Chapter 7
"I can't believe after all these years... you finally woke up... " Chell heard a voice say beside her as she regained her consciousness.
Her eyes fluttered open to see a familiar face, though seeming older than when she saw him last. It was Luke, his five o'clock shadow contrasting against his pale skin. His eyes widened as he met her gaze.
"Chell.. " he said softly.
She swallowed hard before trying to speak, "Luke.. " she said, her voice wavering.
He smiled, "Hey, kiddo. How you holding up? "
She smiled a little, "I... tho.. ught-" she coughed, her throat raw.
His eyebrows furrowed, "Easy there, kiddo. Don't push yourself." he looked down before reaching into his bag and grabbing a pen and paper, "Here. Just write for now. "
She scribbled some words onto the paper before sliding it to him.
I thought I told you not to call me that.
He laughs a little bit, "Sorry. I nearly forgot... Eighteen years really does a number on your memory... especially on my old brain. "
She shrugged before writing more, How did you find me?
He looked out the door, "When you collapsed that day... I was the one that emitted you here. I put myself as your emergency contact... I didn't think you were ever going to wake up... " He sounded a bit upset, "I was scared for you. "
She tapped on his shoulder before writing more, "It was them again. The ones I told you about. They were able to put me under again. I don't know how. "
His eyes softened, "That explains your deficit of speech... Do you know why? "
They have my daughter. I was coming back to get her. They're trying to stop me. The real question is how am I awake. She shrugged.
He read, his eyebrows furrowing, "Daughter...? You have a daughter? Whats her name? "
She looked at the paper before sliding it away, trying to speak again, "Ca.. ra... Cara. " she smiled.
"Cara... " He repeated, "That's a pretty name. I would've loved to meet her... "
He stood, pacing a little, "I was so worried about you all those years... Thirteen years. You don't call, you don't write. The only time I saw you was when you collapsed on a bus that I happened to be on. Really, Chell? You couldn't have been bothered to pick up the phone?
Though, a part of Luke admonished himself for lecturing her right out of a Coma. There were so many unresolved issues, he couldn't help but take them out on her as soon as he was able to. In truth, he was angry. They had spent two years living together. He had taken care of her, taught her how to speak, taught her how the world worked, and suddenly she's up and gone. No note, no call. It had terrified him.
Chell looked back to the paper before slowly writing an apology, I needed to get over that part of my life. I needed to move on.
"You could've told me! I would've helped you!" He stepped forward, losing his composure for a moment.
It's so hard to explain, but there was really no time to get you involved. Trust me, it was better this way. There is so much more going on than you understand.
"Try me. " he pleaded, "It's easy for you to say these things because you won't even try to explain what all happened down there. It's better than leaving for thirteen years without a word!"
It was silent again. Chell sat back in her bed as her eyes went to the floor in shame. Her vision grew blurry as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. It wasn't that she didn't care about him. In truth, she saw him as the father she never knew. It was just that so many things had happened so quickly, and she needed to leave immediately.
"... I'm... sor.. ry. " she choked, her speaking even worse when she was crying.
He stopped pacing to look at her, his eyes widening as he saw her tears. He immediately came to her side, hushing her.
"Hey, hey... I'm sorry... I just got so worried for you, and angry because I didn't understand. It's all in the past, okay? Now, we have to focus on finding Cara and bringing her home. "
"... We...? " she asked.
"You think I'm going to let you go back down there by yourself? " He shook his head, gently wiping the tears from her face, "We're going to do this together. "
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head in panic. She let out a slew of nos, though garbled and slurred together. She couldn't let him go with her, He couldn't possibly understand the dangers under the surface of that wheat field.
Luke cupped her face, trying to calm her down again, "Woah, woah, woah! Slow down there! Hey, it's okay! "
Her hand reached for the pencil, scribbling quickly on the paper. You can't. It's too dangerous. You don't know what's down there.
"And you do?! " He asked.
More than you. I'm better equipped for that hellhole.
He shook his head, standing and wiping the sleepiness from his face, "I'm not letting you go alone. You'll get killed down there."
And you think you'd be able to protect me? You'd just die down there along with me. You'll only slow me down.
She looked at him with a tearful expression, "I...D..on't...I don't want y..ou to di..e.." She cried.
He stopped again, pacing. There had to be a way, "I don't want you to die either." He said, sighing, "Look, there's safety in numbers. If we go together, there's less of a chance of either of us dying. I can watch your back, you can watch mine, and no one has to die."
Chell sat silently, weighing her options. He wasn't going to let off on this, and there was no way to really convince him that this was something that she had to do alone. She could, of course, leave while he wasn't looking, but she would just be breaking the man's heart again. He's done everything for her, and Chell owes him more than that. Then again, having him to watch her back might have them last long enough to find Cara and get her out of there. Giving an exasperated sigh, she reached for the pencil again.
Fine, but if we do this, it has to be on MY terms. You do exactly as I tell you to.
He nodded, relief evident, "Of course. Of course. " he said.
She smiled, writing once more, "Good. Lets get started. "
God, they were going to die.
