The Free Fall

Scarlett

The steady beep of the machines should've been comforting, but it wasn't.

It echoed in my head and was beginning to chip at my sanity.

Orion laid on the white bed, eyes closed. His hands were folded over his stomach as he laid stiff as a board. I hated it, he looked so unnatural. I knew when he woke up he would be stiff. Orion never slept on his back. I guess the only times I'd seen him sleep was when we were on a stakeout or something. He sat sitting up, with his head inclined against the wall behind him and his arms crossed against his broad chest. I always imagined him sleeping on his side, and never like a mummy.

I sighed, running my fingers through the long strands of my hair. I put a lot of effort in keeping my hair silky after how often I jump out of aircrafts. Many female Jumpers didn't tie their hair up and landed with birds nests and their hair always got damaged and tangled.

I continued anxiously running my fingers through my hair. I was going to be reassigned. Bonded to a new wingman. But all of the wingmen I had met were men I never wanted to meet again. They are always gruff and they never want to work with me. Some do only as they're instructed and others don't listen to the Jumpers at all.

Certainly no Wingman would let me fly crouched on their back. I pinched my eyes closed and let my head fall on the bed. I was being selfish. My best friend laid incarcerated in this medical prison and I internally pitied myself. Orion would never fly again. I had taken away his purpose. He would now struggle to pay his bills and it would be even harder for him to build a family. I had meant what I'd said to him. The check I received from the Jumper Trading Cards was in his name, all he had to do was pick it up. No doubt it would go to his expansive medical bills now.

A nurse walked in quietly. "Captain?" She addressed softly. I raised my head to look at her.

"Yes?"

"I have a glass of water for you." She handed me a small plastic cup. I thanked her with a small smile and took a drink of it before turning my attention back to Orion.

"Queen Freya wishes me to express her concern for you staying here. She wishes you to continue your training." The petite elven nurse told me hesitantly.

I clenched my jaw, then took another sip of water to focus on something else.

"There's nothing you can do for him right now." She told me, slowly approaching me as if I was a rabid feline. "He's in good hands, and we'll alert you of any changes in his condition."

I didn't look over at her. I stared at my poor wingman, the poor man whose life I singlehandedly ruined because of my carelessness. I stood abruptly, glaring at her. "If it's what the Queen wishes." I snapped, then stepped around her and began winding my way through the infirmary hallways. I made it about two hallways down, when a blinding pain emanated from my chest. I fell to my knees and moaned, gripping my heart. I tried not to breathe, hoping it would dull the ache.

I gasped, Orion.

I staggered to my feet and tried to get back as fast as I could with the pain disorienting me. I crashed into a nurses' cart and dragged my hands along the walls, before finally reaching his room. "Nurse!" I yelled, hoping for anyone to respond. "Nurse! Somethings wrong!" I fell to my knees at the foot of his bed. The pain was now fire in my veins. Every part of my body was roasting alive. I pressed my forehead to the cool floor, moaning.

I heard commotion behind me, but everything was becoming dizzy.

"Captain! Captain!" A nurse shouted but I could barely hear them from the blood pounding in my ears. Someone touched my shoulder, and everything electrified. I felt like my soul had left my body and I could feel every fiber of my skin at the same time.

Someone screamed, long and shrill. It sounded familiar and suddenly I realized it was me screaming.

As suddenly as this wild feeling had overtaken me, it vanished. I collapsed in a heap on the floor, gasping like a fish out of water.

"Captain?" The male nurse touching my shoulder leaned in.

"Orien-" I croaked.

"He's fine." He reassured me. "Perfectly fine."

He was fine? What was that blinding pain, was there something wrong with me? "W-what was what?" I murmured. I felt like I was in a postictal state. Every limb in my body ached. All I could do is lay face-down on the floor.

"Uh," The male nurse stuttered, "I've only head of this." He whispered to the other nurses. "I don't know-"

"Lets get you to a bed." Another said, gently touching my arm.

My skin still felt painful like I was running a high fever. I remember them picking me up under my arms, leading me to a bed before I lost consciousness.

--

I woke up in my bed. Everything ached like I had just done physical conditioning. I cracked my eyes open and moaned.

"You're awake." My mother stood at the end of my bed. "Your room is so dreary." She commented when I didn't reply to her. "You have more than enough money to hire a decorator."

Mom never came to my house. She wanted something. I was raised in this expansive house while the Queen resided in the castle. The castle that was too expensive and luxurious for a curious, clumsy child. I was given every toy I could've ever wanted, but I only wanted the one thing money couldn't buy: love. The housekeepers were never around long enough for me to build an emotional connection. As soon as my mother felt threatened at the possibility of me loving them more than her, they were transferred out. It was a revolving door of caretakers.

"Why are you here?" I hated when she tried to lighten the blow by talking about other things. Most of the time she didn't even try to butter my up. She just down talked me before delivering her final shot.

She locked her hands together. "Your bond with Orion has been severed."

I sat up, albeit with pain. "How? I didn't-" I stopped. She knew I wouldn't consent to the blood transfusion. For a connection to be severed, both parties must have their blood "cleaned". I remembered the nurse giving me water.

"You roofied me?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Oh, please, Scarlett don't be so vulgar. You and I both know that the connection had to be severed sooner or later and you would've been unwilling to cooperate."

"Unwilling?" I screeched. "You drugged me, mom!" I spat the name at her.

"Scarlett, I thought I raised you better than to be so dramatic." She rolled her eyes.

I threw the covers off me and stood. "Raised me? You didn't raise me. You sat in your ivory tower and received reports about me. You read me like I was a document!"

She bristled. "What would you be, without me? A beggar, being paid to entertain those wing-"

"Let me stop you right there." I seethed, "Because if you finish that sentence, Queen or not, I will-"

Her blue eyes flashed white. "Let me stop you there and remind you of your place. The only reason you have a job is because I gave you an opportunity. I raised you to be strong, that is why you are the top of your class now. Do not forget that I am a Queen first. Threaten me again, and I will make sure that you are stripped from your position and are thrown into the streets.
You may be top of the Jumpers and my daughter, but that does not give you any right to speak to me as if I am not your Queen." She turned to the door and paused, "You are meeting your new wingman tonight. Dress presentable for once, none of that trashy clothing in your closet."

I sat down on the bed and sighed in a way that expressed my compliance.