Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
FREYJA
It’s been two weeks since I was used as a human pincushion.
I’ve never been poked by a needle before and I was traumatized by the time Splicer left.
Today, we expect to get the results and I’m not going to lie, even to myself, that I’m nervous to hear what was found.
I’m not the healthiest person, even I know that, but I never believed there was cause for concern until Nova forced me to let him suck my blood into those tubes.
I know that my internal dialogue is a little on the dramatic side, but I’ve found something else I’m not a fan of—bloodwork.
At least Splicer is willing to treat me at the house so I don’t have to venture out and get back into that death machine on four wheels.
That would be a travesty and I firmly believe I’d be a candidate for a heart attack if I had to get back inside the cab.
It’s not natural, we have two feet for a reason.
Sitting across from Splicer with Nova and Chaney at my side, I can’t stop fidgeting.
My nerves are a wreck. What if he found something that’s incurable?
I’ve googled my symptoms and after convincing myself I had something as severe as cancer, my internet privilege was taken away from me by both Nova and my sister.
According to Nova, self-diagnosis isn’t in my best interest, he says I’ll drive myself insane and it’s not always accurate.
I guess we’ll find out if my fears are right as soon as Splicer stops stalling and reading reports that I’m sure he’s already read through before arriving.
“Splicer,” Nova growls. “You’re making everyone nervous. Why are you taking so long to tell us what’s going on?”
“I wanted to go through the lab results one more time so I could make sure I didn’t miss anything,” Splicer excuses.
“Which I didn’t. It’s as expected. Malnutrition is the leading cause for a lot of Freyja’s issues.
She’s deficient in nearly every vitamin and her bone density is extremely low.
You’re going to need to follow a strict diet, Freyja, and eat more, smaller meals throughout the day than what you already consume.
A little sunlight wouldn’t hurt either since your Vitamin D is basically non-existent. ”
“So I’m not dying?” I ask, relieved that the cure is simple.
“No, you’re not dying, Freyja,” Splicer chuckles, shaking his head.
“But you are going to be put on a regimen of over the counter vitamins. The multi ones aren’t going to work, at least, not for you.
Once we have your panels evened out, you can start taking those daily.
You also need to drink milk, at least twelve ounces a day. ”
“Whole milk?” Nova asks, typing something into his phone.
“Yes, it’s better for her. For both of them.
Chaney, I’d also like to run a panel on you.
A lot of these issues stem from y’all’s childhood.
You didn’t get the nutrients you needed and it’s stunted both of your growth.
We need to get you caught up with the rest of your age group, I don’t want y’all falling any further behind on the charts than you already are,” Splicer determines.
Chaney holds out her arm when he pulls the needle and elastic arm band out of his bag, wincing before he ever touches her.
He’s quick and efficient as he pulls his sample from her and when he puts the bandaid over the pebble of blood on the crook of her elbow, she releases her breath that she’d been holding.
Splicer gives us examples of food he wants us to eat, hands Nova a slip of paper with all the pills he needs to get us from the store, and walks out with reassurances that by this time next month, we’ll be feeling like new people.
“I guess we’re both getting meds,” Chaney grumpily says. “Even if he doesn’t know if I need them or not.”
“Better safe than sorry,” Nova chides as he steadily texts someone. “Everything will be here in the next hour, I want to start this today.”
“It’s already after noon, didn’t he say to take most of those pills in the morning with breakfast?” I inquire, not sure if Nova was paying as close attention to Splicer’s directives as I was.
“Yeah, he did. But when I walked him out, he said that for today, we need to start it now and disregard the time. He doesn’t want to put this off because your cell counts are dangerously low. It was either that, or y’all get a couple of shots until we can start tomorrow. Which would you prefer?”
“I’m good with the pills,” I say, hanging my head so he doesn’t see the war on my face.
Even now that I know there’s only a slight pinch with the needle when it pierces the skin, I don’t want it anywhere near me.
I’m a coward but that’s okay because I’m sick and tired of pretending to be strong. It’s exhausting.
“Y’all aren’t going to be happy about what I have to say next, but you will be getting booster shots in the next couple of days,” Nova says.
When I go to protest, he mimics zipping his lips so I clamp my mouth shut as tight as possible.
“You haven’t had any vaccines, ladies. You’re in danger of catching numerous diseases as well as other shit since you aren’t medically protected.
I know you don’t like it, nobody does, but suck it up because it’s happening. ”
Chaney’s body tightens beside me, and I know from past experience that she’s biting her tongue, wanting to argue.
But after I lean in and whisper, “He cares about us, sis. Nobody’s ever done that before.
So if we need to grin and bear it, then that’s what we’ll do,” her body eases and all of the stiffness goes away.
It’s been another two weeks since we started taking these meds. Both of us look healthier, are more energized, and have more strength and stamina than we have ever had before. It took me a bit to get past my gag reflexes because some of these pills are what Nova refers to as horse-sized.
“Your hair is super shiny,” I tell Chaney as I sit on the bed and watch her brush her hair out. “It looks like silk.”
“I think it’s the fish oil pill,” she says as she sits her brush down on the counter. “At least that’s what my take is when I read up on it.” She walks into the bedroom and heads to me, lifting up a strand and running it through her fingers. “Yours is doing the same thing as mine is.”
“It is?” I ask, tilting my head sideways as I reach for a piece from the other side of my head to examine. “Wow, I didn’t notice until you said something.”
“I have a theory about that,” Chaney tells me.
“I’d love to hear it,” I say in a teasing manner.
“Think about it, Freyja. Everything we knew came from us watching television and reading books. Most of what we read was either fantasy or fiction so it didn’t have a lot of detailed instruction when it came to healthcare or hygienics.
Father didn’t care about how we looked or smelled so he didn’t give it any thought.
The only thing he ever told us when it came to taking care of ourselves was to use soap and water. ”
“So where does the theory portion come in?” I ask, wanting her to get to the point.
“That we’re amazing because we survived what most people wouldn’t and we did it without anybody teaching us how,” Chaney surmises.
“We are pretty amazing, huh?” I probe.
“We are,” she says, plopping down on the mattress and making it shift beneath me, bouncing me. “And one day soon, everyone will know that we are.”
“How will they know, Chaney?”
“Because Nova’s brothers are going to catch Father and he’s going to have to answer for what he’s done. Then, everybody on the planet will know our story, our strength, and our fortitude.”
Joking, I add, “Maybe we’ll get a movie made of our life.”
“Weirder things have happened,” she says, smiling at me.
“True,” I agree, lounging back and laying on the bed directly beside her, our sides flush as they’ve been all of our lives when we lay down and contemplate life. We grow quiet, thinking and dreaming about our past, present, and future.