“6. 3. 6.” A new voice rang through the cell. 636 rose from her mat in the corner of the room . She knew better than to keep the scientists waiting. The new voice meant a new overseer. She did not know what it would take for this one to snap at her, so she obliged quickly.

The new scientist was a man in his late forties. His lean figure towered over 636. The man wore a smile which she thought was odd. All the workers here seemed almost as depressed as the subjects.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you experiment 636. I’ve heard so many things about you.” She didn’t want to make him angry by not replying but at the same time she didn’t want to anger the other scientists nearby by talking. 636 nodded but kept her head down towards the man’s shoes. It was silent for a moment and 636 feared she had accidentally made the new scientist mad.

The man cleared his throat. “My name is Dr.Willow. I’ll be your new overseer.” 636 did not answer with words. The man, Dr.Willow, seemed nice but she would not take any chances.

She held up her hands, palms up, when the doctor opened the cell’s door. Waiting for her daily shot. Instead of feeling the sensation of a needle piercing her skin she felt his hand grab hers and lead her out of the cage.

636 looked at the man strangely. Dr.Willow was holding her hand the whole trip to the laboratory. He was talking about new tests they would have to run today and about how well 636 was doing. He called her brave, strong and even a gift.

“Not many kids get this far 636.” The doctor opened the door to the lab and led her to a table in the middle of the room. He kneeled down in front of her so they were eye level. A smile as he held her hands. “You are strong, 636. This test will allow you to take the next step.”

Dr.Willow pulled out a key and unlocked her chains. 636 felt this scientist would react better to her voice than anyone else. So she asked the one question on her mind.

“Will it hurt?” She was quiet and her voice weak but loud enough for Dr.Willow to hear. He froze while unlocking the chain at her feet. When he looked up there was a sad smile on his face.

“Pain is just a reminder you’re still alive.”

636 was put onto the table by the other scientists. They locked her in and exited the room, along with Dr.Willow. A different voice echoed through the room. Someone was on the microphone counting down.

The table was cold and 636’s clothes didn’t cover her enough to keep her warm. She focused her stare at the white ceiling when the countdown got to ten. Her heart had involuntarily speeded up. Pounding in her ears, the voice on the mic slowly drifted away.

She closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

You are strong, 636.

She told herself she would not scream. Not when the metal arms came out of the wall, and not when they inserted thin needles into her arms and legs. But when the electricity was produced and ran through her body, she could no longer withhold her screams.