Rebel Born [FIRST DRAFT]

Chapter 10: Syndrome

I hummed happily to the tune of the theme song of my favourite TV show. I swished my write with flare as I finished colouring a drawing of my family. I had drawn the three of us, all smiling and holding hands, in hopes that it would stop mummy and daddy from fighting.

Giggling, I grabbed the paper and slid off my seat and ran out of my room and down the stairs to the living room where they were. They were arguing again. Even in my room while I was drawing I could hear the crash of glassware and yells.

I bounced into the living room where the two were standing and screaming at each other. Daddy was red with rage, and so was Mummy but she seemed more annoyed angry than angry angry like Daddy.

I stood at the sidelines, rocking back and forth on my heels. "Umm..." My eyes flicked back and forth between them as they threw raging words and insults at each other.

"Mu-mummy?" I called out, voice shaking slightly. "Dad-dyy?" My hold on the piece of paper tightened.

Daddy raised his hand as if he was ready to hit Mummy. Mummy just stood there glaring at him as if saying 'I dare you to hit me'.

Letting out a yelp, I rushed forwards as if trying to intercept him. I grabbed onto his leg, my drawing falling slowly to the ground. "No, Daddy stop! Don't hit Mummy!"

In a fit a rage, Daddy shook me off his leg and I stumbled away before crashing into something metal. Falling onto the floor, I looked up to see what I bumped into. It was a standing lamp. And it was tipping over.

The glass case that covered the light bulb crashed into a nearby bookshelf. The glass cracked and broke off and began to fall, showering down on me. A searing pain came from my knee and I immediately started to scream my head off, tears pouring down my face. Cries getting louder by the second.

Amidst my screams and cries, I could hear Daddy shouting my name before someone pulled me into their arms and picked me up. The scent of roses told me it was Mummy. I continued to cry even when they rushed outside and into the car. That was the first and only time I have ever been to a hospital.

~*~

I flickered my eyes open slowly, blinking a few times to get rid of black spots that dotted my vision. A loud gasp came from my right. A soothing scent of vanilla found its way to my nose. Vanessa. I turned my head and looked to my right. Vanessa sat in a chair, leaning forwards, her face etched with worry. Her brown curls were all over the place and she looked like she hasn't slept in days.

Vanessa sighed in relief and crumpled onto my bed, "I was so worried!! When you and Huey disappeared, I nearly went crazy!"

"I'm sorry?" I said, accidentally making it a question.

Vanessa shook her head and pushed herself back up. "It's not your fault. Don't worry." She reached over and tapped a small rectangular screen by my bed. I looked around the room I was in. I was in a white bed, with white blankets and railings on the sides. There was a heart monitor and some other machines on the sides, a large window by the wall, some sofas and a curtain that was dragged over on the other side of me. A hospital?

"I'm letting the doctors know you're awake. Max is with Hugh, and Kyle is with Mrs. Miller in interrogating Syndicate 42 and witnessing their punishment." Vanessa said. I nodded. So I am in a hospital.

I heard the door slide open and people walked in. A middle-aged man with slightly greying brown hair and wearing a doctor's lab coat came into view first. He must be the doctor. Behind him, was a boy around my age. A helper?

"Hello there, Amelia. I'm Nikolas Rau. How are you feeling?" The doctor asked.

"Fine."

"Are you in pain anywhere?"

"No."

Doctor Rau nodded. "Can you try moving your arms around? Try flexing them and relaxing them."

I did as he said and some jolts of pain shot up my arm. I cringed mentally but didn't let it show on my face. But I froze while trying to relieve the pain.

"The pain is understandable. You had stab wounds in a total of 10 different parts of your body and one giant knife wound on your back. All of them required stitching. I've given your friend an ointment to apply on the stitches to prevent infection. You're also not allowed to participate in any strenuous activity until we pull out your stitches."

I shot him a look at the last one. "It's just a safety precaution." He replied after seeing the look I gave him. I humphed with displeasure. I wanted to train.

"I'll need to get going but tap the screen if you need me." I nodded and Vanessa stood up to thank the doctor.

As he began to leave, he stopped and turned around to speak with the boy that came in with him but hasn't moved from his spot. "Chris, are you coming with me?"

"Nah, Dad. I'll catch up with you later." He answered, raising an arm to wave goodbye to the Doctor, who is apparently his dad. Vanessa followed the Doctor out of the room. To ask questions or to do something else? I'll ask her later.

"So your name is Amelia?" The boy asked, moving closer towards me, sitting on one of the stools by the bed. I nodded.

"I'm Christopher. Christopher Rau. What's your last name?" He leaned forwards, his hazel eyes sparkling with curiosity. I felt myself getting amused by this.

"Walker."

"Hmmm... How old are you?" I raised my eyebrow at this question.

"Seventeen."

"Oh, so you're a year younger than me. And you're part of a Syndicate?"

"Yes." Where on earth are these questions going?

"Do you always talk with one worded replies?"

"Sometimes." The edges of Christopher's lips turned upwards in an amused smile.

I felt a smile forming on my lips as well but stopped myself and frowned. Why was I telling him all this? He just seems trustable... but I could never be too sure. Ugh why did I reply to him in the first place?

My eyes flickered to him. He was staring intently at me, as if analyzing me. I squirmed under his gaze and raised a hand to snap my fingers in his face to break his concentration. He jumped slightly in surprised.

"Stop."

"Oh, sorry." Christopher said sheepishly. "It's just that I've never met anyone who's gotten this syndrome before."

I froze. "What syndrome?"

He gave me another amused smile, "Hey you replied with two words."

"What syndrome?" I repeated.

"Oh, the Marie-Antoinette Syndrome." Christopher says matter-of-factly. "It's when your hair turns silver or white due to trauma or stress."

I stared at him with wide eyes.

Christopher stood up and tapped on something on the railings. A screen appeared and he moved it in front of me. It was a mirror. "See for yourself."

I think I stopped breathing when I saw my reflection. My hair... turned from brown... to white...