Hero (english version)

Chapter 12

I've never had such a strange feeling. It's as if... as if this wasn't me. I mean, I'm me but I'm... different? It takes a few minutes for me to focus. My head is going to explode. I sit up, and in doing so I let out a slight groan. Very carefully, I put my hand on my right shoulder. I let out another moan. Why does it hurt so much? What happened? I hate this feeling, it's like waking up in someone else's sleep.

So far, I haven't been able to guess where I am: this is a particular room. I've never been to this place, and I don't even remember the existence of something like this in The Horde. They're all common areas here. I watch a needle go through my skin and into my veins. I look up to contemplate the dropper resting by the bed. "I don't need this anymore," I tell myself. I get a piece of cotton I find on the table. I place it on that place in my arm, and I gently pull out the needle. I press for a few moments, to avoid a future bruise.

I stand up, walking slowly to the mirror hanging on the wall to my left, right above a ramshackle tin sink. At first my legs falter, so I give myself a few seconds to adjust, constantly wondering what's going on here. I turn on the tap, splashing my face with water with only one hand in a vain attempt to clarify my ideas. It's all confusing...

As I look at my reflection, I appreciate the bandages that run along the right side of my chest, wrapping my injured shoulder completely. I'm not able to sort out my memories... how did I do this to myself? There's a confusing image in my head about a workout that didn't go very well. I was distracted... or so I think. But why? Maybe this was how I got hurt?

The sound of the door opening wide manages to startle me. Once again, I let out a soft scream. Lonnie's puzzled gaze lingers on mine. It is when her expression changes, lightning up with a smile.

"You're awake!" She celebrates.

I smile back, not knowing very well what to answer. "Uh... It seems so," I point out, not quite convinced. "What happened?"

Lonnie's figure approaches me, giving me a sweet hug. She's careful with my shoulder, knowing that it is not in a good condition. As we separate, my friend begins to explain.

"It was a bad workout," she proceeds. "You were a little nervous, Shadow Weaver had just told you that in a few months you'd probably be named Force Captain." She shrugs. "I guess that pressure distracts anyone."

I frown. Yes, I may remember something like that. However, for some reason, my brain is not able to assume that information as its own. There's something that doesn't make sense, even though everything could perfectly match reality. Besides, why would Lonnie lie to me?

"We faced some robots and when they crashed, they exploded," she continues. "Catra pulled you but she couldn't push you away in time, the expansive force of the explosion itself caused you to hit the ground, right on your shoulder."

"Catra..." I mutter. "Is she all right?"

Lonnie falls silent. For a moment something presses on my chest.

"Sure!" she exclaims, completely changing her expression. "It's her time to train, Catra, Kyle, Rogelio and me take turns watching you," she smiles.

I also smile at her. My gaze cannot help but acquire a certain expression of tenderness. They are great friends.

"Shadow Weaver said to go and look for her when you wake up; a lot has changed!" she exclaims. "The robots are already completely round, without heads, so it is more difficult to beat them," she warns. "Oh, and they produce holograms! Now as we fight, we don't really see the robot, we see princesses! It's like we're fighting directly against them, Adora, you have to see it! They give us a mission and we must-"

"Wait, wait, wait," I shake your head, stopping her. "How long have I been sleeping?"

Lonnie twists the gesture, somewhat overwhelmed by my possible reaction.

"A couple of... weeks."

"Weeks?!" I let out a scream.

How is it possible that I've slept for weeks? This doesn't make sense. Could I be dreaming right now?

"Adora, don't worry, you'll get used to it fast, you'll see," Lonnie tries to assure me.

I don't know how to feel. This is strange and confusing, and... it just doesn't feel real. My friend seems to read my thoughts.

"Go see Shadow Weaver. You'll understand it over time," she promises.

I nod. I walk silently to the door, stopping only to dedicate "Thank you for taking care of me" before leaving the room. However, she prevents me of doing so. "Adora, wait!"

I turn around to look at her. Something about her tells me it's not quite right. I sense... some regret? Maybe she feels like she could have helped me avoid the accident. I'll make sure she doesn't feel guilty about it later. However, her following words bear no relation to this issue.

"You know I've never trusted Catra much," she lowers her gaze. "But she's been by your side more than anyone. She hardly sleeps at night. She just separates herself from you and that bed to go to the training sessions."

A sense of emptiness runs through me.

"She... loves you a lot," she concludes.

I say thank you again, but this time I leave the room for real. My mind turns out to be a puzzle that I'm not able to decipher. I walk down the aisle immersed in my thoughts, until I stop dead in my tracks. How am I going to get to the dark garnet chamber if I don't even recognize this place? Usually, all the hallways here look the same. However, today it seems that this reality has multiplied by a hundred in my head.

I turn around ready to go back to where I came from to ask Lonnie the right directions... and that's when I see her. Her body freezes when she looks at me. A new sensation strikes me without any hesitation. It is as if I haven't seen her for months.

"Hey, Adora," she mutters, regarding me with an expression I can't clearly identify.

I don't know why a tear slides down my cheek. I just want to hug her. That is my first impulse. I want to run towards her, hold her against me and never let her go. A word flies among my thoughts: heroine. I feel like she really is one. As if my last sensation before falling into that deep sleep, were a strong image of her behaving as such. She will always be my heroine.

"Hey Catra," I reply, with a barely sustainable broken voice.

Her eyes shine silently. For an instant, I forget the pain in my shoulder. I forget that uncertainty that haunts me, I forget my thoughts and even my memory. For an instant, all I can see is her. I hurry to reach her, feeling an inexplicable bitterness that envelops my soul.

And I hold on to her.