Beneath the Blind Sky

Chapter 14

I can't get my mind off the pills.

Orchid said that she was being fed "pink stuff" from a bottle. But why? What could they possibly be doing to her? Nauseous with worry I get up and walk into the bathroom. Turning on the water I sit down on the tile floor and think.

What would Mina do?

What a silly question. Mina would march into that training room and grab the bottle. Mina would face the Nannies and do whatever she could to stop their operation. She wouldn't be sitting on the floor ready to puke. I wring my hands in annoyance and anger; why can't I be brave like Mina? Why can't I pull it together and be strong?
Deep down I know the answer; it's because I'm not her. She can see, for one. And she's more confident. I shake my head. "You know what?" I whisper to myself. "Mina's lived here her whole life because she's missing an arm. So why the hell am I acting like I can't do anything because I'm blind?" 
Pulling myself together I form a plan in my mind; I have to get those pills. And -flexing my fingers around my walking stick- I know just how I'll do it.

I march over to the medical pod and open the door, bracing myself for the loud whirring of robots and the clangs of metal on metal. Instead, the hall is dead silent with the exception of my heavy breaths and the echoes of my footsteps. Careful not to make too much noise I sneak from room to room, allowing my walking stick to just barely hit the floor in front of me. Patients and doctors talking reminds me that I'm not alone as I enter another hallway. The tangy smell of blood rests in the air, and I immediately turn back. Wrong pod.

It takes a while to find my way, but once I enter the physical development rooms I admire how quickly I was able to navigate my way through the intertwining hallways. I'm surprised I didn't get lost due to my lack of guidance or the fact that I had never been here before, but I was able to move quickly and quietly. At least I can hope so; no one has come after me yet.

I turn the doorknob to a room and open the door. I instantly recognize Caddy's voice, talking to one of the patients in a small bed. "Hey Caddy!" I call out. I hear him turn around and can only imagine the shock on his face. He drops the tray on the medical bed and runs over to me, wrapping me in his strong arms. "Char, it's so good to see you," he whispers in my ear. I grin, but a small feeling of guilt wades its way into my stomach. Why do I feel so...giddy? Isn't this how I'm supposed to feel around Mina?

I shake those thoughts to the back of my mind and focus back on Caddy. "It's good to hear you too," I joke. He steps back and rests his hand on my shoulder. "What can I do for you today? Another headache?"
I shake my head. "I need...a pink bottle."
His eyebrows wrinkle in confusion. "Okay...," he drawls, "What's the medication?"
I motion for him to come closer, and I carefully whisper in his ear, making sure the patient doesn't hear. "It's a drug that the Nannies have been feeding Orchid. I need to know what it is."
His eyes widen and he drags me out into the hall without explanation.
"Charlotte, you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone else. I don't know how you found out, but it needs to stay a secret."
I pull back and rub my wrist. "Caddy, you're scaring me."
He shrugs and puts his hands in his pocket. "It's a mind numbing drug to keep her under control. To keep all of you under control."