making a wilting flower perk up with life. These were the ones he really enjoyed, and why he put up with the other tasks.


Some of their demands were not as positive, but relatively still simple. Today, they had brought him to a large atrium, teaming with life. He intimately knew this arena, having nurtured a good many of the plants and animals there himself. He had been required to drain an oak tree of life. Complaining about the shot was easier for Ray to dwell on than the horrible feeling he got if he thought about that beautiful oak tree he had destroyed. Maybe that's why this tree sucks, Ray thought sourly, trying to start his tree drawing over again.

 

[Michi]

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he turned around and began pacing in the opposite direction he had been before. It wasn't uncommon, he got a little stir-crazy all the time; staring at the same walls and same furniture all of the time. The good news was if he went blind, he'd know exactly where everything was.


A little while later, the door opened and Graeson stepped into the room. His arms held a large box of crayons and a small stack of coloring books. As the door shut behind him, his small figured walked over to the table where November sat, and he put down the box and crayons, not saying a word. Nothing unusual for the child. Having been trapped here his whole life, even surrounded by other kids, he didn't really get socializing. As long as he tried his hardest nothing bad happened to him.


Kaede finally gave in and groaned. The mundane existance of living in this prison was driving him up the wall. "I want a tv! Video games. Something. What is so hard about getting a little entertainment in here? You can go to a walmart and buy them for Christ's sake!" He called out his words directed to the cameras monitoring them day and night. He wasn't counting on a response though. They never responded.

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

The room settled into the same monotony. Kaede was pacing, Ray was drawing, and November was about half way finished with her Rubik's cube. Ray had gotten used to the silence, the lack of outside stimulation. It was clear the Facility had enough money to put a tv inside, if they wanted to. Until he had come into contact with Kaede, though, Ray had never reallly thought about it.


As Graeson entered the room and headed to the November's table, Ray smiled at him with a, "You got new coloring books? Any fun ones?" November scooted over until she could climb off. Settling into one of the chairs, she resumed her work. She had silently made space for the little one. November had developed an interesting bond with each of the boys she had been forced to live with. In her own little way, November seemed to watch out for Graeson. When Ray watched them, he pondered that it might have something to do with the fact the two youngest of their strange quartet were both life-longers, born into the facility. Her actions were described as motherly by the men and women intently watching this room, though November only had a clinical understanding of what a mother was.


Ray glanced over at Kaede with a frown at his outburst, "Whoa, dude, chi-" He was cut off as Kaede got a response. Maybe not the one he was looking for, but a response nonetheless. Over at the table, November had just finished putting her Rubik's cube together. When Kaede had started to holler, she had gripped tightly at it. The square of plastic had slowly turned from a perfect geometric shape into a blob as the plastic melted. One piece dripped out of her hands, falling into her lap. It had burnt straight through her skirt's material and it sizzled on her leg now. That was when November had screamed.

 

[Michi]

(OMG Wtf? Why does my saved drafts keep disappearing. I'll type out half and save it, say I'll finish it later, then come back and the draft is gone. Wth? Ugh I'm sorry this is taking so long ))

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

(Geez, that's annoying! That has happened to me once or twice on this website, but I chalked it up to me/my internet connection. Take your time! But thanks for letting me know I didn't scare you off!)

 

[Michi]

(Been busy sorry. Moving next month for work )


Graeson sat down in the chair and put the stack he carried in his hands on the table. He moved the darkblue plastic crayon box off to the side and opened it, before picking up the top coloring book, and moving the others off to the side. He sat it down and opened it to the very first page. He stared at it for a few moments before grabbing a red crayon and beginning to color in small circles. He always stayed in the lines, which was weird for a five year old child. If he hadn't grown up in a lab constantly undergoing tests and experiments he would have been more normal. He wouldn't be so worried about coloring in the lines. Or coloring every page in order. Or even holding the crayon the correct way.


He wasn't disturbed when Kaede had his sudden outburst. He just shrugged in response to November's question. They were books. He colored in them and when they were all full the lab techs gave him new ones that were empty. He'd been given a dinosaur one, one with pictures of animals and one that had these people named power rangers. They wore cool clothes. Maybe one day he'd get to have an outfit like theirs. He looked up from his book though as November screamed. Staring at her for a moment before reaching out and putting his hand on her's with a smile as if to take her mind off of it.


Kaede jerked around at the sound, his eyes focused on November. D*mn. "I'm sorry. You okay?" He asked with a sigh pushing his hair back off his forehead and moving towards the table. He did feel bad about it. But sometimes he just couldn't help it. He was going nuts in here. He knelt down to look at the melted piece of plastic that had singed her skirt, picking at it. A hiss escaped his lips as he plucked it away from the fabric and dropped it on the floor. "Sorry."

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

(No worries, I was just checkin in. Good luck on your move! I know that can be super hectic.)


Jumping up from his spot on the couch, Ray had gone over to November as well to see what had caused the scream. He could not control the grimace that came over his face when, once Kaede had pulled off the melting plastic, he saw the angry red welt on November's skin. Instinctively, he glanced around to see if there was anything he could grab to put on the burn. Of course there wasn't. There was no way their sterile environment would house anything like that.


The pain wasn't really bothering November, not anymore. One hand wiped away tears that had formed from the initial shock of the burn. She had only taken one look at the blistering skin, knowing it would scar like some of the other burns she had received in the past. Now, she was worried about how the people on the outside would react. She gave Graeson's hand a small squeeze, not wanting to let go of his reassuring presence, but her eyes locked onto to Kaede. "I...I...I didn't mean to. Tell them I didn't mean to. I don't wanna go," she said in a near whisper, panic written all over her face. Her free hand reached out and gripped at Kaede, a plea for help.


"I don't think they'll take you," Ray murmured to her to reassure the child who had gone still as a statue, but in reality he was not so sure. He frowned as he looked first at the door to the main room, then over at the two way mirror. Would they come?


It was tough to say what the people working in the Facility would respond to. Sometimes, it seemed that they wanted to watch how the subjects would respond to stressful situations. They would monitor the circumstances, occasionally stepping in with supplies that might be useful. The dilemmas could even be purposefully created for the four to react to. Other times, workers covered head to toe in protective gear would rush in and whisk away one or more of the kids, usually for more testing. There was never any way to tell.

 

[Michi]

The room was quiet, and eyes were focused on the door. Kaede stood slightly hunched over, tense as he waited. Would they come, would they not? Not another word was said. It was as if time had stopped. It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but if they weren't coming in the first 3 minutes, they wouldn't come at all. How many seconds had it been now? Had it been a minute? Had it been five?


"They're not coming." He finally relaxed and a quiet sigh of relief left his lips.


Graeson relaxed, and went back to his coloring. His attention focusing back on the book in front of him, and his hand letting go of her's to resume picking up his crayon and coloring. He didn't mind the doctor's so much, but he knew the others had harder times with them. Almost every time Kaede came back in it was on a pushy table with wheels, and he was asleep and his head was all bandaged up again. The others seemed really scared too. He didn't know what they went through, they wouldn't talk about it. But every time Grae did something right he got a lollipop. So he liked it sometimes.


Kaede stood up for a moment before looking over at the now empty couch. His eyes shifted to Ray for just a moment before he quickly rushed over to the couch and flopped down grinning. "Ha! Mine!" Trying to lighten up the mood some now.

 

[BothReachedForTheGun]

The air in the room suddenly seemed breathable again when Kaede announced that enough time had passed. November was safe, this time. Ray had not realized he had been taking small breathes until he took in a big gulp of air to finally fill his lungs. That had been a close call for the girl. Ray could only imagine what November had to do during her tests. His own weird power was bad enough, but November's was so naturally destructive, that Ray could guess many different ways to use hew powers for evil uses. Fire could be used to torture or kill. It could demolish anything in moments, reducing everything to ash. Ray vaguely wondered what exactly November could do with fire, but pushed the thought aside before he started creating material for nightmares.


To help her, and himself, relax, her ruffled her unruly locks of hair. "See? You heard Kaede. It's okay." Ray said, puffing up a bit as he confirmed Kaede's comment. November nodded, but chewed her lip worriedly anyway. Unable to resist the childlike temptation to pick at things, her hands roamed over the burn. The heat in the skin of her thigh radiated to her hands. It was almost comforting to feel the warmth push at her hands. Taking her hands away and pulling her partially ruined skirt down, she glanced over at Kaede as he plopped on the couch. A smile crept over her face. If she had been a normal kid, November might have giggled at the oldest boy's antics. Instead, she simply climbed out of her chair and went over to look at the book shelf and pick one of the many books she had already read. The equilibrium of the room had returned.


Ray saw Kaede run out of the corner of his eye, but had no time to respond. As he watched the older one settle in, Ray groaned dramatically, making sure to put his whole body into it. "Really, dude? Not cool!" And before Kaede could get another word in, he rushed at him. Ray careened into the other guy, putting all of his body weight into the push. "This. Is. My. Couch," Ray grunted, giving another shove every time he said another word. His sneakers dug into the carpet. Luckily, Ray had chosen to put shoes on, or he might be getting considerable carpet burn on the soles of his feet as he played along with the other guy. He much preferred this to worrying about a worker of the Facility coming in to steal November away.