Sydney to the Multiverse Episode 13 - The World Where Sydney Got Drunk While Driving
Written by: DrDoom2006, With: Fun But Shy Girl
In a blue flash: Sydney appeared in a new world, and felt herself on a comfy bed. She smiled and tried to go back to sleep. But as she moved she felt an intense pain coming from her left shoulder. As she tried to turn on a light, she realized it was held by something. As she tried to use her other arm she ended up falling from the bed. The pain she felt made her scream and seconds later Judy was in her room helping her up
-Noodle, what happened?
-I… dunno… I fell… And my whole body hurts… I… I need to go to the bathroom…
Crossing the hall, Sydney closed the door behind her. However upon looking in the mirror Sydney realized she did not look like her normal self. On top of being three years older, Sydney saw her left arm was in a sling, and her face along with her arm had cuts and bruises all over.
-Wh… what happened to me?
At that moment: the holographic form of Cyber Olive appeared from Sydney's jade stone.
-Cyber Olive!
-Sydney Prime! So, I see you're about 17 in this universe.
-Obviously! But why am I so banged up?
-I can't tell you that. All I know is that you'll need to be really strong here…
-Wait, why is...
But at that moment the door opened and Judy walked in, just a second after Cyber Olive's holographic image disappeared.
-Sydney, who were you talking to?
-I… myself… I think I better go back to bed…
The following morning (and in a more careful way) Sydney was able to get dressed. She looked around her room and although in its majority it looked the same, she realized some things were missing. Then as she walked down she noticed that, unlike as she was used to, there was no breakfast waiting for her nor a note from her dad. Upset and sad, she took an apple and made her way to school, But as she arrived at her familiar high school, she noticed that everyone looked at her in a weird way. As she walked into the office so she could ask for a copy of her schedule, the Principal saw her.
-Reynolds, come into my office, please.
As she sat, she saw the severe expression on the Principal's face.
-Miss Reynolds, I know you have been going through the difficult times after the accident, but you do understand that I had to make a decision on it. Your three-week suspension still stands, and I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to go back home. If you need, I can arrange for someone to take you back.
-No… it's OK…
As she walked out of the Principal's office, the bell rang and students began to walk out of their classrooms, many of them looking at her with weird and severe faces talking between them in a low voice.
-What… what is happening?
Suddenly she saw Emmy walking out alongside another girl. The Latina was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt, and she also had bruises on her face.
-EMMY!
The Latina just glared at her while tears ran down her cheeks.
-Emmy… what's wrong?
The girl the Latina was with glared at Sydney.
-Leave her alone, can't you see she's hurting?
-B.. but why?
The brunette turned as she felt a hand close on her right arm. It was a school security guard.
-Sorry Miss, but you need to leave the premises.
For a moment Sydney felt dizzy; like she was about to faint. But slowly she walked out and got home.
Once Sydney got home and back to her bedroom, she opened her laptop and began to check her social networks. What she saw horrified her.
-Oh my God…
There were pictures of her and the amigas in parties and nightclubs with alcohol bottles in the middle, and there was even a video where it was clear that the four of them were drunk.
-Jesus… what… what did I do…
She wanted to see more when the door of her room opened and her father Max walked in.
-You ready? We're leaving for court in half an hour. - Max said in a cold tone
Sydney's eyes opened wide.
-C… court? What? What's going on?
Then she saw a folder on her desk. Opening it was opening the doors of a nightmare, inside were court documents charging her with reckless driving and vehicular manslaughter, along with multiple reports, and newspaper articles. The headline of one article grabbed Sydney's attention the most.
-"Alcohol and driving, the tragedy that struck Northwest High: One dead, three severely injured"
Sydney felt dizzy again as her head started to ache. However she pushed through as she gasped while reading the rest of the article:
-"Northwest High students: Sydney Reynolds, Olive Rozalski, Emmy Mendoza and Sophia Reynolds were gravely hurt in a car crash this past Saturday night when the car driven by Miss Sydney Reynolds collided with another car in Portland's downtown, and then smashed against the wall of an apartment building. The four teenagers were taken to OHSU Hospital where Sophia Reynolds was declared DOA…"
Openly crying, Sydney sat on the floor
-No… Sophia please…
Some time later: Sydney sat in a courtroom. Angela was her defense lawyer while Max and Judy sat in the back. The judge (a severe looking old woman) walked in and everyone was motioned to sit down. She glared at the table where Angela and Sydney sat.
-Counselor, I understand you and your client are ready to make a plea.
Angela stood up.
-Yes, your Honor. My client pleads not guilty to the charges of intentional manslaughter and reckless driving.
The judge glared at both Sydney and Angela.
-Counselor, you do know that your client was driving after drinking alcohol and that the victim of her reckless actions was your daughter.
-And her step-sister, your honor. But I also know that there are too many variables involved in the situation to determine the cause of the events; thus this judgment cannot be passed due to the large shadow of doubt present.
Sydney's eyes opened wide. She hadn't realized it before because of the shock until now... the last name on the paper was Reynolds for both her and Sophia… so… Angela and her dad were married… and Sophia was her stepsister… Her thoughts were interrupted as the judge spoke.
-Since Mrs Reynolds: you requested for your client to remain in your custody during the trial and since she has no prior offenses: I'll grant you the continuation of these conditions. We will resume tomorrow morning.
After the hearing: the brunette silently walked to Angela's car. She had already realized that the car she wrecked was in fact Max's. She stopped for a moment as her head started to ache hard again, but she didn't let that stop her from moving.
-Want to go visit Olive? - Angela asked
Sydney nodded and then Angela drove Sydney to the hospital
However if she had not received enough shocks up to that minute; what she found at the hospital was even worse. As she walked in: Olive was sound asleep. Like she and Emmy: her face had bruises, and her left eye was pitch black. Carefully, she took Olive's hand in hers.
-Olive… I'm so sorry…
The blonde woke up slowly
-Syd?
-Shh… you need to rest…
The blonde went back to sleep at the same time as the door opened and Emmy walked in. She silently sat beside the brunette.
-My sister says you're a horrible influence and I should stay away from you… that's why I didn't talk to you at school…
Sydney's eyes opened wide
-What…?
-I told her I know you can change…
Sydney felt the tears run down her cheeks.
-I can… and I will… but… how… how did this happened?
-We were celebrating your dad legally adopting Sophia, and that you two were now sisters. But you changed… since that camp you went to… you became friends with that counselor… Destiny Baker… she changed… you…
-What…?
Closing her eyes, Emmy told her how, after she returned from camp, she invited them all for a sleepover...
In the past: upon checking that Max had gone out with Angela, Sydney produced a bottle of whiskey out of her bag and showed it to the other Four Amigas. Sophia was the most stunned at what she saw.
-WHOA… Sydney that is…
-Oh come on, Sophia, we're practically adults now. Are you chicken? - Sydney said taking a drink from the bottle
Emmy opened her eyes
-I don't remember much… you made me drink a lot and I fell asleep… the following morning we were so hung over that it took a lot of effort to keep it from your dad and your step-mom… after that you always kept having alcohol no matter where we were…
Sydney put her face in her hands.
-God…
-I guess you don't remember it all. But... Syd... last week… you insisted that we went out to celebrate that it was official that Sophia and you were sisters… So you took your dad's car without permission… I wanted to tell you it was a bad idea, but I was scared of you making fun of me…
-I'm so sorry… - Sydney said crying
-You took us to a place you said Destiny told you about… and gave us all fake IDs she got for us… Then you asked for a lot of drinks… I know Sophia didn't want to drink much, but… but you…
-Stop it… please… just… stop… I get it now. I... I get what I did.
Suddenly Olive opened her eyes again and spoke.
-What's… what's going on?
-OLIVE!
-Hey…
-Olive... I'm so sorry… can you two forgive me?
But as she raised her face, she saw Emmy moving a wheelchair close to Olive's bed.
-W… what's going on?
-I'm taking Olive to the garden. She's in a wheelchair now. How could you forget that? - Emmy said with a curious look on her face
-I hurt my back in the crash, remember? Can't move my legs… - Olive added
-W… what?
Sydney felt her hands began to tremble. Her head started to ache harder than ever. It was like her brain was breaking... just like her whole world was breaking. Meanwhile Olive glared at Sydney as she spoke.
-Sydney… you knew it… your dad told you…
For any answer, the brunette ran to the nearby sink and puked. Emmy ran after her and held her hair.
-Sydney... you seem different… the other day, you… didn't even care… you said it wasn't your fault. You said those other drivers should've watched where they were going. That they caused this.
As she cleaned her face, Sydney noticed something through the mirror near her. It was the way Emmy looked at her phone.
-Emmy… why… why are you looking at your phone like that?
The Latina raised her head.
-You're scaring me… you do know I can't see well with my left eye now…
Sydney closed her eyes.
-Is there someone whose life I didn't screw up on this world?
Emmy turned to her and gave her a hug.
-It's OK…
-No, it's not… and…
Sydney felt her phone vibrate, upon seeing it she saw the face of a blonde girl with curly hair smiling at her and the name "Destiny Baker" on the screen.
-Hello?
-Hey bestie! I'm going to be in Portland for a pageant in a couple of weeks, maybe we can go out and partyyyy!
-No. No more. I… just, no. Bye.
Sydney sat on a chair near her.
-Cyber Olive I need you… - she said without thinking
-Excuse me? - Olive said
Sydney realized what she had said.
-Nothing… can I go with you guys?
Olive took her hand in hers.
-Sure.
After accompanying Olive to the garden and saying goodbye to Emmy, Sydney went to talk to the male doctor in charge of her case.
-There's a high probability for Miss Rozalski to regain some control of her legs, but it'll require a lot of physical therapy and a lot of work from her and support from her loved ones - he said to the brunette.
Sydney returned to Olive's room and found the blonde having lunch.
-Hey. They gave me mac and cheese and toast with butter on the side - she said with a smile.
-Olive… I talked to the doctor and he said you can recover but you'll need a lot of work.
The blonde sighed.
-I don't know...
-But I know Olive. You're strong and smart... much stronger and smarter than I am apparently. What happened to you... it was because of my mistake. But you can rise above this Olive because you already have the strength inside to do it!
Olive looking a little more hopeful then began to speak more optimistically.
-Well.. I might not be able to get into America's Top Dancers but... I'll do my best to try to walk again.
Sydney took her hand in hers.
-I know you will.
-Thank you Sydney. But... why have you changed so much out of the sudden?
-I guess… all this made me realize… the mess I was turning my life into…
She was about to say another word when a nurse walked in.
-Visiting hours have ended. I'm afraid you must leave Miss Rozalski so she can end her meal and rest. - she said
-Sure, no problem, I'll come see you tomorrow. Love you Olive.
-Love you too Syd.
With a smile on her face Sydney walked out of the hospital.
Sydney soon after walked out of the hospital and sat on a park bench. Sydney then felt the head ache she was experiencing grow even worse. Sydney wondered what was going on, and what she could do to end this pain. Then suddenly Sydney felt something wet under her nose. As she passed her fingers: her eyes opened wide when she saw it was blood.
-W… what?
Then Sydney started to feel very light headed as she began to faint. But then suddenly in a blue flash: Sydney disappeared.
Instantly Sydney found herself back in the blue void facing a screen with Cyber Olive on it.
-Hey Sydney Prime.
-W.. what happened. Why was I bleeding?
Cyber Olive looked a bit saddened as she began to speak.
-Well… that's why I had to bring you back… I'm afraid… things did not go well for your doppelganger in that universe. As far as I could ascertain… she had a brain injury that went undetected and… I brought you back here a few moments before she had a stroke that… ended her life.
-Oh God… you mean... that other Sydney... she's dead?
-I'm sorry…
Sydney sat on what passed for a floor and hugged her legs.
-Why? Just... why was on that world? What was the point to just live someone else's final day out for them?
-Well I can't be completely sure Sydney Prime. But from what I think we can both tell... that other Sydney blamed others for her actions, and had damaged her relationship with her friends almost beyond repair. But you helped heal some of that damage, and let that other Sydney's friends remember their friend at her best. And also... from what I can speculate... you gave the Olive of that world a lot more motivation to get better... motivation that she wouldn't have had without your final words to her.
Sydney then buried her head between her knees as she spoke.
-When am I finally gonna go home? I... I don't know how much more I can take of this.
-Sydney Prime, relax. The universe will send you back when it's ready.
-But what about when I'm ready?
Cyber Olive looked briefly at her computer as she spoke.
-Sydney Prime, it's going to be okay. We just have to… Sydney?
Cyber Olive's eyes widened as she realized Sydney was laying on the floor unconscious, while the jade stone was blinking wildly…
TO BE CONTINUED...