The Program

Chapter Fourteen

This time, instead of having a dream of touching the memory wipe tree and watching more come up, forming a harsh pain to my head as memories left, and eventually running toward a hole that would lead me to the test, I just woke up in it. And I was next to the memory wipe tree, memories still intact. 

But just like the first time, I was weak and wobbly as I forced myself to stand, taking in the view around me. It looked the same, trees everywhere and I could make out the lake in the distance. Except it all had a dead look to it. And the shacks were gone, making me also come to terms with the fact that this time Reid might also take away the advantage of materials. 

With my head feeling like it shattered into a million pieces, I tried to keep my balance, keeping myself up the only way I knew how; by not falling. And that's when I noticed two things.

One, my mark was back. The pixels running over each other in a beautiful fashion, placed on my flesh in pale rainbow colors.

And the second thing, I was alone.

I knew it was coming, after all, this fight was against me and Reid, not anyone else. But he had still hurt other kids, driving them to suicide, during this fight. Maybe to send me a message, maybe just for fun.

Whether I was prepared for it or not though, didn't matter. I was totally alone, much unlike the first test where one hundred and forty nine other teens woke up here with me.

It was actually kind of peaceful in a way, being here, being the only one here in what I knew would become a place of torture. I was planning on it even. But it was nice to know it would only be me undergoing it.

Not Annie, or Danny and Caleb. Neither John nor Jack, not anyone I care about.

And that includes Luke. Even if he's now dead, i'm glad that if he were alive, he wouldn't have to take part in this again. Because even though I am, no one should ever have to be sent to this prison again.

We shouldn't have been sent the first time.

But the silence and peaceful thoughts soon left me, watching as pixally lights from every inch of the test neared me, bright and vibrant and possibly still meaning the same thing it did the last time I was here.

Someone was entering the test.

My first guess was Reid maybe. Or perhaps he somehow made Natalie, or it might be Henry or Martha.

Needless to say, I was shocked to find it was none of them. Instead seeing a girl shorter than me, with that familiar black hair and strangely a not so evil smile across her face that I had seen the last time I saw her, the time I had shut down the test.

"Riley?" I asked, slightly confused and scared at the same time. Mainly because I knew that Reid could barely hurt me in the test, what with my ability to disrupt what he sent my way. But Riley, she was programmed to disrupt as far as I know. Making her only weakness being made from codes, but still able to hurt me. Like she had before. Computer program or not, I had to admit she would be tough competition. 

And maybe that was why Reid brought her in.

She didn't come closer, just staying in the spot she was in, giving me a look of.....well, actually it wasn't much of an actual look instead of a blank stare, and her posture like that of a stiff board.

I forced myself to turn my head, ignoring her presence like she seemed to be ignoring mine, ready to walk in a different direction. But that's when I heard it, a light, soft voice that sounded cracked. "I'm sorry."

I stayed where I was, not even giving her the satisfaction of me moving my gaze to her again. Of course she would say something like that. She was Riley, and i'm sure still evil. She was just trying to get in my head. So instead I just hissed, "You're sorry?"

I sounded angry, and I had reason to be, given all she had done, fake person or not, you would think she would have some kind of conscience. I was ready to just punch her.

She was freaking sorry?

"Yes, i'm sorry." She continued, her voice still low but suddenly closer. Too close in fact. And that's when I felt something touch my shoulder, my head snapping back and placing the best glare I could on my face.

I managed to get in her face, her shrinking down and cowering like the faker she was. I knew my teeth had to be showing, and if anything my own evil side had emerged from doing so. I had never been this fierce, not even with Reid. 

But a lot has changed.

I am not the girl I was before.

"Why are you here?" I growled practically through my teeth. I didn't want to hear her say that she was sorry again, I only wanted to get to the root of things, the important things.

"You would be here alone, left to go insane. Why would Reid want that?" Was her response. Really, because I thought that was what he did want. "Reid is not heartless."

That's when I shoved her. She hit the ground, me growing furious.

How dare she say that?

"Reid is not heartless? Are you freaking kidding me, Riley?" I screamed. And then I kicked at nothingness air. And I brought my hands to my face, only to feel the lightest of tears near my eye. My screaming commenced til I got what I needed out of my system. And then I faced her again, her still down where I left her. "He killed three people."

"They committed suicide." She said.

"He made them. He told me." My tone was calming down while at the same time my voice was breaking. "It's his fault they are dead."

"What does it matter to you? You're still alive."

"They're human beings. Innocent ones." I practically boomed before she could even finish. Which only sent me into a frenzy once more. I had changed from this strong, dangerous seeming girl to a emotional wreck within seconds.

"Not all of them were innocent." She mumbled. "You and I both know that."

I didn't hold back after that. The force from my hand against her face sent bolts of pain surging up and through my arm, my hand still stinging when I brought it away from her.

And without a word, I spun around and left. 

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Things have changed. The test isn't what it was. 

The test always seemed alive in a way, vibrant and beautiful and full of bright colors. Now it's dull, dim even, having a broken look to it. And now it doesn't seem as real, pixels clearly visible in places where leaves should be.

The food is completely inedible, withered and glitching in a strange motion at times. At the lake, the water is calm, not even rippling when I dipped my hand in it earlier, completely still.

All that is exactly how it was is the memory wipe tree, where I am back at now. The icicle leaves still their blue-ish glow and the curled roots coming out from the earth, or in this case a computer programmed ground. And something I hadn't noticed when I woke up, Riley getting in the way of me actually getting to look around, the picture I drew of Jack is still there. It made me smile.

But then I heard the crunching of leaves behind me. Or maybe it was the sound walking on sticks that had fallen. Or just the fact that the test isn't strong enough to sound like it won't give out at any moment when someone is standing or walking on it. And that thought made me want to both continue to smile, and to frown. Because I caused this, me.

I broke it. I broke the test.

But all that I could do was turn toward the noise currently, obvious that it was Riley. I didn't know where she went after I slapped her, nor did I want to know because I wouldn't be apologizing.

"I'm sorry." She told me.

This again?

"Cut the crap and tell me what's really going through your mind." I sneered.

I saw her breathe out, running a hand through her hair. It was then I realized that I was wrong, the tree was not the only thing not broken, Riley wasn't either. She looked as normal as any human. And considering her being a program, that's saying something.

After another second her eyes stopped on mine, and what might have been a tear slipped from hers. "I knew about what Reid wanted to do. I was my fault, the way Jack almost died, even though I knew Reid wouldn't actually allow him to. And how I forced Luke to do what he did. I really am sorry." She did seem sad. Perhaps I was wrong again. She is a bit broken.

Aren't we all?

"I just don't understand, Riley. Reid went through all off this," I gestured around. "just to save a world I don't think even needs saving. Tell me what in the heck is wrong with him."

"We are all forced to do things." Was her simple reply.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Reid told you he had a boss. That's how life works, there is always someone higher than you."

"Oh, so you just expect me to believe that this boss of his is the reason behind him doing everything he did to me? And to Jack? And all my friends? He ruined our lived." I screamed.

She didn't answer after that, instead moving closer to the memory wipe tree, directly in front of me. Then, almost out of no where, she sat, leaning aganst the tree trunk and motioning for me to as well. When I didn't comply, she urged, "I couldn't do anything to you if I wanted to. Whether you can see it or not, you shutting down the test made me weak. You shut me down too."

"That doesn't make sense." I said, confused.

"Ha, what about any of this makes sense anyway?" She laughed. "Now sit down, i'll explain all that I can to you. Which just so you know, won't be much, but will be important."

"Is something among this important information why you say that you're shut down but are here?" I questioned.

"Maybe." She answered. "But first, i'd like to explain some things about Reid, a bit about his past."

"Tell me, Riley. Why would you tell me anything about that? You're on his side." I scoffed.

"Are you telling me you're really going to turn down knowing Reid's past just because you don't trust me?" Good point.

"And what if all you say to me is a big fat lie?"

"What if it's not?" Was her next question to me. 

Deciding I really didn't have anything to lose and might actually learn something helpful about Reid's life, which would also turn out helpful for the plan, I nodded, soon sitting down and waiting for her to speak.

"The beginning of this story is quite spectacular." She stated, starting off. "It was all because of one thing that Reid made the choices he did; his family. And the day of the fire was the day he found out just how far he would go to protect them."

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Hey guys. Ugh, I actually had a hard time with this chapter. Don't you just hate it when you plan something and you're main character does something totally different? Well, that's what happened to me and I couldn't fix it because Lexi was being stubborn.

Anyway, I continued to write and here is what happened. I really hope it's good. If not, my characters are seriously starting to control me and I am defenceless against them.