Heart of Titanium

Chapter 13: Bonds of the Past

-Before Cherise woke up-

Cherise was tossing and turning in bed slowly, flinching at her bandaged wounds. Flashes of her past kept coming until she finally had a view of it. Her vision was blurry, but each fading vision became slightly clearer. Her hearing sounded like it was underwater at first, but then she heard a voice, followed by labored breathing.

"*Pant, pant, pant* Come on, we don't have time!" The man in front of her shouted, holding her arm as they ran down a hallway.

They burst into a room as the man boarded up the door and dropped a large cabinet on it. "That won't hold forever. Come, we need to get you to safety." The man said, grabbing her arm again and taking her to the back of the room, where a special crate was already awaiting the drop area.

He then grabbed her shoulders as he was out of breath, "Look at me, look at me." He said, trying to calm her down.

"I-I'm scared..." she said, terrified, barely knowing what's going on.

"I know, I'm so sorry it had to come to this. Once I drop you down that chute, you'll lose most of your memories, but don't worry. I put a backdoor program in your visor that will slowly allow you memories to come back to you, I had to make it do it slowly or else your brain could be damaged by the sudden flow of information." He said, grabbing all the necessary items and leading her to the crate.

They then hear pounding at the door as they both turn to see soldiers in the window, trying to break in.

"W-what's going to happen to you?? I don't want to leave you!" She said, getting upset.

"Shh...its okay. I'm sending you to Bryson, I'm sorry but you won't remember him once you pass through the tunnel. Now, be brave for me, okay?" He said, holding her paw.

She jumped and hugged him as she teared up, "I-I'll miss you..." she said, sobbing.

"Heh, no worries," He said, rubbing her back, "You'll see me again soon...just remember what I told you. Promise?"

She held up her pinkie part of her paw, "Promi-"

*BOOM*

"There they are! Charlie Clade, step away from the subject!" the soldiers said, rushing into the room.

"Live, be safe, and warn Bryson!" Charlie said, slamming the send button as Cherise went down the chute, her vision went to black as she screamed.

She gasped and came back from the dream, her panting and shaking, while also screaming like she was in the dream.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bryson busts through the door as he looks at Cherise. "Cheri! You're awake!"

He runs to the bed as he stops at the edge and hugs her, her exclaiming slightly, still sore.

"A-ah! Bryce, still hurts..." she said. "Oh! I'm so sorry! How are you feeling?" He said, "You've been asleep for two days now...I got scared you wouldn't wake up..."

She looks to him as she slowly retracted her visor and then opened her eyes, both beautiful, purple eyes looking up at him as her face quivers.

"Cheri...?" Bryce says, holding her cheek, "What's the matter-"

He was interrupted by her hugging him back, regardless of how sore she is, and bawling in his chest. "I....I remember...I remember the place...the man...who saved m-me..." She said, sobbing in his chest.

"Wha...who?" Bryce asked, rubbing her head. "It was...your uncle Charlie...he's the one...who raised me...he told me about you everyday he could see me, he protected me when...those bad men tried to touch or harm me...after all of that...he's..he's-"