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Chapter one: Proto

I awoke in cold glass on a berth like the ones at a hospital. I felt dead. My head was blank. Everything was blurry through the glass but I could hear clearly the voices of people. I tried to think back of what happened and why I was here. With every attempt of remembering failing I reached a small hand out. How old am I? I asked in my head. I reached out and touched the glass with tiny fingers quivering as the coldness and nervous energy sinking in. What did I sound like?

The breathing machine strapped to my face choked me. I kept hearing people talking. I couldn’t tell what they said. All I heard was the words that have always bothered me from the moment of waking:

“Experiment A Prototype has awoken. Experiment A Prototype has awoken.”

Those words always bothered me. I was only nine or so then. They soon opened my glass cage and allowed me out. I stumbled quickly to the floor. Out of the many faces I saw one woman. With beautiful blonde hair down past her shoulders. Her blue eyes shined in the dim lighted room. She wore no goggles, mask, or gloves. She just stood there smiling at me. I never noticed that I wore a white hospital outfit that was too big for me or that the other people were prodding me. I was trapped in time starring at the beautiful woman...

“Prototype open your mouth!” One man forcefully pulled me away from my gaze. He crushed me under his strength to open my mouth.

Just then I felt something hit the back of my neck, something soft and warm. I turned around like a lost puppy dog in the search of it’s tail. Only to find that I did have one. I had a long cat tail with a white tip on it the rest was a pastel reddish brown with a hint of a purplish pink tint. I stumbled back and looked at it. What is this? What’s going on! I pulled my hands up to the side of my face where my ears should’ve been. The scientist were laughing at me. Maybe because of my reaction to the tail or just because I chased it. I felt nothing but hair where my ears were suppose to be. Instead they were at the top of my head sticking out, twitching with every noise happening to come around. I saw a reflective surface across the room and ran to it tripping a few times. Nothing else was cat like other than my eyes. They were a yellow gold. My hair was long to my shoulders and I looked more feminine than boyish. I had fair skin and matching hair with the ears and tails that seemed unnatural.

I looked over at the scientist and noticed they had no tail or ears. Why was I different? Is that what they meant by Experiment or Prototype? What am I? I tried to place the clues together. One woman or I supposed she was because of the long brown hair that hung over her shoulders pulled me away and back into the group of scientist who prodded me more.

“Do you recognize yourself?” One spoke up.

“How many fingers am I holding? Can you count them?”

“Move your fingers like this.” They all started asking me questions and telling me commands. Overwhelmed I tripped and hit my head against the cold floor. I winced in pain. I noticed I had started to bleed. The scientist all looked at me. I was scared wanting to get away. Then the beautiful woman came up behind me. She held me in her arms. She stared down with kind eyes. Her smile was amazing. I felt like I was being taken away by her. I thought I knew her from somewhere but I couldn’t place a thing.

“May I hear your beautiful little voice?” She spoke up in a soft voice. She sounded caring and yet excited. I opened my mouth and tried to fix a word. I only made silly noises trying to place them in order. The woman laughed and patted my head gently. She wrapped her arms around my body and placed her head gently on my own. Her scarf was soft. Her pastel blue shirt and black snow pants rubbed against my skin. I looked up at her.

“Try this. Eye” She softly began trying to show me to pronounce words.

“Eyeaha.” I stumbled over the words.

“Re.” She finished.

“Ree.” I drawed out. “Eyee...Ree. Airi. Airi!” I pushed the sounds together.

“That’s right that’s my name, Airi.” She smiled.

“That’s enough Airi your only his teacher.” The man who earlier forced open my mouth growled. She clung to me for dear life it felt like. Did I know her? Did I know him? I asked myself.

“Do you understand yes and no?” She asked me ignoring him. I shook my head. I could understand others I just can’t remember a thing. I don’t know my name or what I am or even where I’m from. She smiled at me. I liked her for some reason...

Within months I became attached to Airi. I had my hair cut shorter and I began to learn to read and write. I was called Proto and stayed cooped up in a building. I wasn’t allowed past the second floor. I was trapped in the upper floors only allowed to see the world through glass.

“Miss Airi why can’t I go outside?” I asked holding her hand walking to the indoor park. The building was huge with possibly a hundred or so floors. Each with it’s own ability. It had so many floors that I probably could go to the moon and walk on it if they’d let me. I was only familiar with ten floors:

Building One Floor 22: Experiment Room

Building One Floor 23: Rehab

Building One Floor 25: Doctors

Building One Floor 30: Beach

Building One Floor 39: Social grouping/shopping area

Building One floor 44: Park 1

Building One Floor 45: Park 2

Building One Floor 46: My House

Building One Floor 47: Food court

Building One Floor 48: Airi’s house

We were going shopping at Floor 56 this time. I never went that high before in building one. Airi promise that one day she would take me to the other buildings and hopefully outside one day. She was always kind to me. We lived on different floors though. It felt like I died every time she left me. Secretly at night I’d leave my house and go to her’s and we would sleep together. She never minded she actually gave me her house key and lied saying she lost hers. She had my key because she was my teacher already but she never came to my house.

By house I mean house. I live in a two floored one with three bedrooms ,two bathrooms with a backyard with a cherry tree in it! Miss Airi has a house similar to mine as well. Each floor has a dimensional field that makes it bigger on the inside. Each Building has 150 floors in it. Each with it’s own personal meaning although almost half of it is to hold staff and experiments. That include army officers, government officials, scientist, and some celebrities. Each floor is about the size of a small town. I don’t know any of my neighbors I think they might be experiments although I never seen any in the streets. They may be stay at home people I think.

“Proto you’re not even listening to me.” Airi laughed. I looked up at her. I always stare off into space thinking. “You're going to go outside one day trust me. Besides we’re almost to the store I told about.”

“Really!” I jumped just like any other kid my age would. Airi was taking me to a toy store. I never had been to one before Airi always bought me some toys and clothes every once in awhile when we had spare time. Airi told me I was ahead of most kids my age. We walked to the entrance of the store. Once again stares of others penetrated me.

“Look at that boy he has ears and a tail.”

“Is he another experiment?”

“Why do those experiments walk around the buildings like they own the place?” I heard out of most of the people. Some parents and kids laughed others glared at me like I did something wrong. I gripped Airi tighter now. I hated people. They were so quick to judge. Airi walked on rubbing her thumb against my small hand. We walk down a few aisles and found a VX3. It was a phone, game system, and tablet in one. It was on sale for a ‘cheap’ price. I looked at it a little longer.

“Would you like that Proto?” Airi asked.

“It’s expensive though...” I thought aloud.

“It’s okay. You don’t have a phone yet so I could get it for you so you can text or call whenever you want. That and it could help with teaching you more.” Airi persisted.

“But it’s still almost a hundred dollars.” I protested.

“Proto, It’s a lot cheaper here and now than any other time. The original price was around three hundred remember? You silly thing, you always think about the pricing and not the joy and help it will bring.” She tapped me on the nose. We bought the VX3 and Miss Airi helped me set it up. She placed her number in my contacts and my number in her phone. Once we got back to her house she pulled out a choker with a gold bell on it.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s a choker. It’s so when you come in I can hear you. You’re always so quiet and sometimes when you come in you scare me.” Airi exclaimed.

“Sorry I don’t mean to scare you. I just like to be with you.” I sighed.

“It’s okay. But here try this on.” She smiled and placed it on my neck. “It stretches to your neck so it should fit you as you grow. Oh and one more thing I know how you hate your ears showing and I know how hats hurt your ears so I made you this.” She brought out a gray, slip on hoodie. Here it’s made of the same material as the necklace I made you and it’s soft and warm so you can enjoy it.” She handed over the neatly folded hoodie to me.

“Thank you Airi. Thank you so much.” I slipped on the hoodie and flipped the hood up. She laughed and gave me a hug.

“You’re welcome but you need to head back home before curfew comes.” She smiled.

“Okay good night.” I smiled. She always told me to be careful about the curfew times. I ran home happily with my new clothes on till night came. I placed them in a bag once home and put on my sleep shirt and pants on then I put on my sneakers and waited as the tenth guard passed the elevator. I ran the opposite way down the street silently as ever. I came across the stairs and ran for it. After the tenth guard passes the elevator they stop the curfew search.

I had to go up two different floors since I was on the 46th floor while Airi was on the 48th. Once I got to it I ran over to her house. I slipped her key that she gave me into the door silently closing it and relocking it. I walked up the staircase and into her room. She had music boxes on her dresser lined up row on row. She collected music boxes and let me listen to each and every one she had. The bell collar rang a few times on the way there but it was still pretty quiet when I moved. I crawled into her queen bed and nestled into her back. She rolled over and smiled.

“You know you’re almost ten Proto you should be sleeping with yourself.” She whispered.

“I like everything better with you.” I whispered back.

“You’re going to have to grow up sometime Proto.”

“I’ll never grow up just for you. We can stay together forever.” I smiled back like any child believed. The truth, I hated silence and people. I liked quietness but hated silence and Airi only understood me and cared for me. I was waiting for tomorrow to show her the new music box I bought with my own money that I had been saving up for. I imagined the shock on her face.

“Ryouya.” She let out. Her face started to show fear.

“Ryouya?” I asked concerned.

“Never mind that was a mistake. I meant Proto I was thinking of someone else.” She pulled out of bed slipping on a coat.

“Miss Airi what’s wrong? Who is Ryouya? Are you afraid of him?” I got up rushing to her.

“Don’t say that name ever! You hear me?” She frowned at me.

“Why? What’ll happen?”

“Proto go home now.” She ordered.

“But” I tried to protest.

“Get out!” She pushed me back she threw my bag at me and chased me out. I stood at the door for a moment as she relocked it. I grabbed at the key that was suppose to be in my bag. She must’ve taken it because it was gone when I searched for it.

“Miss Airi I’m scared what’s going on?” I whispered tears streaming down my cheek.

“Get out now and don’t ever mention the name again or you’ll get hurt you got it?” She ordered just enough to be heard. She sounded hurt and saddened.

“How?” I asked.

“They’ll come for you. Never mention that name ever again. Proto you’ll have another teacher within the next few days. Now go.” She ordered.

“But you’re my teacher!” I started to knock on the door.

“You idiot! You’ll wake the others! Go now, we can no longer see each other!” She yelled.

Some lights flashed on through some neighboring windows. I began to run knowing I’ll be in trouble. I ran down the stairs to my floor and opened the door to the streets. Covered in tears and sweat I walked back to my house. I didn’t understand why she did that. She never acted like that. What made me think harder was this Ryouya that she feared. As I turned the corner I was met by Tadashi, the man who runs many of the military and science operations and some of his officers along with Airi in tears.

“So do you need to learn your place Proto?” He glared at me in his deep voice. He pointed the barrel of his gun at Airi’s head. “You will forget all you heard tonight and will never speak of Ryouya again.”

“Miss Airi!” One guard held me back as I struggled. “Please leave her alone! I don’t even know him!”

“You fool.” He cocked the trigger, “He’s you. Any last words Airi?”

“Ryouya... I’m sorry.” Airi stared at me in fear a tear fell from her cheek. Boom! Miss Airi fell dead to the ground. Blood splattered across my body. Her face almost unrecognizable. I stared on in horror. What was happening? Was I sleeping? I had to have been. I’ll wake up tomorrow and I’ll see Airi again smiling at me holding me in her arms telling me it was just a bad dream.

“Put him in solitary confinement.” Tadashi wiped his gun’s barrel with a handkerchief. His black hair blended with the light. His eyes just as cold as the first day I met him. Why did he do that? Why me? From the moment he forced open my mouth the day I woke up in the glass I hated him. Now I hated him more but with fear now. They threw me into a small room made with red walls. I felt dizzy. I couldn’t breathe. The red. The blood. I felt so sick I couldn’t stand. I went insane. I screamed and hit the floor several times. I scratched at my skin to get rid of the blood but it poured out of my own skin. It infused with Airi’s and the smell got worse. I scratched and scratched trying to get away. Would this end? I need to escape. I have to.

“Airi!” I screamed for the hundredth time crying covered in scratch marks and blood. I was exhausted and upset. I was alone. I suddenly remembered her number. I pulled my VX3 out and pressed her number. I listened waiting for her to pick the phone up. I only heard her voice mail:

Hi I’m sorry I couldn’t pick up. I may be with Proto right now or asleep. Once I get the chance I will call you back again.

Again and again I redialed hoping she would answer. Until I finally collapsed...

Description
Chapter one: Proto

I awoke in cold glass on a berth like the ones at a hospital. I felt dead. My head was blank. Everything was blurry through the glass but I could hear clearly the voices of people. I tried to think back of what happened and why I was here. With every attempt of remembering failing I reached a small hand out. How old am I? I asked in my head. I reached out and touched the glass with tiny fingers quivering as the coldness and nervous energy sinking in. What did I sound like?

The breathing machine strapped to my face choked me. I kept hearing people talking. I couldn’t tell what they said. All I heard was the words that have always bothered me from the moment of waking:

“Experiment A Prototype has awoken. Experiment A Prototype has awoken.”

Those words always bothered me. I was only nine or so then. They soon opened my glass cage and allowed me out. I stumbled quickly to the floor. Out of the many faces I saw one woman. With beautiful blonde hair down past her shoulders. Her blue eyes shined in the dim lighted room. She wore no goggles, mask, or gloves. She just stood there smiling at me. I never noticed that I wore a white hospital outfit that was too big for me or that the other people were prodding me. I was trapped in time starring at the beautiful woman...

“Prototype open your mouth!” One man forcefully pulled me away from my gaze. He crushed me under his strength to open my mouth.

Just then I felt something hit the back of my neck, something soft and warm. I turned around like a lost puppy dog in the search of it’s tail. Only to find that I did have one. I had a long cat tail with a white tip on it the rest was a pastel reddish brown with a hint of a purplish pink tint. I stumbled back and looked at it. What is this? What’s going on! I pulled my hands up to the side of my face where my ears should’ve been. The scientist were laughing at me. Maybe because of my reaction to the tail or just because I chased it. I felt nothing but hair where my ears were suppose to be. Instead they were at the top of my head sticking out, twitching with every noise happening to come around. I saw a reflective surface across the room and ran to it tripping a few times. Nothing else was cat like other than my eyes. They were a yellow gold. My hair was long to my shoulders and I looked more feminine than boyish. I had fair skin and matching hair with the ears and tails that seemed unnatural.

I looked over at the scientist and noticed they had no tail or ears. Why was I different? Is that what they meant by Experiment or Prototype? What am I? I tried to place the clues together. One woman or I supposed she was because of the long brown hair that hung over her shoulders pulled me away and back into the group of scientist who prodded me more.

“Do you recognize yourself?” One spoke up.

“How many fingers am I holding? Can you count them?”

“Move your fingers like this.” They all started asking me questions and telling me commands. Overwhelmed I tripped and hit my head against the cold floor. I winced in pain. I noticed I had started to bleed. The scientist all looked at me. I was scared wanting to get away. Then the beautiful woman came up behind me. She held me in her arms. She stared down with kind eyes. Her smile was amazing. I felt like I was being taken away by her. I thought I knew her from somewhere but I couldn’t place a thing.

“May I hear your beautiful little voice?” She spoke up in a soft voice. She sounded caring and yet excited. I opened my mouth and tried to fix a word. I only made silly noises trying to place them in order. The woman laughed and patted my head gently. She wrapped her arms around my body and placed her head gently on my own. Her scarf was soft. Her pastel blue shirt and black snow pants rubbed against my skin. I looked up at her.

“Try this. Eye” She softly began trying to show me to pronounce words.

“Eyeaha.” I stumbled over the words.

“Re.” She finished.

“Ree.” I drawed out. “Eyee...Ree. Airi. Airi!” I pushed the sounds together.

“That’s right that’s my name, Airi.” She smiled.

“That’s enough Airi your only his teacher.” The man who earlier forced open my mouth growled. She clung to me for dear life it felt like. Did I know her? Did I know him? I asked myself.

“Do you understand yes and no?” She asked me ignoring him. I shook my head. I could understand others I just can’t remember a thing. I don’t know my name or what I am or even where I’m from. She smiled at me. I liked her for some reason...

Within months I became attached to Airi. I had my hair cut shorter and I began to learn to read and write. I was called Proto and stayed cooped up in a building. I wasn’t allowed past the second floor. I was trapped in the upper floors only allowed to see the world through glass.

“Miss Airi why can’t I go outside?” I asked holding her hand walking to the indoor park. The building was huge with possibly a hundred or so floors. Each with it’s own ability. It had so many floors that I probably could go to the moon and walk on it if they’d let me. I was only familiar with ten floors:

Building One Floor 22: Experiment Room

Building One Floor 23: Rehab

Building One Floor 25: Doctors

Building One Floor 30: Beach

Building One Floor 39: Social grouping/shopping area

Building One floor 44: Park 1

Building One Floor 45: Park 2

Building One Floor 46: My House

Building One Floor 47: Food court

Building One Floor 48: Airi’s house

We were going shopping at Floor 56 this time. I never went that high before in building one. Airi promise that one day she would take me to the other buildings and hopefully outside one day. She was always kind to me. We lived on different floors though. It felt like I died every time she left me. Secretly at night I’d leave my house and go to her’s and we would sleep together. She never minded she actually gave me her house key and lied saying she lost hers. She had my key because she was my teacher already but she never came to my house.

By house I mean house. I live in a two floored one with three bedrooms ,two bathrooms with a backyard with a cherry tree in it! Miss Airi has a house similar to mine as well. Each floor has a dimensional field that makes it bigger on the inside. Each Building has 150 floors in it. Each with it’s own personal meaning although almost half of it is to hold staff and experiments. That include army officers, government officials, scientist, and some celebrities. Each floor is about the size of a small town. I don’t know any of my neighbors I think they might be experiments although I never seen any in the streets. They may be stay at home people I think.

“Proto you’re not even listening to me.” Airi laughed. I looked up at her. I always stare off into space thinking. “You're going to go outside one day trust me. Besides we’re almost to the store I told about.”

“Really!” I jumped just like any other kid my age would. Airi was taking me to a toy store. I never had been to one before Airi always bought me some toys and clothes every once in awhile when we had spare time. Airi told me I was ahead of most kids my age. We walked to the entrance of the store. Once again stares of others penetrated me.

“Look at that boy he has ears and a tail.”

“Is he another experiment?”

“Why do those experiments walk around the buildings like they own the place?” I heard out of most of the people. Some parents and kids laughed others glared at me like I did something wrong. I gripped Airi tighter now. I hated people. They were so quick to judge. Airi walked on rubbing her thumb against my small hand. We walk down a few aisles and found a VX3. It was a phone, game system, and tablet in one. It was on sale for a ‘cheap’ price. I looked at it a little longer.

“Would you like that Proto?” Airi asked.

“It’s expensive though...” I thought aloud.

“It’s okay. You don’t have a phone yet so I could get it for you so you can text or call whenever you want. That and it could help with teaching you more.” Airi persisted.

“But it’s still almost a hundred dollars.” I protested.

“Proto, It’s a lot cheaper here and now than any other time. The original price was around three hundred remember? You silly thing, you always think about the pricing and not the joy and help it will bring.” She tapped me on the nose. We bought the VX3 and Miss Airi helped me set it up. She placed her number in my contacts and my number in her phone. Once we got back to her house she pulled out a choker with a gold bell on it.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s a choker. It’s so when you come in I can hear you. You’re always so quiet and sometimes when you come in you scare me.” Airi exclaimed.

“Sorry I don’t mean to scare you. I just like to be with you.” I sighed.

“It’s okay. But here try this on.” She smiled and placed it on my neck. “It stretches to your neck so it should fit you as you grow. Oh and one more thing I know how you hate your ears showing and I know how hats hurt your ears so I made you this.” She brought out a gray, slip on hoodie. Here it’s made of the same material as the necklace I made you and it’s soft and warm so you can enjoy it.” She handed over the neatly folded hoodie to me.

“Thank you Airi. Thank you so much.” I slipped on the hoodie and flipped the hood up. She laughed and gave me a hug.

“You’re welcome but you need to head back home before curfew comes.” She smiled.

“Okay good night.” I smiled. She always told me to be careful about the curfew times. I ran home happily with my new clothes on till night came. I placed them in a bag once home and put on my sleep shirt and pants on then I put on my sneakers and waited as the tenth guard passed the elevator. I ran the opposite way down the street silently as ever. I came across the stairs and ran for it. After the tenth guard passes the elevator they stop the curfew search.

I had to go up two different floors since I was on the 46th floor while Airi was on the 48th. Once I got to it I ran over to her house. I slipped her key that she gave me into the door silently closing it and relocking it. I walked up the staircase and into her room. She had music boxes on her dresser lined up row on row. She collected music boxes and let me listen to each and every one she had. The bell collar rang a few times on the way there but it was still pretty quiet when I moved. I crawled into her queen bed and nestled into her back. She rolled over and smiled.

“You know you’re almost ten Proto you should be sleeping with yourself.” She whispered.

“I like everything better with you.” I whispered back.

“You’re going to have to grow up sometime Proto.”

“I’ll never grow up just for you. We can stay together forever.” I smiled back like any child believed. The truth, I hated silence and people. I liked quietness but hated silence and Airi only understood me and cared for me. I was waiting for tomorrow to show her the new music box I bought with my own money that I had been saving up for. I imagined the shock on her face.

“Ryouya.” She let out. Her face started to show fear.

“Ryouya?” I asked concerned.

“Never mind that was a mistake. I meant Proto I was thinking of someone else.” She pulled out of bed slipping on a coat.

“Miss Airi what’s wrong? Who is Ryouya? Are you afraid of him?” I got up rushing to her.

“Don’t say that name ever! You hear me?” She frowned at me.

“Why? What’ll happen?”

“Proto go home now.” She ordered.

“But” I tried to protest.

“Get out!” She pushed me back she threw my bag at me and chased me out. I stood at the door for a moment as she relocked it. I grabbed at the key that was suppose to be in my bag. She must’ve taken it because it was gone when I searched for it.

“Miss Airi I’m scared what’s going on?” I whispered tears streaming down my cheek.

“Get out now and don’t ever mention the name again or you’ll get hurt you got it?” She ordered just enough to be heard. She sounded hurt and saddened.

“How?” I asked.

“They’ll come for you. Never mention that name ever again. Proto you’ll have another teacher within the next few days. Now go.” She ordered.

“But you’re my teacher!” I started to knock on the door.

“You idiot! You’ll wake the others! Go now, we can no longer see each other!” She yelled.

Some lights flashed on through some neighboring windows. I began to run knowing I’ll be in trouble. I ran down the stairs to my floor and opened the door to the streets. Covered in tears and sweat I walked back to my house. I didn’t understand why she did that. She never acted like that. What made me think harder was this Ryouya that she feared. As I turned the corner I was met by Tadashi, the man who runs many of the military and science operations and some of his officers along with Airi in tears.

“So do you need to learn your place Proto?” He glared at me in his deep voice. He pointed the barrel of his gun at Airi’s head. “You will forget all you heard tonight and will never speak of Ryouya again.”

“Miss Airi!” One guard held me back as I struggled. “Please leave her alone! I don’t even know him!”

“You fool.” He cocked the trigger, “He’s you. Any last words Airi?”

“Ryouya... I’m sorry.” Airi stared at me in fear a tear fell from her cheek. Boom! Miss Airi fell dead to the ground. Blood splattered across my body. Her face almost unrecognizable. I stared on in horror. What was happening? Was I sleeping? I had to have been. I’ll wake up tomorrow and I’ll see Airi again smiling at me holding me in her arms telling me it was just a bad dream.

“Put him in solitary confinement.” Tadashi wiped his gun’s barrel with a handkerchief. His black hair blended with the light. His eyes just as cold as the first day I met him. Why did he do that? Why me? From the moment he forced open my mouth the day I woke up in the glass I hated him. Now I hated him more but with fear now. They threw me into a small room made with red walls. I felt dizzy. I couldn’t breathe. The red. The blood. I felt so sick I couldn’t stand. I went insane. I screamed and hit the floor several times. I scratched at my skin to get rid of the blood but it poured out of my own skin. It infused with Airi’s and the smell got worse. I scratched and scratched trying to get away. Would this end? I need to escape. I have to.

“Airi!” I screamed for the hundredth time crying covered in scratch marks and blood. I was exhausted and upset. I was alone. I suddenly remembered her number. I pulled my VX3 out and pressed her number. I listened waiting for her to pick the phone up. I only heard her voice mail:

Hi I’m sorry I couldn’t pick up. I may be with Proto right now or asleep. Once I get the chance I will call you back again.

Again and again I redialed hoping she would answer. Until I finally collapsed...