My longest chapter yet!
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Chapter 5
I sat in the hospital bed with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs.
I woke seconds after I blacked out, to find myself slumped over in my own vomit. The Healers rushed me down to the hospital, where I have remained for the afternoon. Healer Flames, who had tended to me during my hospital stay, was outside, speaking with my Seeker in fervent whispers. I closed my eyes and pretended I couldn't hear what they were talking about.
But their hushed words seemed to be the only thing that entered my ears. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't block it out. Guilt ate at me, for listening to their private conversation.
"We need to remove her!" My Healer said forcefully.
"No!" Cassandra hissed, "She's the first to have lasted more than a few hours in the body. She'll have to deal with this."
It was rare to see such an argument between Souls.
"I'm sorry, Seeker, but this is far too dangerous. The head wound has obviously affected the body's memories. This is useless, to have Luna is such pain."
"No, I'm sure the memories are still present. She got us a name – two names, in fact! It's far from useless!"
"Perhaps for your mission, it is worthwhile, but I cannot have my patients in pain."
My Seeker's voice shifted. "Please, Healer. Just give me a few more days. It will make our world safer, once we have guided the rogue humans into the light.
My Healer sighed. "Luna should have a say in this."
My Seeker made a dissatisfied noise.
They returned to my hospital bedside.
"How are you feeling, Luna?" Healer Flames asked.
I smiled. "I am much better. These headaches are quite strange. The pain will just leave, as if it has given up."
Healer Flames nodded, intrigued. "Yours is a very interesting situation. You see, you have spent the longest amount of time in this body than the Souls before you. Many had asked to be removed. The only reason we didn't discard this body was because its memories hold critical information on the whereabouts of wild humans."
I nodded, and motioned for him to go on.
He exhaled loudly. "We are not sure –"
My Seeker interrupted, "Healer Flames isn't sure –" My Healer cut her off by firmly placing a hand on her arm.
"We are not sure if this information is worth the risk. This body seems to be causing you a lot of pain."
A beat of silence skipped by and the sounds of the hospital seemed to hush.
"The pain would be for the greater good…but…I suppose it is your choice," My Seeker relented.
I sighed. The choice was an obvious one. I would do anything to help my people.
Even so, I sat in the silence of the room, contemplating if these excruciating head-aches would become a pattern.
Oh, they will.
The voice was filled with malice and hatred. My head jerked sideways, searching for the body that belonged to the voice.
"Are you all right, Luna?"
There was no one in the room but Healer Flames and the Seeker.
"Oh, I'm fine…" I mumbled, "I just thought I…thought I…never mind."
"Well then…would you prefer to be removed?" The Healer asked kindly.
"Or you could stay in the body for the greater –" Healer Flames hushed the Seeker.
I tipped my head to the side, letting my long hair tickle down my arms. "I…I will stay in this Host, to access her memories."
Visible relief rinsed the Seeker's face, and her body relaxed.
You won't take me.
It was a hiss, angry but soft. I whipped around. What was going on?
The Seeker put a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you sure you're alright?" There was no concern in her voice, just cold, hard questioning.
I gave a tight laugh. "I just thought I heard something."
She gave me a dubious look.
"Healer Flames," I blurted suddenly, "Would it be possible for me to return to my Housing?"
I needed space. I needed to think. I needed to flee the Seeker's piercing eyes.
Healer Flames matched my Seeker's expression, sporting a doubtful look of his own. "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Luna?"
"Yes. Like I said, the pain just leaves." I kept my voice sure and even.
"Uh – well, alright then…I suppose you can go. Make sure you come back if you're in any pain at all."
"I will," I said, getting off the bed and climbing to my feet. "Goodbye Flames Spreading. Goodbye Cassandra."
I closed the door behind me before they had a chance to say I had to stay in the hospital ward a while longer. I leaned against the wall, thinking about the voice.
Was I hearing things? Was this another effect of the head wound?
I spun around and strode down the hallway. I knew I would eventually need to ask someone for help in order to find my room, but I pretended I knew where I was going just to prolong my trip to my housing. In truth, I was growing afraid to be alone in there. What if the voice came back?
I longed to turn back to the hospital ward, but that would raise suspicion.
I turned a corner and walked straight into Star Blanket. I stumbled backwards and he caught me by the arm. I expected him to laugh, but his face was a mask of concern.
"Are you alright?"
I smiled. A distraction. Something to keep me out of my housing for a few more precious minutes.
"I'm fine, actually. My body suffered a head injury before Insertion, but I am much better now."
He smiled tightly. "Good."
"I do have a question for you, Star Blanket."
"Yes?"
"How come it seems that every turn I take, you are always standing on the other side?"
"Truthfully, I've been following you," He said.
"Oh?"
"Healer Flames asked me to. He said you could use another eye looking out for you."
I smiled at Healer Flames's kindness.
"Well, thank you then."
"Healer Flames also told me that you are now calling yourself Luna," He said.
"Yes. I like it very much."
"I do too."
My smile grew.
"And since I now have a name…" I started.
"Ah, yes." He said, picking up on what I was trying to lead
in to, "Dinner for two. Perhaps tomorrow night?"
Excitement flourished in my chest. "Tomorrow night
sounds very nice."
"I'll see you, Luna."
He walked by me, in brisk strides down the hall. I turned in
the opposite direction, facing the desolate hallway alone.
My steps were too loud for the silent hallway; each footfall shattered the peacefulness like the snap of a rubber band on tender skin.
I finally passed a Seeker, someone who could lead me to my Housing.
"E-excuse me," I said, stammering slightly, "I'm Luna…and I'm a little lost."
The Seeker, dressed head to toe in a white that blended into the walls, turned to me. She smiled. She was very pale and plain except for a shock of red hair twisting down her shoulders.
"Well, Lost Luna, I am Red Leaves in the Wind, but most call me Red. Where are you headed?"
Lost Luna. I giggled at the name. "I'm trying to get to the Housing wing."
"Oh, easy," She laughed, "Please, follow me."
She expertly led me down the hallways, arriving quickly at the long hallway of open doorways.
"Thank you, Red," I said with a smile.
"Goodbye, Lost Luna."
I waved slightly as she turned and strode away.
Even taking slow, shuffled steps, I arrived at my own doorway far too quickly. The silence of the room buzzed in my ears.
I slipped across the room, easing down onto the corner of my bed.
Jeff. The name had been bothering me since I'd found him in the bodies memories. Jeff, Jeff, Jeff.
"Jeff," I said aloud, feeling the word rolling across my tongue, "Jeff."
I leapt to my feet as the face flashed through my mind again. Briskly, I stepped over to my small dresser, pulling out the bottom drawer to locate my sketchbook. I ripped it out, listening to the mumble of the fluttering pages. I scrambled to find a pencil as well.
Closing my eyes, I sat on the floor against the wall and tried to relax.
"Jeff," I said out loud. I searched my mind for the face attached to the name. "Jeff," I said again.
There it was! I could see the face, wavering through the darkness of my closed eyes.
Jeff. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Strong jaw. Straight nose. Light stubble. He couldn't be more than 23 or 24. My eyelids popped open, and my pencil moved across the page.
I began to sketch the face in my memories – a set, sharp face shape. I outline the way his dark hair, similar to my own, fell over onto his forehead. I shaded in his long lashes and inky eyes.
A memory quickly engulfed my mind.
Jeff was leaning over the bathroom sink, holding a plastic tube of gel. It had overflowed, bits of the sticky goop dripping off his fingers and splashing into the sink.
He turned to me, smiling, with his hair spiked forward, coated in the slime.
I – this body, Dana – laughed.
Jeff. Jeff Hatch.
Jeff Hatch, Dana's brother. This body's brother.
My brother?
Stop!
It was a shout. A shriek, more like it. It was a terrified and furious shriek.
My hands moved without me telling them to, sending dark streaks of graphite across the sketch of Jeff.
I felt like I was having a seizure. My head rocked and I lost control of my body.
I leapt to my feet, hurling the pencil out of my hand. My sketch pad fell from my lap, the pages ruffling to the ground.
And suddenly, the world stopped spinning.
I opened and closed my fingers. Took two steps forward. Tilted my head side-to-side.
I was in control again.
What was that?
A familiar, painful beat began in my head.
Oh no.
"No, no, no" I whispered, sinking against my dresser, "Please, I'll do anything."
The beating stopped.
Get out of my body.
The voice was low and menacing.
My body?
No, my body!
I gasped. I was becoming surer and surer by the second that the voice was coming from within my own head.
Can you hear me? I asked tentatively.
There was a slight pause.
Of course I can.
I rose to my feet, shock taking over my body. Breathing heavily, I wobbled over to my mirror, staring at myself.
"Of course I can," I said out loud, copying the words of the voice. I sucked in a sharp breath.
"Of course I can," I said again, matching the voice's exact pitch and tone.
My voice was the same as the one in my head.
Dana?
Hope I left you on the edge of your seat...:)
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