"But- how? Seriously, Summer, you have some fierce skills, girl!"

I glance at Audrey and shrug. There's no way I can tell her the truth. Not only have I not known her long enough to form a bond of trust, but I can't tell anybody. This is my fight and my fight alone.

"Amnesia must have done you well. That, or you were a badass before you feel into a coma."

Again, I just shrug off her comment. It's time for us to sit around a table to discuss ways to better improve ourselves. After a long day off fighting and training, which has left me all kinds of sore, we are here to talk. To talk to everyone in our group of teens, that is.

Some of our coaches and what not sit around the table with us. The round, plain white table. The plain table situated in an even more plain room that sends chills down my spine.

Ever since this Chip has been activated, something has shifted within me. I've been less at ease, less social. I've also been more insistent on finding out my past.

Voices float in and out of focus. Soon, Audrey losses her focus on me and hones in on the actual conversation. My eyelids threaten to drop shut and it takes all my remain strength to keep them open.

Maybe it's the Chip, the exercise, or both. Aside from increased fighting abilities, that cool electric fingers thing, and my (occasional, and short lasting) increase of senses, I haven't discovered any other abilities. It's so crazy. This whole thing that I've woken up to is just absurd.

I notice the girl from the work out room, Ashley, has her gaze fixed on me. As soon as I look into her emerald eyes, she glances away. There's something about her. Something about the sadness and anger in her eyes.

I notice how her hands are folded on the table. I notice the slouch in her posture. Her hair is frizzed up in its braid, oil catching the artificial lighting from the sole lamp above us.

Across from her is that girl Kaylee; the one who has been nothing but rude to me. There is something about the way she carries herself around me, something about her sharp attitude.

There's also something strange about the way people act around me. People gaze at me with knowing looks. It's as though they remember a side of me, multiple dozens of chapters of my life, that I can't. And I hate it.

I guess this tells me that I really grew up here. People know me, right? Still, something doesn't feel right in the pit of my stomach. This is all because of the stupid Chip. If it wasn't for that hunk of junk, I wouldn't be feeling like I am.

If only I could stay blissfully unaware of all evil forever. If only I could crawl under the covers of my bed and fall into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Maybe I would sleep for a day, a full twenty-four hours. Maybe then I could recharge my batteries and wake up ready to face this head on.

In reality, I would never be ready. I know there is more ahead for me. It's just, I'm not sure if I can handle it. I'm a fragile, weak girl given some position of power to play with. I have no past memories, no nothing. I have to go off the present and that's it.

Suddenly, Audrey elbows me in the side. I blink, staring into the eyes of the people surrounding me.

"You were asked how you felt the day went. If anything is coming back to you, maybe?"

I'm glad to at least have Audrey by my side.

"Oh, um, I think the day went well. I'm sort of remembering, but not really. I feel that I did make progress in training though."

It almost seems like the adults are committing my answer to memory.

Finally, we are released to dinner. After the night's affairs are wrapped up, and Audrey has attempted to chat up a storm, we end up back in our room. We've scrubbed our teeth and lie in bed.

The lights are off. Curfew has been announced and has passed. Now, it's just us girls in complete and utter darkness. My limbs are sore, and I fear the pain tomorrow will bring.

I flip onto my side. Despite my fatigue, I can't force myself to sleep. Instead, I'm forced to listen to the soft breaths of those around me, and to the loud snores of one girl across from me.

I hold my hand out in front of me. Nothing is picked up by my retina but a shadowy figure. Then, rolling into my back, I stare at what must be the ceiling. Maybe I could try counting.

One. Two. Three. Four. I give up.

"Summer?"

The whisper startles me, causing me to jump with fright.

"Audrey?"

"Can you come down here?"

Having nothing better to do, I comply. Slowly and carefully, I climb down the short latter. My feet finally meet the floor and I nearly sigh in relief. However, I must be as quiet as possible.

I feel hands blindly flailing in the darkness. Of course, one makes light contact with my cheek.

"Shoot, sorry!"

"It's fine."

I feel fingers gripping my shoulders.

"This might feel weird, but I just want to know that there is an actual human being in front of me."

Well, that sounded even more weird. "Okay?" What if we wake someone else up? Doesn't this girl know we should be sleeping?

"I have trouble sleeping," Audrey explains.

"Well, I can't sleep either, clearly."

Her hands drop from my shoulders. "Well, want to sneak out and explore?"

My eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. "Are you crazy?"

"I've done it before. We won't get caught."

Yeah, maybe she didn't get caught in the past. I, however, have just awoken from a coma. As far as I know, I'm in almost everyone's good graces. Well, the graces of people who matter. I don't need to go around messing this up. I don't need to get in any trouble!

"Fine. You can go by yourself, then?"

"Summer, please!"

I shake my head although I know she can't see me in the darkness. "No!"

"Come on! It'll be a fun adventure!"

Let's see; I can't sleep. I'm bored. Maybe I can look for some clues or information. Or maybe something will spark my memory.

"Alright."

She begins to squeal and I blindly slap out in the darkness, trying to cover her mouth. Suddenly, everything becomes very visible. Before I can ponder this, Audrey has grabbed my arm and is pulling me out of the door.

She, of course, can't see the door handle. I can. So, I quietly sneak us out of the room. Once that's taken care of, Audrey seems to know the hallways by heart, even in total darkness.

I begin to freak out. Yet, I also feel kind of elated. This must be something related to my Chip! I have night vision! Different shades of green mix in my vision in order to give me an idea of what's going on around me.

Glancing up, I notice the cameras. They can't see us, but I can see them. That's a pretty useful skill. I mean, while anyone else couldn't see a blade being thrust their way in the dark, I could easily dodge the blow.

Audrey happily skips down the hallway. We finally come to a stop in the most beautiful room I've ever seen. It's filled with gorgeous flowers and a river perfectly cutting the room in half. It's also lit by the moon many stories up, yet somehow magnified by the glass dome above us.

"Aren't their cameras? They can see us in this lighting!"

Audrey shakes her head, wordlessly leading me through the garden room. She leads me down one of the many concrete paths lined by bushes, vivid flowers, and trees.

"How did you find this place? Is this one of the rooms we get to hang out in when we have spare time?"

Again, she shakes her head. "No. I found it on my own when I was wondering one night. I didn't see any cameras and have yet to be caught."

We finally come to a halt near the middle of the spacious room, the nearly full moon shining above us. How long has it been since I've been outside? Have I ever?

"This is my favorite spot to come. It's away from everything and everyone. It's so serene. Since you're the only real friend I have, and the one person who probably needs comfort the most, I thought I'd share it with you."

My heart swells. "Wow, I can't believe I had you would show me this. Or that you don't have any other real friends. You're so nice and lively."

She shrugs, glancing up at the moon. "I guess nice people don't always win."

This poor girl. "They do. In the end."

"Well, whatever. Let's just enjoy being here now."

I nod, settling into the faux grass with her beside me. It brushes against my fingertips and I can't help but smile. I'm reminded of something happy, something I can't remember just yet. Somehow, I just know I will. One day, I'll remember it all. I have to.