12. Chapter Three, Scene One
Now you've had your first real glimpse at the darkness in my soul...
I know…
It’s terrible!
I should be ashamed!!!
How could I torture a little girl like that? How could I let her endure such pain for days, leaving her a screaming writhing bundle in a hospital bed, drugged out of her mind until another dose would kill her then boom - cold turkey until she explodes?!
I wrote this as a teenager (should explain everything), and it’s all part of the story. This is an essential part of what makes Misty, Misty, or Elle for now, so bear with me.
I don’t want to spoil anything for you but since she is one of the two protagonists, she (obviously) can’t die yet, I feel I can tell you that she’s going to be out of the picture for a while, so for now, no more little girls screaming in agony. (was starting to get boring anyway- admit it.)
This is our opportunity to watch Logan grow. I hope you enjoy his journey.
Oh, and a new chapter means new graphics, yay! I hope you like them too.
INDEX | Chapter 3 | Scene 1 | Next Scene →
I reach the ramp, and glory in the feel of something solid beneath my feet for the half second it takes to unceremoniously drop all that I am carrying and head straight for the bridge. There is no way to know how badly Luke and Tom are hurt, but it won't matter anyway if we don't get out of here fast.
The computer's cliche female voice responds in cut-off half-words as I run, speaking the essential commands that will enable us to ascend as soon as I am able to assume the controls. It only takes a few seconds to reach my destination and I pause at the entrance, finishing up my input as the round metal doors slide open agonizingly slowly.
Right as I am about to put my foot over the threshold, the ship lurches violently. The landing gear had already sunk before we all made it aboard, now, the ground beneath the fuselage must have given way. I manage to recover, just in time to take a desperate leap into the captain's seat. Fumbling at the console to engage the thrusters, I hold my breath to steady my trembling hands, and gently - pull up on the joystick, correcting for the list, whilst the automatic safety belt clicks into place. Three seconds trickle by before the ship finally responds and the dust cloud starts to slide downwards.
Moments later we are clear and I exhale at last, then turn us about, flicking on the autopilot, with instructions to maintain altitude and circle. I can sense Luke and Tom's energy signals in the infirmary so I head that way, turning my back on the dust cloud that remains of the only home I have ever known as if it were nothing more than a rickety shack.
I constrain my feet to a trot and drag fresh air into my burning lungs. As I force one deep breath after another, my pulse starts to slow and normalize and the adrenaline wears off, taking with it the crystal-clear focus that had kept my mind from racing. How many seconds have passed since Luke and Tom collapsed? How badly are they injured? Is Elle even still alive?
I realize with a pang that I don’t even know who is bleeding. They made it to the infirmary at least which is a good sign. No matter his own injuries, Luke's priority will be Tom, and as I look through the porthole in the infirmary door, my heart sinks. My brother is on the table. He is lying on his side, face contorted with pain. I catch only a glimpse of Luke in profile as he steps around and the door slides open. There is blood on his face and neck and a nasty gash on his left thigh. He must have taken a shot of epinephrine or something because he hardly seems to notice. Luke bends down to look Tom in the eye. I can hear the suppressed anguish in his usually silken voice.
"I am sorry, my boy. There's no time. I have given you pain meds, but the way you're bleeding, I can't wait for them to kick in and since I don’t know how bad the internal damage is, I can't risk a sedative. This will hurt, but you mustn't move." Tom grimaces and nods frantically, trying to give Luke a reassuring smile between grunts. The smell of molten metal hangs heavily. I take in the acetylene torch, on a tray within easy reach, and two metal pipes each half a meter long, lying in the widening pool of blood on the floor.
Luke starts moving back around and gestures for me to help hold my brother down as he takes a firm grip on one of the blood-slick metal pipes protruding from Tom's back.
"On three." Luke announces and counts off: "One, two..." and I can see the pain and the panic in my brother's eyes-
"Wait! Wait!" I call out. Luke freezes. His eyes implore me. We need to do this now, but I can sense how close Tom is to breaking point.
"Let me help him," I beg. Almost immediately Luke's mind connects with mine and his voice echoes softly the words, "Are you sure?"
There is no time to think about it. I know we have only seconds to spare.
"Tom, look at me, we will get through this." I smile at my brother at the same time nodding my assent to Luke and quickly summon a set of energetic restraints to keep him still. It is a trick I picked up when we played cops and robbers as kids and he kept breaking my cuffs. Two golden bands cinch tightly around Tom's shoulders and hips anchoring him immobile to the table, and as Luke's telepathy forms a link between us I feel the first touch of Tom's pain.
Panting, I blink sweat and tears from my eyes. I shove a rolled-up bandage between my brother's teeth, and another between my own, and grab his hands. Giving Luke another slight nod, I bite down hard as the first pipe pulls free with a sickening sucking sound.
Okay, that’s the end for this installment. See you Tuesday.
Well that was short shrift ... nice little trick with the breaking point!
Wait, what? A cliffhanger and in the middle of surgery? How could you?
(winks) Keep it up....