Present Day.

I was awake at six sharp, opening my eyes to the subtle, but noticeable, alarm that rang through the room. I should be used to waking up this early as "It's the life of a soldier" but, frankly, I never wake up smoothly. Stretching with a yawn to boot, I popped out the clothing drawers and got what I needed to take a shower. After letting the hot water run over me, I cleaned myself up and finished my morning routine, emptying the bathroom for Essien.

Right next to the door, a slip of paper printed from the slot, giving me my schedule for today. I narrowed my eyes to make sure I was seeing it correctly. Instead of my usual schedule involving training or exercise, there was only one line printed at the top: 600 see administrators. I've never seen something like this written on a sheet, so it couldn't be good.

"So what've you got planned today?" Essien asked, scrubbing his teeth with his toothbrush.

I looked over the paper again to make sure I wasn't missing anything. "The usual," I responded.

Essien spit out the toothpaste. "Everything's usual here except us. I'm surprised we Projects aren't subject to more challenging exercises." Projects. That's what Essien called us. A giant science project with us being the product. It was a term he used to label us, and I was indifferent to it.

Before Essien could say anything else, I stepped outside the room and made my way down the hall, watching as everyone started to exit their rooms and begin their daily activities. Was I the only one who got a schedule like this? I haven't been doing anything wrong, so I don't understand what would cause this change.

I walked up to the distribution line and asked about the schedule. After showing them it, they directed me into a door on the left, telling me to take the first right and enter a door at the very end of the hall. I walked inside the room, a comfortably sized office, and was relieved to see that I wasn't the only...Project in the room.

Aurora and the girl from the infirmary, Emmory, were even here. Aurora looked back and when she saw me, she did some sort of ugly eye roll that resulted in one eye being cross-eyed, and me breaking my straight face. An older man sat across from all of us, resting his elbows on a wooden desk. A scar ran through his left eyebrow and it looked as if it was an old wound.

I recognized this man and straightened up immediately. This man was the one behind the experiments in the first place. Every video we've ever been shown regarding the history of this initiative had his face in it. He was I stepped in line and awaited his words. Two more Projects came in, a Yellow and an Orange, before the man began to speak.

"I can tell by some of your confused looks that you're trying to figure out exactly why your here." The man wasn't just older, but old. The years were apparent on his voice. "You're here because I need the twelve of you."

I shared a look with the Green on my right. No one dared to speak, so the man continued. "You all know who I am. Howard J. Conway, head of the Deus Initiative. The initiative to create better soldiers. You all are supposed to be the hope of the people. The hope for a better age." Conway leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. "Now how can you represent the hope of people if the people haven't even seen you."

He scanned his eyes across all of us. "Or what you can do."

Conway crossed his arms. "Tomorrow, I'm taking you twelve out of this stuffy complex and you're going to host a demonstration in the neighboring town of Lansing."

I couldn't help but smile after hearing this. For the first time, we're actually leaving this place. We're going back into the world. I could tell that the other Projects rejoiced silently as well by the way their stances changed, or their crossed arms dropped.

"If the first test goes well," Conway said, "we may even head to Novi and New Detroit." For a brief moment, my eyes widened. I had the chance to go back. I had the chance to...to...I was drawing a blank. I felt like I'm missing something important, very important, but I can't pinpoint it.

"Now I understand you all are excited, but I need you all to keep this between us." Conway said. "Every kid here doesn't need to know I'm favoring a few."

"Yes sir." We all said in near unison.

Conway looked through a few papers on his desk. "That'll be it. Be at the front entrance by 0700 tomorrow. You have the rest of the day to yourself." Not only am I leaving tomorrow, but I get an entire free day also? I couldn't ask for anything better.

We all filed out the room, various shouts and yells filling the empty hallway. Emmory nearly took off running, probably heading back down towards the infirmary. She never like to leave anyone alone in there.

I pushed Aurora's shoulder. "Don't ever roll your eyes like that again. That's inhuman."

She rolled her eyes again, albeit normally this time. "It's an acquired talent."

"That's not talent," I said, "That's a monstrosity."

"Whatever," Aurora said. "So what do you plan on doing for the rest of the day?"

Even though I had all this time to myself, I hadn't thought about what I was going to do with it. "I don't know really. Probably hang out in the infirmary with Emmory."

Aurora scrunched her face. "You voluntarily walk in a room with complaining people? I can't, but more power to you." Aurora ran off to do whatever she was going to do, which is probably watch more training simulations. She seemed to spend most of her time there. Maybe I'd even visit it later; I could probably learn a thing or two by watching others.

"Wait, Marshall." Aurora turned around and yelled down the hallway. "If you get any spare water bottles, toss them my way." Not even waiting for my response, she continued running until she was out of sight, her long hair bobbing behind her.

I took my time walking to the infirmary because there was no real reason to rush. I had the entire day to myself, and I planned to enjoy every moment of it. Every time I passed a glass wall overlooking the mountain, I looked out at the horizon. I would be out there tomorrow. I would be free. It didn't seem real at all.

Several Projects were coming and going out the infirmary doors, the faded red cross splitting in half every time it opened. Sliding my hand down the door, I pushed it open and walked in the white, sterilized room. Bright ceiling lights nearly blinded me and the air smelled like bleach and... citrus?

"Emmory?" I called out. She had to be here. She's always here.

She leaned her head out from a curtain covering one of the medical cots. Her glasses nearly fell off her face. "Marshall! Are you hurt?"

"No." I said.

"Are you dying?"

Uh... "No."

"Then hold on." She went back behind the curtain. Alright then.

Like the nosy individual I am, I looked to see what was behind the curtain and regretted it immediately. A kid was passed out on the cot, a giant, bloody gash ran down his leg. Emmory was standing over him, desperately wrapping his leg with gauze. Blood stains were everywhere, from the formerly white sheets to Emmory's lab coat, and the copper smell was starting to get to me.

After Emmory wrapped his leg successfully, she slid off her soaked gloves and placed a hand on the gauze where a red stain was rapidly forming. Emmory's hand glowed a soft yellow and within a few moments the blood stain decreased its speed until it stopped completely.

She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and let out a sigh. "All in a day's work. Sean! I need you again."

A kid sitting in the corner with a magazine took his time getting up. I saw him earlier, in the office with Conway. He was a Yellow, like Emmory. Personally, I've always liked their golden irises. It seemed almost angelic. "Wake him?" Sean asked.

"Yea." Emmory began unwrapping the gauze and under it. Not unsurprising, the wound was completely healed, only leaving behind a faint scar. "I'm going to have to bleach this cot." The only thing that needs bleach is my memory.

Sean pressed his hand on the boy's forehead, and after a flash of yellow light, the boy opened his eyes. He was in a momentary panic before looking down at his knee and then let out a breath in relief.

"No need to thank me," Emmory said before the boy could say anything. "Your leg is probably going to be sore for the next couple days, so try to be gentle with it. Maybe next time you'll think twice before sneaking out to run training simulations on your own."

She was condescending, but not in a way that anyone would take offense to. Her glare softened for a bit. "You can go now," she said. The boy ran off and out the infirmary, a slight limp giving away his act of obedience.

"Need help with those sheets? You probably don't want to touch that mess." Emmory completely disregarded my offer and scooped up the dirty linen with her hands, taking them to a side room.

"How could I run the medical wing if I'm afraid of a little blood, Marshall?" Emmory asked with a smile.

Sean yawned. "Can I go now?" He asked, a flit of irritation passed across his face.

Emmory widened her eyes when she saw that Sean was still standing by. "Oh, yes. Sorry. It was just an emergency and I was in a rush." She let out a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry for bothering you, Sean. You can go now."

Sean stared at her for a moment. "Whatever, it's not that serious." he said before leaving.

"He's not exactly the nicest." I said, watching the infirmary door close shut, the smell of copper still lingering over the cot.

Emmory tucked a few strands of her blond hair behind her ear. It looked like her bun was falling apart. "I'm sure he means well." Whatever you say. "So what's new?" She asked.

"You were in that room earlier." A grin spread across my face and I spread my arms. "We're leaving."

"Crazy, right? How long has it been?" She asked me.

I didn't remember the exact number of years. "Too long."

I've been away for too long, but now I was given a chance, a chance that I would seize.

Tomorrow, I was going back. Tomorrow, I was going to be free.