Learn to be Strong

I spent my evening searching for more things. I found a red pin, a number 2 pencil, a pink eraser, a copper coin, and a sewing needle from a hotel sewing kit. I set them on my nightstand and went to bed. Or tried to. I felt nervous still, that horrible feeling that ruins my sleep. But I had to go to sleep. I had to go to work.

The morning was quick as I fell into the same routine. Except for this time I put all my new trinkets in my pocket before I left. When I got there I was anticipating something new or different but nothing had happened. Everything was the same. I nervously brought the items to Dr. Foster. They seemed the same. They took them silently and left his office to the lab. I decided to ignore him and move on then. I opened all the doors and let everyone walk out, grabbing Pen from his room. I left the others to go to their room on their own as I took Pen to his own room. On today's agenda was simple, the first day of learning for Snowball and walking and talking for Pen. So I started helping Pen.

It was quite an easy process to teach them talking, they caught on so fast. Pens voice got slightly deeper too. So I guess my shock about Snowball was just because it was a scratchy voice, compared to a deeper voice like Golfball and Tennis Ball. So maybe I overreacted. Walking went great as well. Taught him, did the test, cheered on his great work. He was happily enjoying himself.

"So now I'll bring you to the others, but I'll have to take one later for learning!" I explained before leading him to the room. After he went into the room I ran to my office and grabbed food for them all. When I opened the door they luckily weren't doing any stacking game with themselves like last time so I just gave them the food and left. They all seemed to be getting along well. After they finished I'd grab Snowball and bring him to learn and such. Right before I entered my office I caught something in the corner of my eye. A tv. Fosters tv in fact. It hung on the wall and displayed... them. The subjects. Their room. He's been watching them? Did I not notice, or did he just start? I hope he isn't too hard on them. I went to my office and tried to find a page on special circumstance training but seemed to find nothing. Seems Fosters thinking out of the box. I don't like that. It's been a small while and I have to assume they're done. They eat quite fast. I opened the emergency door. They had been running around and immediately stopped to face me.

"Hey, Doc!" Golfball greeted me happily.

"Hey you guys, I need to grab Snowball for some learning time, you guys have fun!" I said letting Snowball leave the room and closing the door. Snowball settled himself down on the floor and fumbled with his hands nervously.

"Dr. Xavier?" His voice was deeper again. Weird. I kneeled down to his level.

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't want to do that training stuff." I thought for a moment. One of the others must have heard or read about it or something.

"I know it's different but you have to. I don't have a choice Snowball." He looked down nervously. I pet his head.

"It's alright buddy, I'm sure it won't be too bad." He looked up at me and smiled and we began working. It went as well as it could of, even if Snowball seemed tense. It seemed he remembered trauma from his first days. And since I'm nice and he saw when Golfball freaked out about Foster, he must assume Foster was the one who put the chip in. And I wasn't going to correct him. I have to keep a good bond with them. He finished slower than the others, he struggled a lot with the material. I just hope he gets better at this. As I walked him back to his room, the sound of footsteps stopped me.

"I'll take him now for the time being." Dr. Foster said calmly from behind me. I looked down at Snowball once more before picking him up and handing him Dr. Foster. It felt wrong. Swearing to protect them and then mindlessly giving him up to someone who doesn't care.

- - -

Dr. Foster brought Snowball to the metal table in the lab area. Snowball felt incredibly nervous. But Foster just went through their drawers and placed a black block in front of him.

"Why don't you try to lift that?" They said, a professional tone to his voice that Snowball has never heard. He let his hands find two grooves on the side of the block. He tried to lift it but found it too heavy.

"I can't do it." He said, stepping away from the weight. Foster frowned.

"Sure you can, try again." He said, slight annoyance in their voice. Snowball looked back at the weight and tried to lift it again. It was maybe slightly easier, but Snowball still couldn't lift it. Foster watched him struggle curiously.

"I know you things learn quickly, and that should go for physically as well, so we stay here until you lift it." They explained calmly. Snowball looked down at the weight. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to go back with his friends. So he would have to be better. He tried desperately to lift the box again, lifting it up to his chest. He stumbled back, the weight still to heavy to keep up. Realizing he would be crushed by the small weight, so with every bit of his strength, he shoved the weight off him. It slammed into the metal tables loudly. Snowball breathed heavily, still shocked. But when he looked up at Dr. Foster, they had no reaction. Why didn't they care? Snowball was confused. But obviously, that meant he was still going to keep lifting the cube. So he stood up and grabbed the cube again. He lifted it, successfully holding it off the ground.

After 17 more tries and 3 more near-death experiences, Snowball finally lifted the cube all the way above his head! He was overjoyed, finally lifting the stupid weighted cube. He dropped it in front of him, ready to go back to see his friends. Dr. Foster smiled.

"Well done. Now let's try this one." They said grabbing a small blue cube, placing it in front of Snowball. Snowball felt something within him, a new feeling. Not fear, or sadness. Anger. He was angry. He stomped his foot down.

"No! I won't do it!" He yelled up and Foster, who instantly lost any calmness in their face.

"What do you mean?" He asked coldly. Snowball stood his ground.

"I said I won't do it! I want to go right now! I don't want to lift another cube!" He yelled angrily. Foster smiled.

"I'll give you one more chance." He said smiling coldly. Snowball crossed his arms.

"I won't." He said through gritted teeth. Foster stopped smiling.

"Fine by me." He said calmly. He grabbed Snowball, holding him like a baseball. Snowball tried to squirm free, but Foster had a harsh grip on his whole body. He couldn't even yell for help, his mouth was covered. Foster opened the small upper compartment of their tall rooms. The punishment rooms, promptly named by Foster themself. They opened the small door and shoved Snowball in.

"We'll try again tomorrow." He said calmly, slamming the door on Snowball.

Snowball tried to adjust to the complete darkness. He'd never been in such darkness before. He crawled around nervously, trying to figure out his surroundings. He tore out the grass and crawled around more, becoming more afraid by the second. He started crying, trying to find the door against the dark walls. Eventually, he gave up, he couldn't escape, he wasn't strong enough. He crawled to another wall, to find a horrid amount of weird stuff on the wall. It was only shrubbery of course, but Snowball has no idea. He found weird growths on it, ball-shaped. They were berries. He assumed it was more food balls, and he loved those. He pulled one off and bit into it and instantly spit it out. It was slightly sweet but way too bitter for him to enjoy. He sighed, finding the wall again where the door was. He wanted to be out. He'd listen, he'd do whatever Foster wanted, but he couldn't take it back. So he lied on the grass and cried. He cried, hoping Xavier would bring him to his room. But as he lied there, he realized no one was going to come to get him, he was stuck there. And he just had to stay in utter darkness. And cry himself to sleep.

- - -

I walked to the lab, having already put the others to bed. But looking into the lab where Snowball should've been, but no one was there. I peeked into Dr. Foster's office.

"Um... Dr.Foster?" I spoke up quietly. He turned to me.

"Yes? Do you need something?" They asked quietly. I stood straight.

"I- Where is Snowball now?" I said, trying not to sound demanding. He narrowed his eyes.

"Don't worry, he's been taken care of." Is all he said. I opened my mouth to pry further into his whereabouts but decided to keep my mouth shut. No point getting yelled at for prying. I was worried about Snowball, but I'd have to hope that he was okay. No way they'd just kill him... Right? No. No! He wouldn't do that. I hope he wouldn't do that. I decided to head home, most of my work done. The drive home was a blur, I was too worried. But he would've told me if he died. I know he would... but I don't know do I. All I can hope is that he's okay.

Oh no :•(

But I'm sure it's fine

Hah

:•)