Trapped | The Trapped Trilogy Book 1

Seventeen (Part 2)

Seventeen (Part 2)

I turn around and see Nad, standing with a book in her arm on the sidewalk. I run up to her and throw my arms around her neck. I have my best friend back.

She shoves me away, and looks at me like I'm on fire.

Like I'm a complete stranger.

"Nad?"

"Who are you?"

My heart sinks in my chest as I look at the face of my best friend. Suddenly, I know how Peter had felt when I acted in the same manor to him.

"It's me, Eenie... Nad, come on! I haven't-"

"I have no idea who you are."

"What?" I ask, my shoulders dropping. "I haven't been gone for that long, Nad. Stop playing with me."

"I'm sorry, I don't know you."

"It's me..." I squeak. "Eenralla Land."

Something clicks inside of her brain. Her posture relaxes and her eyes light up a bit. Suddenly, she's the Nad I remember.

"Ohh, right. You're back from your surgery. I almost didn't recognize you."

"What? No, Nad-"

"It's fine, I understand. I'm sorry I didn't remember you. I've just been so busy, and things are so blurry and hazy..." She puts a hand to her forehead. "It's really hard to remember some things sometimes."

I stare at her. She's changed. Her enthusiasm is subtle, not as prominent as usual, and she wears her hair up in a tight, brunette bun. She never wears buns. She hates buns. She'll wear anything but buns. And on top of that, she's wearing white-she's wearing white. But she's a...

"You're not a Mech anymore?" I ask her, my voice catching in my throat.

She looks at me, puzzled. "I've never been a Mechaneer, Eenralla."

I take a step backwards, stumbling over the sidewalk. What did the Government do to her? Why didn't she remember me and then suddenly remember me again? Why is she saying she was never a Mech? She was a Mech. I was a Mech. But she says she wasn't. Why...? How...?

The world around me goes blurry and starts to spin.

"Are you okay?" Nad asks me, taking a step toward me.

I take another step back and look her in the eyes.

"What happened to you, Nad?" I ask quietly.

"Noth-"

"What happened to you?" I shout, tears filling my eyes. I put my hand on my chest to help me breathe slower. To calm down. "Why don't you remember me? What did they do to you? What..."

I'm suddenly scared. And sad. And angry. And confused. All at once.

Nad puts her hands on my arms to steady me as tears start to slowly from my eyes, and my breath comes out sharp and quick. Everything that's happened... I can't take it. Suddenly, my stomach starts to hurt.

"I'll take you to the hospit-"

"No!" I shout. I don't know if it's the pain, or if it's the shock of information finally reaching my brain that makes me shout at her, but I do. I shout at Nad. "Why don't you remember? You were my best friend... my... best-friend... We were Mech's together. We both got assigned to our jobs... me from breaking a... a stupid swing... and you because of your brother... oh, your brother..."

"I don't have a brother, Eenralla."

My wet eyes meet hers. "Yes you do. Of course you do. His name is Peter. Peter Hemmings. You told me about him one day. You both climbed a tree to watch your parents funeral and got a strike... and-and you don't know why your parents named him that because it's such a weird name..."

"Eenralla," She says, looking in my eyes. She's only thirteen, but right now she's acting like she's twenty, like she's older than I am. I'm the one acting like a thirteen year old. "I don't know what medications they gave you, but none of that is real. I don't have a brother, and I don't work as a Mechaneer. You don't either. You're a Government Official. It's how we met. Remember?"

My heart skips a beat, and I just stare at her.

"No..." I say, standing up. "No, no, no, no. No. This isn't right. No. No."

"Come on," She says, taking my arm and pulling me to my feet. "I'll take you right now."

"No," I say sternly. "I'm not going anywhere near that place. Near that man. Ever again."

I rip my arm from her grasp and walk across the street to my house. The door slides open easily and I look around. Nothing has changed. Nothing but my closet.

It's filled with white clothing and white coats.

On my bed lies a single white dress, folded just right so the bodice is sticking out, shining in the artificial light.

My mother's dress.

"Eenralla," I hear Nad behind me.

I ignore her and walk to the dress. There is a note on white paper beside it.

.

Dearest Eenralla,

We found this at the site of the bombing the day after you disappeared. I'm sure that you will be pleased to know that it is in tact, and some of the Shifters decided to fix it up for you. I hope you like your new job. You had a very high percentage.

Welcome to the team of Government Officials, Girl in White. I hope you enjoyed your freedom while it lasted, because you're never getting it back.

Sincerely,

The President

.

I grip the paper so hard it rips in my hands. It rubs against my skin as it tears, making it burn and itch. I drop the pieces and look at them. The skin on my palm has turned red, and the tips my fingers are turning purple.

"Your hand," Nad says. "What's wrong with it?"

I turn to look at her. I look her straight in the eyes. She isn't Nad anymore. Not the one I knew. Not my best friend. Not anyone. She's just another one of the Government's playthings, isn't she? Just another person's life to ruin, to control, to use.

"Tell me your name," I say to her slowly.

"Excuse me?"

"Your name. What is it?" I press, stepping closer to her.

She laughs at me then turns to leave.

"You really are insane."

"At least I know my name," I say, following her to my porch. "What's yours?"

"N..." She gets a blank look in her eyes. Her body twitches and her posture straightens. She blinks and looks me over. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"Sym Lation," She says, shaking her head. "Where am I?"

I feel my heart sink.

This isn't Nad. Not anymore.