Remade

Chapter 19

"Wow you look like hell." Alison and I are walking to work after the weekend, both ready to start working again. Well at least I am. Anything to distract me. All she can do is moan about the lack of action that there has been around the Institute. "What happened to you?"

"Mmm? Oh nothing," I laugh. "I just haven't been sleeping well, that's all. Still a little uncomfortable from the Sparring."

"How did I not know about this? I'm your roommate!"

"Yeah, um you sleep like a bear in hibernation. I didn't want to wake you and risk being mauled."

"Hmph, fine then." Ali huffs.

"Ah don't be mad at me, I just didn't want to bother you. I just haven't been sleeping well."

"So what, have you been having nightmares or something? Did the monsters getcha?" she tries to joke.

I press my lips into a hard line and stay quiet for the 10 or so seconds that it takes us to reach Mason. I wave goodbye to her and turn my back as soon as I can on Alison and greet Mason with a big hug. "Whoa, hey watch the cripple," he says laughing. "Are you ok?" He hugs me back with his good arm, looking down at me in concern.

"Just really tired. I've had this reoccurring nightmare and it's draining the life out of me." I release him and we start walking toward the World 101 conference room.

"Draining you? How so?"

"Just bringing stuff up from the past that I rather forget and put behind me. As soon as I doze off, it comes up and sucker punches me and I'm left without a breath."

I look up at my best friend and he looks thoughtful. The beauty of talking to Mason is that he'll never judge anyone about anything and he understands just about anything you could tell him. But this, I can't burden him with my past, I talk about it very abstractly because I know he would worry too much about me. "You wanna know what I think?"

I nod my head.

"I think that working out in the field is making you remember these events and maybe even make you feel guilty about the life you have now," he explains. "I mean, once upon a time, you were exactly where they were." Not exactly. "You made it through, you made it to the I, you got an education and a life. Not everyone gets that chance you know?"

"Yeah, I think you're right..." I remember how much my heart panged when I talked to that little boy, Robby. Such a bright, strong kid. He'll probably never get to go to school or start a career because he'll have to provide for his family. Who am I to get that chance and not them?

We enter the building and walk into the conference room. We're the first ones there for a change, not even Stephan is there yet. "Where do you wanna sit? Front or back? I feel like we should sit in the back so he can't see or single us out as much." Before he left, Professor Diel took to asking the three of us questions and praising our opinions and answers, especially Mason's. He was easily Diel's favorite pupil and he usually hates attention.

Which is why I was surprised when he said, "No let's try to get seats in the front this time." I stare at him and he adds, "You know, just to see what it's like. I wanna be able to see him and the pictures and documents he presents."

"Okay... How about here?" I put my hand on the backrest of a seat in the 8th row.

"Here." Mason gestures to the front row.

"Heck no. Here." I walk up to the 6th row.

"Here." He walks up to the 3rd row.

I shake my head and he rolls his eyes and we both move at the same time and say in unison "Here." I point to the 5th row and he points to 4th.