Equals

Chapter 28

New Life

I wake up, in my own little room; Maddy’s putting a towel on my head. “Hey, you’re awake.” I try to sit up, but the pain in my neck forces me back down. “Don’t move yet, I don’t know if anything’s broken.” She hands me a mirror. I’m not expecting what I see. My entire neck has small bumps with purple bruises where his fingers were.

“Wow…”

“Yeah…he uh…has a pretty strong grip. It took me two minutes to get him off.”

“Hmm…I really didn’t see that one coming.”

“Same here…”

She leaves to make sure Michael isn’t having another incident. She tells me to stay put, but as soon as she leaves I force myself up, and start walking around my room. I look down, to see that I’m wearing a paper hospital gown with flowers on it. “Oh my god…” I rip it off. I’d rather have nothing at all than wearing a stupid flower-covered piece of paper. I slip on my old Servie clothes, skin tight and flexible. It’s all connected from my neck to my ankles, black, and feels almost like rubber. I try to cover up my neck, but it doesn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. I fix my hair a bit, but as always, it looks perfect. Like I said, being a Servie has its perks. I put a little make up on my eyes so I don’t look as tired as I am... Once I slip on my sneakers I start walking back to his room.

It’s a stupid idea, I know, but he’s got to get used to being around me—whether he likes it or not. I walk in the door, where Maddy and he are holding each other on the table. I clear my throat and they turn towards me. Maddy looks stunned, either from the makeup and outfit, or the fact that I disobeyed and came here. Maybe both… She comes over to me.

“Azurite…what did you…what is this?” she feels the sleeve of my skin-tight suit, “You look really beautiful. There’s no way he’ll hate you now.”

“I’m pretty sure he will. I just….” She nods and leaves us alone, walking out the door.

“Maddy, who’s at the door?” I start walking up to him. His eyes get wider and he clenches his fist.

“Why…why the h-hell are you …here?”

“Get used to it.”

“I don’t want her…h-here…she tried to kill me!” All of a sudden we hear the door open again, and the room goes silent.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my old friend. Azurite, how are you doing sweetheart?”

“As if you care, Maria…”

“Tsk, tsk, don’t be cross, Azurite. You wouldn’t want me to test out my new weapon would you?” She snaps her fingers and Michael lunges out of his seat towards me, I’m able to doge him—barely.

“STOP IT!” She smiles and snaps her fingers again, he collapses on the ground. I don’t care what he’ll do to me; I run over to him and hold his head, brushing the hair out of his face. He’s out of breath and looks dizzy. I hear Maria laughing behind us. I finally lay him back down and stand back up. Maria darts towards me, I’m taken off-guard and stay put, and I close my eyes. I don’t understand, she should’ve hit me by now, but I don’t feel anything. I open my eyes, and Michael’s standing in front of me, holding her back….protecting me. “What are you doing?”