4. Cheers to new enemies
Cheers to new enemies
KYRA
I awake in a bed, surrounded by white marble walls, with my vision hazed, and every inch of me hurting with unbelievable pain. I try sitting up, and a sharp pain darts around my center like a game of pinball, resulting in me lurching to the side.
The lights are dim, but every nearby surface sparkles like they’ve been recently polished. This room is vacant minus my bed, a small desk alongside it, and a chair pushed underneath it.
“Where the hell am I?”
My movements are sluggish, and though this place appears peculiar, danger isn’t a factor for once. At least not yet. My adrenaline has become nonexistent, which makes every sustained injury a twelve out of ten.
I freeze in place when an older male’s voice slithers into the room. “Is she awake?”
“She shouldn’t be. I gave her enough sedatives to keep her asleep. She needs to recover before the interrogation. We’re still unaware why they’re after her, or if she has magical abilities,” a much kinder voice responds, sprinkled with compassion.
The door opens, and my eyelids shut, and I remain motionless as though I’m asleep. I focus on the rise and fall of my chest to ensure it appears regular and in a slumbering state. A trick learned from my childhood years, when my mother’s friends prowled into my room.
There isn’t a clue of who these people are. Nor any sense of what’s going on since the gloom attacked us in the woods. For all I know, they’re my captors, here to gain answers before sentencing me to death. Death. Everything leads to you.
“She’s still asleep, sir.” Her warm voice reduces my anxiety.
Footfalls click against the polished marble as they approach, one weighing more than the other, and halt alongside the bed. My body heats in anticipation. Sweat builds in my palms. Afraid of what will happen if they find me awake, I employ my body to endure this uncomfortable circumstance.
“Her vitals appear fine, sir. She’s still sedated, and judging from her arms, neck, and face, her healing is progressing well.
I’ll notify you of any changes. Until then, her rest is my priority,” she says, clicking through a machine next to me.
Where did the monitor come from? I swear it wasn’t there a second ago.
“Make sure you do, Elizabeth. This female may be important to future plans.” His steps trail off until I hear the door close. Aware she still lingers, I remain stiff, keeping a leash on my breathing and disregarding my sudden spike in temperature.
“You can open your eyes now; he’s gone.” Shit!
She knows I’m awake. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to hurt you.
Just heal,” she adds softly, soothing any doubts.
Against my better judgment, I open my eyes to see a tall figure standing a foot or two away.
Rolling on my back and scooting towards the headboard, I feel an unwelcome ache invite itself in.
“Fuck,” I groan.
“Take it easy. I’m sure you’re in a heap of pain. Here, let me assist you.” She places a hand beneath me and lifts. I relinquish a few grunts, but after some dedicated effort, my back presses firmly against the chill headboard, which helps negate my overheating.
With a whisper of “thanks” and a half-raised smile, I take in this room’s other occupant. Elizabeth dons an all-white dress with her brown hair stopping shoulder length. Her skin radiates a faint golden glow, in a way, seeming angelic.
She is beautiful. Not all in a traditional sense, but the kind that invokes tranquility being in her presence. “What is this place?”
She chuckles. “That question is easier asked than answered. How about we start with one I can?”
“Okay. Who are you?”
“My name is Elizabeth, and you’re in the medical wing on the east side of campus.” Not what I meant, but sure.
“So, I’m in a hospital? Where?” My mind eases, but something tells me glooms don’t give a damn where we are. They’ll kill everyone in here to finish me.
“No. The Academy here in Valirene.”
“Academy?” I mutter. “Valiris? Are you making up words?” Fidgeting with my blanket, I notice how soft it is.
Another giggle precedes her answer. “Valirene. You were brought here to Rebirth Academy. An institution for…” she pauses, and I note the silence by giving her my undivided attention. “For those with exceptional talent. An Academy you’ll learn more about while here.”
Cryptic. The way she answers, but not answers at the same time. Secrets I’m not supposed to know, or is it something else?
“Ohhkay. Why was I brought here to…” I pause, reflecting on the name.
“Rebirth Academy? That, my dear, is another question I cannot answer. However, you arrived with severe injuries. Angie healed you well, but just enough to sustain your life. A momentary fix. At least now we’ve managed to make it permanent.
For how long…that depends on you.” Elizabeth gives a tight grin.
Angie, so that’s her name. I hope she’s okay and not another name on my list of unprevented deaths. I’m already at five.
“May I ask another question?” Elizabeth says politely. Though , I’m not sure what she wants to know, or what information I can provide, I nod. “What’s your name?”
“Kyra,” I answer shyly.
“Well, Kyra, it’s nice to meet you.”
A period of silence is given as if we both agreed upon it, and Elizabeth studies the monitor with her fingers typing away. Thoughts flood my mind of past events leading me here, and slowly, I recall everything. Bit by bit, more questions surface without answers.
“Who’s the guy you were with earlier?” I ask, returning to fidgeting with my blanket.
“I awaited this question. You heard everything, then?” she asks, placing a hand over her chin, and I nod.
“That’s one of our Elders. His name isn’t important as of yet, but you’ll find out more later.
For now, try getting some rest. You’ve endured a lot in the past twelve hours.
” She rises and smiles, then proceeds towards the door.
“Oh, I failed to ask if you’re…hungry. I can have anything prepared and ready once you’re awake. ”
Pondering, I recall the last time food was on my agenda was before leaving the apartment.
“Sushi? If that’s possible?” I question, giving a false smile. Rosie crosses my mind, and her death weighs more on me than before. There is no apologizing for getting her killed. No making it up. I can’t simply wave it off, and not let it happen again.
No, I killed her. Though, not by my hands, but by my scent. So any opportunity to remember her, even if it’s punishment to me, is a penance rightfully served until we meet in the afterlife, and I apologize the right way.
“Sushi? What is that?” She frowns, and my heart shatters along with my jaw dropping. How has she not heard of sushi? “Never mind, I’ll ascertain it and have it waiting,” Elizabeth says before shutting the door behind her.
Frightening, how can I trust someone to retrieve a dish they’ve never heard of? Let alone taste. Perhaps sushi was a bad idea.
The click of her heels recede as she leaves, and my body drifts down the bed. Anguish coursing through me reminds me I can’t flee even if I try. Once my back presses against the sheets, my leg hooks over, rotating in one excruciating motion, and my eyes close.
For what seems like ages, the pain throbs and jolts around, and I grip the sheets until it subsides, waiting for sleep to find me.
“If only this pillow was cooler,” I whisper, flipping it over. Warmth flushes my neck, but my head touches the opposite side, and chills shudder down my spine with relief escaping my lips. The internal ache lessens, and I feel myself dozing off.
A knock wakes me from my slumber, and I scan the room in a panic, noticing things that weren’t present during my initial glance.
A discrete fragrance of freshly crushed leaves and warm mahogany lingers.
Was someone here? With there being no windows, I can’t ascertain the time nor how long I’ve been out.
The door opens, and a whiff of seafood hits me, releasing a loud grumble within my stomach.
“Are you hungry, Kyra?” a raspy voice reaches out. I sit up straight with what little energy remains and lean back against the headboard, grunting with each movement.
“More like starving.” Placing a hand over my stomach, I watch as Angie saunters in, wearing a smile bright enough to light the room.
She didn’t perish, and that keeps my list at five people I couldn’t save.
A weight lifts from my shoulders, and I grin.
You didn’t get to take her, Bitch. She gives me a once-over, stopping shy of the bed.
“You never disclosed why you risked your life for mine.”
Placing the tray on the stand, Angie takes a seat beside my bed, eyeing me cautiously. “Well, after the park explosion, I was ordered to retrieve you and bring you here.”
“Ordered by who? And, if there truly was an explosion, how am I still alive?” My brows crinkle with confusion, and another growl reverberates.
“Before I answer, will you try something for me?” she asks, following my line of sight towards the dish.
“If it involves getting up, that’s not happening anytime soon. I can hardly move,” I say, chuckling. Angie releases a laugh, then waves a dismissive hand before relinquishing the plate.
“Not yet,” she says as I remove the lid. There is a variety of sushi rolls ranging in color and size, and damn it’s enticing. Hunger and agony enter a battle within my abdomen, and I groan at both.
“Why?” I whine. “It looks even better than it smells.”
“I’d like to attempt something first. Granted, we shouldn’t be doing this, at least not now, but the end justifies the means.” She scoots her chair a little closer. “Last night continues to plague me. Your body shouldn’t be in one piece after such devastation, but here you are,” Angie reflects.