November 28, 2021
5 years old

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THE WOMAN IN the white coat gently pushed the pieces of candy in front of her. "How many is there?" She asked sweetly. Lily, not wanting to answer, crossed her arms in assertiveness. The lady just shook her head urging her on.

"Dear, I need you to tell me how many skittles are on the table."

"No." She whined. The scientist lady hazily sighed before scribbling something down on her wooden clipboard. Lily watched, intrigued in the pretty blue pen she was using to take notes.

"I want." She stated, reaching out. When the woman recoiled back a frown replaced her once curious look. "Gimme." She tried again, but instead was met with a hand to her face.

White coat lady snapped her fingers, signaling for her to sit back down. Lily reluctantly did so, as she thought maybe doing what she wanted would earn her the reward of the shiny object. It had only been three days since she'd traveled on the train, and she already knew more than enough about the people she'd been surrounded by. The biggest one being that she could get anything she wanted if she complained enough. It was a tactic that had never worked on her mother, so to say she was pleasantly surprised when she was allowed to sleep next to the boy she met on the train after throwing a tantrum, was an understatement. They had wanted to keep the boys and girls in separate rooms, but when the doctors saw how close the pair clung onto each other, they allowed the two of them to stay together for one night.

Speaking of the boy, she had finally figured out what his name was. It was after they'd showered and had a proper meal, when they were supposed to be asleep. "Stephen," he'd told her as they laid awake in the darkness. She had laughed, turning her head to conceal the laughter in the side of his shoulder.

"What kind of name is that?"

"A very beautiful name, unlike Lily."

"Hey at least it's prettier than Stephen." She countered. At this she'd felt him roll over from his back to his side so he could look at her. It was too dark for her to see, but the brunette boy had a smile on his face as he spoke his next words.

"It sure is."

The two then shortly fell asleep, both subconsciously cuddling into each other to maintain warmth. When they woke, they were in the same position. Lily buried into his chest, and him with his arms wrapped around her body.

That all happened a little more than two days ago. After that morning when the guards ushered them out, she hadn't seen the boy since.

Lily pushed the skittles back towards the direction of the woman. "Nine." She affirmed, giving her best cheery smile. The lady furrowed her eyebrows, obviously surprised in the sudden answer, but nonetheless made a note on her piece of paper.

"And what if you were to double the candy?' She asked.

"Eighteen," Lily quickly replied without thinking. "I mean duh."

"And if you squared it?

"Eighty-one." She confidently said, sitting up straighter in her chair, her eyeline still set on the blue pen. The woman examined her clipboard, flipping through the many pages of sheets she had. She circled one name in the blue ink then ripped out the page, folding it in half.

"How does the name Evony sound?" She asked.

Lily tilted her head. "Um-Im Lily." She merely said, not sure how she was supposed to answer. The woman just stood up clapping her hands, "You know, I think you'll make a pretty good Evony."

"My name is Lily." She repeated, still confused.

Scientist lady shook her head. "No, now you will respond to Evony. And Evony only."

"But what if I don't want to?"

The woman laughed, and not the kind of haha laugh someone did when they heard a funny joke. No this was a cold hard evil laugh, one that sent a chill up her spine. "Oh honey," She tossed a skittle into her mouth, "You don't get a choice."

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Lily was strapped to a chair.

After several tantrums, and an incredible amount of crying, the doctors had finally given up on trying to make her take her new name, and were instead skipping right to the surgery part of it. She didn't want to be called Evony. Even though she had always thought her name was basic, it was still her name. The adults could take away her family, her life as she knew it, but she was in no way about to let them take away part of her identity.

Several wires, and transmitters were placed all around her body, the latter of them surrounding her head. She was well aware that they were about to do something to her, but with the leather restraints holding her down---she didn't exactly hold the capability to escape.

Just then a grown man, who she'd seen around the past few days, walked into the room. Following him was none other than Stephen.

Her mouth gaped open at the sight of him, fully not expecting to have seen him anytime soon. He caught her eye, and his mouth dropped too.

"Lily." He breathed out, as if he hadn't actually meant to say it. He scanned over the restraints holding her down, concerned lacing through his whiskey eyes.

"Oh great," The man exclaimed, "You've met before. Maybe you could help talk a little sense into one another."

The both of them had stopped paying attention to what the man was saying, and instead found themselves gazing helplessly into eachothers eyes, like they were still drinking in the fact that the other one was actually there.

"Thomas, take a seat."

Stephen snapped up, "No."

"Thomas."

"His name is Stephen." Lily spoke up from her chair. She shot the boy an encouraging smile, attempting to move one of her bound hands into a thumbs up.

The man-who was dressed in a funny green jumpsuit- pinched the bridge of his nose. He then dragged her friend by the hand over to the chair next to her, where he forcefully strapped him in with the leather belt. "Do you kids know that you're the only ones who won't take your new names?" He chided, pulling the restraint tighter.

Lily's face reeked with disgust. "Actually I didn't know that, but thanks anyway."

Green jumpsuit guy moved from Stephens chair to kneel down in front of hers. "Evony, I don't believe we've officially met before. Im Randall." He introduced. She knew he wanted her to say something back along the lines of 'oh hey Randall so good to finally meet you', but of course she didn't.

"Her name is Lily."

Both Randall and her wiped their heads over to the boy who was fighting against the chair. The older man let out a sigh. "Look, I'm sorry , kids. We'd usually wait longer before it came to this," He explained, his voice taking on a slightly nicer tone to it. "We'd give you some more time to choose to take your name voluntarily, but time isn't a luxury we have anymore." He lifted up two silver needle looking objects. Then before either of them could question what was happening, he brought the objects down on each of their necks. A tingling sensation began to burn in her throat, but soon it faded away, only leaving the reality of the situation left.

"Wh-what was that?" Stephan stammered.

"Yeah," Lily proceeded to back him up, "What did you just stab us with?"

He waved it off as if it was nothing. "It's a pain simulator. Dont worry itll dissolve and get flushed out of your system. Eventually. By then you probably won't need it anymore."

Just as she was going to ask what the point of it was, the boy next to her beat her too it. "What's it going to do to us?"

That was the real question. Why did they need a pain simulator? Why were they strapped to a chair? All things she didn't have an answer for, but so desperately wished she did.

Randall placed one of his extremely large hands on either hers or Stephen's knees. He licked his lips as he explained, in the vaguest way possible she might add, what the people he worked with were trying to do. "Well Thomas and Evony, that depends. We have a long road ahead of us, you and me. All of us. But for today, we can take a shortcut." He paused, searching each of their faces for any hint of interest. "All you two have to do, is simply tell me your names."

"Lily." "Stephen." They said at the same time. With a grieving look, the man ran a hand over his almost bare head, an intense look replacing his features.

"Do it." He murmured almost so quietly she couldn't hear it. For a split second she didn't feel anything. Then as if lightning struck her body, every part of her began to ache and throb in such agony she'd never experienced. Like glass shards spiking her body, she cried out in immense pain. Heat rushed through her veins, static buzzing through her ears, making her thoughts go fuzzy. Next to her, she heard a total of one throat cutting scream, before she blacked out like a lightbulb.

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She woke to the sound of Stephen whispering her name. Taking in her surroundings she realized she was still in the same spot as she was before the pain surged, and felt the panic begin to wash over her. He gave her a weak smile, as he knew exactly what she was going through. Lily attempted to return the gesture, but was pretty sure it ended up turning into a lazy frown the longer she kept it up.

"What happened?" She asked. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little scared to know the answer.

Randall spun around, a pleased look on his face, "Ah finally, thought you'd never wake up." He crowed, "And look I tried to tell you." Lily wasn't sure if the tone she was hearing was regret or something even more sickly. "We don't have time to mess around. I'm sorry, I really am. But it's important to everyone here that you two accept your new names."

She heard Stephen shift slightly in his seat. Glancing at him , she could see the sweat lining his forehead from all the sweating, and when he spoke, she could hear the hoarseness in his voice. "How could you hurt us?" He sniveled. Lily wasn't quite sure if this was real or to try to make the adult feel bad.

"We're just little kids." He finished, letting a tear roll off his cheek for dramatic effect. She had to give props to him for his acting skills.

"Yeah, I'm five." She added, her attempt in persuasion seemingly much different than Stephens.

Lily watched as Randalls face began to flush red. "All you have to do is except a name!" He seethed, "Now-i'm not playing around anymore. What's your name?"

"Thomas. My name is Thomas." She heard Stephen say. For a moment she debated whether or not the boy had actually given up and was accepting the new title. Then she realized what he was doing, and quickly started to play along.

"And my name's Evony." She smiled innocently, blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

"I don't believe you." Randall spat. Lily went to lie again, but found the burning sensation returning in her lungs. 'No', she thought, and then clocked out.

What's your name?"

Lily barely managed to get the word out. "Evony."

"And you?"

"Thomas."

"I don't believe you."

She was awake long enough to hear her friend let out a whimper, but that was it, because the next second she faded back into the darkness.

"What's your name?"

"Evony." She sobbed, wishing for the pain to go away.

The boy next to her replied in the same manner.

"I don't want you to forget."

She blacked out again.

"What's your name?"

"Evony."

"And your's?"

"Thomas."

"Good, now Evony what's his name?"

"His name is Thomas."

"Good, Thomas what's her name?"

"Her name's Evony."

"Do you have any other names?"

"No." They both simultaneously replied.

"Has anyone ever called you anything else?'

Once again the two answered no.

"Will you ever forget your name? Will you ever use another?"

A final no left each of the kids' lips.

Randell nodded with satisfaction. "Now Thomas, please tell me you and your friends name."

Thomas released a breath, "My name is Thomas and this is Evony."

"Good, now Evony you do the same."

She didn't need to think twice about her answer. As if it was second nature the words rolled easily off her tongue. A little too easily.

"My name's Evony...and this is my friend Thomas."

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