The Cipher

Chapter eleven

I had been awake for hours, but I chose to keep my eyes closed.

  For once, I decided to listen to people instead of doing the talking. Turns out, it is much more effective than the latter. I listened to people speak over my body as if I wasn’t present. Since I couldn’t hear, they had no reason to filter their speeches. I listened to them fight over me, I listened to them cry over me, and I listened to them debate over me.

  Cyrus was rather serene, despite what I would believe. He merely wanted to understand the situation. He made sure the doctor would give me the red pills when I awoke, and kissed my forehead before leaving. It was hard for me to stay dormant for his visit. All I wanted to do was kiss him on the lips and tell him I love him, but for some reason, I did not.

  Next, Onyx visited. Onyx yelled at the doctor; telling him my meltdown was all his fault. In reality it wasn’t, but the doctor calmly apologized and assured that I would get the red pills. This touched me that Onyx cared enough to come visit me. It proved that I was not mistaken when I thought we were becoming friends.

  The next visitor was probably most surprising out of all of them. I heard footsteps, slow, and dramatic. The person thundered into the room, and stopped just close enough that I could hear their breathing.

  The person grunted, a deep, low-pitched voice masked beneath. It was a man.

  He touched my left leg, in the exact spot it once had been broken.

  “Excuse me,” the doctor said. The man was no longer touching my leg. “Only friends and family are allowed.”

  The man grunted again. “I am family,” the voice spoke. “The father of her boyfriend.”

  Jensen?

  I did not choose to break my façade now, and instead listened harder than ever. Of course this doctor had no way of identifying whether or not any visitor was my friend or my family. I supposed he only said that to scare everyone off.

  “If you are here to ask about the red pill…” the doctor said.

  “Don’t worry.” he eased. “I am only here to give my respects.”

  “Sir… she’s not dead.”

  “I know.” Jensen shot back.

   I listened to the doctor’s footsteps recede further, and suddenly I so much desired them to come back. I feared for my life if Jensen was the only one with me.

  “Open your eyes, you homewrecker.” he spoke. “The act’s up. I know you’ve been awake.”

  I winked one eye open, to see Jensen’s formidable face merely inches from mine. My other eye slowly opened as well, and my entire body tensed up.

  “I knew this would be the only time to talk to you alone.” he said. And once more, I chose to listen. Not speak. “You came into my life and you ruined everything. You turned my family against me, my own son hates me. My wife is dead. One of my children is dead. The other child might as well be good as dead for all the good he does me. And it’s because of you.”

  He poked my chest with force.

  “One of these days, you’re gonna screw up. This teenage romance of yours that you have mistaken for love with my son… well… it won’t last long. And when it’s over, Cyrus will come back to me, because I will be all he has left. You are a phase, Girl. You are nothing but a measly chapter in the book of his life. Family is forever. You are not.”

  He finished, waiting for my reply. I said nothing. I didn’t move, I just met his gaze with unwavering strength. A stare that was intended to make him doubt every word he had just said. Every choice he had ever made. I saw his anger and his strength unfurl, my stare doing just what it was intended to do.

  “You can’t just sit there.” he bumbled. “Say something.”

  I smiled, showing every dang tooth in my mouth, and then I closed my eyes, ready to listen for my next guest.

  Zulu.

  Zulu came in crying. She must really have needed her red pill.

  The doctor said nothing except, “Take your time.”

  Zulu’s position could get her anywhere, I swear it.

  “I don’t even know why I’m here. It’s not like you’re dead. You don’t even have a life-threatening illness. We’re all just waiting for you to wake up.” she sniffled. “I only just got to know you, Aspen. And I see your brother in everything you do. Your smile. Your laugh. The way you can brighten a room with your corny jokes. I guess what I’m saying is that, I miss your brother. I want him back. I want to hold him again; kiss him one more time.”

  Her face was now pressed against my abdomen, her warm tears soaking my clothes.

  “He took the fall for this entire resistance. Without him, we’d all be dead right now. And in return we have to do anything we can to save him, but no one seems to understand. I’m trying as hard as I can, Aspen. I just need help. One girl can’t take on the entire world on her own.”

  Once more, I opened my eyes slowly. I watched as Zulu’s features overtook a surprised expression. And like all the times before, I said nothing.

  I nodded my head, and hugged her tightly.