I didn't think there was anyone else in the room, but the words rang loudly throughout the room. My gaze darted around the room. I was right, no one was in here except me. My eyes were drawn to the single lit up computer screen in the room.

    "Gooday, ready to play a game Miss Aldridge?" The words echoed out of the speaker and the same message was blinking on the screen. READY TO PLAY? Things are starting to get super creepy right about now. I plastered myself against the door and hugged myself. Very funny dream I'm having. I tried to think of other things; I was just dreaming this up because of the lack of sleep I had last night. Yah that's it.

    "Gooday, ready to play a game Miss Aldridge?" I covered my ears.

    "H-how do you know my name!?" I screeched in fear. I didn't expect it to answer me.

    "I've been programed to know you name Miss Aldridge." It was programed to do this. Programed by who.

    "Who programed you computer?" I must be going crazy, i'm talking to a computer.

    "I'm not a liberty to tell Miss Aldridge. Now, are you ready to play?" I approached the computer and cautiously and sat in the chair.

    "What do you want me to do? How do you play?"

    " The rules are simple I will ask three questions. Type your answers on my screen. Get all three correct, and you win. You'll be free to leave. You answer any of the questions wrong, I'll pump toxic gas into this room and you'll suffocate."

    "What!!" I screeched. "I'm not going to play a game where my life is at stake!! This is insane! Let me out now!"

    "If you decide to forfeit, I'll fill the room with gas. There is no refusing to play my game Miss Aldridge." I stared in horror at the blank, white computer screen. Two buttons appeared on the screen: an Accept button and a Forfeit button.

    " Please click one Miss Aldridge."

"You know what, I'm really ok." I tried to negotiate with the talking program, but it didn't respond. I was very tempted to push the forfeit button. Would I actually die if I clicked that button? I reached for the mouse with my hand and moved the corresponding cursor over the accept button. I hesitated. What if I got the questions wrong? I grimaced and clicked on the accept button. Nothing would really hurt me, I was just being pranked, or I was tired and dreaming after playing with Max. The screen lit up and witton on it was CONGRATULATIONS! MISS ALDRIDGE. A loading circle appeared on the computer's screen and rotated agonizingly slow. The first question appeared.

Question: A man has a chicken, a bag of oats, and a coyote. He also had a boat. The man wants to cross the river so that he can go to market, but his boat only has a spot for himself and one other item. He has to take the chicken, oats and coyote over one at a time. If he is worried about losing any of his merchandise, what order should he take the three across?

    This was an easy Question. I had solved it many times before. The Man had to take the chicken over first, so that the coyote wouldn't eat the chicken. Next the man would take the bag of oats, then take the chicken back over again so that it didn't eat the oats. He would have to leave the chicken and take the coyote next. He would lastly have to take the chicken back over to the other side. I typed in my answer and the computer displayed another loading circle labeled: calculating answer. I held my breath. The circle disappeared and out of the computer's speaker came a trumpeting noise.

    "Correct, next question." I had a little mini victory celebration before the next question appears.

Question:  There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters?

    I had to think about this one. Two sister, one giving birth to the other, and vice versa. I riffled through my brain for the answer, but a myth I read in a book not long ago popped up instead. In short terms, It was a Norse myth about the two wolves named Skoll and Hati. One chases the sun, Sol, and the other chases the moon, Mani. I kept thinking about the wolves. I finally saw the connection. The two sister are like the Wolves, but instead of swallowing up the sun and moon, the sisters are giving birth to them. The answer is night and day! I typed in night and day into the text box, then waited for the circle to deliver its edict.

    "Correct, Final Question." I smiled happily. I was good at these riddles. The last question appeared and I almost fell out of my chair.

Question: Convert this binary code into english then type in the written message.

01000001 01001110 01000111 01000101 01001100

    I was completely shocked. translating code? I thought we were answering riddles. I looked at the coded message. Even though it was unexpected, the code looked easy enough. I did code translations all the time in computer science club. The first letter was and A, next was a N, followed by a G, E,  and L. It was 5 letters spelling out the word angel in all capital letters. This was the final question, I couldn't get it wrong. I imputed my translation and sent in the answer. 10, 20, 30 seconds passed. The finally the results sent my stomach lurching up into my throat.

    "Correct! Test Passed. Going into shut down." I didn't believe it. I was so happy I felt dizzy; The sweet smell of victory. I really thought I was going to die. The screen went dark and I collapsed onto the table. That was incredibly creepy and the worst prank ever! I was going to kill Spencer when I saw him, not to mention now I was going to be late for my meeting with skylar. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I stood up and walked towards the door still a little dizzy with relief. I hadn't noticed it when I had walked in but there was a funny chemical smell filling the room. Someone in sixth period today must have spilled something and didn't bother to clean it up. I turned the knob and the door swung open. I took one step out of the door, and my legs started to wobble and my vision blurred. What, what was happening. Before I could think anymore I crumpled into something standing in the hallway, and fell into unconsciousness.

...

    When I awoke, my senses were dull and My body felt like it weighed a ton. My head was pounding like a jackhammer. Despite this fact, I was aware of voices talking not to far away. 

    "Commander Daniels, what did you fill that room with? She's been out for a good 3 hours now." A women asked.

"I diluted some Chloroform gas, but it must have been stronger than I originally thought." answered the commander.the man, who must have been call Commander Daniels, answered. Another male voice that sounded much closer to me than the other two spoke up in the conversation.

"She did answer all the questions in the Spinx program correctly, was it really necessary to actually fill the room with gas? If I hadn't been standing outside the door, she could have severely injured herself." He said to his companions in a concerned tone.

"Well then it was good that you were standing there then Rio." The women said. It was becoming clearer that she had an accent but I was having difficulty placing it.

"There's no need for worry Rio, I know what I'm doing. I am a chemistry teacher after all. Don't you remember going through the same thing during your test Rio? do you remember Tawyna?" Commander Daniels asked. The other man named Rio was silent and so was the women who must have been Tawyna. Maybe they were remembering something, something unpleasant. "I'll be right back. You know what to do if she wakes up." The commander said to the other two. There was a sound of echoing footsteps and the closing of a nearby door.

After the man had left, something cool unexpectedly touched my cheek and my eyes flew open. I lurched into a sitting position, my forehead connecting with something hard. I cried out in pain and heard someone else cry out at the same time. I fell back down, muttering curse words. Laughing erupted from what seemed like the other side of the room. I slowly sat up this time: I held my head in pain. Once I regained enough composure I looked around with curious eyes. I was sitting on a black leather couch and a light blanket was draped over my legs. Sitting on the ground next to me was a young latin American man with dark hair kneeling before me. He was wearing a black, button down shirt and jeans. He had to be only a couple years older that I am. He massaged his head and muttering to himself, which told me his head was what mine hand made contact with. 

"Ouch! was that really necessary. All I did was put my hand on your cheek to check you  temperature. Did you have to slam your head into mine." He mutter.

"I'm Sorry! I really didn't mean to do that, are you ok?" I was a little panicked when I said it. The man looked up in surprise. Then he smiled at me.

"No, no. It's ok, really. I'm just glad you're awake." He stood up. "Please don't hit me this time." He said dryly before touching the back of his hand to my forehead. There was a slight pain where he touched my forehead, which was a result of my head on collision earlier. He pulled his hand away and looked into my eyes. "Everything looks alright. Your temperature seems normal. Your eye's are a bit dilated, but overall there doesn't seem to be any long lasting, negative effects." He concluded.

"Where am I?" I asked him before he pulled his hand away. He didn't give an answer. Instead he turned his head around and addressed someone standing behind him.

"She's fine Tawnya, there's no reason to wait any longer." He declared. Despite the pain still throbbing in my head, I was getting annoyed at the lack of answers I was getting. I was very easily frustrated that way. I removed the blanket and swung my legs over the edge of the couch and tried to stand so that I could see who he was talking to. The man pushed me back down by the shoulders as I wobbled where I stood.

"You need to sit," He commanded. "Tawyna, could you please stay with her and make sure that she doesn't stand up while I go fetch my bag."

"Sure." A woman's voice, Tawyna's, chimed. "Just hurry up Rio."She said. The man, Rio, walked purposely out of the room through a door behind the couch which the other man had existed through earlier. The woman Tawnya came and sat next to me. She had dark skin and shoulder length, frizzy hair that was the colour of charcoal. Her smile radiated kindness when she looked at me. I was still wary nonetheless.

"Tell me who you people are, and why you brought me here." I demanded.

"You'll learn soon enough." She said in her accent seemed to be African but from what part i had yet to decide. "The commander will tell you every-"

"Who are you talking about! I've never meet this commander and I have no desire to stay here." I was exasperated not to mention a little angry; I tried to stand. A cold, icy hand rested on my shoulder from the backside of the couch.

"Please Miss Aldridge, Listen to Rio and Tawnya and lay back down."I shook off the hand, stood up. When I turned around, I was surprised about who greeted me on the other end of my gaze.

"Mr. Mekentric!?" I exclaimed in utter disbelief. "What are you doing here? Where are we?" I asked frantic questions but the aging chemistry teacher just held up his hand to stop me.

"Slow down child, and lay back down for heaven sakes." Now that he mentioned laying down, my head felt fuzzy. I plopped back down on the couch. The women placed her hand on my forehead like my mother used to when I was little and sick. I felt a little awkward sitting in an unfamiliar room with the school's chemistry teacher on one side of me and an unknown women named Tawyna on the other. I moved away from the women and sat on the far end of the small sofa. I kept silent, but I fidgeted with the wing'd necklace at my throat. Mr. Mekentric spoke to me.

"You're here for a special purpose and we needed to test you. However,  I can't reveal much yet. It's still too soon." He say to me. I was about to ask him for the tenth time where I was and why I was here if he couldn't even tell me anything, but the door open and the man named Rio enter with two others in tow. The two other were familiar faces. One one the freckled skinned girl from the cafeteria whose named if I remembered correctly was Nara, and the other, well, that was a face I knew a little too well. I couldn't get rid of this guy could I. Spencer filed into the room directly after the girl Nara. It would be an understatement if I said I was shocked, but I decided not to show my surprise outwardly. Instead I radiated anger and glared at the teenage boy. The woman Tawnya looked puzzled at the 3 newcomers and spoke in her accented voice.

"Where are the twins?" she asked. Spencer answer her question with a tired look on his face, completely ignoring me.

"They finally decided to go to bed for once. I'd rather not wake them up again." Tawyna nodded her head sympathetically.

"Well then, should we start?" Mr. Mekentric walked over to the desk in the corner and sat in the chair behind it. Everyone else loosely encircled the sofa I was sitting on. I had forgotten my anger and exchanged it for a dose of resentment. I pouted like a child but listened intently to what the old teacher had to say.

"Miss Aldridge, you are here in my office in downtown Baltimore, a ten minute drive from the school." Mr. Mekentric said.

"Finally! someone tells me something!" I pause for a moment; my joy was short lived. " Why am I here and not at the school? You do work there right?" he gave a rye chuckle that made me feel like I'd asked a stupid question.

" I do but that is... how do I put it." He looked to the the latin american man named Rio for help.

"A part time job?" he suggested.

"In a matter of speaking yes, thank you Mr. Garcia." Mr. Mekentric agreed. He nodded thankfully at the man for his suggestion. "You see I only work at the school as a cover job. outside of school... My job is much different."

"A cover job? What do you mean Mr. Mekentric?" He chuckled.

"You can stop calling me that Miss Aldridge, that's not really my name." I was at a loss for words. "You can call me Mr. Daniels outside of school."

"Mr. Daniels..." I repeated the name. I shook my head in dissbelief. Nope too weird. He continued despite my disapproval over his new name.

"Outside of school, I work here running this facility. I instruct talented people from around the world and train them in order to form a special operation team on the behalf of the United states government in cooperation with the united nations. The people around you are part of this institution and many live here as a result." I looked around the loose ring of people that had encircled me. Their faces were stoic and emotionless. I took in a deep breath, and walked towards the door.

"You people are crazy, I'm leaving." surprisingly no one tried to stop me till I was about to closed the door behind me. It was the usually quiet girl, Nara, who called me back.

"We want to help you."

    " Help me with what? I don't need help." I inched back into the room. All eyes turned to Nara; some were filled with a curious interest like mine, and others were filled with a glint of panic. The blood drained from Nara's face and she glanced around at all the eyes looking at her.

    "What I mean is... I was trying to say that... I wanted to..." She couldn't seem to articulate her words, and her statement floated in the air without explanation. I didn't wait to hear the last of her statement. I shut the door behind me and paced quickly towards an elevator that I hoped would take me home. My thoughts were heavy and foggy from whatever they had put me to sleep with. I couldn't quite think clearly, but i remember one of those people telling me that what just happened was some sort of test. I sighed to myself as I entered the elevator. I hate test, and I knew that things had just gotten very weird in my life. I couldn't help the feeling in the back of my head that told me that something scary was about to happen.