• The day I fell from the sky was the same day I made my mark, and the day my mother brought me to the Institution.
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    “Oh come on Kacey. You have to go to school,” My mom said cheerily.
    I looked up, my hair in my face and grumbled. I was just dreaming. It was a perfect dream. All full of color and light. It was like my own little wonderland and someone had just rudely crashed it.
    “Mom! Why so early?” I asked, complaining.
    “You’ve been staying up late drawing and writing. You’re not used to the school schedule.”
    I sighed almost regretting my hobbies for a moment, but then I shook my head. No. I would never want myself to become like any civilized person. I smiled to myself then got out of my dream lair a.k.a. my bed, and hiked over to my closet. I looked around and managed to get dressed in something I was happy with and the school dress code would approve. This is an almost futile task. So I settled on a T-shirt with a corset top over it. Slipped on a black skirt and striped stockings, and then of course, my black combat boots. My absolute favorite footwear next to converse. When I had dressed I looked at myself in the mirror, my red dyed bob cut was all over the place, so I brushed it out and put it in high obnoxious pig tails. I was ready to go downstairs. My mother pouted slightly at my outfit but sighed and didn’t speak because she knew she didn’t want to fight me today. I grabbed a chocolate flavored pop-tart and chewed, watching my mom clean, which she never does unless she’s nervous.
    “Kacey… You’ll be late!”
    “No I won’t… The bus doesn’t come till’ later.”
    “How much later?”
    “A few minutes, don’t sweat it, I’m going, I’m going.”
    “Oh honey, you know I’m just worried about you. You’re going to be a sophomore! It’s big!”
    “I know mom. But don’t worry. Okay?”
    “Okay…”
    I hugged her as if to close the conversation and started to walk out the door. I stopped and turned.
    “I love you mom.”
    She smiles and waves me goodbye. I ran out to the bus that had arrived right on time. I hopped on it and ran to the back where my best friend was sitting looking out the window. She always takes the window seat. I know this because we’ve been joined at the hip since we were 7. I remember the first time I met her.
    Little Rayna: Hey.
    Little Kacey: … *Furiously scribbling words that would confuse any other 7 year old*
    Little Rayna: HEY!!!!
    Little Kacey: WHAAATT???? *Throwing papers and making a crazy face*
    Little Rayna: Whatcha dooin? *Smiles broadly*
    Little Kacey: *Giggles*
    Ah. Good times. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “Hey, Rayna, whatcha looking at?” I asked, plopping down next to her.
    “Oh nothing, just looking out at the landscapes, it gives me ideas for my paintings.” She answers simply.
    “Ah. All right. Soo….”
    “I missed you!”
    “I did too!”
    We hugged and squealed, like crazy girls do, and then arrived at school. We had different homerooms so I headed off to mine and vise-versa.
    My teacher, Mrs. Taylor cleared her throat to take the roll. I answered when called as usual and started to ignore what was going on. Well, not “as usual”. I’m crazy remember? I usually say something totally unexpected and earn a few side glances, but people have gotten used to it. Then I noticed something, almost half the kids were missing. Not just the ones who skip out all the time, either… every type. Except those aggravatingly perfect kinds with no sense of self what so ever and would kill you with one perfect cold look. When the roll was done I leaned over to one of the girls who sits next to me.
    “Hey… Where are the other kids? Some deadly epidemic going around?”
    “Get lost freak. Why don’t you just act like a normal person?” She hissed looking at me with those stone cold eyes.
    “Okay. Sorry. Geez.” I said slipping back. Well that answered my suspicion, something was DEFINITLEY going on here.
    At the end of class I walked over to Mrs. Taylor’s desk and decided to ask her.
    “Hey, Mrs. Taylor?”
    “Yes? What is it Kacey?” She asked tilting her head.
    “Um… I think there might be something going on…”
    “What ever could you mean by that?” She asked smiling but in a fierce voice.
    What’s going on? Mrs. Taylor used to be so cool. She was nice, and creative, and all over the place. What’s wrong with her?
    “Oh… I um… I just thought you know, since there were a lot of kids missing there might be something wrong. Something doesn’t feel right, that’s for sure.”
    “There’s nothing wrong I assure you. It must be just you.” She said glaring with her eyes but still keeping her smile, which now looks like a wolf bearing it’s teeth.
    I backed away, my eyes widening. I turned and ran down the hallway heading for the staircase that leads to a rooftop garden. It was the only place she could relax and think.
    I reached the top gasping. I saw Rayna up there, huddled in a corner.
    “R-rayna?” I stuttered.
    “Kacey!” She screamed running towards me, “Something’s going on here!!!!”
    I nodded, “What should we do??” she asked.
    “Absolutely nothing.” A deep voice said.
    We both gasped and turned around to look at a tall big African man. He wore dark glasses and a 3 piece suit.
    “Who are you?” I asked.
    “You’ll find out soon enough. Both of you will.” He said pointing a stun gun at us.
    The Last thing I saw was black. Then white. Bright, sterile, white. I was alone in a room. I looked around, frantic, no way to get out. And I was being restrained… A straight jacket?
    “Where am I???” I screamed loudly, crazed.
    “You don’t know yet?” The deep voice asked.
    “Who are you?”
    “Questions. It’s always the same questions. Where am I? Who are you? Stop. What are you doing?”
    “Why am I here? I want to know! I have to know.” I pleaded on my knees in the jacket.
    Suddenly a side of the room opened, a hidden door. The man walked in.
    “You are here to become normal.”
    “Normal? What?”
    “You are different. Not normal. The whole world must be perfect, everyone the same. You will be normal. Like The rest of the world.”
    “But… You mean like robotic? Boring?”
    “No. Perfect.”
    “I am perfect. In my own way. I am unique. Isn’t it better to be different?”
    “Of course not. This is what the world wants. Needs.”
    ”But!”
    “No. You will be normal.” He started to close the door.
    “NEVER!” I screamed right when the door closed.