Equals

Chapter 17

Introductions

 

              “Maddy, I’m here.” She hugs me, just like she used to. She has a smile on her face until she sees Calix walk in.

 

              “Azurite, what—“

 

              “Just, trust me okay? He’s on our side. Calix, this is Madison, Maddy, this is Calix. He’s a Servie, but-but a good one, like I am…now.”

 

              “Fine…but I really wanted this visit to be private, Azurite.”

 

              “Why?”

 

              “I had something to give you.”

 

              “Really, what is it?”

 

              “It’s something I’ve had since we were in the hospital.” She grabs my hand and drops something in my palm.

 

              “What-what is it?” It’s a stupid question. I know exactly what it is. It’s a holo chip. You put it in a hologram projector and the message plays a video of a life-size image, so it looks like the person is in the room with you.

 

              “He made it for you. When I got rid of the last guard, I found him in his room, but he was still…you know. So I asked him what he wanted me to do, and he made you this, to watch when you were ready.”

 

              “He knew he was going to d-die?” She looks at me, but she looks so guilty and sad. “Maddy, you’re hiding something from me, I know you are.

 

            "Just tell me, it can’t be that bad.”

 

              “Azurite I’m so sorry…”

 

              “Why? What happened that night?”

 

              “When-when I went to his room, he was awake, he was so…calm though. It was weird. I mean, he was worried for you, but for himself, he didn’t care. When he saw me walk in, he looked a little calm, but he was so angry the minute I came in. He asked a million questions about you. I told him we split up and he almost lost it. He couldn’t believe I left you alone. I took off the restraints on his arms.”

 

              “You-you mean he was…healthy?”

 

              “Well, besides the bruises and scars all over his body…he was fine.”

 

              “Wait...but if he was fine then how could he just—“

 

               “Just let me explain, okay? We talked a while. I told him about everything that’s happened, how we were looking for him, that he was the reason we came. He got even angrier. He said that he was angry at himself, that he was the reason we were in this mess, and being attacked like this. I told him it wasn’t his fault, and tried to tell him to calm down but he wouldn’t listen to me.” She starts explaining the story like she’s really there now, speaking like she’s reading a script. “Michael, listen, once Azurite gets here we’ll get you out, and everything will be okay again. We just have to wait for her.”