The Unwanted Chapter One: Chains

Cool metal touched my hand, wrapped around my wrist.  my hair stood on end, goosebumps rose up and down my arms.  Through the darkness the faint outline of the metal door was barely visible.  Though my eyes were adjusted to the darkness I couldn't see a thing.   The others were all asleep, I should be too.  With that realization my grip on the cold metal chain tightened. I pulled it slowly across my bed, catching the links before they hit the floor. Moving slowly I gently set the chain on the floor and stepped toward the doorway.  The darkness was thick with silence that made it hard to breath.  The door was right there, almost in reach, only a few more steps.  My hand reached out, seeking the smooth surface of the door.  Just as I was almost there, a voice reached my ears.
     "--open the door."  a gruff voice murmured. I was trapped.  I couldn't move, I couldn't hide. I was as good as dead.  My feet were rooted to the floor as the door opened.  Bright light flooded the room, burning my eyes. I stood there, praying that I wouldn't be punished.  Four large men entered the room with a board carried between them.  On the board lay a motionless body.  I stood there, unable to move, watching them carry the body to a bed.  As I watched I saw them go to my brother's bed. I turned my attention away from the board and looked instead at the faces of the men.  Each face had a cold metal mask covering it. The solid metal was interrupted by three small holes. Two small slits were open right where eyes would have been, and slightly underneath that there was a portion of the mask that jutted out, presumably over the nose, with an opening underneath.  Over the mouths there was a thick grated metal, allowing them to speak, but nothing else. My feet still would not move so I stood staring at the men, waiting for them to say something to me. That took longer than I thought it would.
      One Guard stood out from the rest.  While the others simply rolled the body onto the bed, he took the time to cover him with the thin material given as blankets. He checked to make sure everything was alright, then he looked at me.  One of the others barked an order at him and he stepped forward as they took their leave.  Three Guards left the room and didn't look back, the fourth however, stayed behind looking at me.
      "Go to bed,"  His voice was kind and warm.  He didn't seem to act like the Guards should.
      "What did you do to my brother?" My voice shook with uncertainty at his actions.
      "Your brother will be fine."  he sighed and then continued to walk toward the door. "Go to bed," I couldn't be certain but it sounded like he said my name.  Not my number. My name.
      "Wait!" I reached toward him and he jerked his arm away.
      "You need to go to bed." He stood there, just as I was, unable to move.
      "But you said my name.... You're still here..... why?" I was mystified. Guards never spoke to the Unwanted. It was in the rules... the Doctor could have us all punished for this. And as if my words made him realize the same, his body stiffened and he looked away.
       "Go to bed, 14-23." He walked away and slammed the door in his wake. For a moment I was still frozen but soon my mind pushed me toward my brother. His motionless body lay neatly tucked under the blanket.  What was the point of the Guard staying? Why was he being so kind? Did he really say my name? It made no sense, and I feared it never would.