From Zero to Psycho

Chapter 12: A Sleepless Night

"Lights out, Magots!" A new guard says as he flips the light switch to OFF. The whole room goes dark except for a little light from the tower for the guards' room and a flashlight from the new guard who just turned off the lights.

I lay down on my mattress and try to get some sleep. A few minutes go by and nothing happens. I don't even blink.

I think it's just that today's horrifying events are still on my mind and it's causing me not to sleep. Today was very... Very horrifying, but interesting. It definitely did not follow routine. There are usually way more tests that go into the late afternoon.

I also still can't forgive myself for what I did to Rose. I doubt I will. And I doubt she'll forgive me, either. I get up and walk over to Rose's bed and grab the tennis ball off of her bed and bounce it on the floor a few times. Anoura gets up from her bed and walks over to me.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." I apologise.

"No... You didn't wake me. I wasn't sleeping. Listen, I'm sorry about what happened between you and Rose. She really liked you."

"How would you know?"

"I heard her talking to the doctor."

"YOU WERE EAVESDROPPING?" I gasp.

"SHHHHH! Yes, but that's not the point." She says, keeping her voice down.

"Whatever. That doesn't matter now. Can you tell me what she said?"

"I couldn't hear most of it but I remember one thing..."

"And... It is?"

"She said, 'When I first met James, my heart felt joy...warm... light...fuzzy... But, after today's events, my heart is filled with darkness... Betrayal... Even, rage. And all that was there is now gone. And...'"

"And..."

"And nothing. She stopped talking there."

I sigh. I don't think she'll ever forgive me.

*******

I walk to the Medical Bay to see how Rose is doing. I walk into her room and the doctor is looking at the cardiac monitor. Rose is sleeping silently.

"How is she, Doc?" I ask quietly.

two. I gave her some sleeping medication to help with her insomnia.

"She's doing good. She should be out of here within a day or so."

"That's good. It's nice to see her sleep for once."

*******

I walk into the caiteria for lunch after hours of testing and the table is still askew from yesterday's... Argument. I see Rose's sketchbook lying on the floor upside down, the pencil right next to it.

I walk over to the table, bend down, and pick up the sketchbook. I start flipping through the pages to find nearly all of the pictures are portraits of me. The second to last one is one of Anoura and at the bottom of it reads SPY?

The amount of detail alone is phenomenal and these drawings are incredible.

Anoura walks in and I shut the sketchbook quickly and stand up in front of her.

"What'cha got, there?" She asks.

"Oh... It's-it's nothing." I respond.

"Uh-huh."

She quickly snatches it out of my hands and effortlessly flies up into the air.

"Let's see, here." She says, flipping through the pages. I can see her fascinated eyes frantically look at each page. As we hear footsteps in the hall approaching, Anoura slaps the sketchbook shut.

Rose walks through the doorway rubbing her head and groans. Anoura flies down towards her and hands her the sketchbook.

"I believe this is yours." Anoura says, gently giving it to Rose.

"Thanks. My stupid head is throbbing." Rose says, squinting.

Just then, Anoura whispers something into Rose's ear and Rose thanks her for letting her know.

Ugh. I think. My ticket to starting to make things up with Rose is now gone.

While Anoura is still flying and Rose walks out of the room, I shoot a vine out of my hand and wrap it around Anoura's ankle. I make the vine recede, pulling her towards me.

"Hey! What was that for?" She asks upon arrival at my side.

"Dude... I was going to give that back to her so I could get a little amount of forgiveness from her." I respond, getting frustrated.

"Oh. Sorry."

I sigh. I need to calm down. I'll find out another way to do that later. I need to get back to testing.