It's definitely not my favorite chapter, sorry guys. I've been in a bit of a Writer's Rut.
Chapter 9
I sat in the still silence of my room, staring at the open doorway.
After about half an hour of aimless stumbling, I passed a night-watch Seeker outside of the Hospital area and asked him to direct me to my room.
It wasn't hard after all. The facility was set up in a forked Y shape. Take the left hall, turn left, turn left again. Easy.
I had been sitting in the dark for at least two hours. It must've been past midnight by now.
Dana was absent. Maybe I could use this absence to my advantage, seeing as there was no chance of me getting any sleep tonight.
I easily felt my way through the dimly lit hallways towards the hospital, where I heard my Seeker was staying. Apparently, things had gotten worse after the incident in the interrogation room.
"Hello," I said to a new Seeker, waiting outside the hospital doors. The other one, the one who helped me find my quarters, must've finished his shift.
"Hello," He said pleasantly, "What are you hear for?"
"I'm visiting my friend."
"At such a late hour?"
"Yes. I've been so fraught with worry that I can't seem to sleep." The lie slipped out of my mouth easily.
"I'm sure your friend will be fine," He reassured, opening the doors for me.
I squinted at the fluorescent light of the hospital room. My eyes weren't used to it, after hours spent in the dark.
My Seeker and another woman sat at the other side of the room, talking in hushed whispers. They didn't notice me.
"Hello," I said brightly. Their conversation stopped abruptly.
"You must be Luna," The woman said, standing up. She had a sweet, wan face with large, mocha-colored eyes and blonde hair. Her whole appearance made me want to trust her.
"I am Fallen Flower. I will be replacing Cassandra until she gets her new body."
New body?
Dana spoke to me for the first time since slapping Star Blanket.
"New body?" I repeated the words.
"Yes. Apparently Cassandra's Host has been extremely resistant this entire time."
She's still alive in there, Dana gasped. I felt her initial shock, then surge of elation.
That means they're going to discard the body.
What? Dana's happiness drained away. No…they can't…but she's still alive!
Who is she?
Dana immediately clammed up.
Fallen Flower continued.
"I will not tolerate any withholding of information. Every memory that you access will be immediately reported to me." Her voice had gone from sweet and welcoming to cold and detached in seconds.
They can't…but…
Dana continued to stammer.
"Do you have any new information?" She questioned, "Is that why you're here?"
"No…I'm sorry. I just couldn't sleep."
Fallen Flower's mouth pressed into a tight, irritated line.
Healer Flames burst through the hospital doors, taking me by the arm.
"Healer!" Fallen Flower demanded, "What is the meaning of this!"
The Healer wheeled around to face her.
"Star Blanket has just alerted me that Luna has been coping with a resistant Host."
The new Seeker's face remained calm and placid. "Healer, we have talked about this before. Until we get the information we need –" The Healer cut her off.
"No. We are removing her."
Fallen Flower made a surprised noise. "Healer! I'm sorry, but this is not you're decision. You are way out of line!"
"I'm sorry Seeker, but I have automatic jurisdiction over the patient if I fear for her safety."
"Safety?" The Seeker cried, agitated, "When did this turn into an issue about safety?"
"The Host is still very present. Star Blanket is positive that she took over Luna's body for a moment, and attacked him."
"Flames Spreading," She said, her calm, sweet face returning, "We are closer than we've ever been to finding the rogues."
"It's true," Said Cassandra, from her bed. I had almost forgotten she was here.
"Cassandra," My Healer said, dropping the conversation and striding to her bedside, "How are you feeling? Why didn't you say something earlier? About your Host?"
She laughed weakly. "I was sure I could handle it. I guess I was wrong."
Healer Flames and my Seeker became engrossed in their chat about resistant Hosts. Fallen Flower, taking advantage of the situation, motioned for me to follow her. I obliged.
We slipped out of the hospital wing, quickly and silently finding the door at the other end of the hallway. The interrogation room. I walked into the white room, flipping on the lights. My new Seeker locked the door behind us.
"You must have new information," She said urgently, taking long strides over to the windows and drawing the curtains.
I thought of Collin Everly.
You'd be wasting your time on him, Dana said darkly, he was taken too.
A pang of sorrow washed over me, remembering the overwhelming love that was laced into every memory of him.
Were you two a couple?
No.
"I've found a lot of information on her childhood friend, Collin Everly. But he was already…he's already been guided."
"Collin Everly…" She mumbled to herself, "Strange. Was he taken by Seekers?"
Yes.
"Yes."
"Perhaps your Host is planting false information to protect the humans?"
What?
"Why would you think that?"
"Well, it's just that I've looked at the list of those who have been seized by Seekers in the Montana area over the years many times. Collin Everly doesn't seem to ring a bell."
"Oh."
Ask her where we can find the list.
"Is there a way I could access this list?"
Fallen Flower narrowed her eyes slightly, leaning across the table.
"Of course. It can be easily accessed in the computer lab," Her kind tone did not match her suspicious expression, "But you'd need supervision."
Go see it now.
"When would I be able to see it?"
"Maybe in a few days," She said vaguely, "Back to the information. Does Dana have any other living family members?"
Say no.
"I'm afraid she's not allowing me to access the information."
"Well, push through her walls. It's very simple…"
I shook my head, irritated with what she was implying. "She has no surviving family."
Thanks. I can hear the true, gratefulness in her voice.
"Well," Fallen Flower said, standing up suddenly, "That'll be all. I'm sure your Healer will be furious about your disappearance. Its best you get back to bed, actually. It's easier to talk about the fate of your body when you're not around."
"Ok…" I said, hesitantly. Shouldn't the fate of my body be up to me too?
I stood in the doorway. Fallen Flower turned to me.
"Well, go on then. Get some sleep." She turned, dismissing me, and strode back to the hospital wing.
I stood in the dark hallway, swaying between going back to bed and wandering the building in search of the computer lab.
Computer Lab, Dana said forcefully, we have to find the list.
I sighed, thinking about our recent hateful argument. I realized how weak I was getting, letting her push me around, trying to "save" her loved ones.
There's no saving my…your Seeker. Her body, I mean. Dana said mournfully.
Will you ever tell me who she is?
Maybe someday.
So yeah. It's very...meh. I'm still trying to work with Dana and Luna's relationship. I don't want it to move to fast, but I need to get the rest of the story in motion.
Reviews, especially constructive criticism, are especially appreciated. Rate my writing out of five stars and I'll give you a...a prize! I'll write you a grateful thank you note!