2. Tris
"OK" says Christina "Tell me now. What happened ? You know I'm not that patient. I want it all."
I go to the kitchen for some glasses with apple juice, and sit back in front of her.
I take a deep breath and start.
"I guess you know what happened in the lab with David already, so I won't go through this again.
When Matthew vaccinated you and Four in the mortuary because the death serum was still on my skin, he gave you a simulation serum instead. As Four was not aware of what it was, he couldn't fight the simulation. And from there, all you saw in the room was false."
"He had settled a simulation for you both, in order to make you believe the dead body on the table was mine. He knew that otherwise, Four would have searched me everywhere and that was not possible."
"When the alarm was given, Matthew understood what happened when he saw Cara as a prisoner. He went back to the lab to purge it from the death serum and took me out of it on a wheeled bench. He told me his skin peeled for a week after that encounter with the serum. I did not catch any of this as I was actually dying. But as a wiser man he is, Matthew had anticipated a flaw in our plan and knew where to find help. In fact, they kept me in that hospital for months."
"Matthew says I woke up after 5 days of coma and loads of surgery...as you can see. I think I was floating between two worlds until he found the words to get me out of this fog on the living side."
"What did he say ?" asks Christina.
"Something really worth it." I say. But this part is mine for now, and Christina is sensitive enough not to ask more. I missed her friendship so much...
"They took 3 bullets out of me. One burned my neck as you see, it's the one that nearly killed me. The second blew up my left hip and the last one got trough my left shoulder. See ?"
I open the shirt a little, where the bullet has taken out part of the middle bird.
I see something in Christina's eyes that looks like pity, or worse, tears… I don't want it, I don't want them!
"It's okay" I say. "They nearly fixed it all."
"Then what happened to your hair ?" asks Christina
"It's a side effect of the death serum. It's permanent, and no way I can dye my hair either: it goes off the next day. Tell me I look like an adult! I didn't have all the peeling side effect like Matthew though!"
"After that, they had to replace most of my left hip that was blown by one of the bullets. I earned 6 months in a wheelchair for this, and the nicest walking stick at the moment. In fact, if the last prosthesis they made fits well, I might drop the stick in a few months."
"You might think this I why I didn't get in touch for all this time but don't, I'm no more Abnegation but I'm not that selfish. In fact Matthew knew that if the government knew I was still alive, I would be arrested and have to pay for what I did. I was not afraid of that but the trial was sure to be unfair as they just saw me like a very young dangerous terrorist who tried to destroy their established order. That's how I ended up with being Matthew's sister, found back in the wreckage, it was the only safe cover to explain all he has done for me, especially trying to get me fixed by a dozen different surgeons."
"Why letting it out today then ?" asks Christina.
"Matthew thinks it's getting safer now that he managed to explain what really happened. He says I could avoid trial, and more of that, I want to come back where I belong, I have things to do." I pause. " Do you think he still loves me ?"
"He suffered more than any of us I'd say" answers Christina. "and I think he actually managed to pass on a little. With his new job, he feels useful to people. But sometimes I feel the hole you left is still here wide open."
"That's why I wanted to see you first," I say. "I want you to give him this note, and tell him what I told you today. Hopefully he'll agree to see me and talk." I give her a small note in a grey envelope trembling.
"I will." She says.
After that, we have lunch together and Christina tells me about their new lives. She explains the factions have been partly restored but only on a volunteering basis. She seems happy with her job and she still sees Zeke and Shauna a lot...as well as Four of course. I feel strange they became close friends. it's like he stole my place.
Cara got a little out of the group, she's working a lot and always have a new experiment going on. I don't need to know more than I do about Caleb.
When it's time for her to go, I feel just like I'm back with her, returning from a long journey. Before the door closes I say "Tell him for my hair but not for the rest of the mess. Please."
"Trust me." She says.