Okay. So a bit of warning ahead. There is a scene in this chapter that I'm unsure if it fits within the website's standard of the rated T section or not. So not only am I changing the rating to M just to be safe but viewer discretion is advised.
I jerk my head around to the source of the voice, panic running through my body. Standing right beside the door and leaning against the wall with his arms crossed was Appule.
"A-Appule," I said, trying to sound confident and oblivious. "W-What d-do y-you m-mean by that?"
How long was he standing there? The room was empty when I entered it and I didn't even hear the door open nor shut. Crap! He must have walked in when I was arguing with myself on what to wish with the Dragon Balls!
"I would stop playing dumb if I were you. Those who play dumb tend to suffer the worse," he said, pushing himself off the wall and walked towards me.
My mind was screaming to run, to do anything other than stand where I stood yet I couldn't. I stood there frozen stiff with fear as I tried to make sense on how he even knew I was here. If he knew I was here then it's possible that…
Oh no.
"Let's go," Appule said, grabbing my arm and shoving me forward.
I could have started running then and there but I didn't. Doing that will send me to a quicker grave, and my entire body couldn't stop shaking on that scenario and the upcoming reality for me. I mindlessly followed Appule to the same room where they brought Goku to show to Frieza and for me to confirm.
Standing next to Frieza was Dodoria at his side and Zarbon stood close by at the door. Frieza's eyes were completely on me and he had a stone cold look on his face that shook me to my core. Appule kept leading me closer to Frieza till he stopped us in the middle of the room. Frieza nodded at Appule who bowed and began walking away from the room.
"There is no need for you to leave yet Mr. Appule. Please do stand next to me as I speak to your student" Frieza said. I glanced back at Appule who seemed a bit surprised but listened along.
"My, it is rather late seeing you sneak around the ship Maria," Frieza said, turning his attention back towards me. "Care to explain what were you planning to do with the Dragon Balls?"
"I-," I began saying.
"Oh don't even bother lying. I was already aware and clear that you would try to escape since the moment you arrived in this dimension. Did you think I wouldn't take that into consideration?"
I was rendered speechless. He knew…he knew I wasn't set on working for him but then…how did he know I would go for the Dragon Balls? The twins didn't hardly ever leave the room, let alone talk to anyone so it couldn't be from them. But then how did he know when to send Appule to catch me when I left my scouter behind so they couldn't track me?
A cold hard realization came running into my mind the moment I remembered a vital part of the scouter. I h-had my scouter on when…
"T-Then y-you…," I stumbled with my words as I was soon rendered speechless again.
"When I assigned Appule as your mentor, I had him to take note if you said anything that would be considered suspicious and anything that would hint of you trying to escape and to report them immediately to me," Frieza began explaining. "The moment you mentioned the machine, I immediately ordered him listen to anything you said through your scouter where I had the pleasure of hearing from him your plan on using the Dragon Balls to return home."
I stared wildly at the ground as he explained everything. My hands trembling as I clenched them tightly.
"The moment we reached Earth, it was only a matter of time before you strike," he said. "In order to give you a false sense of security, I purposefully left the Dragon Balls unguarded and had the soldier monitoring the security cameras on the ship report to me the moment you left your quarters. There I sent Appule after you to bring you before me. Does that answer all your questions?"
I numbly nodded and felt myself recoil to see him give me an awfully sweet smile.
I was stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! He had this all planned out from the start! I was stupid to believe it was all going to be easy! How could I forget that the scouters can listen to any conversation as long as you have them on?! I should have been suspicious for not seeing a guard there in the first place! He's going to kill me. Frieza's going to kill me for all of this. I'm going to die! I'm going to die!
"Oh do not worry dear," Frieza suddenly said, causing my blood to run cold. "While I am absolutely disappointed and slightly livid that you even tried to pull a stunt like that, I am willing to let this slide as you are far more useful to me alive than dead."
I mentally sighed in relief and felt myself slightly relax.
"However," Frieza kept speaking. His smiled melting away to the same cold look he had on earlier. "Do not think you will go away unpunished. You did almost interfere with my wish for immortality after all. Dodoria, please do go easy on her. You will follow a similar fate should you actually kill her."
"Yes my Lord," Dodoria said.
The lights suddenly went off.
Followed by a painful punch to the face.
I crashed onto the floor as I clutched tightly to my face where I took the blow. I held back my desire to cry in pain to not show fear as I slowly got up only to fall back down again after another hit landed on my stomach. I felt all air leave my lungs as I doubled over, clutching my stomach and I couldn't hold back my fear anymore. I fell to my knees as I gasped for air and started sobbing.
"P-PLEASE…STOP IT," I pleaded loudly, tears streaming down my face.
Another punch came across my face followed by another to my back. Each of those hits causing screams to erupt from my throat. I'm going to die! I'm going to die!
"I-I'M SORRY," I manage to choke out through my sobs. "P-P-PLEASE F-FORGIVE ME L-LORD FRIEZA!"
My eyes quickly adjusted through the dark and I faced towards Frieza where he said nothing. All he had was a smile across his face. Another blow sent me back to the cold floor where I coughed and felt a warm liquid on my hand. My hand shook violently as I stared down at the blood on my hand. My blood.
"Stop you're crying! I'm not even using my full strength," Dodoria yelled as he grabbed me by my bodysuit's turtleneck before he knuckled sandwiched me.
I screamed loudly before feeling a sickening substance spitting out of my mouth. The smell of iron stung heavily in the air.
"Disgusting! You nearly got my armor dirty!"
He let go of me and I dropped to the ground. I could only whimper in pain before I spat more blood out. It was sick. Everything was sick. The floor reeked of the smell of blood and the smell of it sent a sickening feeling to my stomach. I felt a different disgusting taste in my mouth as I heaved for air a few seconds later.
I can't do this! I'm not going to make this out alive! I'm going to die…I'm going to die…I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'M GOING TO DIE!
Another scream erupted from my mouth as an attack went across my back. I curled up into a ball and myself tightly, screaming and crying as my back seared in pain.
"STOP IT, STOP IT STOP IT," I screamed. "SOMEONE…HELP ME!"
I glanced over to Appule, mentally pleading for him to do something! To say something! Why won't he do something?! Stop standing there! Help me! Someone please! Anyone! Please make this all stop! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!
I could faintly feel Dodoria grabbed me by the neck again. I could barely see anymore. Tears continued to stream down my face but I was beginning to see dots and spots all over the place.
I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
"That will be enough Mr. Dodoria," Frieza said.
Dodoria let out a grunt before dropping the girl to the ground. She laid almost motionless within a puddle of blood and vomit from what Appule could barely see. He hitched his breath as he swore she had to be dead until he could faintly hear her faint raggedy breathing and sobbing.
"I do believe you have learned your lesson, correct Miss Maria," Frieza asked her in a sweet voice. Walking closer so he could lean above her.
She slowly and shakily nodded her head. Frieza smiled brightly before walking passed her. The door to the room opening and the bright light from the hallway entering the room. Appule glanced away from the bloody mess he could see.
"Mr. Zarbon," Frieza said as he stopped along the door. "Make sure the janitor cleans up this mess. I wish to have these walls and floors pristine clean by tomorrow morning."
"Yes my Lord," Zarbon replied, leaving the room soon after that with Dodoria leaving closely behind Zarbon but heading in a different direction.
"Take her to the Med Bay Mr. Appule," Frieza commanded and glanced an eye at him. "I don't want my informant dying just over some mere wounds. Do call for any assistance to carry her there if you desire."
"Y-Yes my Lord," Appule said before pressing a button to his scouter. "Nabana! I need you to go to the Med Bay and get a stretcher! Also have the doctor have a medical machine ready for use! …I'll explain everything later! Just hurry over here and do what I ask!"
He carefully walked over to where Maria laid. A part of him wishing the lights in the room would get back on so he could carefully put her on the stretcher when Nabana arrived but a part of him didn't want to see the mess nor the severity of her wounds.
"Hold on for a few seconds," Frieza suddenly said, walking over to them and then seemed to be gazing on Maria's back. "Make sure all of her wounds are healed except for one. I want to her to have a reminder to never have that behavior nor do a stunt like that again."
He then pointed to the longest and deepest wound that ran diagonally across her back.
"That one will do. Report to me once she has been rehabilitated."
"Yes sir…"
Appule bowed and watched as Frieza began walking out of the room the same time Nabana arrived.
"What happened," Nabana exclaimed as he walked closer, the stretcher landing loudly against the ground.
"I'll explain it later," Appule said hurriedly. "Just help me get her on the stretcher and carry her to the Med Bay!"
He could feel Nabana's glare on him as he carefully turned Maria over so her back was on the ground. Both then carefully picked her up and put her over the stretcher. Holding onto his end of the stretcher, he and Nabana carefully picked it up before quickly rushing out of the room.
Her eyes almost seemed dead to him but he honestly found it a miracle that she was still alive as she laid there hazily gasping for air. He could still feel the cold fear running around him when Lord Frieza asked him to stay. He knew the reason as to why Lord Frieza did this despite he wanted to play oblivious to it himself. It was a constant reminder to not only him but to Dodoria and Zarbon as well to what will happen to them if they dare disobey Lord Frieza.
"This way you two," the doctor ordered them once they arrived to the Med Bay. "Careful now!"
Setting the stretcher down, the doctor ordered them to carefully pick her up and put her inside the ready medical machine. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling of her blood run down on him as they placed her inside the machine. The doctor hooked up the pads and mouth respirator and immediately closed the machine to allow the rejuvenating liquid to pour in.
Appule walked over to the doctor and leaned down towards him. Lowering his voice to a whisper as he told the doctor Lord Frieza's request. The doctor looked grimly at him before nodding and going back to work.
"Can you explain now what happened," Nabana asked.
"…she tried using the Dragon Balls to go back to her dimension," Appule sighed wearily, rubbing a hand over his forehead. "I took her over to Lord Frieza and you can only guess what happened there after seeing her state."
"L-Lord Frieza punished her himself?! B-But-!"
"No! He let Dodoria, who barely was using any of his strength, to deal out the punishment, and I had a front row seat to all of it. …"
He grew silent as the image of her looking at him for a brief moment ran in his mind. For that brief moment she had looked at him, he felt a heavy weight on his chest as she continued to scream. Sure, he had seen far worse yet the fact she looked towards him for help despite she always looked at him like he was a joke and ignored all of his attempts to try to get her know better. She still looked at him for help and he finally saw the side of her she secretly hid. She was just another scared kid and he couldn't judge her for it.
"How is she doing doctor," Appule asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Her brain waves are all over the place but I will have her stabilized in a moment but it will take some time to have her wounds healed," the doctor said, slightly glancing away from the control panel. "As for the wound on her back, I've estimated her time in the machine would have been extended for another hour but based on what you said, I will need to remove her broken armor and bandaged it. I will lend a medical gown for her to wear in the meantime till the wound is healed."
"Good… I need to report this to Lord Frieza."
"I'll also prescribe her some medicine to deal with the pain and to make sure the wound doesn't get infected in the meantime as well. I'll have them ready once her wound has been bandaged up."
"Yes sir…"
"Do you want me to help you carry her back to her quarters," Nabana asked as Appule walked passed him.
"Yeah and then you can go back to work," he replied tiredly before stopping in his tracks. "By the way…if you ever see her again and somehow actually manage to talk to her, don't mention the fact you know what happened to her. It'll be for her own good…"
He left the room before he could hear Nabana's response and pressed the button on his scouter. He glanced down at his armor to see it still covered in blood and couldn't help but grimace at the sight.
He needed a drink after this.
Why won't anyone help me?!
Please! Somebody! Anybody! Help me!
"I-I'M SORRY! PLEASE F-FORGIVE ME L-LORD FRIEZA!"
I'm going to die…
I'm going to die…
I'M GOING TO DIE-
I flung my eyes wide open and was greeted to the sight of my quarter's ceiling.
…I'm still alive?
I realized I had my arm outstretched towards the sky where I lowered it back down. How did I get back in here? Wasn't I lying on a floor in that room after getting caught and… I stare petrified at the ceiling as I felt fear swell inside me as I tried recalling the whole ordeal. I quickly shoved the memory and few images in the recesses in my mind, trying to focus on something else to get rid of this awful feeling.
…
…
…
…the room sounds awfully quiet.
I turned my head to the side where I saw the twins' bed laid completely empty and no sound of them anywhere. I began to panic as my eyes wandered around the room to see if I could see them. Where did they go?! Did they go outside of here by themselves?! Did Frieza punish them-?!
"Thank you for taking us to breakfast," Travis's voice entered the room immediately after the door slid open. I stared silently as the two walked inside the room before turning around to face whoever was at the door.
"Well I couldn't let you two starve while your guardian is resting," Appule said, pausing when he noticed me staring at them. "Oh. You're awake now."
I said nothing in reply. My hands suddenly growing clammy as one of the images I could remember from last night grew clearer. I shoved the image away again but it didn't stop my thoughts rampaging around.
He merely watched as you cried out for help...
What did you expect from your own teacher anyways?
"U-Uh…I brought you back some food to eat," his voice brining my attention back to him. I saw he was holding up a box where on top of it was a tray of food. "A-And Lord Frieza has delayed your training till further notice but I brought you a new set of armor…"
He trailed off and that is when I realized I wasn't even wearing my armor. Removing the bedsheets off me, I saw I was wearing a plain light blue gown and now when I noticed it, my back seemed to be covered in something. I felt pain spike through my back as I tried sitting up and I immediately laid down again, slightly seething through my teeth from the pain before trying again.
"W-Whoa, careful now," Appule said nervously, setting the box down and began walking over to me.
"I-I d-don't need your help," I snapped at him, causing him to stop while I grabbed tightly onto the bed as I got up on my feet.
My body shook before I could take a step where I latched tightly onto the bed. My breathing was slightly shaky as I tried again where my back again stifled with pain but I ignored it as I walked towards the bathroom. Opening the door, I clutched tightly onto the sink and stared myself in the mirror. I was breathing heavily now as I hesitated to turn around to see what was wrong with my back.
Why do I feel so scared? It's…it's just an injury…y-yeah…it's just an injury…B-But…if I was in pain…surely I was taken to a medical machine to get healed after that. T-Then why…then why…?!
I was beginning to see spots by then before I turned my back towards the mirror. My breathing grew heavier as I took off the gown, scared of the growing amount of spots in my vision and what I was going to see when I finally turned my head towards the mirror. I let out a cry of terror.
"What happened to me," I cried, clutching tightly onto the sink again, my vision growing blurrier by the minute. Why is my entire torso bandaged up?! What did they do to me?!
"Calm down," Appule exclaimed, rushing over to me, pulling me away from the sink and turning me to face him. "Calm down! You're going to be fine!"
"I can't see," I kept crying. Everything growing blurrier and blurrier around me. "I can't see! I can't see…-."
Everything then went into darkness.
Nothing.
I could see nothing but darkness except for a faint light in the distance. I couldn't hear anything either and it seemed like I was floating. It felt oddly calming despite the panic I was feeling a…how long ago was that? It felt like I have been here forever.
I glanced back at the light again. I made no attempt towards it but I continued to stare at it and ponder where it could go.
"…!"
I titled my head to no particular direction. Strange, I could have sworn I heard something.
"I…sh…ad?"
"N…ll…ve."
There it was again. It sounded like a voice or rather voices…
"Oh thank the Kais you woke up," Appule's voice spoke with relief.
I awoke laying on the floor with my legs and feet slightly raised up. I was still in the bathroom but surrounded around me was the twins and Appule. I could still feel myself shaken up and tears were at the brim of my eyes again.
"W-What happened," I asked weakly, wiping my eyes.
"You fainted on us," Appule said, slowly helping me sit back up despite the pain on my back. "Luckily I was still holding on to you when you fainted so you didn't fall on the floor."
I said nothing after that and stared dully ahead. He slowly helped me stand back up, and led me back to my bed. I numbly ate my food and drank my water slowly while he set the box containing my new armor down next to my bed before getting out two small bottles.
"…what are these," I ask quietly.
"Your prescribed medicine," Appule said, opening the slightly bigger bottle, taking one pill from it and handing it to me. "The doctor wants you to take this antibiotic pill every 12 hours so the wound doesn't get infected. The other bottle contains painkillers and he said to start taking them when you feel pain and to wait 12 hours to take another one if you continue to feel pain. I suggest you should take both right now."
I stared down at the pill before swallowing it with a glass of water, and taking the painkiller a few seconds later. I went back to my food, wishing he will just go away.
"Hm…I probably should get a wheelchair for you before-," Appule began saying before I cut him off.
"I don't need a wheelchair," I said quietly, clutching tightly onto my fork. "Where are you even taking me this time?"
"…Lord Frieza's orders are that everyone is to be present as he makes his wish on the Dragon Balls," he said quietly.
…oh. Right…I was there when he said that…
…right there when I fell for his trap.
I stared dully at the Dragon Balls as everybody gathered around as Frieza stood before all of us. Putting all my focus towards the Dragon Balls as the sight of Dodoria nearby made me feel sick to my stomach. The twins stood on either side of me, both of them asking me questions but I couldn't make them out nor did I reply. All I could do was stare at the objects that gave me hope only a mere night ago.
"Greetings my fellow subjects," Frieza greeted us all, opening his arms wide open and when I finally looked up. "I have gathered you all upon this joyous day to witness my greatest triumphant! Watch in awe as my wish for immortality shall be granted!"
He then turned towards me. Smiling the same way as... …
"Miss Maria, I will love for you to summon the dragon seeing as you do know the words," he said in a sweet tone.
…that sick bastard.
Don't argue with him…Don't make a face at him…
Just do what he wants…That's all you can do now…
Obey…Just obey and you won't get hurt…be the good little soldier Frieza wants from you…
I walked over to Frieza where he stepped to the side, allowing me to stand before the Dragon Balls. They seemed to glow faintly from the way the sun was hitting them…
"Dragon," I said, mustering the loudest voice I could. "Come forth and grant me this wish!"
The Dragon Balls began to glow brightly, flashing three times before shooting out a yellow beam. The beam quickly transforming into the shape of a dragon as it began snaking its way around the sky as the bright sky turned into night. Where finally its golden hue was replaced with green scales and the recognizable Shenron stood mighty in the sky. Murmurs rang around me as obviously all these people were in shock or amazed at the sight before them.
"State your wish," Shenron's voice rumbled through the air. "I shall grant you only one."
I could have yelled out my wish right then and there the moment Shenron finished speaking. Wish me and the twins back home! I could have yelled that and perhaps be shot down through a ki attack but Frieza would have lost his wish then and will have to wait till Namek. I would just return home with a major injury but I will be home none the less.
…what a stupid fantasy…
I stepped away from the Dragon Balls and walked back defeated from where I originally stood. Frieza nodded towards me and then stood before Shenron.
"Shenron I do believe you are called," Frieza said, slightly cocking his head to the side before outstretching his hands towards the sky. "Then grant me this wish Shenron! Make me immortal!"
"Very well."
Shenron's eyes glowed a bright red and immediately died down as it appeared, followed by a yellow aura surrounding Frieza. All eyes turned towards Frieza as he basked in the light surrounding around him.
"Yes! I can feel it," Frieza cackled loudly as the light seemed to be absorbed by him.
"Your wish has been granted, farewell," Shenron said.
He immediately disappeared with the Dragon Balls shooting towards the sky before all of them flew off in their own separate direction. I looked back down at Frieza who seemed to be examining himself.
"How curious," Frieza said, clenching and unclenching his left hand. "I still feel the same but still. It doesn't stop the fact I finally achieved what I only thought will be a dream! Finally! My immortality is mine and now the universe shall truly be under my rule forever!"
Soldiers began chanting Frieza's name but the noise fell down all around me as all I could focus on was Frieza who through all the praise he was receiving turned to look at me. Once again, giving me the same smile before walking away.
Appule led us back to our quarters where I sat back down on my bed, my back flaring with pain for walking all the way back despite his comments. I glanced up to see the twins looking at me from the shut door. A look of confusion and perhaps slight anger if I was reading their expression correctly was on their faces.
"Why didn't you make the wish on the Dragon Balls," Travis asked. I could barely hear any emotion from his voice.
"I can't…," I mumbled, my right hand gripping tightly on my left arm.
"But you promised," Lilly said, raising her voice slightly and pressing the situation further. They don't understand…they don't understand what those…monsters did to me! "You told us you will find a way to return home-!"
"Well I can't keep that promise anymore," I yelled at them, glaring harshly at them. "Don't you two understand?! We're stuck here! You two didn't see what they did to me last night! We're stuck here whether you two like it or not!"
I immediately laid down on the bed and turned my back against them, wrapping the sheets around me tightly and laid in a position that didn't cause so much pain on my back. The twins said nothing and all I could hear was them walking back to their bed and faintly hear them cry.
…I shouldn't have yelled at them like that but what I could do now? I can't comfort them. I want them to curse my name, to scream at me, to tell me how much they hate me, to verify everything I can only imagine how they are feeling right now. Yet they continue to stay silent and cry amongst themselves.
I hate it.
I didn't do anything throughout the rest of the day other than eat when my dumb teacher brought food and to use the restroom. I didn't sleep that night either, afraid to see what I will if I closed my eyes. I only managed to get a few hours in the early morning in out of pure exhaustion until I woke up into the same dull walls of my tiny room.
As in cue, I heard the door to the room open and the twins shuffling from their bed and dully greeting Appule. His shadow grew on the wall and I could feel his presence behind me.
"I'll bring you back food," Appule said. "…do you want anything else in the meantime?"
I didn't reply other than wrap the sheets around me tighter. He didn't say anything either but I watched as his shadow seemed to place something on the bed or the box that still sat next to my bed before his shadow grew smaller and I heard the door open and shut again. Leaving me in complete silence.
I laid there for a few minutes before I turn around to see what he had dropped off this time. I found nothing on the bed but looking down on the box, I saw my bracelet. I hadn't even realized it wasn't on my wrist before I grabbed it and slipped it back on to its proper place.
It looked like it had been clean and when I inspected it further, it seemed like someone actually took the time to refurbish it as the old rust stains were gone. It looked almost the same when my grandmother first gave it to me. I stared at the imprinted images of the Virgin Mary on the bracelet's beads and felt tears stream down my eyes.
I'm never going to return back home…I'll never see my family, nor my friends again…I'm stuck here…forever.
The day played out almost the same as the previous day. The twins returned with Appule along with a tray of food for me. I rarely spoke other than mutter replies when Appule asked about how my back was doing.
"Once you're finished eating, I'll take you to the Med Bay for the doctor to check up on your wound," Appule said, arms crossed. I dully nodded, only taking a few bites of my food before shoving the tray aside and standing up.
He gave me a contorted look before he led me to the ship's Med Bay where I was instructed by the doctor to take the gown off and sit down. There he proceeded to undo the bandages while I used the gown to clutch tightly against my chest. By the sounds the two of them made could only make me imagine the severity of it.
"Well at this rate," the doctor began explaining. "The skin is slowly healing but if we were to put her on the medical machine now, the scar will surely stay but I will need to ask for Lord Frieza's permission to do so seeing what he originally requested."
"I'll ask for his permission doctor," Appule said. "But I don't expect an answer any time soon."
"Very well." He then turned his attention back towards me. "I believe the painkillers and antibiotics are working for you correct?"
"…yes," I muttered.
"Good. I want you to keep taking them until we finally receive word from Lord Frieza."
"…okay."
The doctor put new bandages on me and Appule led me back to my room where I immediately crashed on my bed again. He left without a word nor did the twins speak to me and I was content with that. I didn't want to talk to any of them.
Night time came once again and I continued to stare at the wall. Okay. Maybe this time I can try to get a decent amount of sleep. Maybe my tiredness can overcome my fear…Yeah…I'm feeling tired from the lack of sleep I have.
I blink my eyes a couple of times before finally closing them. I felt my breathing slow down a bit and my body relax. I then found myself in a somewhat lit room where a large shadow loomed over me. I turned around and screamed as it enveloped around me followed by the pain.
SOMEONE HELP ME!
FORGIVE ME LORD FRIEZA!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE-
I flung my eyes wide open, feeling my heart pound loudly against my chest. Damn it, who am I kidding? I can't sleep, not like this either! I turn around on my bed to face the room pick my phone up and checked the time on it, hoping that it was displaying the time again as this Planet Earth was the same position wise in the Solar System as in my dimension.
1:00 a.m.
Great.
I set my phone down and slumped my arm down alongside my bed. I glanced over to where the twins were soundly asleep. If only sleep were that simple for me to do now… I then glanced at the door to the room before slowly getting up. My feet touched the cold floor and it sent a shiver through my body but I ignored it and quietly walked towards the door.
The door slid open and some light from the hallway trickled through as I silently slipped into the hall and shut the door slid behind me. It was dead silent except for my bare feet walking across the floor and the occasional soldier that passed by me.
You know how some of them look at y-
Why should I even care about that thought anymore? I'm going to be stuck working with them now, I might as well accept it.
I didn't even know where I was going as I was just mindlessly wandered around until I came upon an open door that led to somewhat big room. I poked my head inside and found the room empty so I stepped inside. The room was a lounge area of sorts as there were a multitude of chairs and some tables as well. I sat down on a couch that looked through a window that had a view of an endless rocky terrain.
Through the glass reflection, I could see how much of a mess I looked. My hair for once was down from the usual ponytail I always kept it in but it looked like a wild mess and I could faintly see dark circles forming under my eyes from the lack of sleep. Not that I cared really. I didn't care that I looked like a mess nor if the others here judged me…I don't care anymore…
"What are you doing out here so late," a voice asked right next to me.
I practically almost jumped from where I was sitting and my back immediately began aching. Thank goodness for those painkillers or else my back probably would have been in immense pain. I turned over to my left and my eyes slowly adjusted to the dark to see Nabana standing on the other end of the couch. I didn't reply other than return to look back out to the window.
"Mind if I sit next to you," he asked kind of awkwardly.
I glanced back at him and merely shrugged my shoulders before looking back at the window. I felt the slight shift on the couch as Nabana sat down. Glancing back again, I saw him merely looking straight forward as well. What the hell was he doing here anyway?
"I have the night shift for patrolling around the ship if you were wondering," he suddenly said. I immediately looked away from him, assuming he must have read my face if he even answered my mental question. "But what are you doing out here?"
I continued to remain silent.
"…it's fine. You don't need to tell me if you don't want to."
I would be lying if that response didn't catch me off guard. I finally turned my head completely towards him and stared confusedly at him. His back was bent forward as his arms were resting on his legs and hands clasped together, and a normal look on his face. Why the hell would he say something like that?
"…why would you care," I finally spoke.
"So you actually can talk," he said jokingly, chuckling a bit. "Let's just say it's a guess by the slightly scary but tired look on your face and the fact I haven't seen you around with your mentor lately."
I grimaced but held back making a face when he mentioned Appule.
"…I can't sleep. That's it," I slowly replied, looking away again.
I glanced back at him. Hoping now that I have given him an answer that he would go away and leave me alone.
"Heh, I know that feeling very well. Course, my experience and reasoning could be completely different from your reasoning as to why you can't sleep."
We both sat there in silence for what felt like forever before I felt the couch shift again. I looked back at Nabana to see he had gotten up.
"Well I'll leave you be," Nabana said. "I got to get back to my patrol."
He started walking towards the door before he stopped at the entrance and turned around to look at me.
"It was nice talking to you Maria," he said where I faintly saw him smile before he left.
I stared where he was standing originally and then returned towards the window. His words lingering in my mind.
…what a strange soldier.
Another tough chapter to write and hopefully I wrote Maria's reaction after that event correctly/appropriately after doing research.