Steel Ethereal

Ch. 27 Testing Limits

Rob

There in the hospital waiting room I waited with my hands held in my face. It was a dreary, depressing room. There were others suffering from minor injuries and illnesses. It was ten in the morning and I was on my fourth hour there.

Charlie was admitted and still unconscious. I shakily told them of what had happened earlier that morning with a second Charlie appearing. The attendants merely nodded and carried my Charlie away. Their lack of concern worried me and I feared Charlie would be laying there in a hospital prep room by herself.

They wouldn't let me in. I wasn't immediate family, but I still felt close enough to be able to be let in. The hospital attendants stood their ground and demanded I sit in the waiting room.

So here I am, twiddling my thumbs.

I waited there all day. The hours peeled away like an unripe orange. Difficulty to keep calm crept over my mind and anxiety came over me. Every possibility of what could be wrong popped into my mind, and I feared each of them would become a reality.

My mind shifted when I spied a familiar face. Magenta eyes scanned me over.

Yet, instead of ordering me around, Jenna walked to me with a reassuring look on her face. That everything was going to be alright. It was uneasy, I was used to a hard gaze from Jenna every time something happened.

"Hi, Rob," She says with a tired smile on her face. Her eyes are narrowed, but it looks more due to a lack of sleep.

I stood as I was trained to. My hand soared to my forehead as I saluted someone of a higher rank than me.

"Ma'am," I nearly shout. The sick and wounded around look to me in curiosity.

"Rob, it's ok," Jenna says almost in a chuckle, "I'm not here to boss you around."

"Sorry?" I ask, unsure.

"Something is happening with your friend. I know you're worried, but I came to talk."

"I see," I say looking down.

"Let's get some coffee. I'll brief you on what's going on," She suggests gently.

Jenna

I sigh and let the words out to the nerve-wracked Rob. "Your friend is going through her metamorphosis."

The small coffee stand in the atrium of the Promenade hospital was overworked, yet overstocked with rich coffee grounds.

"So, what's wrong then?" I answer as he sips his two-dollar cup of black coffee. I see he picked some habits up from Riley.

"No, there's nothing wrong. It's something to be happy about. She's an Enoch. She'll be tested in her own mind and body. She is strong. I'm sure she'll prevail."

I looked different now to Rob. The last time he saw me before knocking out on Luciana's back, I wore an armor that made me look two times larger than I ordinarily was. But I felt more relaxed. Riley's and Luciana's words helped ease me. I felt inclined to take a different approach when addressing those under my command.

"Or she'll die." He says disdainfully.

I freeze, looking to the small metal table, then to the skylights which showed a cloudless evening. The sky was already beginning to shade between bright blue and a growing amber.

He continues, "I remember what you told me. What Luciana told me. It's a fifty-fifty chance. She could live, she could die."

"Hey, have a bit more faith in your friend." I suggest.