Hyacinth || dreamwastaken

12

I check my book at the end of the night but nothing stains the next page. Not a number. Not a day. Not a thing. It's blank like I've vanished. With the stop of my timer I wonder if maybe I have and I just don't know it.

My mind doesn't stop when I decided to drift off for the night. Eventually though, sleep over takes me and the rest of the night escapes me.

I'm woken up the next morning to banging on the outside of my pod. The sound startles me awake and I practically fall out of bed at the noise. I run over to the door and it opens with a powerful force.

The face before me looks like the man who whisked Nick away. Is it my time to leave? Please god let it be my time to leave.

I glance down at the name across his badge. It's much more inviting than the person who shoved me in here with no words at all. His name is Punz and I stand patiently waiting for him to speak. Don't speak unless spoken to.

"Hyacinth, you may return back to normal society now." Punz looks towards the cameras before pressing a button on the cuff of his guard gear. "I hope you've learned your lesson."

"Oh trust me I have. I don't ever want to be locked in here again. The silence is unbearable." I groan as I run my hand down my face. When I move my hands away he's pressing a few buttons on the outside of my pod.

"I hope Sam didn't treat you too awfully when he brought you here. He can be a bit explosive." Punz looks at me with hopeful eyes.

"He wasn't the nicest. But I deserved it. I broke the rules." I glance behind Punz to look directly at a camera that I know is focused on every movement and every sound coming from my pod.

"No one deserves to be treated like shit. Law says the minimum stay is a week. Nick and Clay are very good at convincing the government of otherwise." Punz chuckles.

"So Nick's okay?" I question quickly. As sad as it sounds, I'm more concerned about him and how he is than I am about myself. Nick is important. Important to me. I want to make sure that he is still okay in this world.

"He didn't even get locked away." Punz smiles. "I let people off easy. What can I say? I'm a people person." Punz places his hand against my shoulder and lowers his voice. "I'm the one on the inside. Good luck out there." He motions off into the commune and walks off without another word.

I run back inside my pod and change into my outside world outfit. I haven't properly showered or even left my bed since being trapped inside my barren room. It felt like days, but I know that it wasn't. It was only two nights trapped inside my pod. But that was too long for me.

It doesn't take long for me to sprint towards the hangout spot for my friends. When I reach the courtyard I only see Clay sitting there. My heart shatters wanting the comfort of my moment one. I guess Clay will have to do for now though.

I drop into a seat next to him and let a sigh fall heavily past my lips. "Hi Clay." I look towards him, giving him a halfhearted glance. He is better than that god damn room though. I will take the pity he will give me, or the anger. Whatever comes first.

"Hya, how was being locked away? I heard you got stuck with Sam." Clay chuckles. It's almost as if he likes hearing about the torture I went through. Then again, I really don't expect any other response from him. He despises my existence. He's going to rally in my pain.

"Miserable." I run my fingers against the red number on my wrist that still hasn't changed. It's still stuck. Still broken. I am still broken. "My timer broke. I feel like an absolute failure."

"Change your ways and it will fix itself." Clay places his hand against mine and I accept his touch. My skin heats and every bit of me wants his hand latched to my skin for forever. I had the sensation of touch while being locked away, but nothing beats having that actual touch.