Project H.A.R.P

Subject #2

Project Failed.

Subject #6

Insanity for two days before death. Project Failed.

Subject #13

Died in their sleep after one week of success. Project Failed.

Subject #25

Went insane for 5 days. Had to be confined to a cell. Project Failed.

Subject #37

Complained about head aches 30 minutes after injection. Died an hour later. Project Failed.

Each paper contained a list of subject, all whom died with horrible deaths. Rapidly, Harper flipped through the pages, the same words repeating.

Project Failed.

Project Failed

Project Failed.

New development.

She paused on the new words before she continued reading.

Dr Hyens, supervisor of the subjects, suggested using the unborn for our project, so the subject won't deal with a large adjustment. This is a possibility we can't avoid, and our first volunteer has already been acquired for this task.

She turned the page.

Project H.A.R.P.

Subject #125 - first unborn testing

Project Failed.

Harper gasped as she read those words. Whoever had written this had admitted to killing an unborn child! Along with 124 other people! The subject number brought her back to something she had seen in the top page. Frantically, went back to it, trying to ignore the other Project Failed written on every other piece of paper.

When she reached the top again, the number was written there, clear as day. Subject #317. Whoever this was, they lived at the cost of 316 other lives, many of which were babies. All these papers with different subjects that they didn't even bother to name. Because to them, it was just an experiment, not a human life.

Flipping through the pages again, she searched for the first day with "Subject #317" . She found it over halfway through the stack, meaning most of the pages were about whoever this person was.

"Project H.A.R.P," she read allowed, her hands shaking, "Subject #317. As of now, the project is successful. We won't know until the subject is born if it worked or not. Hopefully she lives until then, as the subject is Dr Hyens' wife... " she skipped a few pages, "Subject #317. Day 7. The subject is now slightly over a week old, and seems perfectly healthy. The older sibling has taken a liking to the subject rather quickly. Unfortunately the subject has to stay at the hospital for a while longer due to possible mental problems. There's a chance this a side effect of the experiment.

"When the caretaker of the subject was asked what name to give the subject, they chose Harper. It's fitting but almost ironic. However, it's also common enough that no one will question where it came from, and it will help us identify her in the future. " her hands were shaking so much she dropped the papers. She held a hand up to her mouth in shock as tears ran down her face. 

It's me. She thought, Subject #317 is me. My entire life was made on the deaths of 124 volunteers and 192 unborn children.

quickly she knelt down and grabbed the scattered papers. Luckily for her, they had fallen in fairly organized groups, so she was able to easily clean up the mess she'd made. Setting the full stack back on the desk, she grabbed her phone and took a picture of both the most recent page and the first one with her. Then, she left the office, resetting the lock and sitting on the couch. 

Without saying anything beforehand, she sent the two pictures to Bailey. She wasn't looking for a kind reply, but she wanted to share what she had learned with her sister. Before she had a chance to receive a response, she heard someone place their hand on the panel outside the front door. Worried about how whoever it was would react to her crying, she ran to get room and locked the door behind her.

Sitting with her back against the wooden door, she hurried her face in her knees. Whoever was inside was walking around the apartment silently. Suddenly, her doorknob shook a little bit before the person realized the door was locked. "Harper?" Wyatt's voice came from the other side.

"Go away!" She yelled back. She just wanted to be left alone.

" Are you okay? "

"Leave me alone!"

" I'll take that as a no. What's wrong?"

"Well, I just learned everything I thought I knew about my family was a lie, so that's great."

" You're being dramatic. "

"Oh, so learning your whole existance is built on a foundation of dead children is being dramatic now? "

 "I'm sure that's not true! "

"Oh yeah? Go ahead, break into my dad's office. See for yourself."

" You broke into your dad's office? "

"Yeah, I did," she chuckled slightly, " Bailey always told me to try something new. I just never imagined it turning out like this. "

There was silence between the two of them for a while. When Wyatt spoke again he was talking quietly, "Listen Harper. I need you to do exactly as I say."

" What is it? "

"Your dad is going to be home soon, so he sent me to check on you. "

"He is?!? But it's, like, 10 in the morning! "

"I know. I found it weird too. But I get it now. Your dad wants to take you to the lab."

" The lab?!? "

"That's where he works. I used to work there until I refused to help with the experiments when they started using it on the unborn. They probably took you there before, but you can't go back. It won't turn out well if you do."

" What do I do, then?!?"

"First of all, you let me in. "

She nodded even though she knew he couldn't see her and stood up. Unlocking the door, she walked over to her bed as Wyatt walked in.

"Listen, " Wyatt started, shutting the door behind him, "When your dad gets home, you can't be here. You need to go back home. "

"But my mom -"

" I'll figure out a way to keep you and your siblings away from your mom. But right now, you just need to get out of here. "

"All my things from the sleepover are still in my bag. I'll just throw a few other things in before I go."

" Good idea. Hurry. I can drive you to the bus stop and you can take it out of town. "

She nodded and started grabbing things; a phone charger, her money, extra clothes, and some other things.  Turning towards Wyatt,  she tossed her bag over her shoulder and nodded. "alright," Wyatt said, "Now let's get you out of here. "

The two of them left the room and walked towards the front door. When she opened it, she was greeted by the face of her father. "Hey, Harp!" He said cheerfully, " What are you doing? "

"One of my new friends from the sleepover asked if I could help her with schoolwork," she lied. Somehow, it came to her quickly, unlike normal.

"Why do you have your bag, then?"

" It has my books and notes in it. There were a lot, so it's easier to carry this way, " another easy fib.

"I see... Well, don't take too long. I have a surprise for you!" 

She grinned and nodded , waving goodbye to her father for what was hopefully the last time. As she got in the car, Wyatt sighed in relief, "That was way to close."

"Yeah." As they drove, she looked out the rearview mirror . Three black cars were trailing them. "Uh, Wyatt? Behind us."

Wyatt turned and muttered something under his breath before facing the road again, "We need to hurry."

"I think we're too late, " she mumbled as one of the card swerved in front of them and stopped. Another one pulled up beside them, and the third one blocked them from behind.

They were stuck.

Story word count: 1345

I apologize for making this another multiple section part of the story, but it was the only way I could have these next  1 or 2 chapters make sense. I'll try to update tomorrow so you all aren't left with this. See you later!