Chapter one from Nameless

Chapter 1

The horn sounded. I got up, as usual. I rolled out of my cot, and put my hands out just in time. I started the morning with my usual 100 push ups. Maybe I should to 150? No! Variety is bad. No changes. The rules are rules! We must follow the rules! Only 100. I stood up and surveyed the area. Other experiments struggled to finish 100. I put on my boots and made my bed. Now for helping. That’s what they call it. The scientists call it helping. I must help. The rules are rules. We must follow the rules. I walk to the next cot over from mine. The girl is still in her bed! She did not wake to the horn! She broke the rules! The rules are rules! We must follow the rules! “47-0! The horn has sounded! You are to do you push ups! The rules are rules! We must follow the rules!” she turned over and put the blanket over her head. That was unheard of! “You have opposed authority! You have broken the rules twice! You will be punished!” I pulled off the blanket and watched her shiver. I lifted up the cot and flipped it over. “You will fold up your cot and blanket and put it in the supply closet! You will sleep on the floor for 1 week! Now do your push ups!” I can now get back to helping. I go to the next cot. 53-k, a boy with a tail. He is struggling, I must help! I put my boot on his back and helped him count. “lets go, 53-k! 23..24..25..26.. that’s it! Keep going!” I weaved through the many cots and helped as best I could. Slowly, the rest of the experiments finished and put their boots on. Their beds were made and they had stood at the foot of the cots. I walked to the end of the room, to the small stool that was meant for me. I looked at the wall behind me and found my whistle and the updated list. “47-0! You will go to room 409!” 47-0 saluted, “I will go to room 409!” “96-H! you will go to the maze in room 197!” A small boy saluted, “I will go to the maze in room 197!” The order continued until I got through the list. I blew the whistle and the experiments lined up near the doors. “No talking! The rules are rules! You will follow the rules!” The horn sounded again and the doors opened. The experiments filed out, each to their own destination. I looked at the bottom of the list. Omega will report to conference room #4. I hung the whistle and clip board back up and made sure everything was in order. Good. I must go and be at the conference room on time. Those are the rules. The rules are rules. We must follow rules.