The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 17 Returning Memories

I waited 'til nightfall to leave the palace, keeping the serum safely tucked away in my coat pocket. It was a chilly evening with an icy wind that cut through your clothing. I wrapped my scarf more snuggly around my neck and increased my pace. I tucked the bag under my arm closer to me and hoped I wouldn't run into anyone along the way. Luckily for me, most intelligent people were inside where it was warm this frigid February night, leaving the road free and clear.

After a short but bone-chilling stroll I arrived at the subway entrance and descended into the underground. I flipped my flashlight on and slipped through the rusted shut door, coming face to face with Idris.

"Hadassah."
She dipped her head in greeting.

"Hey, how goes everything?"

"We ran out of batteries for the lights yesterday, but the food supplies are alright."

She said this rather nonchalantly but I winced anyway, thinking they'd spent an awful lot of time in the dark.

"Sorry I didn't time it well, I brought more food, water, and batteries this time."
I held out the bag to her.

We tracked down the hall to the abandoned kitchen where I found Ranen pacing up and down the room.

"Eleven steps in width, twenty steps in length."
He said.

"You've been doing that in the dark?"

"I've taken 24,300 steps since the flashlights died yesterday."

I grimaced, remembering not for the first time how boring it must be down there.

"So,"
He leaned against the wall.

"Been doing anything more interesting than pacing like a caged tiger?"

There was a hint of stubble growing on his chin, his hair was tangled and his eyes bloodshot. While I lived my life upon the surface, Ranen was wasting away down here.

Idris had finished unloading the bag and folded it up neatly with the others in the corner.

"I visited Jasper in the bunker."

I had told him all about the bunker in one of my previous visits and the discovery had fascinated him.

"Any new information surfacing?"

I joined him in leaning against the wall, sharing what Jasper had explained to me hours earlier.

"Fascinating. Who knew our planet had such a complicated history?"

"It probably shouldn't surprise us, seems like nothing that happens on Tyche is simple."

He nodded his agreement. Silence reigned for a long moment and I worked up my courage to ask the Sentinel a question.

"Idris, what do you remember of your past?"

She glanced up at me and answered immediately.

"I am a Sentinel. That is my past, present, and future."

"What if it wasn't?"

Ranen raised his eyebrows at me, silently asking where I was going with this.

"I don't understand Keeper Hadassah."

"What if you weren't always a Sentinel, what if you were once a normal person, with a family and a life?"

Idris didn't seem to know how to answer. She opened and closed her mouth several times.

"I am a Sentinel now, and that is all that matters."
She said finally.