It was one regular Thursday in Lily's dorm room. Daisy was sitting on a fluffy rug by the foot of her bed with books scattered in all directions, flipping through pages halfheartedly. Zack was perched on a chair, legs crossed, his head buried in a book. The room was bright, sunlight spilling through the windows. Except for the soft whisk of turning pages, the room was calm, almost too quiet.
Lily stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, a book in her hands she had long stopped reading. Her attention had shifted entirely to the black van that just pulled up in front of the admin block.
Two men stepped out in black uniform like armed men. They walked towards a middle-aged woman waiting by the admin entrance.
"Look who decided to show up after two years," Lily said, her voice low and edged with sarcasm.
"Who?" Daisy looked up curiously.
Zack, now standing quietly beside Lily, narrowed his eyes at the figures below. His sudden movement drew Daisy's attention. The woman outside — Mrs. Baker — stood smiling, holding a small blue box as she shook hands with the two men. One of them said something, and Mrs. Baker laughed lightly.
"They're from Facility 9," Zack answered instead, his voice flat.
Daisy blinked. "What are they doing here?"
"They come every six months to pick the best students," Lily replied, not turning away from the window. "They haven't picked anyone in almost two years… no one knows why."
Her tone was calm, but her eyes had that faraway look again.
Daisy looked between them, unsettled by their shared knowledge — Why are they alternating answers like this? It felt too smooth, too eerie. Was this a scar they both carried?
"Where are they taken to?" she asked, trying to shake off the unease. She stepped up beside Lily at the window.
"They're taken somewhere better," Lily said. "Free will, further education — or that's what Mrs. Baker says." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But good things don't come without a price... well, not in this post-apocalyptic world."
Zack shifted, just barely. He heard that. And something about the way she said it made his chest tighten, though he didn't speak.
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even the sound of pages had stopped.
"What is that?" Daisy finally asked, gesturing at the object in Mrs. Baker's hands.
"A box, obviously," Lily replied, raising a brow, it was a fact.
"Of course I know it's a box, duh. I meant — what's in it?" Daisy rolled her eyes, more playful now.
"You rolled your eyes at me?" Lily asked, feigning offense.
Daisy ignored her and flopped back onto the rug with a dramatic sigh. Zack had already returned to his chair, looking down at his book, though his eyes hadn't moved on the page.
"Lily," Daisy called out.
"Hmm?" Lily responded with a low hum, still watching the van.
"You seem to know a lot."
"Yeah," Lily replied quietly. "I've been here three years now, remember?" She paused then continued "I've watched teenagers get taken away... they never come back. I always watched from this window. Until last time—two years ago—I had to watch my brother leave… from the front door."
Her voice cracked at the edge of that memory. She lowered her gaze back to her book. She wasn't ready to say goodbye then.
Daisy didn't reply right away. It was the first time Lily had mentioned her brother.
So he really did go to Facility 9, Daisy thought. And she's still waiting to follow.
"If you're one of the students taken away today…" Daisy hesitated, then said softly, "I'll miss you."
"Me too," Lily murmured and stepped forward, pulling her into a gentle hug.
I'm not the touchy type but I'll sure miss this hug.
"Me three!" Zack suddenly stretched out his arms with exaggerated cheer.
"What are you doing?" Daisy peeked at him, raising a brow. I'm starting to suspect that he has an alter ego.
"I just wanted to break the depressing atmosphere," he shrugged, half-smiling.
Lily chuckled under her breath. "Well… it did work," she nodded thoughtfully.
"Let's go," Lily said, pulling away and reaching for her jacket. "We'll be asked to move to the hall soon".