The sun above burned my skin and soaked deep into my pores, no escape. My eyes were shut tight, the substance beneath me felt gritty and rough. Where was I? Was I lost? My body felt paralyzed, limp. I started to twitch furiously, thrashing out at the hot sun until it completely stopped in an instant; the pain gone. My arm thrashed above my body bending backwards at the elbow, cracking, breaking the silence in the unknown area. 

    I screamed out in agony, my legs now began the process my arms took on. My back hunched and I was forced onto my knees, my whole body ripping. A cool smooth ropes gently wrapped around me until I was left in the dark again.The pain slowly died down until I felt a giant pinch; that's all I could remember.

    I thought through this over and over trying to figure out what happened that day as I now lay again in another unknown place. This time my body is placed on something soft like foam and as cool as ice compared to my warm body temperature. I can hear people in the distance t

"Unnatural..."

"Strange..."

"Different..."

"She is just a girl..."

"Does she know?"

    That was all I could pick up. I sat up to let the people in the room know I was back in the real world. I opened my eyes and looked around, nothing seemed familiar. I was in a small room with blank baby blue walls, it reminded me of a doctors office. I looked down to see I was wearing a loose see-through hospital gown. Was I ill? A door to my left opened and a tall middle aged man with eyes the color of the morning sun entered the room.

    "Ah! You are awake at last!" the man said with relief, he then moved closer to the small bed I was placed on. He looked at me like I was a new discovery, eyes lit as brightly in awe. A woman with fiery red hair and a white waistcoat slammed open the door with wild violet eyes

    "She is awake." it was a statement not a question.

    "We should tell him, he would want to know" I was clueless and lost for words. The two stared at each other for a long while, a silent battle was being fought

    "You know we can't do that Sheryl," the old man sighed but his resolve hardened.

    "He has been waiting so long, and look at the poor dear. She needs time to adjust and make new friends. How do you expect her to trust us when she doesn't even know any of us?" Sheryl slid closer to the old man and prodded him with her eyes.

    "No." the man had not changed his mind and did not appear as if he was going to. I glanced back and forth between them unsure of the circumstance I was seemingly dropped into 

    "If your not going to tell him then I will." With that, she stormed out the room and slammed the door behind her. The man's head fell in defeat and he turned to me.

    "Your name is Tessa, my name is James and you are here for me to help you," before he could even finish his sentence someone else bursted in to the room huffing. James moved in front of me to block my view. I craned my head to get a better look at the new visitor but only caught glimpses of his golden hair.

    "Go away Bradley, now is not the time for this. I promise I'll bring her to you when I'm done with my examination." James only moved his mouth and didn't bother to face him.

    "I'm not leaving until you let me see her." Bradley said this with confidence. 

    "It's not good for you to be seeing her, she is new. She probably needs time to adjust." James huffed out the last part.

    "Please?" He asked weakly. What was all the fuss about? Why would he so desperately seek to see me? I didn't know this new comer, or any of these strange people to be precise. James sighed loudly and moved to the side slowly. I heard a long intake of breath and directed my gaze upward.

The newcomer in front of me had shaggy blonde hair with silvery tones and bright blue orbs below for eyes. He had fair skin, and a tall stance that suited his built figure. He was beautiful, I would have sworn he was glowing under the fluorescent lights. 

    "This is her then? After all this time?" he asked in awe reaching a hand out slowly. He was by far the prettiest man I had ever laid eyes on. His outstretched hand found my face and stroked my cheek gently. He looked at me as if he had known me and I didn't seem to mind the attention.

     "What do they call her?" He removed his hand and peered back to James who hovered nearby.

    "Tessa." James turned on his heel and walked out of the clinic type room. 

    "It's been so long." His finger touched my face again and I flinched. "I shouldn't have touched you without asking. I'm just very curious. Can you talk?" he asked me with much curiosity in his deep silky voice. Why wouldn't I be able to talk? I nodded despite how offensive the question seemed. 

    "I'm sorry. I'm sure you have far more important questions for me. I've just been waiting so long." he said and I sent him a meek smile in return.

    "Lets get out of here" I nodded eagerly wanting to be anywhere but here, I needed to know more about where I was. Bradley gently extended my arm and pointed out that I was attached to a beeping machine. He pulled up the gauze to reveal a needled, then carefully removed it from my arm. 

    "Thank you." He smiled brightly at me then pulled me to my feet and out the door. People in lab coats were everywhere and they all continuously glanced my way as we passed. 

    "Why are they staring?" I kept my head down as he turned around to answer.

    "They are just curious is all." I looked down at my bare feet then at his hand that was still holding mine.

    "What are they going to do to me?" I stopped moving and he dragged me behind for a few moments before realizing my hesitation. Being in a lab couldn't possibly be good. I wasn't in a lab coat so I couldn't be a researcher, which left me to assume that I was the experiment. I shuddered at the thought of being poked and prodded.

    "They wont hurt you, at least I don't think they will" His words didn't reassure me in the slightest. I let him pull me around a corner and toward a door, which he unlocked with a key that was hanged loosely around his neck. He opened the door and slowly dragged me in.

    The room was huge, and open. The wall directly in front of me was completely made of glass, revealing a forest just outside. I was in awe, it was beautiful; untouchable.

    "Is this where you live?" he released my hand and I was immediately drawn to the glass wall. I gazed at the surrounding greenery and watched the sun begin to set in awe.

    "Yes, and now you do too, if you'd like anyways." he walked over to where I was standing.

    "What do you mean?" he slid past me and over to the kitchen to fetch something.

    "Do you want to stay in that other room?" I shook my head no, I didn't care to go back. But what about my home outside this place? Surely I had a family to go home to. Where where they? These were questions I intended to ask but felt as though I shouldn't. He walked away and disappeared around a corner only to come back with another key necklace similar to the one he wore. He held it out to me and when I hesitated to take it he smiled and slipped it over my head. Once he turned I clutched the cool metal in my hand.

    Bradley slowly started walking away and I assumed I was meant to follow. I assumed right. I scurried after him not wanting to be left alone.

    "I know thing are confusing now, and I know you probably have questions. The longer you are here the more you should understand." he kept his head straight forward until he reached his desired destination.

    "Here we are, I don't really care what you do to or in this room, it is yours now." I reached for the handle but Bradley grabbed my hand before I could. "Be careful, please." he let go of my hand and walked away. I reached my hand out to the handle and pushed the door open quickly not knowing what to expect. 

    I surveyed my new room and discovered that most of the rooms were adorned with large glass windows, but currently it was too dark to see outside. In the middle of the space was a small living space with a solid white sofa and burgundy pillows along with a television. To my right was a small kitchen with a dining table and cabinets that matched the pillows and curtains. Behind the living room I noticed something large and solid white by the glass wall; a piano. Why would they put a piano in my room?

     I walked to the piano and let my fingers brush along each key before I sat down. My fingers automatically went to rest on the keys and I unconsciously began to play. A slow melody played from my fingertips filling the silent room. I did not remember knowing how to play the piano, but surely someone had taught me. When my fingers were done playing for me I opened my eyes.

    "How did you do that?" The whisper came from beside me and made me jump. Bradley had somehow sat down next to me while I was in my music trance and was staring at me with curiosity.

    "I just put my hands on the keyboard and..." I started to play again but he stopped me.

    "No I mean how did you remember? How did you know how to play?" He clenched his eyes shut.

    "I don't know, I looked at the piano and just remembered." I felt sad for him because I truly didn't have the answers he required. He sighed and trudged out of my new room and into the dark hallway outside. "Good night..." I whispered to him even though I knew he couldn't possibly hear me.

    "Good night." I heard too clearly in response. Did he hear me? If so, how did he do it and how did I hear him? I got off the piano bench seat and walked toward the bed.  I slowly crawled under my quilt-like comforter, closed my eyes, and willed myself to go to sleep. I would get the answers I wanted another day.

     I tossed and turned in bed trying really hard to remember where I was, then it clicked. I was in some sort of research facility with a boy named Bradley. I repeated this over and over in my head as I stared at the blank ceiling. I breathed in deeply through my nose and was instantly awake. The smell of food made my stomach churn. I hopped out of bed and checked my surroundings. 

    The walls were a comforting soft green and I realized now the only lighting came from the sunlight streaming in. The bed I was laying on was quite large and was covered by a white quilt. The wall facing to the front of my bed completely consisted of old white bookcases. I looked at my attire and realized I was still wearing the hospital gown. I jumped out of bed and saw that there were clothes already put out for me, a pair of faded denim shorts and a simple black v-neck. 

    The thought of someone being in my room while I was asleep was slightly concerning but I decided to be grateful anyways. Walking around in a flimsy hospital gown was far less than comfortable. I slipped on the clothing and walked down to the source of the smell.

    "Good morning. I see you smelled breakfast." Bradley looked over his shoulder at me as I made my way down the stairs with a disgusted look on my face.

    "Good morning to you as well." I took another long whiff of air and paled through my exhale.

    "What's wrong?" I tried to hold my breath, whatever he was cooking my body seemed to be repulsed by it.

    "It smells awful in here." He looked at me funny and then smelled the air himself. 

    "I think it's the food." He looked down inspecting his meal.

    "Well you eat don't you?" he flicked an egg covered spoon in my direction and I cringed in response.

    "I don't think so, if I do it won't be what you are making." he frowned and sat down next to me with a full plate.

    "They will be running tests on you today, nothing painful." I looked up at him. I wanted to ask him what he meant by that but I was interrupted by a rap at the door "Come in!" Bradley shouted at the visitor then continued to stuff his face with his homemade meal. A head peeked around the door revealing James.

    "I'm here for Tessa. Come with me dear." He waved me over and I looked to Bradley for affirmation. He nodded and motioned for me to go out into the hall with James. I looked back one more time at Bradley then disappeared. 

    James walked me back down the familiar hall, and back to the lab room where I had woken up in the day before. We reached the door and he knocked; Sheryl responded by opening the door.

    "Tessa! How nice to see you! You look great!" Sheryl was bouncing on her toes like crazy, and wrapped me up in a large awkward hug. My hands hung limply at my sides unsure of what to do. This was far different than yesterday. Just as I started to pull away Sheryl whispered softly in my ear, "I missed you." I was shocked, had I met Sheryl before yesterday? With wide eyes I finally peeled my body away and walked farther into the room which now had a surgical table in the middle and a bunch of weird machines all around it. It appeared that everyone knew me, whereas I didn't have a clue who any of them were.

    "Tessa would you please lie down on the table for me dear" Sheryl pointed at the table and I cautiously followed suit. I rested my weight on top of the table letting the cool metal keep me calm. I sat on the edge and let my feet hang like yesterday; I tried my best to ignore the metal cuffs on either end. Sheryl motioned for me to lie down and I stiffened. I stared down at the cuffs now and my heartbeat quickened. Bradley said they wouldn't hurt me. I said this once more in my head before taking a deep breath and lying down. I kept my hands close to my sides and away from the cuffs on the table hoping there would be no need for the barbaric restraints.

    James approached my side and grabbed my wrists and shoved them in the metal cuffs not taking my discomfort into account while Sheryl did the same to my ankles but gentler. When I thought they were done restraining me I let my body relax only slightly and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. Sheryl walked closer to my head and placed a kiss to my forehead. She then wrapped a thick leather strap connected to the table around my head and across my forehead.

    I felt nervous and shivered. My breaths became ragged and short and James and Sheryl could tell. Bradley said they wouldn't hurt me. I began to say this again over and over in my mind like a prayer to ease my discomfort.

    "Calm down please dear, it will hurt a lot less if you just stay calm. we need you to focus...can you do that? " Sheryl asked above me looking deeply into my eyes.

    I took a deep breath and tried to shake my head but couldn't move. In that moment I realized I didn't even know my own eye color, let alone have any idea what I looked like. I sighed as I felt a needle insert into my arm and then slowly lost sight of the world.

    I regained consciousness slowly and my mind was in a hazy state; my body ached and I felt more constricted than I ever had before. I pushed against my binds and when they cut into my skin I began to panic. I screamed screamed and opened my eyes. I jerked my head upward and broke the leather strap like a toothpick then lifted my arms bending and snapping the metal that contained them. The metal gouged large jagged cuts into the back side of my wrist and I could feel the warm flow of blood trailing down my fingers. A loud persistent ringing sounded in my ears and I could hear muffled shouts. 

    James was in my face now and was pushing as hard as he could against my shoulders with no prevail. I ignored his shoving and pulled out the IV attached to my arm. I shoved James away easily and sent him tumbling to the ground. Now that I wasn't being pushed I ripped off the metal cuffs around my ankles with ease. I turned and hung my legs over the side of the operating table, but before I could stand I heard a scream, 

    "Tessa stop!" I froze and gripped the metal table so tightly it indented. Bradley stood in the doorway with a shocked and scared expression on his face. He surveyed the scene and his eyes hardened. He was scared of me? I searched Bradley's eyes and knew I'd gone too far. I released my grip on the table and the ringing in my ears began to stop. My head cleared and the voices around me were no longer muffled.

    "How did you do that?" James looked to Bradley in utter disbelief. 

    "She trusts me. If you treated her like a human she'd do the same for you." Bradley shrugged his shoulders then scooped me up off the table and into his arms. Once in his arms I slackened, any adrenaline I previously had was draining unbelievably fast. He went to turn and leave but his father stopped him.

    "Where are you taking her? We weren't quite finished with her." James gave him a stern look but Bradley looked away towards the open door.

    "Anywhere except here." Bradley walked out without another word. I felt limp like dead weight and I felt sore all over. He gently pushed my hair out of my face and brought his lips to my forehead, my eyes fluttered at the contact. "Tessa?" Bradley looked at my delicate face hoping for a response but I didn't have enough strength to give him one. I slowly closed my eyes and let sleep consume me.

Bradley

    When her eyes finally opened I nearly dropped her. Tessa's eyes were a deep red like the color of fresh blood. I didn't remember them being red before, however I didn't pay much attention to her appearance before. Her long dark hair flowed across my arm in loose waves. The lashes that framed her round red eyes were long and thick, and she had soft rose red lips. Her complexion was milky and soft, not a single scar or freckle. She probably stands at about five foot four about a head and a half shorter than myself. She truly was beautiful. I brushed away her hair and watched her chest rise and fall in a steady motion.

    I knew little of what she was capable of or the power she possessed, but I got a glimpse of it today. I could see why my dad was interested in testing further. Tessa groaned and pulled me out of my trance. 

    "I'm going to take you to your room so you can rest, ok?" I asked softly but didn't expect an answer. She slowly shook her head in a no gesture and gripped the fabric of my shirt. 

    "Don't leave me alone. Don't make me go back." It was barely a whisper but the words still made my heart clench. What did they do to her?

    "I won't." I said it louder than intended and she flinched and clinched her eyes shut.When I finally made it to my bedroom door I pushed it open with my back being careful not to hurt her. 

    They had never hurt me but Tessa on the other hand looked miserable. I walked to my large bed and softly laid her on it. She automatically curled up in a ball like she was protecting herself. I watched her tremble till she started mumbling words I couldn't understand

    Red tears streamed down her face and she began to sob. What language was she speaking? I pulled out my phone and immediately called Sheryl, the phone was ringing when she screamed. 

    "Hello? Bradley are you ok? Tessa?" Sheryl answered with concern written in her voice.

    "I need your help, something is wrong with her." That was all I said before ending the call. Through all my fear I still carefully got in the bed and pulled her into a sitting position where I cradled her. After a moment she started mumbling the same words I didn't understand. Sheryl came running through the door. She immediately panicked and began yelling at me.

    "Idiot! James shouldn't have let you take her until we were done. This is all your fault!" She shouted at me and pulled Tessa out of my reach.

    "I-I- don't understand what she is saying, it doesn't make sense." I was taken back by the way Sheryl reacted to Tessa's condition.

    "Stupid boy, you can help her. She's drained." Sheryl continued to spit words at me but I only became more confused.

    "What do you mean?" I stood and carefully came closer to them.

    "I'll give you a hint" Sheryl took one of her fingers and viciously sliced my forearm open causing a red stream to flow and pool down my arm. 

    "What the hell are you doing?" My eyes got round and I flinched.
Tessa's eyes opened immediately and Sheryl shoved the bloody cut to her mouth.

    "Wha-" Tessa bit me and I screamed from the shock. The pain followed soon after.