Terranovus

Chapter XXIV - Judgement

They kept me in a coma like state for days.

Stuck inside a body that refused to move, twitch, shiver or even open its eyes; though, I was able to hear, smell and feel everything. The journey back to Terranovus was hell. It felt as though I was stuck in a dream, a nightmare filled with confusion and fear. My mind always thinking, always twirling, always spinning, stuck.

I wasn't able to fight them. I laid helplessly as they transported me back to Primus and placed me on a bed in a hospital.

Uncertainty and dread consumed me. What did they want with me? What was going to happen? Why did they not kill me? Why did they want me alive?

Quickly, I lost track of time. Nights merged into days and days merged into nights. Sometimes I heard doctors or nurses at my side discussing my vitals. At first, I screamed and shouted at my muscles to move and fight the concoction of drugs that was running through my veins but soon I admitted defeat and wished I was dead instead.

As I grew bored, my thoughts turned to Tommy. I missed the way his lips moved against mine that night on the rooftop of my old apartment building. I relayed the memory again and again until bossy Tommy with calloused hands shoved the memory away. I barely recognised the new Tommy. Where had the old Tommy gone? Did he disappear the moment I left the Sectors? Entrapped in nothing but a memory? I had changed too. I didn't need protecting. I was able to take care of myself.

And that was when my thoughts turned to Philon. Kind, charming, and secretive Philon. How had I not realised Flynt and Philon was the same person? I couldn't recall any significant detail from the masked men.

Thinking of Philon, I pondered if the Army had selected the McKinley family for my architectural skills and my dad's engineering knowledge or if we were really chosen because Philon took a fancy towards me at the ball and encouraged his dad to select us. If I had money, I would definitely bet Philon played a role in it. And if Philon had played a role in it, then I hated him. It was his fault for dragging me into this mess, his fault for blackmailing me to risk my life, his fault that Hyun was dead.

Never once, in my coma like state, did Philon or my family visit. At first I was angry, but then I realised the Army had probably banned all visitors. Perhaps to steer off any rescue attempt. But who would bother rescuing me now, I laughed to myself. The resistance knew the Army's secrets now. I was of use to no one, anymore.

I did receive one visit though. A visit from somebody I thought I would never meet again. Alfred. The old man with the analog watch I had sat next to at the ball. He visited outside visiting hours.

He sat by the side of my bed and looked at me for a while. Although the drugs pumping through my body stopped my eyes from opening, I was able to hear him quietly breathe beside me.

"Oh, Tabitha," he finally said, "you're quite the little troublemaker, aren't you?"

I wanted to laugh and tell him he was right.

"It was when you asked me about my watch, that I knew you weren't an average typical girl. That night, I logged into the e-learning system and looked up your grades, top of the Sector for graphic communications. I was quite impressed." My heart skipped a beat and the monitors near my head picked up my increased heart rate.

"Ah, yes. I know you can hear every word you say," said Alfred amused. At that, my stomach flipped backwards uneasy. Perhaps he wasn't just a typical old man too. "You see, Philon, that boy you've appeared to take quite a fancy to, mentioned your father was an engineer so it was only common courtesy to invite him and your family to join us in Terranovus. My instincts were right. That transportation hub you designed is remarkable. At only sixteen years of age ... miraculous! And yet, you wasted your talents by becoming a nuisance to the Army. Treason, destroying Army property, stealing an aircraft ... oh my, I could go on forever." My insides squirmed uncomfortably as Alfred held my hand. Get away from me, I wanted to scream.