Synthetic Beauty (re-posted)

Chapter Thirty: Terra Lovelace

Phoebe laid on a metal platform, chained down impossibly tight. Everything was fuzzy, the shades of colors, the figures of people, and the muffled sounds of people talking.

"...achieved. Now can you leave us alone to live a normal life? You promised this, remember?" Someone in the background argued.

Deep and scary laughter came from right next to her, she couldn't see much except for red eyes and white hair, was it... Xavier... No, Xander...? But he died in the sinking of the Capitol... Right? "A normal life? Both of you are Specials and are on the most wanted list of the Rebels. That's not possible, but I can promise a life basking in ignorance."

An exasperated sigh comes from the figure across the room, "Fine. I don't care, I want it back to parties and drinking. No more blood. So what are you going to do to her?"

"Don't worry, once we put her under..." Phoebe's hearing faded and then zoned back in on the conversation, "... And then she will be back to 'normal.'" The man laughed as he said the word 'normal.'

There's a pause before anyone speaks, "You can't undo the Special serum?"

"No. But we can..." Phoebe strived to hear his next words, but then realized that hands cover her ears. Her hearing wasn't fading in and out, Xander was choosing what she heard, "She's too beat up to do that... All we can do is..." Again he covered her ears.

Suddenly, Xander left her side and escorted the other figure out the door, again speaking inaudibly. She heard a locking sound then a swooshing sound... Water, maybe? Phoebe slowly craned her neck to see water pooling the floor and a breathing mask around her nose and mouth. She had heard about this once, the way they break down skin and build it again is through nanobite-infested water. The nanobites tear the skin and break it down. As soon as Phoebe remembered this she struggled against the chains holding her back and shrieked into the mask. A thumping sound comes from the door as if someone were trying to get in. Phoebe didn't care, she was about to watch herself be eaten alive.

It didn't take long for the water to reach her and when it did she closed her eyes, waiting for the pain, but it never came. Even when she felt the water engulf her, she didn't feel anything. She dared to open her eyes which was an awful mistake. The water around her was red and soon her vision went red as well. She wanted to scream as she looked down at her arm and saw her muscle tissue being eaten away to reveal bone. She didn't feel so good. As soon as she had the morbid sight engraved into her mind, she passed out.

She is so confused as she opens her eyes to a pearl white room. A white blanket wraps around her in a comforting position. Her eyes catch a vase of lilies that rest on her table side with a note attached. She couldn't help but think who they were from. Who could they be from? She... Doesn't know anyone who would send her flowers... Why would they?

For some reason she had a massive migraine. She didn't understand what was going on, why was she in a hospital? What happened?

A doctor with silver hair that snow would be jealous of and red eyes walked to the side of her bed, "How you feeling, Terra?"

"T-Terra?" she asked. Was he referring to her?

"Yes, Terra Lovelace, right? How are you feeling?" the doctor asked with a sympathetic smile.

"I have a massive migraine... Why-why am I here? And why can't I remember what my name is?" she said as she put her hand to her sore head.

"You drank a whole lot last night at the party and must have gotten in a fight or something causing minor amnesia. Don't worry, Travis Tyler, your boyfriend will be here soon to help," the doctor holds her hand sincerely.

For some reason her heart skipped a beat at the name, "Will he help me remember?"

The doctor's smile made the white room look beige, "Yes, dear, and you can go back to your normal life."