Beyond Our Control

Chapter 2

She woke to the sounds of muffled voices. Loud. Quiet. But blurred and unclear. Her head is still dizzy from whatever they injected into her. Her eyes urged to open but all she saw were blobs of white sharp light that blinded her, so she closed them instead. Unable to hear the exact things being said, unable to see, and not being able to use her head clearly feels awful. But her nose still worked. And after a few moments she realized she wasn't at her Place of Residence. But where else could she be? The scent of something sharp, something she's unable to name, something she has never smelled before.

Her body feels numb, she tried to move her hand or at least feel if it's still there, but it didn't budge. At least she could still make out that she's laying down. But where? On what?

Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, she managed to tilt her head a little. It worked! And with the hopes and excitement that she isn't completely a dead vegetable, she's still able to move. What seemed to have blocked her hearing is starting to clear too. That's when she finally makes out the words.

"Dr. Novak, patient number three is awake. Repeat, patient number three is awake." It was a strange voice. Deep and strong. Rather tense and odd-sounding. If only she could open her eyes to see who owns such a weird voice.

"I'm coming soon. Bring the mobile to Dr. Walsh and let him report to me patient number three's health status." Another voice came along. This time it's a softer voice, but it came strong and held the same confidence that Ms. Casta had kept. But this voice came out blurry, like the owner of the voice isn't actually here.

She felt a body come closer to her. Then something extremely cold is put onto her skin, something small, near her chest.

"Patient three's heart rate is steady." Another voice came along, it's also strange like the first voice. Strangely deep and odd. But this one sounded more gentle.

"How about the body temperature?" The voice that wasn't deep but sounded like it's coming from somewhere else asked.

"Average, but the patient's eye is still unable to open." The probably Dr. Walsh person said.

Kenna felt a flash of light shine at her eyes, even though they were still closed. How does this Dr. Walsh know she can't open her eyes? As she wonders about that, the cold object on her skin pulls away.

"That's alright, I'm guessing it's her first time intaking the anesthetic. That's too strong for her body. Walsh, input into patient three's data pod, and put 'intake general anesthesia.' Hopefully she'll be able to open her eyes sooner if she takes it next time." Sounds of tapping from a keyboard replied to the command.

What did they do to her? Kenna tried to tilt her head again but this time it was too tiring to do so. What even happened? Why is she here anyways? Why doesn't anything make any sense right now? And why can't she move?

"Ok, but I can't insure that would happen, Dr. Novak. Those guards are pretty rough, they definitely won't check each person's data before to make sure to inject the right anesthesia or drug."

"Right, that reminds me, which guard injected her when we didn't have any data of anesthesia for this patient?" Kenna guessed this voice is probably Dr. Novak, the only voice here that is more normal and not oddly deep.

"Guard number 175, Cara Isra. Her data shows that she's recently been transmitted to go visit female youth dorm 134 to keep an eye on someone...I'm guessing this is where she got patient number three."

Finally a familiar name. Cara. Why does that sound so familiar? Her head flashes through scenes, a tall Official with long black hair, in the uniform that wasn't just white but also blue and other strict colors. That's it! Cara was an Official. Someone who...who was with... Lina! Wait, why Lina? And now with some familiarity flashing back in her, there could've been another Official along with this Cara. But why were these people calling Cara a guard? She was an Official, not a guard.

"Interesting. Walsh, file a order down to guard 175, this guard needs some extra training. They should've known better not to inject random things into unlogged patients."

"Alright, but lots of these guards are like this one, rough and not careful." Dr. Walsh sighs and Kenna could hear taps on the keyboard again.

She needed to talk. She needs to ask what happened and where she is. If only her body could at least budge! The only thing she wants right now is to be in her bed and work on her writings. Her writings! If she isn't ever going back, what'll happen to them? She might have a whole stack of random pieces of paper. Each one she had ripped off from her work that had extra blank space. Each one is special. Each one with meaning to her. She's been writing them since they were taught to write, it's her whole life right there!

Suddenly, she realized something. She remembered something. That pain striking back at her again. Lina asked her to hit her. She not wanting to, then the Officials barged in and Lina acting like Kenna actually did hurt her. Then the Officials took her away for something she didn't do! The sight of everyone watching helplessly at her, the disappointment and shame that carried in Ms.Casta's eyes. And the last moment when she resisted, the Official Cara stabbed some weird thing in her neck. The pain all melted away. But now it's back. And now she is somewhere else, probably far far away from where her bed is. Far away from the place she grew up in.

She felt a tear roll down her cheek. This must be the end. They're checking her and logging her last data. The only thing that wanders in her head right now is, are they going to cast me out?

Then a sound of a door opening came. "I'm here, show me patient three, Walsh." That must've been Dr. Novak, so they weren't in this room the entire time. Kenna wondered how their voice was here then.

Sharp confident footsteps came walking toward her, along with two other footsteps, but clearly the first footstep stood out more and has much more confidence. It must be Dr. Novak who has been commanding the other two this entire time.

"Carter or Walsh, tell me about patient three." Kenna could feel Dr. Novak near her, her shadow darkening things, even with closed eyes Kenna could feel it.

"Kenna Fletcher. Sixteen, female, from female youth dorm 134. Brunette, five foot seven and a half, green eyes, weight "

"That's enough, Carter."

Even Kenna herself didn't know her height and weight. Then a pair of cold hands touched the skin of her arm, she could've shuddered but her body still felt numb.

"Hi, Kenna. I'm Dr. Novak. You probably find it very frustrating that you can't move right now. That's alright, after a few hours the drug will wear off. And soon we will start questioning you about some things. But right now, try and relax and go back to sleep. Or else time will pass by very slow. Hope to talk to you soon." Then after some whisperers that Kenna couldn't quite catch, the three footsteps walked away.

How could she relax? She could be casted out soon. She has no idea what's going to happen next. She'll be questioned soon too? How can she relax when all these things are going to happen to her?

But with nothing else to do, and still unable to open her eyes, she slowly relaxed herself. And she fell asleep, hoping that maybe this will all be over soon.