"Hey Masky?" I asked. "Yeah Omega?", he responded. "What do you think will happen if they catch us, out of our ropes?" at this point, we've already escaped. "If were fast enough to the loosened ropes, we'll make it. If not... we're screwed, unless you could bust us out with your power...", he said. "I don't know why, but it's like it doesn't work on command. I guess I just need more control over myself. I wish I had more control." I answered. To which he responded, "Don't pity yourself for it. You'll get a hang of it, I promise.", I felt myself blushing a bit. "T-Thanks, Masky." When all of a sudden I saw a bright smile on his face in the dim moonlight (he has his mask on the side of his head), and he said, "Omega! I think I've got i-" when we heard the large metal door creaking open. So we quickly ran back to our ropes, and pretended to be asleep.

    The same man from before that took Toby away, came inside. "WAKE THE HELL UP, RATS!" The guard shouted, as he banged his baton against the steel door.  We both pretended to just be waking up, as we slowly opened our eyes to see the man. He walked over to me then untied my ropes, of course, trying to assert dominance by pushing me around every time he tugged on the ropes.  When he finished, he gave me a rude glare before he commanded, "Line up by the door, and don't say a word. Got it?", I didn't say anything in response. He then smirked, "I like you, 672. You're smart." He whispered. He then pointed to the door. So as I walked to the door, he untied Tim, and gave him the same instructions he gave me. Tim walked to the same area I was standing right behind me, then he and I waited for the man to take us away. Regardless of the dim light shining into the pitch black room-and the moonlight, I couldn't really tell what the man looked like...

     "Alright 672 (you) and 683 (Tim), as soon as we walk out this door, you will follow me to the mess hall. When you two are done with lunch, you will walk out of the exit, left from the mess hall entrance. From there, you both will follow me to your separate cells, and you will address me as SIR! Got it?", he commanded impatiently. "YES SIR!", Tim and I shouted in unison. "Let's go, then." he said. He raised up a hand and waved it towards himself as he started walking out into the hallway, closing the large steel door behind him. Tim and I followed him into the hallway. I was behind Tim, who was behind the brawny man. It was bright enough, and I was able to see the man from behind. He has short blonde hair, he seems lean and muscular, has black leather gloves, and from the looks of it, I'm sure he is about 6'0 ft. He was walking in a slouched manner, signalling he wasn't too happy or enthusiastic. Maybe he still has some heart left in him, from working here, I'm not too sure he does. "We're here." The man called.

     I looked around the mess hall as he pushed the double doors open, and a loud burst of chatter and screaming filled my ears. Everyone was dressed in a dark blue uniform with a tray full of disgusting looking food. The man spoke up, "Please... please be safe in there. I had to put up a tough act when I was in the cell, but this place is truly a hellhole. You two are just kids, you two deserve life. Especially a free one." he then took a knee down to Tim and I's height. He then gave us a small smile, and cooed, "I will always be a room down the right wing's restrooms, if you both need me. Okay? Please, please forgive me." I looked at Tim and whispered, "I think we should forgive him. He goes through a lot working here."  He nodded in response. "Okay, we forgive you. Just don't turn on us, please." Tim said. The man looked happy. "Alright. Call me Jerrid. I'm afraid we have to stick to numbers, for secretive reasons. But at night, before night call, you can come see me where I told you to meet at. Be safe, okay? he informed us. "Okay." I said. So we left to the mess hall. "Tim, where's your mask?" I asked. He looked scared. "I-I LEFT IT! SHOOT!" He said frantically. He really did look cute when he was scared... WHAT no (Y/n) stop, please. We are like, I don't even know how old we are. Heck, it could've been a whole year for all I know.

     Tim and I got in line for the food, expecting something to happen. Well, it darn did.

   Some kids walked up to us, and started laughing. "It's a fresh-blood!! You two new here?!" He questioned, he seemed rude. "Yes, we are indeed new. What does it concern you?" I asked. He started mocking me, "yEs, We ArE iNdEeD nEw. WhAt DoEs It CoNcErN yOu. Hahaha, what does INDEED even mean!?" More laughter erupted from the group. Jesus Christ, he doesn't even know what "indeed" means! This is going to be a long day...

     So eventually the kids left us alone, and we were left to eat. We looked around to find Toby, and where he was sitting, and we found him sitting alone at a metal table in the left upper-corner of the mess hall. I smiled a bit before telling Tim to follow me to where Toby was located. I sat down, directly across from Toby with Tim to my right. "Hey Tobs! Long time, no see!" I greeted. He looked up at me with wide eyes, and let out a heartwarming smile. "H-Hey (Y/n). First o-off, who is t-that guy n-next to you? T-Then second o-off, how the h-hell are you s-so enthusiastic?" he asked, stuttering frequently. To which I responded back, "Because I'm certain we will get out of here. Very soon." I am more hopeful, than certain though. I think to make Toby understand how we will get out, I need to tell him about my 'ability'.

-----------------------------------TIME SKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP--------------------------------------

     I explained everything to Toby along with Tim, Toby seemed angry and surprised after hearing the story. "T-Thats horrible! I'm g-glad you a-are safe though!" Toby exclaimed, worried. "Hey, so I just got  here, right, so I don't know what year it is. Nor does Masky. Do you mind telling us?" I asked. "U-Uh sure. It's 1988. W-Why do you c-call him 'Masky'? Is it to p-protect his i-identity? U-Uh sorry I-I kinda got o-off track t-there. I'm 8 years old. What about you guys?" Toby answered. "Oh, I'm 8 too." I chimed. "I'm 9." Tim said. "O-Oof." Toby awkwardly said. Tim answered to Toby's previous question. "Yes. It is to protect my identity. (Y/n)'s is Omega. So let's not call each other by real names. What is your name gonna be Toby? This is the last time I'll address you by first name in public." Tim answered. "Hmmmm... I'm t-thinking... c-call me H-Hitower!" Toby seemed enthusiastic about his new alias. Maybe 'Hitower' has something to do with his height. He was VERY tall for his age. He looked like he was 12. "Cool nickname!" I said to Toby. "T-Thanks Omega." Toby said to me. I looked away, then gazed into Tim's sparkling brown eyes, and hugged him. "Do you think we will ever escape?" I whispered to him. He hugged me back with his head on my shoulder as he responded. "Of course we will.  These idiots are no match for the three of us. We WILL escape, no matter what. Trust me." Tim answered truthfully. I pulled away, eyes still locked. "Thank you for everything." I said. I was smiling like an idiot. "U-Uhh am I i-interrupting something?" We looked over to Toby who was smirking. "N-Nope." Tim said blushing. This perfect moment ruined by the guards. But frick, we're not even 10 yet.

     "GET OUT! GET OUT! INTO YOUR CELLS, RATS!" one of the guards shouted, I sighed rather loudly."I guess this is it for now, huh." I said. "S-Seems so. See you both a-again at d-dinner, M-Masky, Omega. We both waved goodbye, and left to where Jerrid told us to exit. I looked at Tim, hoping for a good sign, he noticed me when we were about 5 feet away from the exit, we were still walking. He smiled at me, though he seemed uneasy. "Hey, it's gonna be okay." I cooed. He smiled a bit before we made it outside. "GRAYS TO THE LEFT, BLUES TO THE RIGHT." a voice boomed. I looked down to my sleeves seeing grey, I then looked over to Tim who also had grey. I looked around the room to see if there were anymore grays, but no, just Tim and I. So we both went to the left, while everyone else went to the right. "672 AND 683, FOLLOW ME TO YOUR CELLS!" A scrawny woman yelled. Well, 'yippee ki-yay', here we go.

     We followed a scrawny woman to what we thought was our cells. Instead she guided us to a small white room. "Stay here. Dr. Wilson will be coming in soon. Don't try shit, it's best for you, and less of a hassle for us." the woman said, whilst Tim and I sat down on the hard concrete floor. I gave a quick glance to Tim, he looked back and mouthed "I hope you will be okay." , "I hope you're okay too." I whispered to Tim. We both smiled back at each other and stayed like that until I broke away blushing, to which I glanced back at Tim and he was smiling and blushing. I chuckled and figured I'd go search around the room for anything useful, though I'm not saying I will. At that I stood up and stretched, my bones sounded like pop rocks. "Jesus, how long were we out for?" I murmured. I took a few steps forward to investigate, I looked to my right to see a cracked, portrait styled mirror just barely hanging crookedly on the wall. I approached the mirror and took a long stare at myself. My (h/c) that used to be (h/l), is now back length and very greasy. My features were slightly more developed, for an 8 year old, at least. "Hey Masky?" I asked. "Yeah Omega?" he responded. "Come over here, please?" I said. "U-Uh yeah, sure." he complied. He stood up and walked towards my location, he looked down at me then said, "Yeah?". I looked towards the cracked mirror, pointing at it. He looked towards the mirror, and or the direction I was pointing to, and immediately seemed disappointed. He approached the mirror, then put his right hand up to it covering his face. 

     "I'm disgusting..." he murmured. I thought he was amazing in every way, though... whatever. He scowled, and brought his hand away from the mirror, punching the glass at full force. "Hey Ti-!" I asked worried, being cut off by Tim throwing another fist towards the mirror, another, another, and now they were coming at full force, like lightning. "TIM STOP!" I yelled almost breaking down, I didn't want the person I loved most to do this to himself. I heard whimpers and sobs from him as he kept on punching, slowing down at a gradual pace. He dropped down to his knees with his back to the wall, holding his hands up to his face exposing his bloody knuckles. "T-Tim... I'm s-so sorry." I whimpered. He took his hands away from his face, and looked at me with tear filled, glistening brown eyes. I knelt down to his level, and put my hands on his shoulders while locking eyes with him, "Tim, Please don't do this to yourself. I-I love you!" I shouted, with emotion filled words. "(Y/n)..." He began. "I'm sorry. I-I couldn't stop myself." He explained. "I just-" I started but was cut off by Tim saying "Wait, do you... do you really mean it?", "About the I love you? Of course I do! I don't care how many times I have to say it to make you know?! I. LOVE. YOU. I'll say it whenever you want, and whenever you need it. Tim I... I LOVE YOU! You're the only person that has actually been there for me, since, since my mother left. So I hope you'll stay." I asked, hoping he would. I don't want him to leave me, I realize I'm being selfish, but please, please, please don't leave me Tim. I realize I let a few tears fall myself, 'pit-pattering' on the floor. Tim wiped his eyes one last time while letting out a short sniffle, he then stood up slowly, but steadily. "I will never leave you. Never. But I sure hope you'll hold to your promise." He said with a weary smile. I smiled back. "Of course I will. Hug it out?" I asked. "Yes please." he replied with a chuckle. We both extended our arms towards each other, eventually hugging one another. "Thank you for your patience. We'll get started right away." Oh no...

Thank you guys for your patience! I'm sorry I haven't published in a while, I had lots of school work to catch up with. But I made an extra long chapter to make up for it! Pleeeeaaase do all of the following, vote, follow, share, and COMMENT! Thank you for being amazing.

                                                                     $chickentendie out$