The Stinky Life I've Accepted

Chapter 16: Aftereffects

Ryker

I glare at the room I've been put in. No doors in sight. No windows. The only similarity about this room and the past ones, is that one wall is actually a mirror. 

I stay far away from it, not trusting that one similarity. It's gotta be important to the people who have caged me here, and so for me, it is dangerous. 

At least I'm no longer restrained and hooked up. 

A headache pounds my head, battering it into a glob of mush as I strain to keep calm. The aftereffects of the memory and destroying everything in sight is truly something I would never like to repeat. 

Besides the massive headache, my stomach can't seem to untangle itself from well, itself. My mouth is dry and I swear that at this point, it would practically hurt to taste and swallow a single drop of water. 

My hands are bandaged heavily, my fingers feeling as if they've caught frostbite. I naw and chew at the bandages, ripping them off in shreds. 

My fingers are crusted in blood and pus, but I just lick at them. 

My heart can't seem to calm down from the attack I had, and it just adds pressure to everything else. 

I curl my lip in anger, trying to slide myself into an upright position, but to no avail. 

My limbs are shaky and weak, my weight too heavy for me. I fall back on the bed in a heap of limbs and flesh, my blood boiling hot and my veins itching terribly. 

The anger I've felt when I came out of that horrible flashback resurfaces, and I wonder how long it'll devastate me like this. 

Is this why I'm in a room like this?

Estriel

"What should we do then? What can we do?" Marvel asks, and Dr. Fretta zooms one of the cameras in on the boy's face. 

"Aah. He's not an absolute." We look at the video feed, and relief floods my entire being as his eyes are shown, close up. 

From afar, they would be completely animal-like, reflecting his shift. But as he blinks, a tiny spot of human reflects back, glinting under the light. 

It would not be seen from a far distance, but thanks to the cameras stationed around, we don't need to go in and hold him down just to check him. 

To tell if and how close a rogue is to absolution, all one needs to do is look at the eyes. If the rogue is indeed an absolute, not even a speck of human will glint in their eyes. 

An expert such as Dr. Fretta could also judge how close they are to absolution. "He's hanging on." She breathes out, the camera zooming out from its close position. 

"We must tread this carefully from now on. One wrong move, and it can be the end for him. We need to tease him back to his human side with baby steps. It will require a lot of patience and hope, but it can be done." She explains softly, and we all nod. 

"Right. Who wants to feed him? I call not it!" Rick spouts and I roll my eyes as everyone follows his example. 

Looks like I'm the lucky guy. 

Ryker

I hiss as a part of one wall slides open into a doorway, Estriel appearing.

"I just have food. That is all." He warily says as he walks in, the door immediately sliding closed behind him. 

I narrow my eyes as he walks up slowly, holding a plate in his hands. 

He stops when I start to growl, and smiles. "Okay, okay. Too far. Got it." I raise an eyebrow at him as he drops the plate and slides it towards my direction.

I don't even look at the plate right below the bed, instead, focusing my eyes on the danger in the room. 

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"You gotta eat." He mumbles, but I just stare. And stare. And stare. 

After a while, he gives up, turning around and walking away. A different wall opens up, and he walks out before it slides back into place.

Interesting.

I ignore the plate of food as I turn my back on the mirror, trying to quench the anger in my heart, desperate to wreak havoc.

Maxon

I smile up at the sky, blessed to have such a day.

Dr. Leo and two warriors stands behind me as I marvel at the sun, enjoying its basking glow. For the first time in 2 years, I feel light.

Light...and...peaceful. As I walk through the small village that houses my pack, my heart is filled with joy as everyone around smiles and nods at me as a sign of respect.

My sister was right.

My pack has my back no matter what. I chuckle to myself, leaning back against the tree and just enjoying this fresh air, and slight breeze.

I feel open. Relaxed. It's all...new. And it takes my breath away.