Redemption

Redemption Part 32

I awoke in the darkness to aches, violent echoes of nightmares drumming through my mind. The worst pain was in my head, and I wondered where it was from, then remembered cracking it hard against the floor. I called out to an M for a medpatch, and a cool flat patch plastered to my neck, and I drifted back to sleep.

I shot awake, the morning light streaming through the window. Sabra was scratching at the window, frantic to get at the birds teasing her outside of it. "You need some more space," I said. "Maybe today will be the day we go home...."

A jolt of longing hit me, for home, along with horrible dread for what might happen next. The tortures of the day before reverberated through my mind, and I tried to shut them down. I had to move forward.

I quickly got dressed and Sabra bounded out the door ahead of me. Then I went to Sym's room. To my surprise, she wasn't there. I checked my com for her DNA signature and she was in one of the holorooms on the 51st floor.

My heart dropped. Perhaps what had happened had sent her over the edge and she was immersing in unreality to escape it.

The door opened, revealing the white cavern of a blank holoroom, the edges smooth, rounded, to almost make the impression Sym was floating on air. She was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, a com in her hand, her fingers swirling manically through bright holocode.

In front of her stood a young man about sixteen. He had black curls, golden-brown skin a few shades deeper than Sym's. He looked ahead blankly, standing absolutely still--a holo. Though there was a tinge of sadness his brilliant purple eyes that struck my heart with a keen piercing pain. I knew who he was before the name shot through my mind.

Echo. Not as he had been, but as he might be.

Slowly, I walked over to Sym. "Oh, hi, Jet," she said absently, fiddling with the holocode as determinedly as Cade with his designs.

"Are you okay?"

"My side hurts sometimes, even with the meds, but the M told me it was pretty deep. I was lucky to not get an infection. Good thing the cavalry arrived." She glanced up at me. "Oh—do you mean the holo? Don't worry, I'm not flickered out. Just a bit obsessed. I'm doing this so I don't get entrapped again. And so I can..." She took a deep breath, closed her eyes. "So I can get Harmony out."

A sinking feeling pulled at me. She'd hated the Echo program the other day. Perhaps what had happened last night had affected her more than I thought. "I didn't think you wanted it here." It was rather disturbing; I didn't want to look at the fake Echo directly. Not just because I missed him, but because I was afraid I might see accusation in his eyes. Though it was more likely I'd see disturbing blankness from this travesty...

"I woke up with an idea burning through my mind. I had to try it. If it has any chance.... well." Her rapid fingers stopped, and she looked up at me. "It's because of what happened. It was awful and all that—but we escaped. Now, we're home free, practically. Just have to give the secret, get one in return, and find Dazzle.

"We're on the threshold of leaving. I can hardly stand it. I just... I just want Harmony to make it, too. Oh, I know that she'll be able to get treatment once we're pardoned. But I want her to be with us as we take that first step. Not think it's just another of her programs. At least, be partly on the way to recovery. This hope—it's made me see how wrong it is to let Harmony waste away like that."

She unfolded her legs and stood, rather stiffly, favoring her right side. I reached to help her but she shook her head. Gestured with one arm to the Echo figure. He was almost impossibly handsome, perhaps idealized, but very like the Echo from my childhood. With vestiges of pain that Sym must've given to him, to make it more realistic. Whatever he must've gone through, it was probably difficult. But there was still the dreamlike shine in his eyes, the sparkle of mischief, instead of being consumed with despair. Probably reflecting Sym's attitude—if she could get out, he could also escape without letting bitterness warp his soul.