Our Manufactured Reality

Chapter 21: Reunion

[Harper's POV]

I felt it first in my chest.

The aching pain that meant I'd been injured surged it's way through my torso. I was alive and awake. Concentrating on my points of damage, I mentally observed my body from head to toe: Cramping chest, bruised face, scarred arm, and... Oh no. The chip. I was suddenly aware of the bandages wrapped around my arm. Or were they just cloth? In any case, I was severely hurt and the robots had the chip! I opened my eyes and was met with a familiar face.

Oh.

"Harper?" His face radiated pure joy while holding me in his arms.

"Charlie?" My thoughts were scattered all over the place.  "You- How did you...  You came back?"

"Harper... You have no idea..." He was filled with emotion.

"Harper?" I heard Corey call over to me, and I shook my head out of its fog as Charlie set me on my feet. "Oh good. Harper, you're awake. Don't worry we're almost back home."

"Almost to the camp?" I asked, holding onto Charlie in an effort to stand. Man am I weak.

"Yes.  And we'll have the best crew of doctors to patch you up. You've got nothing to worry about." He nodded, smiled humbly, and left us to attend to more survivors.

"Nothing to worry about," Charlie reassured me, still clutching to my arms. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Um," I steadily straightened up, "I think I can manage... Just don't leave me." I glanced at him.

"Wasn't planning on it." He smiled, the conversation was flowing again. Somehow a huge weight lifted from my chest.

"How did you find me?" I inquired, concentrating on staying upright.

"Well..." He hesitated, "I followed the search party..."

"With Corey?" I questioned and then added, "Did he know?"

"No... I wasn't supposed to leave my hospital bed, but I went anyway. After I saw you- er- heard the team coming back, I returned to the camp. But when I got back, you weren't behind me. So I went out again," He explained.

"Alone?" My voice cracked for a moment.

"Well, yeah... Yeah, kinda..." He rubbed his neck, knowing he'd made some bad choices. "But not completely alone. I mean, Alex came with me."

"Who's Alex?"

"Oh! Right! You have to meet him! Come here." He took my arm and led me to a man who seemed roughly two years older than me. He was clutching his head as we approached, yet a grin appeared when he noticed us.

"Charles! Hi! Oh, and you must Harper." His genuine introduction was comforting.

"Uh, yeah. I am." I stuck out my hand. "Nice to meet you. Charlie says you came with him? To the robot compound?"

He shook my hand, "Sure did. Although I wasn't much help. Kinda blacked-out after our first encounter with the machines."

"Oh..." I looked at Charlie, "so you got everyone out by yourself?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess. At least I did with the first bit of the group. I had help from Corey in finding you."

"Well, I'm glad you weren't completely alone. I'd be worried if you'd been all by yourself, but I now realize you could probably handle it," I added, coming to a conclusion.

"I guess, yeah." He was so shy, modesty radiating from his face.  "I mean, I have felt a bit more confident."

"A bit?"  Alex shouted in surprise.  "You were awesome, dude!  Nothing could stop you!  Don't underestimate yourself, Charles.  You're a really determined person."