Chapter Eight: Freedom or Still Prison in a Different Form?
MAX'S POV
When I wake up again, the first thing I realize is that I'm in a hospital bed. It takes a moment for my eyes to focus but when they do I look around to see all the machines that I'm hooked up to. Against the wall is a mirror and I can see that my arms, head and wings are wrapped.
Where the hell am I?
Before I can think or do anything else, the door opens. The Admiral that I vaguely remember from the other day walks in with a nurse. The nurse, an older woman, smiles when she sees me awake and comes over to check my bandages.
"How do you feel, sweetheart?" She is focused on the bandages but every once in a while she looks at my wings with a mixture of sympathy, awe, confusion and disgust.
I try to find my voice but nothing comes out. I give her a panicked look and she glances at the Admiral.
"Thank you, Isa, get the doctor for me, please." The nurse steps aside, walking out as the Admiral stands at the end of the bed.
"My understanding is that you took quite the hit when that door slammed into you. To be fair, we didn't think anyone was inside so my apologies. From the reports, a nerve was hit in the back of your head meaning that you'll need to retrain yourself to speak, both of your wings are broken and in the process of healing, and you suffered infection from the chain wounds." His smile is filled with sympathy and it makes me squirm.
Since I can't speak, all I do is shrug. He nods in understanding and after a few moments of awkward silence, the doctor comes in.
He beams when he sees me and it catches me off guard. "Ah, there she is! Awake and well! Or for the most part. My understanding is that you can't speak?"
I nod and he nods, glancing down at his clipboard briefly. "Of course. You suffered a lot from that hit, luckily nothing super important was harmed. Only those fascinating wings of yours. How did you require those anyway?"
Like hell, I'm going to tell him. I glare at him and he chuckles. "Well, of course, I can imagine it's a sensitive subject but after what we have seen in that lab, we need some answers. You are the only one that survived."
Jeb is dead? Fuck yeah! I continue to look at him, not giving any emotion away.
"We'll give you time but we'll like some answers. We don't want to harm you, you seem to have been through enough." He pats my knee, me tensing. He stands and leaves, only the Admiral and I are left in the room. We stare at each other for a few moments before he speaks up.
"I want answers as to what happened in that lab and in exchange, we'll give you freedom and answer any questions you have. But, that's only if you cooperate."
I glare at him and he leaves. I never get to choose what I want do I? Freedom. Whatever they're going to offer, it isn't freedom, that's for sure.