I Am Learning, Ph1LzA

The Benefit of a Company

Ph1LzA couldn't leave the hospital, not without being seen. Halo, after stationing two "bodyguards" outside, had decided to give Ph1LzA some time to think over the offer he'd just given. Join EGG willingly...or be taken. Absently Ph1LzA rested a hand on Trixtin's head, thinking not of the offer, but rather of how he and Trixtin could escape EGG once more. If he could just get out and leave, it would all be so simple.

TechnoBlade would be able to get them out, if Ph1LzA had his phone. Did Trixtin have hers? Most likely. And then there was Wilbur. A great part of Ph1LzA wanted to leave the young man behind. It was entirely possible EGG had no interest in him. But they would most certainly use him, and Halo would know Ph1LzA could not stand to allow that to happen. So Wilbur would have to come with them. How, though? No hospital would discharge him in his current state, whatever that was. There would be watchful nurses, guards at the doors, not to mention the guards already stationed just outside Ph1LzA's room, who he was sure would not let Trixtin out if she tried to get anything.

The clock on the wall ticked monotonously. Ph1LzA gritted his teeth, aware his time was running out. Carefully he patted Trixtin's head. "Wake up, Trix. Darling, please wake up."

She muttered a response and turned her head towards him, opening her eyes. "What is it? Mmm...mornin', Phil." Her sleepy smile was so soft and warm it made Ph1LzA's nervousness retreat a little.

Ph1LzA tried to speak calmly. "So...we had a visitor. It was Halo. From EGG."

Trixtin's eyes snapped. She sat up quickly enough to throw her hair back in her face, but as she swept it back, Ph1LzA put a finger to his mouth. Trixtin clamped her jaw shut, watching Ph1LzA for more signals.

Ph1LzA had suspicions Halo may have bugged the room, though he had no idea what kinds of bugs they may be or how much they could pick up. So he spoke as carefully as he could. "He wants us to go with him, to help EGG with their project. You," he gestured both to himself and to Trixtin, "don't have to go. You," he repeated the gesture, "could go home." He made as though typing on a phone, though his arms ached dreadfully as he moved them. "I suspect Halo will want to keep you here, but if you leave soon," Ph1LzA glanced at the door and shook his head, "he may not ask for you."

Trixtin's eyes focused hard on Ph1LzA's movements. She shrugged slowly. "I'll think about it." She replied. "I don't want to leave you here by yourself, but I think I," she repeated Ph1LzA's gesture of pointing to both of them, "should go home soon." Her fingers typed on an imaginary phone. "After all, Cybe shouldn't be left alone for too long, or he'll start getting into the dog food again."

Cybe??? Ph1LzA blinked rapidly but tried to follow along. "Yeah." He darted another glance at the door. He could only just see one of the guard's shoulders through the window. "Can you text me when you get home? And tell Cybe I'll be back as soon as I can, will you?"

This time Trixtin looked confused. "So..." she hesitated, "...you're going with Halo?" Her eyes darted around the room, and she threw a glance back at the door.

Ph1LzA looked down at his bandaged arms. "I can't this moment, obviously. But...how else am I to keep you safe?" The question came in a whisper. Trixtin had to lean over him to hear, and her jaw hardened as she caught his words.

"Well," she said, sitting back up, "I'm still sleepy and you're still hurting. So I'm not going anywhere for the present." She pulled out her phone, bent over it with her hair falling over her so the screen was completely hidden, and began to type. Ph1LzA had no idea what she was working on, nor even what the end of their conversation signified. Had she decided to stay? What would he do about Halo? How would they both get out of this hospital? Ph1LzA felt rotten inside. He was simply at square one and had no discernable means of moving anywhere from that spot.