Brokenly, Restored

Chapter #5

(Matt's POV)

     Geography is one of my programs. I don't ever forget a map or location. My system said this bridge was stable and used often, but now I have come to the conclusion that much of my structure mapping may be outdated.

Pete and Choco are both staring from the other side of the bridge as I take a second step. The rotting plank underneath my feet loudly creaks, but holds. The other two are both tense, their breathing looking shallow. I don't understand why. They don't appear ill. The coordinates pop up in my vision again, and I take another few steps. I must obey. I must reach the location. My overseer is calling to me. I was made to do as I was told, and I can't disobey. There's no choice but to continue. I step again, now in the middle of the bridge. It dips dangerously low with my weight.

     "Slow down, Matt! You're shaking the bridge too much", Choco is yelling at me, but it doesn't matter. I follow my overseer above all else. The next plank doesn't hold my weight. My step is too heavy, and my foot goes straight through. The bridge lurches violently and pulls against the ropes and poles. Pete could have yelled something, but I'm not watching him. I look at the water. My visions blacks out and phantom voices brush up against my ears. It's worse then last time. I can't feel the bridge or hear the water.

I can't see anything, but I'm sitting curled up against a wall with my head buried in my knees. Loud voices are yelling and shouting all around me. The only reason that I know I'm hidden is because people have stopped trying to talk to me or touch me when I can't see them.

There's something strange going on with me. I can't think clearly past the overwhelming force. My heart is pounding too fast and I feel paralyzed in place. I'm scared. I'm so scared that I can't even move. It's foreign to me, but not to this memory. It's hard to understand anything that's going on past the fear.

There's suddenly a warm hand on my shoulder.

     My vision comes slamming back with a vengeance. I can see again. I can see and hear Pete and Choco panicking, most of my right leg through the bridge. But there's something very wrong. My heart is beating too fast and I can't think logically. I'm...... afraid. I can feel the loneliness and the terror. I'm twitching all over as my system tries to get rid of the problem. I'm not suppose to feel, but there's nothing but fear.

       "Matt, come on, move. Choco can't hold the bridge forever!", Pete is suddenly right next to me on the bridge. I look up at him, shaking and with pure terror written on my face. Choco is at the end of the bridge, pulling with all his strength to keep the bridge's poles from slipping out of the ground. Both of them stare at me in complete shock. For a moment, I understand. Everything that's telling me not to be afraid...... is wrong. I'm not meant to be this way. I was made to be unfeeling. Made.

      Just as quickly as I realized the truth, it's all gone. The fear, the hate, and the wrongness. I stop shaking and calmly pull my leg out of the hole. Pete backs up and scurries back across the bridge when I stand up. I follow quickly behind. My system is back in working order. There's now a few blank seconds of memory after my foot got caught.

"Matt? Are you there!? Say something", Choco finally lets go of the bridge and grabs onto Matt's arm. The look of fear was so real. He was there, if even for a second.

     "I am at your location", I reply. I do not understand. Choco can see that I am standing next to him. Has he gone blind?

     "No, Matt! You looked scared. Really scared. Can't you remember what that felt like?", Pete hugs my waist and looks up at me. Feel? I do not understand. I'm not suppose to feel. The two of them look at me for a long moment, as if waiting for something.

"He's gone again......", Choco sighs, stepping away from me.

"But that was more then last night! He's getting better", Pete lets go of me and steps back as well.

"We might be following these coordinates, but what if Matt actually is trying to fight against them? He only started really getting his twitches after he got the coordinates". Choco looks at me with a different look that I can not identify.

"That means he'll keep trying to act up, right?", Pete's voice raises a bit. "He only gets twitchy when he's fighting against himself".

"Maybe this trip isn't such a bad idea. Matt could snap out of it for good before we even get to his coordinates. Either way, we're not going any further today", he looks at me again, "So are you going to run off if we stop early and set up some sort of shelter? Logically, it's unsafe to roam at night, and we're probably going to need half a day to build something sturdy".

I think over the request. The coordinates are my main priority. I could easily walk all through the night, but the other two are already exhausted. None of us are used to travel. Of course, I don't have to remain with them. Their benefit is lacking in this environment, but my route will come across more people. Choco is much better at communicating with strangers. It's enough of a benefit to satisfy my protocols.

"No. I will stay".