“I need some now,” I moaned.
The doctor nodded and picked up a small plastic cup with one white pill inside. “This is strong and will knock you out.”
“I’ll take it.”
He lifted my head, and handed me the cup, and then a glass of water. “You should eat something with this pill. It could make you a bit nauseated. I’ll have the nurse bring you in something shortly.”
I noticed the doctor hadn’t made eye contact with me since I’d opened my eyes. “Are you afraid to look at me, Dr. Bennett?
His eyes went wide, but he still avoided my gaze. “Well, I—I just—”
“Oh please,” I sighed. “I won’t hurt you, or blank out your mind. You’re taking care of me, so you’re on my safe list.”
His eyes finally flitted to mine, quickly at first, then for a few seconds.
I smirked. “I save all the gory stuff for my enemies.”
His eyes went wide again, then he looked down to take my pulse, check my blood pressure, and assess my wound. “It appears to be healing well enough.”
“How long will it take me to recover?”
“Months,” he noted.
“Months?”
He took a seat at the bottom of my bed. “But hear me out. The scientists have created a new drug that could help you.”
My blood pressure went through the roof. “Bullshit. I’m not taking anything from those assholes. They already screwed me up enough as it is.”
His eyes met mine. This time, he was serious about whatever it was. I decided to let him explain. “It’s called Rapid Cellular Regeneration. The drug offers rapid recovery from damaged tissue while promoting and speeding up the healing time of the wound at an extraordinary rate.”
“And it’s been tested?”
“Yes.”
“On rats?”
“Actually, you’ve already met the man who was the first successful recipient. He’s had no complications, and has shown an almost superhuman recovery time from his gunshot wound.”
Holy crap. “Dr. Simon?”
“Yes,” he said. “He is old and was going to die, so they gave him the shot.”
“Without his permission?”
“He was in a coma, and they instructed us to keep him alive. So, we gave him the shot and monitored him. He doesn’t know about it. He just thinks it was a clean shot that didn’t require much healing.”
I shook my head and exhaled loudly.
“Abi, not all scientists are evil. Most of us do what we do to protect human life. Not destroy it.”
“But they can pick and choose who to play God with, like us misfits in the Reader Program. We were never given a choice of whether or not we wanted to be shot up with some untested crap. It almost killed one girl, and the side effects for me have done nothing but cause death and heartache everywhere I go.”
The doctor placed his hand on mine. “You have been given a unique and powerful gift, Abigail. Somehow, the universe knew you were strong enough, and smart enough, to handle it. In your mind, you have the power to either take a life or save it.” He patted my hand and stood “Now, who do you think is playing God?”
His response threw me. I didn’t want the power. Never did.
As he left the room, I stopped him. “Dr. Bennett?”
He paused and twisted back to me.
“I’ll take the regeneration shot.”
He gave a single nod. “That’s good. I’ll let them know.”
Hopefully I was doing the right thing. Who knew anymore?
I COULDN’T TELL WHAT TIME it was, let alone the date, or even if it was day or night, and that frustrated me. I’d woken hours ago, and the white room had started to feel claustrophobic and suffocating. Hell, just thinking about it, I could swear the walls were closing in on me.
Breathe, Abi. Just breathe.
Because my body wasn’t in nearly as much pain as it had been, I decided to try and sit up. Putting my weight on my good arm, I pushed myself to a sitting position. The surprise came when I did it with minimal pain. The regeneration drug they’d given me was doing its job, and then some. How long had I been out?
I tried to do a quick body assessment for any side effects, but there didn’t seem to be any. I was feeling better than I’d felt in a long time, even with a gunshot wound. I moved my left arm slightly, which would have sent me into tears, and I found I could lift it a few inches. That was and incredible feat.
My stomach growled loudly, and I wondered if someone would visit soon with food. The square, achromatic room had no windows, so there was no way to tell if anyone was coming.
“Hello?” I yelled, hoping one of the guards would hear me. But there was no answer. “Hello!” I shouted again, this time with a lot more power.
The door cracked open and a familiar face popped in.
“Juan?” I smiled as his eyes met mine.
He lifted a finger to his lips and indiscreetly shook his head.
“Do you need the doctor?” he asked in his Spanish accent, eyes motioning to the other guard outside. I nodded, understanding that I needed to pretend like I didn’t know him.
“I need food. My stomach is rumbling, and if I don’t get anything to eat soon, it might start eating itself.”
A smile lifted his lips. “Okay, wait here. I’ll go get the nurse and see if she can bring you something from the kitchen.”
“Thank you,” I mouthed.
He winked at me, and for the first time since I’d arrived,I felt safe with him standing outside my door. Juan was the son of one of the leaders and was a trainer in combat and weaponry. I wondered why he was standing outside my door.
A few minutes later, a nurse came in with a cup of juice and some crackers.
“Miss Mable!” I squealed. If I didn’t have a gunshot wound, I would have jumped out of bed and hugged her. That was two familiar faces, in the matter of a few minutes. Dr. Simon was right. I did have friends here.
She was my spitfire nurse at the bunker in Montana, which they called the White City. She was an older black woman, who kept her silver hair, pulled in a bun.
“Well, well, Miss Abigail. I never thought I’d see you again,” Miss Mable chimed in her warm, southern drawl. “It’s good to see you again. How are you feeling?”
“Much better than before, but I’m starving.” I looked at the crackers in her hand. “Is that my meal?”
“Oh child, for heaven’s sake, no. This is just somethin’ to tide you over, until I can walk this old, rickety body down to the kitchen and get you something proper to eat. ‘Cause Lord knows, I’m slower’n a bread wagon with biscuit wheels.” She belly laughed, then handed me the juice and crackers. I immediately threw one in my mouth, and it was the best cracker I’d ever tasted. I really must have been hungry.
“Why don’t you send one of those young soldiers standing outside to run and get the food? I’m sure they’d be more than happy to move around and stretch their legs. Standing by a door can get quite boring.”
Her eyes popped open, and she lifted a finger. “Well now, bless your heart. I think that's a splendid idea.” Turning, she headed for the door.
“Miss Mable,” I whispered. “You should ask the one on the right. His name is Juan, and he’s a friend of mine, but no one is supposed to know.” I followed that line with an exaggerated wink.
A sly grin rose on her lips. “Look who’s being sneaky.” She paused. “I like that.”
Opening the door, she asked Juan if he could run down to the kitchen and get me some food and dessert. He happily obliged and gave the other guard some quick words before he left.
Miss Mable closed the door and headed back over to me.
“So, how is that handsome Dr. Banks doing?” she asked, checking my pulse.
“He was reunited with his nephew a few weeks back, so they’ve been catching up.”
“That’s wonderful. He is such a nice man. Very caring.”
“Yes, he is,” I replied.
?
??And what about your handsome young man? How is he doing?”
“I’m not sure,” I said, avoiding my ghost-walking episode. “Dr. Simon said Finn was in a holding cell somewhere.”
She placed her hand over mine. “Sweet child, I know it’s hard, but I saw how much he loved you. He was severely injured, yet still dove off his bed to save you. Now, if that ain’t love I don’t know what is.”
My eyes burned, remembering his heroic action. “We’ve been through a lot the past few months, and he’s stuck by me.”
She nodded. “Mm-hmm. There are two things that give us strength in this life, and that’s love and the Lord. They help us weather any storm life throws at us, and will never give up on you.”
I melted, taking in her words and letting them sink in. They were the truest words I’d heard in a long time. Finn would never give up on me. He was my soulmate, and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we were meant to spend our lives together. We would pull through this, as we always had. Because our love was much stronger, and deeper than our circumstances.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
She smiled and shrugged it off. “When you get to be as old as I am, you learn a few things.”
“Well, you are a wise woman, Miss Mable,” I noted, and she laughed.
Her fingers gently grazed my shoulder, just above my wound, and her eyes narrowed. “I’m curious to find out, who it was that shot you.”
“Oh,” I sighed. “It was a sergeant in the chopper I was on.”
“A sergeant?” she gasped “Why I never! That man should be punished. Shooting an innocent young lady like yourself, along with that fine young Hawaiian boy down the hall.”
“Keanu? He’s in this wing?”
“Oh yes. He’s been out of it most of the time. His injury was a lot more complicated than yours, but I do believe he’ll live.”
I sighed, glad to hear the news.
“What made him shoot you?”
“In all honesty, I was trying to escape, and Keanu was trying to help, but the Sergeant was just a tad smarter than us. Before I could do anything, he shot both of us.”
“Oh, dear. If I were in charge, I’d have half a mind to flog his behind, and lock him in a cell and throw away the key.”
I giggled. “I don’t think they flog people anymore.”
“Well, they should. A good whoopin’ is just what some people need.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
*
DR. BENNETT ENTERED THE ROOM, once I’d eaten and Miss Mable had helped me use the bathroom.
“Abigail, you are looking so much better,” he chimed.
“I feel much better.”
“How long has it been since you gave me the shot?” I wanted to know how long I’d been asleep.
He looked at his watch. “Approximately fourteen hours.”
My face twisted. “Is that it?”
“Yes.”
Shocked at its effectiveness, I said, “There seem to be no side effects, and I do feel better. So, I guess I should thank you.”
A smile grew on his thin lips. “Save it. You’ll be thanking me even more in a few days.”
“Is that how long it took Dr. Simon to heal?”
“No, it took him nearly a week, but he’s much older than you. I think your recovery time will be much faster. But that means lots of rest. The more you rest, the quicker you’ll heal.”
I patted the mattress. “Being in a room with only a bed, there isn’t much more I can do but rest.”
“Which is the point.” He grinned and handed me a plastic cup with a white pill in it. “This will help you rest.”
“I don’t think I need it. I am already tired.” I didn’t want anything to distort my ghost walking capabilities.
“You must. It will help take the edge off. Please, just take it for me,” he insisted.
I agreed, even though I wasn’t sure why he was pushing it on me. He gave me the glass of water, and I swallowed.
“Thank you,” I said, getting comfortable under the sheets and closing my eyes.
“Rest well, Abi.”
When he walked out of the room, I spit the pill out, which I’d hid between my gum and cheek. I tucked it under my pillow and closed my eyes. It was time to see Finn.
*
PULLING OUT OF MY BODY, I ghost-walked down the same path I followed Dr. Simon the day before. When I came to his room, I entered immediately, not wasting any time. Finn was on his back, shirtless, with one arm covering his eyes. His chest rose and fell in a slow cadence, and I knew he was finally sleeping.
I stood next to him, my fingers gently skimming over his flawless, tanned skin. I wished, more than anything that I could feel him, but even more so, that he could feel my presence.
Moving closer, I knelt beside his head, and gently kissed his cheek, my lips never meeting skin. “I love you, Finn Armstrong,” I whispered in his ear. “I love you so much, and promise to get you out of here, one way or another.”
Knowing I didn’t have much time, I curled up next to him, soaking up as much of him as I could. His chiseled jaw now had a week’s worth of scruff on it. He’d changed so much since the days of our hive. He wasn’t my best buddy, or my playmate anymore. He was all man. A man who happened to be the love of my life.
SIX DAYS AFTER I’D RECEIVED the regeneration shot, there was a knock on my door. When it opened, Juan peeked in.
“Hey Juan.” I yawned and stretched, just waking up. After almost a week of healing my oozing wound was now a scar. No swelling, no visible bruising, and no pain. I was strong enough to walk on my own with ease, and had started to do a few mild exercises to keep my muscles limber.
“Hey. Do you mind a visitor?”
My interest piqued, and I sat up. “Who?”
Juan stepped back, and a girl with blonde hair, freckles, and light brown eyes peeped in the door.
“Tina?” I squealed and hopped out of bed as she ran forward and wrapped me in a hug.
“I thought you were dead,” she sobbed. “There was so much information flying around, I couldn’t tell which was true or not.”
I hugged her tight. “I’m not dead yet.”
“Good,” she said, pulling back and looking at me. “I don’t have much time. Juan let me visit, but it can only be brief. I’m not allowed here.”
“Is this room bugged?” I asked.
“No. None of the medical wings are bugged. They just want you to believe they are. A fear tactic.”
I nodded, happy I could relax knowing someone wasn’t evading my privacy. It was then I remembered what I’d wanted to say to her if we ever met again.
“Tina,” I said. “I need to apologize about Pike.”
She shook her head as new tears filled her eyes. “It wasn’t your fault. He knew there were risks getting the fuel, and he said everything he needed to before he left. After he was killed, I felt like a part of me died with him. I didn’t eat for days. But then, one night, I had a dream of him. He was alive and happy. He even said he loved me and wanted me to live and be happy. For him. Until we meet again.” She sighed. “From that day on, I promised myself I’d try. And, well…here I am.” She held her arms out to her side.
“You don’t know how happy that makes me feel.” I was glad my old roommate had found peace. I’d been so worried for her. “What did you come to tell me?”
She sat on my bed and took both of my hands.
“There’s a resistance, here in this bunker.”
“Against who?”
“Against the current leader, General Drake, and those who support him. The man who shot you is one of them. They are horrible people, who are drunk on power and care nothing about others; using fear tactics to get others to do what they want. He’s killed survivors, Abi. And made everyone watch, using them as examples to show what could happen if they go against him. This place has become a nightmare.”
“Who’s leading the resistance? Your dad?” It seemed like General Don
nelly was a man who wouldn’t be able to take orders from another.
Tina’s face dropped.
“No,” she replied, her bottom lip quivering. “My dad is dead.”
“What? How?” I wondered if he was one of those who’d resisted the new leader.
It took her a moment to gather herself. “He was in the testing room, the day you escaped.”
It took me a moment to process her words. The testing room had been filled with leaders, waiting to see my power. And I’d killed them all. A visual flashed before me of their lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground in pools of blood.
Tears stung my eyes and my heart sunk. “Oh God, Tina. I—I’m…”
How do you say sorry to someone after killing their parent? I had no words, and knew sorry would never be enough.
She fell forward, her arms wrapping around my midsection. “Abi, It’s okay. I’m not mad at you. I heard what happened, what they did to you and Finn in that room. It was wrong and evil, and every one of them who came to watch got what they deserved.” She stepped back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It took me a while to mourn his death, especially after Pike, but I’ve come to realize that he is in a much better place. My dad is finally free to be with my mother again.” Tina grabbed my chin with her hand and made me look in her eyes. “I forgive you.”
I broke down.
Forgiveness was a powerful tool. In the matter of a few short moments, she’d broken my heart, and then set me free.
“Thank you,” I breathed, wrapping her in a hug. “You’re really a true friend.”
“I know.” She smiled. “And speaking of friends.” She stood and nervously twisted her hands together. “Soon, the Arvies will be attacking the bunker, and we will all have to fight and stand together. Should we survive this attack, the resistance is leaving this place. It’ll be our shot to start a new life, free from oppression.”
“How many are with the resistance?”
“A few hundred,” she replied. “You’ll know who is with us by the red ribbons we’ll be wearing.” She grabbed my hands and leaned in. “We want you to be with us, Abi. We want you to fight with us, for freedom.”