Hot tears fell down my face as I was pulled away from my mother. All I remember is a blur of screams, followed by never seeing my family again.

It was January 6th, 2269. I was put onto a train with 60 others who had turned 16 a day before they were taken. Just like me.

We were all given black dresses that were obviously way too small, and nothing else. That was to be our "uniform." We were then given ID badges with our numbers on them. Mine read:

FM531
Formerly: Arïma VanWysse

Everyone else had the same look of paralyzing fear on their face, but mine was made of stone. Once again, tears fell out of my eyes, blurring my vision. Only this time, they were cold and silent.

The strict man controlling us told us to sit in the chairs encompassing the perimeter of the train car. Without thinking, I immediately obeyed. He was being warm and friendly, so I could tell this process would not end well.

60 older women entered the car, looking as though they were worn and robotic. Each woman secured us to our chairs, and my long brown hair was immediately cut off.

Every girl in the car was reduced to the same hair length, and soon all of our hair was bleached, too. A black eyeliner was placed onto our upper eyelids, and red lipstick to our lips. By the end of the process, the only difference that remained between us was our skin tones.

That's when I realized it. Every woman who transformed us had someone else in the room who shared their same physical features. They must make us all look the same, but change the process every time... I thought. Each woman could not speak to us, but gave us a kit with the same makeup inside it. They left without a word.

The man then came back. "You must always look like this. Apply the makeup every day using the instructions listed. If you fail to oblige, you will be punished severely." He said this with a devilish smile, to make this remark ironically lighthearted. "Now for your work assignments."

We were each handed a card, and my pale hands shakily grasped it. I opened it without hesitation, only to receive a whip to my fingertips. I fell to my knees, my hands burning. "That is what we mean by 'punishment', FM531. You must wait to act until instructed to do so."

"Yes, sir." The words left my lips with a squeak. Much to my dismay, I was able to catch a glimpse of who I would be working for.

CROW LUNA
Head Commander

I was treated like a dog in this place, and I was not about to let my "boss" treat me like less than that. So I shut down everything. That was the last time I felt emotion. From that point on, I felt nothing. No tears, no heartbreak, no anger.

Nothing.