AB: Let me go ahead and apologize if last chapter was really bad or jumpy. I think I was trying too hard to make it great after my time off. Also, you probably noticed that I wrapped up the myth last chapter. Have no fear, there is another part to it, but I have decided to wait a couple chapters before starting it, just to give you all a break. I am still getting the cold shoulder from the Saturdays, and I still deserve it. Disclaimer: The Secret Saturdays belongs to Jay Stephens and, I think, Cartoon Network, Here's Chapter 14: Lost My Respect
(Iris's POV)
I finally get permission to leave the medical bay after Dr. Drew clears everything. She still cannot figure out what caused my heart rate to drop so low so suddenly yesterday, so she is keeping a keen eye on me.
With my first moment of freedom from the medical bay, I ask Dr. Drew if she will take me to see Mister Zak. At first, she hesitates and asks why I want to see him, but then she understands something. She nods silently and walks with me to the "freezer" where Mister Zak is cryogenically frozen. It is hard only being able to see him from the other side of a window with a sheer covering and not being able to touch him. Part of me wants to give him a hug and be the sister he never had, but I know that will never happen.
Dr. Drew stands with the middle joint of her index finger pressed to her lips. "It's funny, Iris. After the Secret Scientists found out Zak was Kur, they tried to capture him and put him in a cryogenic deep freeze until they could find a solution to the problem. Doc and I, we never let them get that close; we were always running, always being tracked, always scared of the unknown. Now here's my little boy, lying dead on a table in cryogenic deep freeze." Dr. Drew half heartedly laughs. "Oh who am I kidding? It's not funny, it's heartbreaking. He's not supposed to die at age thirteen. He's supposed to live a long and happy life, outliving his father and me."
At this point, Dr. Drew is practically crying. I grasp her hand, and she thanks me. Then she notices the gloves. "I think it's high time those came off." I pull them off quickly, and Dr. Drew reaches for my hand again. Now it is my turn to hesitate, but Dr. Drew explains that she is willing to risk a bad memory. Our hands touch; Dr. Drew pulls me for a hug.
Once the hug ends, Dr. Drew walks away quietly, leaving me alone to look at Mister Zak. A throbbing and pounding feeling fills the left side of my chest. It feels like a mutual heartbeat between two people. I keeping staring at Mister Zak, imagining his eyes flying open as he gasps for air. But I shake my head at the thought of such foolishness and leave.
Sitting alone in the guest bedroom while all the others are busy, I lose myself in thought. The sounds of Dr. Solomon and Dr. Drew arguing again fades away as my thoughts become their own world. I hardly notice the opening of the door.
"Iris, are you okay?" Mister Komodo asks. Reality starts to set in again.
"Oui, Monsieur Komodo. (Yes, Mister Komodo.)"
Mister Komodo asks if may enter, and I tell him he does not need to ask. He walks in and sits down next to me. He takes notice that the gloves are gone. He smiles at me. "I like you, Iris. You're not like the others; you understand what it means to be different and underestimated. You know what it's like to not have your opinion asked before something is done to you or involving you." Mister Komodo sets his head on my knee.
"You're not a servant anymore, Iris. You are an independent young lady with hopes and dreams all to your own. You don't need someone to tell you what to do and what is allowed and what isn't. You, Iris, are a Saturday at heart just as much as you are a Van Rook by name. You have so much potential in life; you're going to go places and make your father proud." I start to brush a tear from my cheek, but I stop myself. It rolls down my face and drips onto my skirt.
"Êtes-vous sûr? (Are you sure?)" I ask, not wanting to believe this.
"I am the most sure about this than I've been my entire life."
"Merci. (Thank you.)" Words fail me, and it is so embarrassing. Mister Komodo wraps his tail around my leg encouragingly. We sit for a long while before Mister Komodo leaves.
Seconds turn to minutes, and minutes turn to hours. Dr. Drew and Dr. Solomon are still at each other's throats. More things shatter, and more words fly. The two blame each other for everything that has happened over the past few years. They go as far as telling the other that they hate them. If things continues this way, I fear my new parents will get-
"A divorce!" Dr. Drew shouts.
"What?" Dr. Solomon sounds point blank confused.
"You heard me. If you are not willing to help, not willing to try, not willing to feel, then I can't live with you anymore. Zak was everything to me. Now that he's gone-"
"And what about Iris? Is she suddenly not a part of the family?"
"She is still a part of this family!" Dr. Drew fires back.
"Why do you care so much about her? She's the daughter of one of our worst enemies and the servant of another!" Dr. Solomon's words sting like fire. Mister Komodo lied to me; I really am just a nobody.
"I care so much about her because she is my daughter!"
"So you've been cheating on me! After all this time!" Dr. Solomon sounds like a wounded animal. Dr. Drew tries to contradict him and explain, but her cries fall on deaf ears. "Now, I want the divorce," Dr. Solomon snarks. Doors slam, quiet tears are shed, and all is quiet.
The next morning, I creep out of the guest bedroom and wander around the silent airship. My feet take me to the freezer, and I find myself staring at Mister Zak. The feeling from yesterday, the feeling of a heartbeat, comes back. I wish it were real, but I know that it can never be real. I turn and leave the freezer before I can hurt myself anymore.
Breakfast for everyone else is soon over and done with, but it passes in a blur of people. Dr. Drew and Dr. Solomon refuse to look at each other, let alone talk to one another. Peut-être que toute cette épreuve est vraiment de ma faute. (Maybe this whole ordeal really is my fault.) The two leave the room and head in separate directions. Dr. Drew heads towards the cockpit while Dr. Solomon returns to his bedroom. I watch for a long time as the others fade in and out of the kitchen. Soon, they stop coming and disappear into their own areas. I sit in utter silence for a very long time.
Bored out of my mind, I grab a small plate of food and put the rest away. I start playing with it using my fork. That is when I realize that I am hungry. I take a couple bites, then a few more, and then a few more. I stop and grab a glass of water and sit back down at the table. After about twenty minutes, the plate is empty. I look down at myself; I notice that I have gained some weight since I have been staying with the Saturdays. I am still really skinny, but I can see fewer bones and more muscle. I am getting better, little by little. Then I think about how long I have been with the Saturdays, how long it has been since Master and Father died. I realize that a month and two weeks have flown by. Mais qu'est-ce jamais arrivé à Munya? Si seulement je savais. (But what ever happened to Munya? If I only knew.)
The rest of the day passes in a blur. Time is taking its sweet time, but at the same time, it is racing by without a care in the world. I lie down on the floor tonight, tired of today and ready for tomorrow to start; it has been a long day. Dr. Drew and Dr. Solomon are not fighting tonight, but it still takes forever to fall asleep. And once I get there, my dreams are haunted by my days at WeirdWorld.
The years of physical, mental, and emotional abuse all come back to me. I remember every time Master hit me, beat me, and tried to drain my powers. Each time he yelled at me replays clearly in my mind. Everytime I heard Father was coming, Master would give me an endless lists of jobs as far away from his office as possible. Master often promised days when I would return to Father, but those days never came. I realize now the only reason I stayed was for Munya. He was there when no one else was and was my crutch when I needed it. I owe him for so much, and I just want to find him. Master was an evil man, and he no longer deserves my respect. From now on, he is simply Argost to me.
Morning comes and goes as usual, but I do not feel the same as yesterday. I feel much freer and happier. Despite what Dr. Solomon has said, Mister Komodo's words sink in, and I start looking at the world and myself another way. I see myself as a young lady emerging from a painful history and overcoming one of her biggest obstacles. My eyes show me something new and fascinating about myself. Henceforth, I decide, I am the adoptive daughter of Dr. Drew Blackwell Saturday and Dr. Solomon Saturday.
"You seem happy today, Iris. Have you realized something?" Mister Komodo asks. My heart races. Today, I will try to speak English. My thoughts are in English, which helps, and so does understanding the language.
"Yes, I have. Thank you, Komodo." The words roll stiffly off my tongue, but he understands what I am trying to say. He smiles at me.
"So, I am guessing you see the world in a new light now. You're starting to see yourself as equal?" Mister Komodo, or Komodo I should say, asks.
"Yes. Thank you again." My English is still stiff and unnatural, but it feels familiar on my lips. I have forgotten how English feels on one's mouth. Komodo wraps his tail around my leg, which I am guessing is a sign of affection.
Komodo walks with me to check on Dr. Drew. Dr. Drew asks how I am doing, and I reply in broken English. Her face lights up, and she hugs me tightly. I accept the hug and hug her back. The hug makes me realize something important. Now that my outlook has changed, and I have become an equal, what am I supposed to call everyone? I again ask Dr. Drew in my best English, but a few French words sneak their way in. Dr. Drew smiles and replies that what ever feels most comfortable; she smiles as she says once more that it will change over time. I thank her, and she invites me to watch her pilot the airship.
I sit down in one of the chairs and observe as Dr. Drew presses certain buttons and moves the controls as needed. The airship responds to each command very well and very quickly. A smile creeps onto my face; flying is a lot more fun than I thought. Dr. Drew notices my reaction, and she laughs.
"I'm guessing you haven't flown in years." I nod. "It's funny, I always said I would teach Zak how to fly for his fourteenth birthday if he showed the maturity to handle it. Now, I get to teach you." I am not sure how to respond, so I stay quiet. Dr. Drew notices my silence. "Iris, I am so sorry you are here for all that has been happening. They say grief will tear a family apart, but that is still no excuse. Can you forgive me?" I am still unsure of how to respond; Komodo taps my leg and nods his head subtly.
"Of course." My sentences still come out awkwardly. Dr. Drew reassures me, saying that it is all part of relearning a language.
Dr. Drew puts the airship on autopilot and steps out of the cockpit. The sliding metal doors close behind her with a thud. We keep walking until we reach the living area. No one else is around, so we can talk in peace. I ask where we are going, and Dr. Drew rolls her eyes before saying it is a matter of whom I am asking. She says that if I am asking her, we are headed to Kur's Tomb to see if my theory is right, but if I am asking Dr. Solomon, we are headed back to Seward. In other words, we are heading in two opposite directions constantly.
Night falls faster than any of us had hoped. I swear, the days are moving faster than normal, but I have no evidence of that. I go to the guest bathroom, take a shower, change into my nightclothes, and climb into the bed. It must have been the night before the war when I last slept in a bed. It feels amazing. Questions asking why plague me for a while, keeping me awake for an hour or two. But sleep outstretched its dark and dazzling hand, and the questions ceased. My sleep is deep and blissful. I sleep better than I have in six years. If I were still working for Argost, how long would it have been until I felt this again?
We spend the entire day the next day getting ready to enter Kur's Tomb; Dr. Drew won the fight. After sun down, we start on the way, on foot.
A slight cool breeze rustles through the tall trees. The air is humid; the breeze feels nice on the skin of everyone. The moon brightens up the entire jungle, making the journey much easier for all of us.
I stumble as I trip over multiple roots adorning the unfamiliar path. No one stops to help me, and I fall behind. At one point, a branch smacks me in the face, causing me to fall backwards. My nose is gushing blood; I am covered in dirt and mud.
For a moment, I am too shocked to notice the rest of my group leaving me. I cannot take my bicolored eyes off the large stone ruins. They remind me of something. Then I remember what the ruins remind me of: an arena.
Eventually, Komodo members realizes I am not behind him. He alerts the other members of the group before running back to find her. It takes a while, but he finds me staring intently at the ruins. He growls at me and tells me to come along. I stand up, brush myself off and wipe some of the blood off my face. Then we hurry to catch up with the group.
The Komodo and I soon rejoin the rest of the group. They are standing at the entrance to the ruins. I looks at my group and asks why we are at the ruins; Dr. Drew, who is leading the group, says that I will see in a few moments. Then the group makes its way into the ruins, and we go deep underground.
Once the group makes it to an ornate doorway, everyone turns to me. I ask what they need done, and I do it. Then I poke my head into the next room and motion to the others that it is safe. The entire group enters the room. We continue like this until we get to a room with only one door and a box-like structure in the center. Dr. Solomon walks up to the box and opens the lid. Then he motions to Fiskerton to bring his load over; the load is the body of a person. Fiskerton lays the body in the box, which I recognize is a coffin, and steps back. Dr. Solomon, the one who opened the coffin, motions for me to come over. I walk over carefully and look at him. The entire groups encourages me and reminds me of her job, of my power. I sigh. I know what I have to do. I too climbs in the coffin and grabs the body's hand.
The lid is placed back on top of the coffin as I mumble a prayer, then an ancient spell, and then a final prayer. Nothing happens, and I am starting to get scared. I take a few deep breaths and try again. Again nothing happens. There is total silence as the tears start slipping down my face. I beg and plead to be let out, saying that it is not working, but no one lets me out. I try one last time, fear for my life in each word, and this time something happens.
I experience a sharp pain throughout my whole body, particularly in my chest. I gasp, but I do not scream. Then there is peace; my breathing slows little by little, until I take very few breaths. The body next to me has new life now, but every life has a cost.
"Hey, guys! Will somebody come let me out?" Mister Zak, or really Zak as I should call him, calls! My breathing is steadily slowing down; my world is fading. No! I have to stay awake! While someone lets Zak out, I fight to stay conscious. Finally, I feel hands lifting me out of the coffin. I take a huge breath and slowly get my breathing back to normal. I open my eyes, see Zak alive and well, and I jump up and hug him.
'Did I miss something?" He asks. But I refuse to let him go. My brother is alive!
AB: Zak! Iris! Oh my gosh! Zak, you're alive, and Iris, you- you spoke English! Yay!
Drew: (Hugging Zak so tightly he can barely breathe) My baby boy! (All the Saturdays and Doyle trap Zak in a hug. Doc pulls away.)
Doc: (Whispering to AB) So what's this about getting a divorce? Why am I the bad guy? Did Drew really cheat on me?
AB: Hold your questions. They have answers, but I will not answer them today. Okay?
Zak: AB, will Wadi and Ulraj come back?
AB: If all goes according to plan, yes. I can't forget those two!
Zak: And Francis too?
AB: Much to your chagrin, yes, Francis will come later too. (Turning to readers) Thank you all so much for reading! It means so much to me that you all have kept up with my story. I love you all! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review! Zak! (Pulls Zak into a big hug.) Iris! (Pulls Iris in too.)