24B96X

Part 3

Just to let you know, this is set directly after the events of the first two parts...

Elle

"Results?"
"Negative. Heartbeat irregular."
"Is she responsive?"
"No, Still on life support."
I sigh gently, and press some buttons on the panel next to the sleeping baby. Her mother is dead by now, carted off, cells to be used for experiments. They don't need her anymore.
Nor will they really need this child. She's only part of their sick twisted games.
Experiments.

Sometimes, I'm glad they kidnapped me. Stole me away from my life outside the lab Walls, up to my neck in debt and misery. They trained me to be a mindless clone, a nurse who doesn't feel, doesn't care, doesn't love. I would like to think in different to the others, that I can care, but, deep inside, I know it's not true. It never will be.
"Elle! Have you checked the monitor yet?"
"Oh. Not yet. I'm just going to"
"Elle! Seriously! I keep telling the officials not to let the nurses in so young. They're too inexperienced. Never listen! Never listen."
Ingrid struts pass me, her greying hair swept up into a tight bun. Much unlike my own wild, unruly bronze curls, splayed out around my face. I stick my tongue out at her, annoyed at the fact she called me too young. Yeah, I'm 19, but life starts early here as they say. I press a few buttons on the panel, watching a tiny green lightbulb flashing brightly. Suddenly, the child wriggles a bit, mewing meekly.
"Ingrid!! Ingrid!! She's moving!"
Ingrid rushes back into the room, eyes wide.
"Really?!"
I glare at her, and she picks up the phone attached to the wall.
"Hello? Yes, it's Nurse 24IH. Ingrid. 24B96X's child is awake. Yes, I'm serious. Really. Send some higher ranked nurses down here right away please. Yes, lab 585R4. Thankyou."
Ingrid walks over to the child, pressing buttons and adjusting dials on the monitor, the numbers on the screen increasing dramatically. I guessed this was a good thing, by the manic grin on Ingrid's face.
Several nurses, all wearing navy uniforms, a sign of importance, march in through the door, nod at Ingrid, then wheel the child and monitor out with them. I stand back in silence, mouth open in shock. What gave these people the authority to take a child away from her appointed nurses? Only the masters could do that. Ingrid immediately picks up the phone, talking excitedly into the receiver.
Suddenly, a red light starts flashing and a siren wails, a shrill noise flooding the labs.
"DO NOT PANIC. THE LAB IS COMMENCING SHUT DOWN. NURSES ABOVE RANK 2 ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE FACILITY THROUGH POINTS 3 AND 45. NURSES BELOW THIS RANK ARE REQUIRED TO STAY WITHIN THE FACILITY AND REPORT TO HALL 354. THANKYOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION."
Ingrid waves smugly and literally skips towards the door, a grin plastered on her face.
"See you!" She smirks and exits the lab.
The siren continues to wail, droning loudly, overwhelming my thoughts.
"ELLE DARCEY. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO LAB 343QR FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THANKYOU."
At the sound of my name, I jump up, startled. Sighing, I pick up my first aid kit, and start to make my way over to lab 343QR.

A woman stands inside, talking enthusiastically into a phone.
"Yes! We've found her!! Seriously. I mean it. We're going to shut the lab down until she's 19. Yeah. The rank 1 nurses are staying. Okay. I'm sure. Really. I know. Yeah, we're going to partner her up with the male child. Yep. Okay. See you later."
I knock on the door, and enter as the woman waves.
"Elle Darcey, is it?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Okay, thankyou. just sit down there please. I'll be with you in just a moment."
"Um... If I may be so bold, why I am here?"
Hopefully this woman would appreciate my attempt at the old language.
"As you are 24B96X's child's appointed nurse, you are required."
"Required for what?"
"That information is classified to lower ranking staff such as yourself. Now sit down."
Sensing that I couldn't get any more information of out the woman, I moved over to the grey steel chair, slinging my first aid kit on the floor. She taps some buttons on the computer, and speaks loudly into a microphone attached to the monitor.
"Lydia Waters. Code Blue. Commencing shutdown in 180 seconds."
A clock appears on the screen, the hands ticking down, and a red light flashes from an alarm placed above the door.
"Shutdown? What on earth does that mean?"
"Shut up. I'm trying to work. Sit still."
I stay sitting, and watch the woman, Lydia, walk over and press a large red button on the wall. As she does this, a large glass cylinder starts to drop from the ceiling.
Around me.

I scream, trying to stand up and run. But, before I know it, the glass has reached the floor and I'm trapped.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!!"
Lydia smiles simply and speaks, her emotionless voice ringing out through the office.
"You are required."
At this, she leaves the room.
"What the hell?! You can't leave me here! You aren't even authorised to do this!! Let me go! Please..."
Sobbing, I hit the glass repeatedly, watching her lock the room. I don't care if I'm required. I want to leave.
Two mechanical arms reach out and grab my wrists, pinning them to the glass case. The same happens to my ankles and neck, until I am unable to move at all.
"Let me go!!!!"
I scream, feeling my eyelids fluttering closed. Blind to the world, I don't notice the needle attach a drip to my left wrist.
I don't notice the life support machine flicker on.
I don't notice the glass case fill a pale orange gas.

I don't even notice consciousness itself slipping from my grasp, until it's too late.

19 years later...