The Spaces Inbetween

Chapter 2. Just The Start

     Two week's had past before I'd woken up. I remember the second I opened my eyes I saw Naomi sitting in a chair gripping my hand. Her head resting on the side of my chest. The room I was in was slightly lit with a candle. I laid my head back and shut my eyes. All I remember is the two loud shots being fired and then the sharp pain. Seeing the color fade and right before my eyes shut. Naomi's face.
I sat up waking Naomi. She started talking before I could say anything.
    "You're an idiot... You know that? You almost got yourself killed! Then what? Where would you be."
I replied.
   "Hey, I didn't die and I looked like a badass saving you. I didn't save you because of that though. I saved you because we never did finish our lunch date."
She again started.
   "Idiot...idiot....idiot. We wouldn't be able to finish our date if you had died. I mean seriously, how stupid are you. I've seen so many people die already, a list full Loki. You are someone I don't want to see on that list. Call yourself a badass and a hero all you want. But what you did was reckless. I... I cant believe you took both shots. You know that they were aiming at our legs but you scared the shooter and he aimed to kill. But as lon-"
I interrupted her.
    "No need to thank me it's fine. I get it. You feel like since I almost died before you could tell me how you feel that you'd never have the closure that you needed. But think of it this way-"
   "Oh my god shut up. Loki you really are an idiot. I do care about you. You saved me. Twice... But at the risk of your own heath. I don't need you to fight my battles for me. I can handle my own situations. Just like I always have. You can't just get hurt like this. From now on let me-"
I stopped her from completing her lecture. I sat up completely grabbing her and pulling her close to me. Hugging her tight. She stopped talking completely. Her arms gave in and she hugged me back. Then she started to cry. Hugging me tighter.
     "Thank you Loki."

After a couple of hours I was released from the on campus hospital. I was thrown into my room back in sector F. To my surprise Naomi was thrown in to it as well. They had made some changes to my room. It was bigger. Had a couch, a fridge and a TV. I was more than confused. As I walked in more I saw a letter on my bed.
To Loki:
Hey kid. I'm sorry that I had you shot. I feel really bad about it. So to make up for it I decided that your room should be bigger. Now that there are two of you in there. Despite you trying to kill my men and escape, I understand why you did that. You think we are the bad guys. You're missing a big part of the picture boy. Just trust me on this. Anyways get better soon. P.S. I put a word in and you and Naomi are granted immunity from being tested on for 3 months. So enjoy the room. And your free roaming privileges.
Singed your dearest friend.
- The Director

That's definitely not what I expected coming back. I had asked Naomi if she knew about this. But she didn't. She explained how she spent the 14 days in the hospital by my side waiting for me to wake up and how they even brought her in a fold out couch.
Later on after sundown we faced a greater issue. Id come to the realization that there was only one bed, but two of us. Now I being a "gentleman" realized that I can't just sleep in the same bed with a girl I barely know. I mean jumping in front of danger is one thing. But this... It would be like trying to conquer the world.
I spoke up.
     "Hey you can take the bed. I'll just grab the couch for the night."
Grinning she said.
    "I didn't think you had it in you. Figured you'd just want to hop in the bed with me. I'm proud of you Loki. Goodnight."
Rolling my eyes at her.
   "Yeah... Goodnight Naomi. See you in the morning. But I mean I can always -"
    "If you wish to keep me in a good mood, I'd say leave it at goodnight, Loki."
After dozing off I couldn't help but think about the stunning girl sleeping not even 8 feet away from me. From everything that happened in the last month I have to say that having her in my room has to be the last thing I expected.
Later that morning I was talking to Axel at the table. He was asking where I had been and everything. I told him everything. Then he asked about Naomi. Before I could say anything he stopped me.
   "Did you guys screw? We all know she slept in your room."
I replied laughing.
   "What? No we didn't. I slept on the couch. But when I woke up I found out she's really not a morning person. I mean seriously, not a morning person.'
   "What!? You have a couch? Also what do you mean she's not a morning person. How bad could it be?"
Still laughing I said
    "Dude. You know the sun that has a smile on it's face and likes to give people two scoops of raisins? Well let's just say the amount of hate she has for mornings is enough to make that happy sun wanna die. Then bury itself in the corps of all 300 Spartans that died. Then-"
    "Okay, okay man. I get it. She isn't a morning person."
   "No I mean dude. I think the coffee machine in my room tried to kill itself. The bed screamed in horror."
We broke out in laughter.
"What's so funny boys"
Naomi said scaring the hell out of me and Axle. Immediately and simultaneously we both said
  "Nothing!"
  "Nothing?"
Then breaking out in laughter again.
After the slightly deadly confrontation me and Naomi went back to the room. From what started as a scary morning, to a funny afternoon was looking to turn into a gloomy evening.    
Naomi switched my attention to something I hadn't thought about to much. She wanted to break out of here. Break out of this facility. I asked her why over and over again. We had everything we needed here. Sure we were prisoners and pretty much guinea pigs. We didn't have the knowledge to even make a plan. We didn't know where in the world we are. We don't even know how big this place is. I tried to explain that to her but she told me she had a plan. That it needed time. I told her that
I trusted her. But I don't want her to get hurt. It had me thinking. The whole conversation. I told her about something that the director said before he had me shot.
"... Lucky you, I need you alive. Plus your little girlfriend right there... "
Even now it seems strange. More so than before. Naomi agreed. Why would he need us alive. Then in the note.
"... You're missing a big part of the picture..."
The more we thought about it the more things felt unsettling. Before we could catch out thoughts, four armed guards burst through the door. I grabbed Naomi and put her behind me. The Director came through the door with his head down.
    "Boy... We give you an opportunity to live comfortably. To have the ability that others here do not have. Yet you want to break out and flee. We bugged your room. We heard everything. Now rather or not Naomi has a plan, you should get why we have you here. Under the condition that you speak to no one about it."
Naomi and I looked at one another and then agreeing with the director.
    "Good. To get us started I should say where we are. This facility is called Burning Heart. It's located deep in the Colorado mountains in the United States. It was built to survive Nuclear fallout during the Cold War. Now it's purpose is to help people like you. We're even going further to train you."
Naomi spoke up and asked.
    "Train us for what."
The Director continued.
   "Glad you asked. Russia and some really other powerful countries and places in the world have started breeding superhuman soldiers. They're powerful enough that they could easily murder millions if not billions. We're not trying to hurt any of you kids here. But testing your abilities to their fullest extent is something that we need. We need to push you and I know that it's hard because it hurts you guys physically and mentally. Second of all my actual name is James. James Morrison. The reason why the security here is so tights is because we can't let anybody go. Even if that means killing somebody. You can try to escape if you want but I doubt you're going to. I'll even do you a favor and have the room debugged. Won't try to listen in on you guys no more. Just remember you're not seeing the whole picture yet."
Just as fast as they came in  they had vanished. Me and Naomi looking at one another in confusion. We didn't say much after that. We both went to sleep. This time I got the bed and she grabbed the couch.
    Several hours passed by and I woke up to something nudging me in the back. It was Naomi. She told me to scoot over or she'd rip my spine out of my body and feed the animals my corpse. After a couple of minutes Naomi was cuddling me in the bed. I knew if I so happen to move a singular muscle she would kill me. I eventually fell back to sleep. It was nice to have somebody by my side.

Merry Christmas everyone.
I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I'm still deciding if I should release chapter by chapter or the whole story. For sure if you are liking my writing then by the end of 2017 I'm releasing the full book for Love and Loss. If you've read the original you should check it out again for I've updated the writing and even rewritten a few chapters. As always stay tuned for a little.
-Max Garcia