The weight of the room left me feeling like I'd been sucker-punched in the gut far too many times. The amount of secrets being spilled by the two couples was a bit much for me to handle. One of them had lingered on with me when Eve and I left for the Center Hall for our daily checkups. Morgan couldn't finish what he wanted to tell me about the shot we had to get each and every day. His worrisome face protruding his wrinkled forehead left me scratching my head. Trinity was really good at reading people and noticed that I was getting overwhelmed with everything. If it wasn't for her stopping Morgan from speaking I'd probably be on their floor passed out from fainting. Which would have me being late to the checkups. That definitely wouldn't be good.

The Center Hall was smack dab in the middle of the South side. You couldn't miss the large dome like place if you wanted too. This arena was like a big slap on the face for us Stiffs as the words we own you invisibly painted on the walls of this place. We lined up from youngest to oldest to get our shots. I was the farthest in the back away from Jenny. Men and woman with crisp and pristine white lab coats walked around with notepads in hand, jotting down their thoughts.

Continuing to move forward, the line got shorter as the people up front were being pricked with syringes full of some unknown substance. Morgan's face continues to haunt me as I look at the sharp needle penetrating through their flesh.

Looking around I found myself noticing more than ever before after receiving information about subject 101. The Rankers were in their usual spot, guarding the entrances. They made sure nobody would be leaving, holding their guns tight to their chest. But was it really to keep us confined? Or was it because they were afraid of us—of what we might become?

There were just a couple more people ahead of me. Just as the girl at the front got her shot, she coughed. Both the woman in the lab coat and her assistant holding the platter of injections skittishly stepped back a few steps with wide eyes. Before meeting Morgan and Trinity, I would have thought they were just disgusted by the young girl's cough, afraid to catch anything they thought we might be carrying. But now I know. They are afraid.

I am awake now. Deep from my slumber and blind eyes that have been casted onto me since being here.

Walking up to the front I waited for my injection, eyeing the vile of green poison on the tray. The remarkably clean woman smelled of lemon citrus today, which was a pleasing smell that left my mind imagining sitting under a lemon tree in an open field. The one good thing to come of this cattle roundup thing was definitely the smell of the Luckies. What I wouldn't do to wash my body with that aromatic scent!

"Name, please," the woman said, fully focused on her clipboard and not even bothering to making eye contact.

"Leona." I pulled the neck of my shirt down to reveal my pale shoulder.

The woman in the lab coat placed the clipboard under her arm pit and grabbed one of the syringes. Not even bothering to wipe my skin with alcohol to prep it, she pricked me and pushed the green liquid inside.

Immediately I felt an ice chill traveling down my arm. The feeling inside continued to go up and down my body. I braced myself for what was to come next as it usually does. My head felt like a hot air balloon floating along the clear blue sky. Rubbing the side of my temple to cope with the sensation that I was experiencing. This dose felt like it was stronger today.

Shaking it off, I walked over to where the vaccinated were waiting and glided my way around the bodies of Stiffs searching for Jenny.

Just then her familiar head of bouncy fiery curls was in my view. Her face instantly caught mine and ran over towards me, wrapping her small limbs around my waist. I didn't realize how much I missed her this morning because we usually do our route together. We stood there as our arms intertwined around each other like a mother sloth holding onto its baby.

Finally releasing our hold, I looked to check the shot area on her arm and make sure it was okay. Her skin looked irritated as I examined a pink inflated circled around the tiny bruise where the needle was inserted. Jenny retracted her arm and covered it up. She smiled so sweetly looking at her arm then back at me with her brows arched. I got the picture in what she was saying.

"I know your fine, Little Mermaid. Your one tuff chicka," I said curling up the side of my lip.

She raised both arms, flexing them as her face pinched and furrowed. It was a comical attempt to show all the muscles she had on her tiny arms. Her stance sort of reminded me of what a body builder would do posing in different positions, except she was much cuter and quite adorable.

Looking over to my left I noticed Brooke, Spencer, and Lucas walking towards us.

"Wow there!" Lucas said walking around Jenny cautiously. "We got to watch out for this one. She might beat us up or something if we mess with her." His face was trying to be serious as it pumped Jenny up in her tuff girl attitude.

"Yeah, you don't mess with girls. We're stronger and better at everything," Brooke said, placing her hands on her hips and smirking at the boys.

"Yep, these are indeed facts," I chimed in, trying to hold my giggles as Jenny put up her dukes at Lucas.

"Please, oh strong young one." He raised both hands in submission to a brawny Jenny. "I don't want any trouble." He backed out next to me and Brooke as we all smiled and chuckled at the enthusiastic little girl.

"I'll challenge the young fierce one," Spencer said as he played along.

Jenny's fists were now aimed towards her challenger. His arms came up, creating soft fists as he hunched down at eye level with her. Their feet both danced, circling each other and waiting to see who would make the first move.

Just then Jenny stepped forward and threw a pretend blow towards his stomach. Spencer jolted forward with his mouth making an o-shape and his eye bulging wide. His body went down and Jenny threw her hands up in victory.

All three of us cheered and hollered for the brave and victorious Little Mermaid, including Spencer who was still on the floor. Her big bright smile caught my heart and made me feel warm and secure to know that even though we were stuck in here we could make moments like this for her. I was truly thankful for my friends in helping make it somewhat normal.

I went over and extended my arm in helping Spencer off the floor. He was a trooper to fall down on the dirt rubble and get the back of his pants dirty. He reached for me and I pulled him up. My hand automatically moved to dust the debris off his back and pants.

"You know if you want to touch my butt you could just ask." He had a half a grin on his face. "I do rather prefer a second date before getting to second base but asking will do just fine." His brow arched and his smile widened from ear to ear.

I stopped what I was doing and gave him a playful nudge. "Well I'm glad to see someone is feeling better." I folded my arms. I truly was happy to see that he was back to himself and not angry at me anymore.

He dusted the rest of the dirt off his back and looked at me. "Yeah, sorry about earlier."

I blinked a few times before my brain could register what he said. Sorry was not in his vocabulary he would tell people, especially me. We would usually brush it off and move on.

"It does no good to have us fight over them..." He looked at one of the lab coat guys and then back at me. "Especially in front of Jenny." He moved his eyes away from mine. "I just want better for you guys—for all of us."

I rested my hand on his shoulder and his blue orbs looked my way. "You and me both. We'll get through this, I promise."

The weight of the secret felt like a freight train on my shoulders now. I hated keeping it from my friends but it was for their protection. If too many ears caught wind of what was cooking down below Trinity and Morgan would be caught and our means of food would be vanquished.

The lively crowd of Stiffs became still in silence. A large voice ricocheted like a wave as the announcement of today's assignments was being broadcasted by one of the white coats. My smile faded and I looked over to Jenny who was now clinging to my leg.

This was the one thing I hated the most about our day. She wanted nothing to do with the Luckies or to go anywhere with them.

As names were being called each of us had to go to our assigned groups. The younger ones were taken inside one of the cube buildings that were lined up in rows. They would go for more psychic evaluation and therapy.

Jenny was one of the seven kids she had to go with.

Her grip strengthened more as her name was called. The rest of the little ones slowly peeked out of the crowd and they lined up behind the woman in the lab coat with a small flower on the chest pocket. She had somewhat kind eyes and looked like she had children of her own by the way she interacted with them, gently and calmly and always with a smile. But I still don't trust her—only for the fact they were taking Jenny away from me.

My Little Mermaid burrowed her face at my thigh as I held on to her. My heart sunk to my stomach as my eyes caught a couple of Rankers heading my way who noticed the child not moving to the font like the rest. My friends stood beside me for support. The crowd stood still and gave the Rankers a hard time as they tried getting through to us. Ultimately, they bulldozed their way through, making a small path for the woman with the flower.

She kneeled down and gently placed her hand on Jenny's back which caused her body to stiffen from under me. "It's going to be okay, Jenny. It's just for a couple of hours and you'll be back with your friends in no time. I promise." She looked up at me as her brows threaded in the middle of her forehead and her eyes frowned. It was the same look Trinity had given me.

The woman didn't want to take her away.

"Do we need to interfere?" asked the tall and balled bulky man with a snake tattoo on his right forearm.

"No, no need. I got this." She backed them away with her hand.

She looked at Jenny in deep thought, stood up, and looked right at me. She blinked a few times as her eyes glistened in the light. "Please?" she asked, and then looked down at the scared child.

I knew what she wanted from me. And I hate myself for doing it. But it was the safest way for Jenny. I reached down and grabbed both her hands that clutched on for dear life. Once released, the woman grabbed ahold of my frantic little Jenny, squirming in her grasp, and they walked away.

I stepped forward, moving towards their direction, suddenly regretting what I had done. As soon as I was within a couple of steps one of the Rankers pointed their gun at me.

The crowd gasped as I looked, for the first time, down the deep black hole of a gun barrel. Spencer moved in front of me, taking the heat of what could possibly come our way. I held onto his hand and felt the indentations of his bite mark. Gliding my fingers over one of the scars that changed him, it reminded me of who we are. I squeezed his hand just as the sound of Jenny's screams forced me to look at her and then back at the Ranker. I could feel Brooke and Lucus right beside us.

The gun was still pointing in our direction, but we didn't move. We didn't cower and we didn't run. The energy of us all uniting in our steadfastness slowly grew among the entire group of Stiffs. It felt powerful; it felt necessary.

The other man next to the Ranker told him to stand down and they backed away. It left me with the empty feeling of my child being gone. Trying to hold in my emotions, Spencer turned to me and wrapped his arm around my shaking body. As we held each other, we didn't need to say anything; we knew. We felt it in the air. For just a moment, we were one.

Letting go of Spencer, we walked over to our assigned group and we all headed for the field.