“I said, why won’t you talk to me?!” the young boy yelled, from just over my left shoulder.

When I’d woken, I’d been on my right side, so what I’d previously seen of the room was skewed. Clearly, there was something behind me, or I might have seen the annoying child trying to knock me out of the…cot?…I was lying in.

“What is your problem?!” I yelled back at the little twerp. He couldn’t have been more than 7 years old. “I was obviously asleep!”

I flipped over to my left side before fully sitting up. The young boy sat back on his own cot. More like fell back, really. I think I startled him a bit.

“I…I was scared, and you wouldn’t answer me,” the little guy sputtered.

I wasn’t particularly amenable to children, but his demeaner tugged at me a little. I mean, if I had no idea where I was, what was this kid’s story? And why were we in this small empty room alone together, come to think of it? No wonder he was scared. I had to set my own questions aside and be the adult in the room. Even if I was only 12.

And then he started gushing and bawling, which broke the spell entirely.

I rolled my eyes and transferred myself over to his cot next to him. I patted him on the head with an obligatory ‘there, there’ as I sat down. That’s what adults do, right?

I gave him a chance to catch his breath and settle down before plying him with questions. “Maybe you can start by telling me what’s going on here. Do you know why we’re here? Do you know where here is? How did we get here? Who brought us here? And who are you?”

He stared at me slack jawed for a few moments as he sniffled. After finally rebooting from my overload, he let the dam burst. “Iwassittinghereforeverbeforetheybroughtyouinandyouwereasleepthewholetimeand…,” he paused less than a second to suck in a breath, “…thentheybroughtinfoodbutyoudidntevenwaketoeatandIstartedgettingscaredand…”

I was able to clamp my hand across his mouth before another syllable spilled out. He actually kept going for a moment before realizing it was wasted breath.

I kept my hand right where it was as I asked, “How do you expect me to understand that?”

I slowly pulled my hand away and invited him to speak again. He took a few slow breaths before proceeding at a more sedate pace.

“You were asleep when they brought you in, and you wouldn’t wake up. I got scared. I don’t know who they are. Grown ups.  I’ve never seen them before. A big guy with a beard and a woman with long blonde hair.”

He took a breath to compose himself, as his emotions started to flare, before he wrestled them down again. “I don’t know how long I’ve been here. It feels like forever. There’s food over there, if you’re hungry.”  The boy pointed with thumb over their shoulders, to the opposite side of the room from what I saw when I woke up.

I looked in that direction and saw two glasses of water and two plates containing cheese and bread. Prisoner fare.

Who took children as prisoners? Oh yeah. Kidnappers. Kid…nappers. Duh.

The right question is, why? My own parents must be out of their minds about me at this point. Presuming I have parents. I must have parents, right?  So why couldn’t I remember them?

I had no idea how long I was going to be stuck with the kid, but the food in the corner by the door held no interest to me whatsoever. Maybe because it was the most basic of foods, but whatever. I wasn’t hungry.

But I was getting a little angry.

It was clear that I was stuck with this other small person until I could get answers from the man with the beard and the blond. Were we being hesld for ransom? Were we part of some experiment?

I stood and did a simple check on my exposed skin for obvious marks. That didn’t take long because there wasn’t much exposed skin. I was covered from neck to ankle in a one-piece body suit, with no closure in front. The only thing exposed was my head, hands and feet. I reached to the back of my neck, where the collar crept about halfway up to my chin, and found the zipper.

Checking the rest of my body would be impossible.

I sighed deeply and stared at the ceiling with my eyes closed. I didn’t really have many options but to wait.

Which didn’t end up being long.

While I was still contemplating the insides of my eyelids, the latch on the door clicked and the door swung open.

A dark bearded man, thin but nearly as tall as the door, entered through the frame, flanked by an equally tall pale skinned woman with blond hair cascading down to her midsection. She had no discernable makeup on, and she looked like she might have just woken up herself.

Before I could utter a single syllable, the man pointed a small remote in my direction and I was immobilized completely. I couldn’t move anything, even my eyes. I’m not even sure I was blinking.

The boy was still in front of me, and it appeared that whatever the man had done affected him too. Despite the fact that my eyes were squarely fixed on the two adults, I could clearly see the runt in my peripheral vision.  He too was stock still and unblinking.

The man shook his head. “We’re making progress, but I think we still have a long way to go.”

The woman seemed to concur.  “You’re not wrong, but I’m concerned about the empathy.”

The man responded with a shrug.  “It’s better than the last time. He didn’t even have a trace of it before.”

“Still not wrong. That pat on the head, though felt more like a concession than empathy,” she replied tersely.

I realized at that point that they were talking about. I understood their words, but not what they were talking about. They had an issue with my empathy? What did that mean? Who cared? I’d been kidnapped, and was being held against my will! So what if the little brat was scared?!

The woman raised her hand toward me. “See, even now it’s like he’s devolving into a more primitive demeanor. Emotions clearly aren’t the issue, but we need to get the balance settled. He really needs to show a lot more compassion.  Oh, and of course, he’s not thinking or acting age appropriately. I think the base imprint is too strong. We’ll need to adjust that too.”

If I could have rushed them, I would have done so. I was done with whatever crap was going on and I wanted answers. If I could have raised my voice at them, I would have done so. That fact was, I wasn’t even breathing.

“We’re going to have to reset.  Again.” With that statement, the bearded man raised the remote one more time and everything went black for me.

The world shook. Wrenched from sleep, my eyes snapped open and I looked around. The room was unfamiliar, and I didn’t know how I’d gotten there.

I continue to fight again and again. I try to scream. I start to cry from the frustration and fear. What is going on? Where am I? Please, someone, anyone, help me! I hear a metallic click from behind the drape. Then another, only louder. Like giant robotic steps, the clicks grow closer and closer. Then with the final click a halo of light forms around the drapes.

Two silhouettes stand like shadow puppets on the opposite side of the sheet. My heartbeat quickens. I should feel relief instead of dread and fear. The curtain slithers towards the right with a mechanical whirl. The silhouettes become two men in white jumpsuits. They stand on the opposite side of a great glass wall. I feel like a fish in an aquarium.

The jumpsuits are as sterile as the room, but they wear brown leather tool bags around their waists. They talk and laugh on the other side of the glass. My first instinct is that I am the subject of their conversation. The glass splits open, and I feel relieved and a little angry when I hear they’re talking about a baseball game instead. They walk into the room like it’s just another day at the office. Maybe it is.

The first man doesn’t acknowledge me at all. He walks over to a stainless-steel table and examines the tools on its surface. The other walks over to me with a tablet in his hand. He looks at his tablet and then up at my face. He scrolls down the screen with a swipe of his finger, pauses, and utters a series of numbers under his breath. Then, leaning over, he folds my left ear down.

I try to retreat from his touch, but my body stays firm. Instead, I only manage to let out a low whine as he touches me. He moves his face beside my head. I can hear him repeat the numbers softly to himself.

“Ok, so what’s left for this one?” The tableted man asks.

“memory load, ain’t it?”

“Yeah, and a systems check. It looks like this one’s voice box was torn out by one of the guests.”

“That wasn’t the only thing that was torn out. I worked on this one with Mark yesterday. Talk about a mess. Those rich bastards are sick, man.”

“So, you’re the one that didn’t put it in storage mode and left it sitting up like this?”

“Nah, it must have been Mark.”

“Sure, it was. And It’s not just rich bastards anymore. Even poor bastards like you and me can afford to be sickos now.”

“I’m good. These things give me the creeps.”

I try to look at the one who had called me a “Thing.” I am not a thing. I am a person. I have a name. My name is… My name is. My old friend Panic comes back in a flood. I can’t remember my name. I can’t remember anyone’s name. I look at the man in front of me as he swipes and pokes the tablet’s screen. Then he looks up into my eyes.

“authentication code: One, six, two, six, five, six.” He speaks the numbers slowly and clearly.

I let out a sound that can only be described as an idiotic moan. I’m embarrassed, and the man at the table laughs. I can tell the man in front of me is more than a little frustrated.

“You two are morons. Did you not verify the system update yesterday after replacing the voice box?”

“I thought we did.”

“Well, you didn’t, it takes two seconds. Two!” He swipes and prods at the tablet as he speaks.

“Damn, Drew, sorry. Get off my case.”

“Just do your job, Mike. That’s all I ask. It’s not much.” Drew looks back up at me. “Ok, let’s try this again. Authentication code, five, two, nine, five, three, three.” He reads from his tablet.

My body feels as though Novocain was injected into every muscle. “Credentials required.”   The words escape my lips. Words that were not my own. In my mind, I am screaming and flailing my limbs, trying to escape. In reality, I sit numb, frozen to the edge of the bed. I hate the voice.

“Andrew Tate, ID number one, five, six.”

“Hello Andrew thank you for visiting me today, how are you?” Again, the words came, but they were strangers. This voice is calm and almost comforting. It’s the voice of an automated phone recording. It doesn’t show the fear and uncertainty I’m feeling.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking. What is two plus two?” He asks.

“Four,” The voice answers.

“What is the ocean’s name between Europe and the United States?”

“The Atlantic.”

“What is the capital of Texas?”

“Austin.”

“Which word is unlike the others: Milk, Water, Juice, Rock.”

“Rock”

“What is your name?”

“Unit awaiting name assignment.” The words sent an icy chill down my spine. This was not happening.

“Ok, cool, easy day. It looks like you guys didn’t screw everything up. You got the base memories in.”

“You think you’re so much better than us, Drew. You’re not. You’re not any better than the rest of us techs.”

“I don’t think that Mike. I’m just tired, is all.” Andrew made some swipes on his tablet. “Ok, unit 450, your name is now Melissa.” He said to me without looking up from his tablet.

“Thank you, Andrew, I like the name Melissa very much.”

“Glad to hear it,” He said to me. “Uploading personal memories time, now.”

A life rushes before my eyes. I see my parents and my siblings, I remember how I got the scar on my right knee from falling off a bike. I remember the first boy I kissed and the first girl. The joy and pain of high school. Every sight, sound, smell, taste. Every emotion, every physical sensation hit me like a wrecking ball.

I can hear Mike and Andrew arguing over me. I open my eyes and find myself curled on the cold cement floor. I can see their bootie-covered feet as they blame each other for what happened. I can feel my body again and wiggle my fingers. I hold back a smile at my own autonomy.

“Why didn’t you lay it down before the upload!” Mike yelled.

“Because I forgot it was sitting up! You should have stored it right! They aren’t supposed to be upright in storage!”

“I did store it right! Even if I didn’t, how do you not notice those giant tits?”

“Screw you, pervert. Help me get it up on the table.”

Their cold hands grab my warm body. Hands slide into my armpits and on my thighs. I feel weightless as they lift me back on the table. When they let go of me, I sit up quickly, and they both jump back.

“Where am I, and who are you?” I beg, looking at Mike and then Andrew.

“Wow, wow, it’s ok, you’re ok. We’re not here to hurt you.” Andrew reassures with his hands held out in front of him.

“I find that hard to believe.”

“You had a little fall. You’re in the hospital. I’m Dr. Tate. This is my Nurse, Michael.”

“Screw you. Why am I the nurse?”

“Shut up, Mike.” Andrew answers without taking his eyes off me.

“Why not just tell it the truth? You’re a –”

“Shut up, Mike!”

“You know what Drew. I’m getting really tired of you bossing me around.”

“M I C 547 shut down authorization Andrew Tate ID 156.” Andrew blurts out the command.

In response, Mike’s face goes blank, and his arms fall slack at his sides. He squats down and hugs his legs, making a compact ball of man. His eyes are open as he stares straight ahead without signs of life.

“These damn software updates are going to get someone killed.” Andrew says, “Sorry, Melissa, we have to start over. Can you please lay down for me?”

I can’t stop looking at the balled-up man behind Drew. The expressionless face and contortion of the body make me sick. I don’t want to lie down; I want to get out.

“Melissa, did you hear me? Please don’t make this more difficult than it has to be, I’ve already had a long day.”

I did the first thing I could think of. “Look out!” I shout, pointing at the balled man on the floor. It’s not very clever, but it does the trick. Andrew jumps up from his stool and turns around to find Mike’s motionless body. Now, with his back in front of me, I reach forward, wrap my arm around his neck, and squeeze.

I wrap my legs around his body, and we both fall to the floor. I contract every muscle in my body. Andrew squirms as he pries at my arms with his hands. He continues to pry with one as the other disappears.

His fist slams into my thigh. I scream in pain as he continues to stab me. The pain is like a shock from a cattle prod, but I refuse to let go of his neck. The stabs grow weaker until Andrew’s body hangs limp in my arms.

I let go, and his body lies limp next to the bloody screwdriver. I hop to my feet and am met with pain exploding through my leg. I fall back to the ground. Determined, I claw my way back up. In my head, I had pictured this going more smoothly. I had imagined Andrew falling unconscious and stealing his uniform. Reality was different.  Alarms began to scream before I could catch my breath.

In a combination of fear and instinct, I grab the bed sheet. I wrap it around my body as I bolt out the door. Flashes from the red warning lights punctuate the dark hall. I run down the dark tunnel.

I hear voices and heavy boots chasing after me down the hall. I run as fast as my injured leg allows. Turning with frantic desperation down one hall, then another. I don’t know or care where the corridors lead as long as they lead to somewhere else.

Through the flashes of red, I see inside the cells, each holding a different body. Each one is in a different state of construction. Some lay limp on benches with no limbs. Others hang from the ceiling like life-sized marionettes with their chest open. Some pound on the windows and beg for help as I pass. Others curl in the corner of their cells, not knowing what to do.

They’re children and adults. Boys and girls. Men and women. I pay no attention to them; all my focus is on my escape. Then I see him. With a sheet around his waist and his dark hair reaching just past his ears. He looks as handsome as the day he proposed to me.

“James!” I shout, pressing against the glass wall of his cell. He looks at me, confused. “James, it’s me.”

“Get me out of here. Please, lady!” He yells after a moment’s hesitation.

“James, I’m not some lady. It’s me. It’s Mel, I’m your Mel.” I start to cry as I scream to James through the glass. I can hear the boots getting closer. “I’ll get you out, don’t worry, honey; I’ll get you out. There has to be some way to open this door.”

I hear a voice scream, “Shock! Shock! Shock!” Everything goes black.

The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here. The last thing I remember is… is… I don’t remember anything.