My mask has a build in air purifier. There are so many chemicals in the air, it got worse after the 1st Machine War. It's so quiet. Too quiet. Nobody knows what'll happen in the next ten or twenty seconds. It's like you would have to watch you back everywhere you go.
I don't know why the doctor looks at the 9 of us like we're so special. Maybe it's because we are. I wasn't sure about it, though. Can't be too sure about things.
Nothing outside looked like it did in the photos the doctors showed all of us. it was so beautiful back then until the machines nearly destroyed everything. Why couldn't everything look like it did before? I asked the doctor that and his answer "It is true noting lasts forever... but it can if only we take care of the things that is more important to us."
The old man seemed right. I believed he was.
I stared out at the city below a few seconds longer before going back inside. Rose was with me. I wasn't allowed to go outside alone, even though it was safe. The door was loaded with chains and locks. It was for sanitary reasons. They were meant to keep us safe.
Rose locked and dead bolted the door before I made my way back down the hallway towards the family room. where everyone was sitting and waiting for me.
I leaned against the arm of an empty chair near the doorway. Everybody else were close up to each other at the center of the room.
Maybe their ears were still adjusting to their surroundings. I could hear just fine from back here.
"There's something I've been needing to tell you all." The doctor took a deep breath and licked his dry lips before continuing. "Each of you has a role here, but I want you all to tell me what you think about each other."
Everybody looked at each other. It was confusing, but I figured it was better to role with whatever the doctor wanted us to do. After all, he was our caretaker.
"None of you may understand this, but all of you are here for a reason. Exactly ten years ago, we created machines that could help us with anything in these hard times.. until one day, the machines turned on their creators, thus, beginning the 1st Machine War."
"What's that got to do with us?" 3 asked. 3 was leaning up against the wall near the recliner 1 was seated in. The long messy light blond hair male had a snobby attitude. The doctor knew how to handle it.
"Patients, Leonidas." The doctor softly warned.
Right, Leonidas was the name the doctor gave to 3. 3 simply stopped and continued to listen to whatever to doctor had else to tell us.
"Scientists grouped together and created something that they thought would save what is left of Humanity. To help fight against the machines. I was one of those scientists. The something isn't exactly a something. It is each and every one of you." The doctor explained.
"What are we?" 2 asked. He was leaning against the arm of the recliner 1 sat in. "Some kind of military unit?"
"Something like that," The doctor replied, nodding with his eyes closed.
"Were we some kind of military operation or project?" He started to get a little aggressive. He pushed himself off the wall and began stepping toward the doctor.
At this point, 1 stepped in by pointing a finger at 3's chest as a warning. 3 backed off just like that.
The doctor let this happen.
"To tell you why you all are numbered.." He looked around at us before turning his gaze on 3, "I'm a scientist. I have nothing to do with the military." He looked over at 1 and began explaining why we were numbered, "1 is Malcum. He is your leader and he is meant to protect all of you."
The doctor nodded at Malcum.
1 stood up and asked "You want me to lead them?" He seemed confused. He wanted to know more about what the doctor was talking about.
"I want you to protect them." The doctor replied, "Everyone must do whatever you say while outside away from here. It is 6's job to lead all of you and get the information for you know it is safe to go anywhere."
That made a little since.
"What's the little wimp going to do?" 3 asked, sneering. "He looks like he's young enough to play with toys."
6 lowered his head and covered his eyes with his right hand. He seemed to of had gotten upset from what 3 said. 6 was sitting in a red bar stood against the wall. 7 and 8 was standing at either sides of him.
It angered me a little from hearing that. I wanted to say something and I was going to, but 8 stepped in and took my place.
"That's not very nice!" After she responded, everybody turned their attention on her. "You should be in the last place since your insulting people you shouldn't."
3 was going to respond, but the doctor shot him a warning glare.
"Oh, quit your useless fighting. 8 is meant to defend us, and you!" His cold, threatening eyes moved back onto 3, "And you are meant to guard us, not to insult everyone you came across. What sort of leader would you be if your into that sort of thing?!" He got up from the chair he was sitting in and began walking towards the door. "2's role is to inspire you. 4 and 5... the twins are to teach and define you. 7 is to guide you!" He stopped when he got to me and paused as if he was trying to remember what to say.
Everyone seemed to immediately get interested, desperate to know what my role was. Of course, i was interested too, but I didn't move.
"And you..." He began.
He paused once again. It looked like he was going it on purpose because he wanted everyone to learn from this. Maybe I wasn't too sure.
"To save us."
Some of them became dumbfounded, but 3 seemed to be unimpressed, There was no telling what 7 could of been thinking, but he was giving me some sort of look that I could not wrap my head around.
"The roles for all of you is whatever you choose how you will go on about your destiny."
-
Nobody said anything about the role thing anymore that night. Everyone climbed into bed silently. Every now and then, I would catch a glimpse of one of them looking at me. Of course they wouldn't say anything. Whatever was going on through their minds, it was probably the same thing I was thinking. Maybe. I didn't exactly understand what "To save us" meant, but I guess I was going to have to find that out my own way.
-
I slept a little okay. A few times I woke up in the night with Nurse Rose in the room. I would always wake up to her fixing the cords that plugged into my mask. Extra oxygen while I'm sleeping. My breathing would become low while I slept, so they kept a close eye on me. Just in case I don't die in my sleep.
In the morning, we had routines. The doctor would check our Vidal signs in his office that was just across the hall from our room. One by one the doctor checked us.
I sat under my covers, waiting for it to be my turn for the morning check-up. Almost everyone in the room was walking around a little. 1 and 2 were sitting on 1's bed by the window, talking to each other while 3 leaned against the trim that separated the two windows. 3 listening to 1 and 2 with his arms crossed as if he were some big shot.
The twins were running around the old hospital beds, playing with each other. Now that I get a better look at them, the seemed to be around the age of 16. They seemed young at heart. Maybe even pure at that.
8 and 7 were sitting on their beds next to me, talking about something. Whatever that may be.
6 was laying down alone in his bed by the window. His bed was across from 1's. He wasn't asleep, as far as I could tell. He saw me looking and stared back for only a few seconds before smiling kindly.
I wish he could of seen me smiling back at him.