The first outfit is Melissa, and the outfit later in the chapter is Sarah          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Being pulled up from the hospital bed, I am faced with many questions as I am told, once again, that I am being placed into a Witness Protection Program. Even after a couple minutes of them explaining what is going to happen to me, I am faced with the sad truth. The sad truth that my old life is gone forever.

    They also informed me that the person who nearly killed me was a serial killer who was tracking my every move, trying to put an end to my monotonous life. They know all of this mainly because he left a note at the crime scene, explaining everything, but they had yet to find him. 

   Afterwards, I am told to get dressed in a very dark-colored looking outfit. The group of suited people in front of me slowly walk out of the room, leaving me to do so.

   As I am left to get dressed in clothes that are the complete opposite of me, I mentally check my head for any pain, but so far, it seems like I'm pretty much healed after a couple of weeks. I go into the bathroom and take off my gown. I look at my scars on my chest, feeling slightly ashamed from them. I trace the new tissue formed on the old wounds, looking down at my new clothes. I take a deep breath and try to not think about what lies ahead.

                                                  ~~~~~~~~

   After pulling on the....very strange clothing, and not knowing how to wear it properly, I walk out of the room, looking at the agents for approval. One of the women in the bunch walks out of the crowd, shakes her head, and motions me to go back into the dormitory. 

 "Okay, honey, I see your struggles," she said, "but we need to get this together if you are going to be in this Program, okay?" I nod as she paces around the room, glancing at my outfit as she continues.

 "You are now Brooklyn Evelyn Rogers. You live in Ottawa, Canada, which we need to get you to. Now, since this is Illinois, we need to get you on a plane. But not with you not knowing how to dress at this point." She looks up and down at me, shaking her head. 

 "Now, Brooklyn is probably the complete opposite of you," she explains, "judging by the way you're wearing the skirt completely backwards." She points out my mistake, and I just begin to burst out laughing. She does the same, probably laughing at my idiocy.

 "Well, we are going to change the outfit that they gave you, on account that those idiots have no idea how to dress most of the witnesses. I mean, come on, those sneakers definitely don't go with those tights...ugh." I shrug, which follows by her temporarily going out of the door. I begin to hear muffled yelling and I laugh at the huge scene being unfurled, all over the wrong style of tights. Drama queen, I thought to myself

  She returned with an armful of clothing, throwing it on the bed. She pulls out a gray tank top, some ripped black skinny jeans, a flannel, and a black leather jacket. I tilt my head and furrow my eyebrows. 

  I was probably thinking, "And how do you expect me to work...that?" 

 "I know that it seems like...much," She said, "but trust me! You will look bad. Not bad, bad, but baaaad." She nods her head and I quietly chuckle and put my arms up in defeat. "Alright, I trust you. But I didn't catch your name." She smiles and begins to introduce herself. "My apologies." she pretends to bow. I love her sarcasm. "The name's Sarah. Sarah Ridges. Pretty basic, right?" I shrug.

 "Well then," she claps her hands together, rubbing her palms as she speaks, "let's get you Brooke'd up!" I sigh, preparing for a long day.

   After hours of making me look like one of delinquents I'd see in my old high-school days, relaxing on the side of the building, smoking or doing some kind of drug, I am transformed into Brooklyn Rogers, with the help of one of my agents. She ended up dying my precious blonde hair brown, shaving the side of my head, and many other crazy things that made me scared to death of what came next.

  Nodding in approval from her work, Sarah smiles at me. "Brooke," never got used to that name, "you look amazing, if I'm honest. If you ever had the chops to do this before, you would've realized how cool you look with dark hair and dark clothes." She sighs in approval and disappears into the bathroom, but continues. 

  "Now, since you can't go by yourself anymore, I will be your roommate in Ottawa." She pops right back out, almost in an instant.

  She was wearing a green striped sweater, a denim jacket, black skinny jeans, and black converse. She came out bearing a pair of boots and two suitcases. Where is she getting all of this stuff? 

  "Here's your shoes, and here's your suitcase and bags. the suitcase has clothes in there already." I nod, still trying to find logic in all of this. 

 "Okay. So since I am just your agent, I'm going to keep my name, but you need to know your name at. All. Times. Got it?" I nod. "Got it." I begin to lace up the platform boots that were given to me. I smooth my jacket, pull up my jeans, and grab the bags. 

  "Now, after we leave here, you need to watch a video. It's required for all the Witnesses, and you will probably learn more..." Her voice trails off as the group comes in to collect both of us.

                                           ~~~~~~~~~

  "Hello there, and welcome to the Witness Protection Program!" As the overly excited lady speaks to the camera, I sigh and sit in the oddly cold tint-windowed taxi cab, looking at the laptop in complete boredom.

  "So, here are a few things for you to remember when you are in this program!" She crosses the room, still pretending to smile at the camera.

  "One, you cannot have any contact with your family or past life! I'm sure your agents have collected your cellular phones or other devices in your possession!" I nod at the screen, as if she could even see me do so. They asked me for my phone, which followed by them searching me and even the bags given to me by Sarah. I guess it's abnormal to not have a cell phone. 

  "Two, you have to memorize all of your new and personal information, such as your name, your address, and many others!" I'm sure that Sarah will give me all of that as soon as we head to Canada.

  "Three! You can escape this program at any  time, as long as you know that leaving this program would not be a wise decision. I'm sure you can figure out why in your own conclusions." I shudder at the thought of what would happen, as I mentally make my mind up. 

  "Alright then! Get going on your new life! And try not to die!" She waves me away as the screen goes completely black, leaving me with unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I close the laptop and put it down beside me in the cab. I look forward, waiting on Sarah. 

   Moments later, I see her pop out in the driver's seat.

  "Where to, miss?" Startled, yet humored at her sudden appearance, I chuckle at her. She gives me a warm smile, followed by police cars circling us. Drawing conclusions, they're there to escort us to the airport. 

  I shrug and lean back, preparing for quite a long drive.

  When the police cars slow down or speed up, we do so too. Most of the cab ride was just us talking. I never knew that you could have so much in common with someone who works for the government. 

 "So, I know that you can't really talk about your past, but I'm quite curious." She turns to look at me for a moment before looking back at the road. "Why were you so....plain?" I look out of the window, looking at shades of red and blue and green and so many other colors.

  "I....I don't really know. It's like I just didn't care enough about my choice of style, but did care enough to just be myself. Well, it kinda worked." I sigh at my former self. 

  "But....when I went to the hospital, it was like something clicked...inside of me." I sat still in that same leather seat, listening to the rumbling of the car. My hands on my lap, palms open. I don't remember exactly what went through my mind, but I do remember what she said in response.

  "I know what you mean." I look up and look at her through the rear-view mirror. "I was once that way about my life. I had an office job. It drained me of my life." She sighs, probably thinking about her  former self. "It was like I was in my own personal hell..."  Her voice shakes as it trails off. She continues to look at the road, gripping at the steering wheel, as if she's mentally strangling the old her. Her knuckles turn white.

  "It's terrible," I say, "how they can get away with passing off such grueling work that can be done in less than two hours." I gently place a hand on her shoulder. "At least you're doing a much better thing, rather than just staring at a screen all day. I know the feeling."

  I see a faint smile run across her face, dimples that were once covered showed through, ever so slightly. 

  At least I got some clarity throughout these past few weeks. Staying in a quiet and secluded little room gave me time to think about my choices. I would probably still be in my beige room, sleeping on my beige sheets, if it weren't for this Taxi. If it weren't for Sarah.

 "One thing that I know," Sarah started, "is that you will have a fresh start. You will get to be someone else that is the polar opposite of you. But you need to know that you will be a little younger than you are now." I cocked my head to the side.

 "meaning?" I asked. She slowed down as the police do, and looks at me through the mirror. 

 "meaning that you will be at least 18. I wasn't given the exact records for it, but they will be at the apartment in Ottawa. Just be prepared to act a younger age." I nod and look out the window. For the rest of the ride, there was nothing but the static of the radio.

                                         ~~~~~~~~~

   The rumble of the engine stops abruptly. The airport isn't an airport at all. It's a small building with a runway on its side, the runway carrying only one jet. Opening the car door, I can feel the rumbling of the jets, even if I'm half a mile away. 

  Sarah pulls out our luggage and we leave the cab behind. As we walk closer into the vast space of the airport, my heart races. It races for the new life being paved in front of me. Sarah opens the door to the facility for me, and I walk in. Minutes later, we are being lead to the jet. I look at Sarah for reassurance, and she gives me a warm smile of encouragement. 

  The sound of the jet whirring is almost as loud as the heartbeat in my ears.  

                                               ~~~~~~~~~