Sienna Stone

Julian comes back with a Newton Cradle in hand. I couldn't help but say something, "why do you have one of those?" I ask with a raised brow in question. 

He scoffs, "why not?" He places it on his night stand before picking up his chair from his desk and places it beside the bed. "Now don't think this will work from the getgo. Got it? Let's start with you laying down with a pillow beneath your head. Place your arms to your sides and close your eyes." He instructs me.

I do as told, laying down and closing my eyes, "okay. I'm ready." Ready as I'll ever be.

"Hold up. What is your goal here? I need something to go on with this. What is the objective?" Julian questions.

Still with my eyes closed I think back to when I was little--a vague image crosses my mind in a flash. The basement, scars, skin--

I clear my throat, "I want to remember a certain point in my life. So...maybe the basement at Edmonds house is the best objective so far. I remember some things but I don't recall anything of what I saw in the basement. I feel like I missing the bigger picture."

I hear Julian sigh before hearing him shuffle around. Then I hear a clicking noise of the Newtons Cradle balls--click--clack--click--clack.

After a moment of silence with only the clanking balls of the Cradle, Julian softly spoke, "you are in a faint reach..."

My body relaxes to his voice, "it's dark and quiet..."

"Your body is laying in between darkness and sleep. Feeling lighter and lighter."

"You will fall asleep in the count of ten."

My eyes feel heavy hearing his steady soft voice count down. My mind---it is calm and relaxed.

And when he reaches to the count of three, I barely hear them as I'm drawn in deeper--into nothing--everything---between.

12 years ago

The sun is shining through the window with glaring light beams, as bright as a summers day. Dust particals fly in mid air in the rays, dancing like specks into the silent room.

It's been a long day, not much has happened this summer. Papa and Mama hasn't let me out much like other kids. I've noticed because when I go to school--other kids would talk about how much fun they would be having during the summers break. Some say boating, hiking, camping, traveling to another place or some say they are visiting family.

We sometimes go on a trip--but isn't for fun--at least not for me. It was always Papa's business that intervenes.

My family has no such plans for this summer, which saddens me and I am jealous of those kids. As an eight year old girl I wished to have someone to play with.

I've asked many times if I could invite some kids over to have a sleepover, Mama says no, and Papa refuses with an audients of his men in front of me. His men would leer at me in the most hateful looking way. I never did like Papa's men around the house. Or the maids for that matter. Only ones that take great care of me are Greta and Leo but they seem busy today.

Maybe some day it will change for me. I'd have friends and have as many sleepovers all I want. That's the dream so far.

But to make friends wasn't as easy for me for some reason. Maybe because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeves and seem aggressive about it.

I don't know what this feeling is that I feel when I keep myself in my room, not bothering to try to go outside and play, or see Greta and try to ask her to play dress up with me. She seems she's not into it.

Lonesome.

As the day burns into the night on a hot summers night at that, it was almost bedtime. But I wasn't tired in the slightest so I decide I was going for a snack in the kitchen. Hiding out from any adults who would send me to my room because it's getting late. Papa hates when I stay up and not doing as told.

I sneak down the dark hall, past the office. Tip toeing down the stairs in my pink and white patterned pjas. I still have my hair made up in a soft pink ribbon.

My bare feet patters around until I reach the huge kitchen and pause at the threshold--hearing something rummaging behind the island counter by the pantry doors. I furrow my eyebrows in wonder thinking Santa might have came early this year, or maybe the Easter bunny came for a midnight snack.

Timidly, I walk around quietly to the small ruckus before finally getting a better view...

My eyes widen and face morphs in a stupor manner, seeing a young boy crouched down between the pantry doors and is eating what looks to be like my snack bag of cookies. He chows down on them as if someone was about to steal them---but he is the one stealing my precious cookies.

He looks older than me, by some years--maybe a teenager at most.

"E-e-excuse me?" I whisper with a stuttering voice, "who are you?" I ask lowly, afraid being heard by any adult.

The teenage boy stops what he was doing as a cookie in one hand tenses in mid air--half way to his open mouth. The boy slowly turns his head to me and I couldn't help but feel flustered by how much older he looks from in front.

He has thick black wavy locks of hair, to wild and untamed, almost reaching his eyes, eyes that look as dark as what I can compare to is a wet wooden surface of tree bark. Deep dark brown eyes as far as I can see in this dim lighting kitchen. The moon from outside shines in from the big open curtained window, lighting up the area he is crouching down at.

He is wearing a torn up blue shirt and wearing black shorts. I notice a couple of bruises on his arms and legs---big ones. He looks skinny, as if he hasn't eat in days.

This fact saddens me so much.

He is still staring up at me before he slowly puts down the cookie and bag on the floor. He finishes chewing what's in his mouth before swallowing, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

I look away from his intense eyes, "d-do you want me to make you something? I-I can make a really really good peanut butter and jelly sandwich." I offer, voice soft.

After a few moments of silence he doesn't answer, so I look back to him and gasp when he is now standing up. Wow, he is tall.

The boy hesitates before opening his mouth, "why are you offering to make me food?" He asks, sounding accusative.

Frowning, "you look hungry, I-I don't mind." In truth I didn't mind at all, especially when a boy like him should need lots of food. I've seen many teenagers eat alot more than me during Papa's party guests bringing their kids over. Also remembering Papa would say, 'growing boys need lots of food' I think it means exactly what the words are saying. So....

I straighten back my shoulders and jut my chin up high, "I am going to make you something to eat. So um...sit down at the table--please?"

He looks down at me for a moment, eyes narrowing and lips frowning, "for a short little timid bunny, you sure sound very demanding."

Whose he calling short!? "My name is Sienna." I whisper stubbornly while folding my arms across my chest, "I'm being nice so...you hunrgy, right?"

I side eye him to get his reaction, he is still glaring down at me, "if my jailer wants to feed me, then fine."

Jailer?

What could that possibly mean?

Anyway, I watch as he takes his seat at the island counter stool. I barely can see over the counter with how short I am but I didn't let that stop me for going into the pantry to grab bread, a peanut butter jar, and then to the fridge for the strawberry jam bottle. I bring the stuff together in front of me on the counter. Huffing in annoyance on how short I am when I try to reach for a plate up in the cover board cabinet. Darn it!

"A sad sight." I hear the boy mutter behind me when I was still reaching for the plates. I freeze when I see an arm reach over my head and grab a plate for me. He sits the plate down on the counter in front of me before leaving back to where he was sitting.

I blush, "thanks."

Grabbing a butter knife I get to work, putting peanut butter on one slice then jelly on the other slice of bread. I smile to myself when feeling happy to being able to give this boy a meal. He looks like he needs a friend.

Putting everything up and the dirty knife away I close the sandwich together and place it on the plate before turning around and landing it in front of the teenager.

At first I was thinking he would say something with the way his wide eyes stare down at the sandwich then to me then back to the sandwich, as if shocked that I indeed made him one. As if this nice gesture is beyond him.

I hoist myself on a bar stool beside him while hesitantly grabs the sandwich and brings it to his mouth.

It was like a magic trick. The sandwich vanished before my eyes with his easily big mouth scarving it down in two bites.

I wonder why he is here? "What's you name?" I ask.

He licks some peanut butter off his thumb before replying, "Levi."

I tilt my head, "just Levi?" Doesn't he have a last name?

He nods in answer before turning his head to me, "I was told my name since I was born here."

Born here? Huh? "What do you mean?"

He ignores me why getting up off the stool as if about to leave the kitchen. Wait, I don't want him to leave now!

"Wait." I whisper shout following him out the kitchen, "where are you going?"

"I'm leaving this hell hole." He says over his shoulder.

But--but, "hey--"

Levi stops in the middle of the floya which as me crashing into his back in surprise. He turns around and looks down on me with an angered expression, "isn't it your bedtime little bunny?"

I huff, "I'm eight years old." Old enough to stay up as I please--well if my parent don't catch me.

Levi frowns, "eight year olds shouldn't be hanging around a fourteen year old, now should they?"

I didn't care, "how are you here? Where did you come from?" I ask instead.

The boy hesitates with his mouth parting but no words come out. His eyes look---

Scared? Why?

He sighs before looking away from my eyes, "there is evil here. I cannot stay. If they catch me than I'm forever trapped in limbo. So, try not to stop me and go back to bed." He turns around and heads straight to the front door as if that was a great escape route. But I knew it wasnt---Papa tends to have men outside guarding the house. Levi wouldn't make it far...

Why would he think I'm trying to stop him?

"If you go out that front door, you will be seeing my Papa's men waiting on the other side." I mention, stopping him when he said don't.  But I had too, I didn't want him to be in some kind of trouble with my Papa.

He stops and looks over his shoulder, "shh. Do you here that?" He whispers, inaudible. 

I stay quiet and listen, dang it, someone is coming. Feeling frantic of not wanting to be caught I reach out and grab Levi's wrist and bolt. Pulling him with me, both barefoot running up the stairs. 

I didn't think anything of it when I reach my bedroom and close the door quietly with him at tow.

My chest heaves deeply up and down panting from that run--pulling extra weight behind me didn't help either.

Looking behind me I feel my face flush in crimson red when I realize I just brought a teenage boy into my room!

I watch him as his back is to me while I lean against my bedroom door. He looks around the room, covered in pink and purples, plush toys on my bed. A purple glowing nightlight by my desk. Clothes strung about here and there. A vanity full of lotions and my unicorn figurine necklace holder.

How embarrassing...but i don't let it get to me that much especially when he turns around and faces me with a grumpy expression on his face, "why did you help me just now?" He asks.

Why? "B-Because we would both get into trouble...and...well...friends help each other."

Levi raises a brow, "friends?"

I nod with a small smile, "si."

And that was the first time I've actually made a friend. The expression of taking in a stray dog once feeding it came to mind. It's been an entire week since we've met from our first encounter. I've been helping hiding him since this place is surrounded by Papa's men to leave. So everytime it's breakfast, lunch, and dinner--I wait until everyone is done and not watching when I bring the left over or my half to my room and give it to Levi.

He doesn't seem hostile anymore for me helping him.

He actually opened up to me whenever we stay in my room and talk to each other. What's better is his bruises are fading away, and his skinny self gained a few just in a week's time.

It made me happy.

Whenever adults like my parents or the maids come to my room, I'd hide him under my bed, or the closet. He would us my bathroom to bathe or brush his teeth with the spare toothbrush I have. The clothes he is wearing is what I stole from Leo, even if they don't fit well, it still works.

"Where is your parents, Levi?" I had asked one time.

He is sitting beside me on my bed watching a cartoon on my tablet. He never knew such cartoons existed--which weirded me out at first. "My parents? Oh, I don't know who my parents are. All of them have the same mother and the fathers are not around..." he mentions before going back to watching the cartoon.

Huh? "All of them? What do you mean?"

He sighs before looking over to me with a frown, "I have a question of my own." He says.

I await for him to continue once I put the tablet down beside me on the bed.

"Have you ever went down the basement?" He asks, voice sounding rough.

"No? Papa forbids me going to it. He says it's where he does business..." I trail off.

He nods once before surprising me. He takes my small hand into his large one and holds it tightly, "I hope you don't ever see down there. Ever. I don't want to see you in there--being one of them."

Being one of them?

As ever he tends to confuse me with his words but I brush them off and change the subject. "Um, Levi?"

"Yeah?"

I look down at the hand holding mine, "you are a good friend."

He smiles, "you too, little bunny."

This entire week as been a blast getting to know Levi as a friend. Though I can tell my Papa's men have been trying to find him all over the place. Because I see more than usual looking into tight places or closets, and seeing my Papa get angry and shouting at anyone who crosses his path saying, "find him! He is worth a pretty penny!"

Though it didn't occur to anyone to check my room.

Now today is like any other day as I walk down the hall with a cupcake in my hand. I wanted to give it to Levi instead of eating it myself. I was only allowed one treat of the day but I'm willing to sacrifice this dessert for him.

These days have been the most fun I've ever had, having someone to talk to and play with. He didn't nessassarly wanted to play with me at times but I was just messing with him at times. I know teenage boys would like to play house or do makeup so we settle on TV, books, and his favorite thing to watch is anime. I don't like anime but after watching some with him---I kind of like it now.

Opening the door to my bedroom I walk in with my cupcake in hand and close the door behind me. The room is quiet as ever but I know where he is at this time of day. Hiding in the closet deep in the shadows.

I open the closet door, "Levi? It's me. I brought you something."

He finally gets out of the shadows while the light from my room graces his face, he grunts, "is it almost time for bed yet?" He asks me.

Knowing bed time is the time we mostly interact with one another, where he can Feely be out and about in my room, "in a couple of hours. Here." I hand him the pink frosted vanilla cupcake. He looks at it strangely before taking it out of my out stretched hand.

Levi hesitates before he take a bite of it. His eyes flash and takes another bite before swallowing the whole thing into his mouth, he hums, "that was good. What was that?"

I've never met anyone like him before, he asks the strangest of questions. Like he has never seen or eaten a cupcake before? "It's a cupcake. It was mine but I'd rather give it to you because I know you need food to grow and get stronger..."

He frowns deeply, "you don't have to give up your food for me, Sienna."

I scoff, "don't be ridiculous. You are my friend and friends share!"

Levi didn't say anything after that, he just grabs my arm and pulls me to him for a bear hug. He smells of lavender like my soap but something about him smells freshly of him, smells like an outdoorsy smell, yet he hasn't been outside, ever.

I had asked him why his skin was so pale, he says it's because he has never seen daylight in his life---that's what he was told at least by a woman who claims to be his mother.

It's finally night time for Levi to join me in bed for a sleepover. I made sure my parents knew I was tired and went to bed, they didn't ask questions about my early departure.

Levi lays beside me as I load up the tablet and start a video. About an hour in, my eyes start to get heavy but I try my hardest to stay up.

"Sienna." He whispers down at me.

"Hmm?"  My head nods off until I lean against his shoulder.

"Promise me, you won't forget me? That we will be together in the future?"

Together, future.

I smile with my eyes closed, feeling sleep almost consuming me, "I promise...friends...for--forever...family."

"I want to grow up with you." I hear his whisper before the world went dark as sleep won me over.

I awake to the sound of banging and grunts in my room. Startled I sit up on my bed and shriek in terror. "LEVI!"

There, two men have ahold of my friend by the hair and arms. Levi struggles in their hold as he tries to fight them off, but one of the men punches him in the stomach, "STOP! PLEASE!" I cry out, getting off my bed and getting closer.

But someone grabs the back of my hair and pulls me back forcibly, having me cry out in pain.

"Don't you fucking touch her!" Levi snaps at the man who grabbed me.

My eyes widen at Levi's vulgar words but shake it off whenever my bedroom door swings open...seeing my Papa come in.

"Papa! Please let him go! He---he is my friend! Where are you taking him!" I wail out, tears falling down my face.

Papa sneers down at me, "so thus is where he has been hiding. And to think you had something to do with this?"

My body is shaking but I never knew how much of my heart would shatter when I say it out loud, "Levi is mine! He is my friend! A-and he will forever be mine. Let him go!" I shout.

It's the first time I've ever yelled at my Papa. And the way he is looking down at me has me almost peeing myself.

I look over to see that Levi had stopped struggling and looking my way with wide eyes and mouth open in what looks to be shock to my words.

"Please don't take him away from me." I beg.

Papa looks at me then to Levi then back to me, "he doesn't belong to you. He is nothing but a price, Sienna. Now, say your goodbyes, he will be gone by tomorrow."

What!? No! "I-I hate you!"

Papa grins, "take her to the therapist."

The man who grabbed me by the hair now grabs me by the arms and forces me away towards the bedroom door. I struggle and flail in his arms, "Levi!" I shout his name, looking behind my shoulder.

Levi stands their in both men's arms, his shoulders then slouch when he sees me one last time, "it's okay, little bunny. Remember what we promised? Yeah? It'll happen someday." He voice is soft and sounding heavy.

My heart breaks at this moment, remembering our promise. To not forget what we had.

"I love you." I say my last parting words, meaning in to the bottom of my heart. I love him like the bestest friend. And he knew that too, by the way his eyes soften to my confession.

The man pushes me out of the room and towards the therapist room.

All I remember when visiting the family therapist was taking a pill and going to sleep, waking up and taking a pill. The therapist had told me I've been having nightmares and that I need to sleep more. I hear clicking sounds of a clock watch she showed me and told me to remember why I should get rid of these nightmares. Of a boy who I can't recall who he is that shows up in my dreams.

Who is he? Why is he in my dreams?

Until the therapist let's me go out and go to bed, I have not remembered these dreams again.

But something bothered me within these days.

Walking about the house I make my way to the kitchen but stop when I hear what sounds like screaming?

I follow the noise until I get to a stair case that leads down to the basement. Where my Papa forbids me to go.

I hear the scream again from down there. I wonder if someone is hurt down there?

I walk down the creaky stairs until the basement door welcomes me in this dark area. Slowly lifting my hand up to grab the knob, I couldn't help feel a cold sweat run down my spine.

Opening the door, another stairs welcomes me in a lowlit room down the staircase. The smell of leather and dirt gulfs my senses. An iron smell takes place the closer I reach down.

That's when I here groaning and moaning, like a wounded animal cry. My brain couldn't process what's before me when I finally reach down the floor.

The basement is bigger than I thought. But what frightens me at this very moment is seeing skin---so much skin and scars. Blood, so much blood...

Beds are aligned by wall to wall on each side. Big bellies of women lain on the beds, some screaming, some sobbing. I lift my palms up to cover my ears from the sounds they are making. My eyes watering from the sight before me. Not understanding what's happening.

I walk through the women with big rounded bellies, seeing a white plastic curtain ahead.

My body doesn't stop moving--its as if it's grabbing my attention--to see what's on the other side of that curtain.

Flashes of my dream came too, seeing dark locks of hair, brown eyes, and a familiar face. I brush the picture out of my mind before taking the curtain in one and pull it apart.

My eyes widen in horror.

I stay quiet seeing a man in a white over coat--like a doctor of sorts hovers over a bed. A boy strapped wrist to ankles on the white sheeted bed, while the lamp light glows over them.

The boy looks delirious as he turns he head towards me, eyes open yet not seeing me. It's as if he is nothing behind those eyes.

Not until I see his eyes flash upon me and mouth gaps open, "Sie....anna." he groans, as if in pain, "l-leave. Run."

How does this boy know my name? What is going on in here?

I stay put hiding from the doctor as he didn't seem to listen to the boys words.

The doctor takes a big serinch in hand. A blue liquid inside the shot while he hovers over the boy, "we are almost done figuring out the serum. At last, we will have the better hand of this world. You will become the very first soldier with the S Serum, Subject 4."

The boy seems to ignore his words as he still stare at me. Something in his eyes has me uneasy. He is looking at me as if he knows me?

I look down to his hand seeing a pink ribbon in his grasp.  Is that my ribbon?

The boy gives me sad eyes, "forever." He whispered before the doctor injects the shot in the middle of his chest.

I close my mouth with the palm of my hand, almost about to scream but then someone grabs me from behind, "what the hell are you doing in here, Sienna Lionessa!" My Papa raors.

With that, Papa rushes me out and hands me to the therapist.

Everything within me didn't have a clue what  nightmares are and what my true reality is, growing up I tell myself it's just a cruel joke.

To be continued.