Ruby (Now Completed!)

[Chapter 3]

Len had to turn away as the large needle plunged into Teto, but he couldn't get her screams out of his head. What was only thirty seconds seemed to stretch into hours, and Teto didn't think she could take any more. Just as the splitting pain was going to take her over, the needle was removed and it retracted back into the ceiling. But this wasn't enough for her to stay conscious. She slipped away under the influence of exhaustion, fear, and a sprouting headache.

----

When Teto next opened her eyes, she was laying in a hospital bed in a place that closely resembled a hospital room. There was yet another iv pumping fluids into her arm, and she felt aching pain in her abdomen. On top of that, she was developing a throbbing headache. With her free arm, she lifted up the hospital gown she had been changed into to get a look at her abdomen. Sure enough, there was a circular scar that dipped inward slightly. It was about the size of a golf ball and was right above her belly button.

Great, now I have two belly buttons, she thought, trying to make herself feel better.

She looked around the room. There wasn't much to look at. The walls were white, the cabinets were white, the counter tops were white. Everything was white. There wasn't a television or magazines or anything she could do to pass the time.

She laid her head back against her pillows and was about to doze off when a soft knock sounded on her door, then it opened. The Head came in, followed by Len.

Immediately Teto felt burning resentment for both of them. They let this happen to her without any sympathy. Unfortunately, her sudden change in emotion caused her headache to get worse and her second belly button to hurt a little more.

Len sat down in the corner of the room as the Head came to Teto's bedside.

"Hello, sweetie," he said, giving her a warm but definitely fake smile.

Teto glared at him and refused to reply.

The Head gave her an understanding look.

"I know our way of doing things is rather... oh, what's the word... unnatural, but you'll get used to it, I promise. But for now, let's see how you're healing up so far..."

He pulled up her hospital gown so everything below her breasts was exposed, except for her underwear. He then placed his cold hands around her waist.

"W-what're you-" Teto tried to say, but she was too surprised to push him away.

"Ah, yes," the Head said, moving his hands up and down her waist area. Len watched from the corner, wide-eyed.

Suddenly, the Head inched his hands slowly up Teto's abdomen, heading for her chest. Teto had a horrified look on her face, and Len knew he had to say something.

"Um- sir? I think she's healing up quite well..." He stuttered, then trailed off.

Hearing this, the Head snapped out of whatever trance he was in and took his hands off of her. Face burning, Teto pulled her hospital gown back over herself and pulled the covers tight over her body.

"Right, right. Yes, she seems to be healing just fine. I'll tell Dr. Luka to schedule the testing for the next few days right away. Please stay with her until lights out." The Head shot one last smirk at Teto before letting himself out.

Len pulled his chair to Teto's bedside, but stayed a respectful distance away. Teto figured she should thank him.

"Thanks for stopping him back there," she said, not making eye contact.

Len nodded, not making eye contact either. "Yeah, no problem."

There was another awkward pause, before Len asked,

"How do you feel?"

Now Teto made eye contact, but it was a hard glare and Len immediately felt guilty.

"How do you think I feel?" She asked angrily.

Len sighed.

"I'm sorry you have to be put through all this. If I could stop it I would." When Teto didn't reply, he decided to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least now you can say you've got two belly buttons. That's sure to impress somebody, right?"

Teto couldn't keep a completely straight face. With just a hint of a smile, she said, "Yeah. That's how I tried to cheer myself up too."

Len decided that since she was in a decently good mood, he would be upfront with her.

"Hey, can I tell you something, and can you promise not to get creeped out?"

Teto searched his face for a second, looking for sincerity. She decided to listen, and gave a small nod.

Len broke eye contact and looked down at his thumbs.

"Well, while you were being... tested on..." he trailed off, trying to find the right words.

Teto raised an eyebrow.

"What about it? Spit it out, cmon now."

Len let out a tiny chuckle.

"I just couldn't stand it, Ruby. I couldn't stand watching you suffer, hearing your screams. I don't know what it is, believe me I don't, but you're special to me. From the moment I saw you for the first time, I knew I wasn't going to let you feel the pain, but I failed, and now I feel terrible."

Hearing this, for a split second, Teto felt moved, happy that someone cared. But that happiness quickly gave way to anger.

"What is this, some sort of joke?!" She yelled, giving him that sharp glare again.

Len was taken aback. "W-what do you mean?" He stuttered.

"You're joking! You work for him, Len!" Teto yelled, and Len knew she was talking about the Head. "After everything that's happened so far, there's no way in hell I'm believing anything you say. I'm sure he probably wants you to get close so you can kill me in my sleep!"

Len was heartbroken. He'd just poured out all his feelings for her, and she just threw them away. He wanted to be angry that she couldn't understand, but he knew that would be unfair, given her circumstances. Instead, he sighed and moved back to the corner of the room, refusing to say another word.

Teto wanted badly to fall asleep again, but she didn't trust Len enough to make herself so vulnerable. So instead, she sang.

Not loudly, of course, but she sang quietly enough so Len could barely hear her. He wanted to inch closer and get a better listen, but he didn't want to stress her out again. From what he could pick out, though, her song was sad, but beautiful.

Teto had always been an avid singer. Her mother told her she always sang growing up. Even in her sleep, she would sing. She was part of choir and drama through grade and middle school, and now she was known as the vocal star of her high school. Singing had become a part of her.

After what seemed like hours of songs and empty thoughts, Teto noticed Len stand up, checking his watch.

"Lights out now. Sleep well, good night." He said, even though he knew it was a dumb thing to say.

Instead of waiting for a reply he knew wouldn't come, Len quietly opened the door and slipped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him just as quietly.

Teto reached for the small panel of buttons on the side of her bed and pushed on the one that turned off the lights. In the darkness, she sang one last song: her mother's favorite lullaby to sing to her when she was young. It was called Meteor.

This time, Teto didn't take much care to keep her singing to herself. She sang out loudly, hoping her lullaby would be heard by some of the other subjects around her. She hoped it would help them fall asleep like it helped her.

Surprisingly, she got through the whole song without being interrupted by some angry scientists. By the end, she was beginning to grow very tired. She closed her eyes, slipping away to a land where she felt free.