The Cost for Freedom

Chapter 13

My aching limbs welcomed the cold hard material of the hospital bed as I sat and watched the nurse wrap my bleeding knuckles. Internally, I resented the order I was given weeks ago to train in things other than my natural talent with boxing. The past few hours had been a lesson as I learned the meaning of humility.

After all of my training I had realized just how much my neglect of certain areas affected me. I had not been weight training enough. I had not been stretching enough. And I was told repeatedly today, I had not been blocking enough. No kidding. My body ached everywhere.

The nurse smiled up at me as she helped me down from the bed. Even though I knew other kids had to be treated, I still didn't feel well enough to be walking around just yet. My injuries had not been severe enough to merit the use of the medicine so I was forced to heal naturally. I never thought I'd admit it, but I actually resented the nurse when she had informed me of this. Still, I nodded and smiled curtly at her before leaving the room, slowly.

By the time I made it to the dining hall, it seemed dinner was almost over. I winced as I sat down, ready to endure my friend's endless banter. Instead, I found them looking at me skeptically.

"What?" They were just staring at me.

"Are you... ok?" Bridget was the one to ask.

"Yeah, of course. Why?" I looked at each of them, namely Tammy and Bridget, as they peered awkwardly from Chase to myself. Hmmm.

"What." This time I phrased it as a statement, surprising myself as it came out almost threatening.

"Well, Chase said-"

"I only said I was worried when you took a while to come back from the infirmary before, and now... you don't look much better," he had cut Tammy off.

I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to respond. With my day, from Tyler this morning, to the prisoner I'd met, I didn't feel like sharing feelings. So I presented them with a bored look. "Yeah, I went back to the ring to refine my skills after I saw you, Chase, and I ended up getting pretty beat up. But the infirmary is on short supply with the medicine so I wasn't given any."

"Oh." They simply said.

Maybe that will shut them up, I thought to myself as I continued my meal. Chase ended my short lived peace though. "Why, and how could they be on short supply?"

"Maybe they...um," Tammy wondered aloud.

"I bet they just didn't make enough," Bridget shrugged. I gave an appreciative yet sympathetic look in response to her simple reasoning's.

"No... I think I know what it is," I looked at Chase as I followed his gaze around the room. The hall was slowly clearing out, but it was obvious I wasn't the only one denied a serum today. "I've never seen kids wearing casts here before."

"Weird to think, huh?" I mused aloud, as I rolled my eyes looking back down at my plate.

"Dang girl, what's up with you?" Bridget was the only one who had noticed my mood.

I gave her a pointed look, "it's simple isn't it? They don't want us to heal," and when no one acknowledged me, I continued. "Why is that so surprising?" I didn't have the patience for them right now.

The table had finally settled back into a semblance of peace, as awkward as it now was, it was at least quiet. When I finished my meal, I excused myself, only to be followed and stopped by Tammy. Of all people. Not that I didn't like her, I just didn't understand her. She seemed so quiet and reserved yet her opinions were voiced constantly as a surprise to me, with so much tenacity and bitterness in them.