Unplugged: The Beautiful World (#3, Unplugged Trilogy)

Chapter Thirty Eight

Enna

When the helicopter lands, I numbly slide out to land on the crumbly asphalt. Three men dressed all in black leap out behind me and lead me towards the hideout, where I'd been told my friends were waiting for me. The walk isn't long, but it tires out my weary limbs all the same. I cough repeatedly, breathing in the dust-saturated air. Once I enter the dark warehouse, smelling familiarly of smoke and metal, four bodies rush me and trap me inside a sweaty hug.
Danny, Leah, Victoria, and Gale.
Danny mutters about how glad he is that I made it out, and Leah rambles on about how she thought she'd never see me again. Gale just sobs and shakes her head while Victoria smiles widely and pats my shoulder. I can't stand to look at her for more than a few seconds. I meet everyone's comments with silence. Eventually they stop speaking long enough to see the look on my face. Leah shoots Danny, Victoria, and Gale an apologetic glance and leads me off towards the Medical Quadrant.
"Enna ... What happened?" I give her a look, afraid that my voice won't work. Her eyes grow wide. "Oh no..." I nod and force a swallow, trying to stop hating myself. It doesn't work.
"Um, he'll have to lose his leg," Leah says quickly, like trying to rip a band-aid off. My heart plummets even further when I realize that she's talking about Oscar. "I mean, he can keep half of it, but..." She sniffles quietly and leads me through the hanging curtains, winding back to where Oscar lies on a hospital bed. His face is pale, but somehow he manages to retain a smile.
"Hey guys." We sit in chairs on either side of him. I stare numbly at his bandaged knee. It shifts slightly. "No, you can't cut it off with your eyes, Enna. I've already tried." I lift my gaze to Oscar's. It's amazing how much sadness can be contained in the eyes of one who's always smiling.
"You'll be alright," I say. He waves a hand.
"Ah, don't worry about it. At least people won't ask me to help them move crates anymore." Leah slaps his upper arm, though a smile tugs at her lips.
"Hey, injured person here!"
I ignore Leah and Oscar's banter, staring into space once again. Incessant waves of tears push at the backs of my eyes, but for some reason they don't show themselves. Matthew is completely at the mercy of Fake Enna's cronies by now. For all I know, he could already be dead! I place my palms firmly against my eyes. I can't think like that; there has to be something I can do!
"Enna, are you okay?" Oscar asks, staring at me. I swallow and nod.
"Come on," Leah says, standing. She guides me out of the hospital and through the rest of the hideout, taking me to my old sleeping spot. "You should rest. We've been through a lot."
Before I can protest, I lie down and fall into a dreamless sleep. The next morning carries a certain heaviness with it. It hurts to move, or breathe. Rebels sit and stare into space instead of work tirelessly. I look up to see Danny, ordering a group of men beside the front entrance. With a grunt, I get to my feet and approach him.
"Good morning, Enna." He smiles tensely. Since I've left, he's gained several more wrinkles. "How are you doing?"
"I'm..." I don't bother to finish the sentiment. "Danny, what's going on here? Why aren't people doing anything?" He sighs heavily.
"We're running out of supplies, fast. No one wants to go to the Depot. Victoria and Gale offered their assistance, but they were being so useful around the warehouse; I couldn't afford to lose them."
"Are you kidding me?" I demand, mouth twisting into a frown. "People are going to starve!" Danny shakes his head.
"That's the problem."
"I'll go." I try to straighten my spine. "I'll stake out the Depot."
"No way, Enna." He lays a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You've done enough. You kept Becca safe. Everyone made it back in once piece."
"Except Matthew," I add bitterly. Danny's face falls and his shoulders slump forward.
"God, Enna, I'm so--"
"I don't want an apology," I snap. "Just let me get out of here. I'll go to the Depot, and take Leah with me. I need to be... moving."
"I understand," Danny says after a moment. He moves to do something, hesitates, then pulls a small handgun from his pocket and tosses it to me. I raise my eyebrows.
"Bring it with you; you'll need it more than me. Watch out for the soldiers."