AXO

Trapped within the confines of white walls and blank misfortune, Echo’s gut curled at the thought of freedom.

The sky, shining with bright enthusiasm, encompassed a slight hope within her. One she’d felt once before. Except this sensation held a certain kind of spring warmth despite the dying leaves that swayed across her bedside window of the hospital. Crisp and red, their cycle complete. One that’s sure to repeat every time the air chills. A repetition best kept where it belonged.

Eight months…disconnected. The system, that life, everyone.

It was peaceful, she thought, though short. The silence of it all was what she needed. But these past couple months dragged on for what seemed like forever. Between physical therapy, and the constant hallway chatter about her being here, made everyday feel like a year. Almost to the point of madness. A road she’d rather not tread along again. The questions—the damn constant ring of standard interrogation—would’ve been enough to push anyone back into those depths. At least this time, who would blame her?

At least the physical therapy wasn’t as challenging as it could have been. While unconscious, the team of doctors made a decision on her behalf.

They placed a chip inside her skull, just above the brain. It helped stimulate her organs back into full function on their own, and managed to jump-start her muscle growth and strength. Without it, she would still be in a coma. It was experimental, she was warned, but glad it worked as they had hoped. Still, being a guinea pig was not on her list of things to do. What right did they actually have to do so, she argued. Luckily, they’ll remove it soon. No need for it anymore.

She shook her head, demanding the intrusion of dark thoughts to leave. Things she wanted to say but didn’t have the nerve to, or things she wanted to see happen now. They just want to help her be more prepared is all. That’s what a hospital does: heals, and releases.

Then again, NXT held a similar belief. A chill tingled its way up her spine and she shuddered beneath the thick, white blanket. She clutched it, as tight as she could, focused on the leaves in the air. Something about the way each one teetered in the wind—unbeknownst of the ground below them—carrying on without a care in the world brought a fuzzy comfort within.

Not everyone can be like that, she presumed. Some people actually want to help. That’s how it should be. Shouldn’t it?

A sudden knock on her door echoed on its other side.

One of the nurses.

She popped her fiery redhead through the opening with a painted on smile. It didn’t feel real. But it was there, as was she. A new one.

Echo nodded as the woman said, “Hello, I hope it’s okay that I come through to do your vitals this morning.”

She shuffled herself in, eyeing a a clear tablet between both of her hands. Her fingers twitched, and her voice wavered. “I’m Nurse Lorna, I’m new here and I hope you don’t mind,” she nodded.

Echo sighed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t usually mind. Where is Nurse Boe? Vacation?”

Lorna looked down at her tablet and raised her brows. “Um, I can’t really tell you that information.” Her tone wavered even more.

Echo scrunched her brows. “It’s okay. I know she is. She told me. I just didn’t think she was actually going to go through with it.” She really hadn’t. Afterall, spending about a year in one place leaves you with just a couple choices: ignore everyone, and make time slow down. Or, get to know the staff and get something a little extra on the trays they feed people with. Nurse Boe, however, she became her favorite.

Boe didn’t want to go and see her family outside of the wall. She was one of the actual few who retained the memories of outside. Mainly as a reminder to never return. A way to kill the curiosity before it tried killing her again. Understandable, Echo agreed. But lately Boe was starting to feel regretful—shameful, even—about leaving her family behind in that desolate country. She once described to Echo as if something from inside was eating away at her. She couldn’t sleep, or focus on work. It tore her apart. But wanting to remember where she came from…that was a pain she’d rather not question again.

Then it made sense as to why people did choose to rid of their past. Regret was far greater than curiosity. More powerful, from what Echo had gathered after her time spent locked within these walls. Luckily, she had nothing to worry about in regards to that.

Lorna checked her blood pressure, took her temperature, and then used the bed as scale to measure her weight. She frowned. “Hmmm.”

“What is it? Something wrong?”

“No, no,” Lorna assured. “Your weight is a little low. Have you gotten your breakfast this morning?”

“Yeah, but I’ve always been a little low. Just check Nurse Boe’s notes. I’m sure she filled it all in. You’re not the first to be concerned.”

“You’re eating, right?”

Echo tightened her jaw it almost clicked in place. “I’m asked that everyday. And everyday, I answer it the same way. I am eating. Why is that such a concern? Because I’m skinny? If you weren’t aware, I’ve been on a feeding tube for two years. Obviously, I’m not going to look as filled out as you or anyone else who had the luxury to eat non-holographic meat!” her voice echoed out into the hall. It stirred some of the nearby nurses.

Lorna waved them away with a crooked smile. “It’s okay.” She darted a look back at Echo. “I didn’t mean to offend. I apologize. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must’ve been like.”

Echo crossed her arms. She took a deep breath in, calming her nerves. “It’s okay. Boe told me it’s standard to ask young women that. Doesn’t make sense. Eating disorders are not for just one kind of gender. Still angers me though…I’m the one that’s sorry.”

“You are absolutely correct. ED’s do not discriminate. That’s for certain. Do you have any complaints, or suggestions? Everything comfortable? No pain?”

“Meh,” Echo said, knocking her head to the side. “Not much to do here. You’d figure a Rec Center would be more open though. And not just for ‘real’ patients, as I’m constantly reminded. But what about the other ones…like me?”

“Well, as you know, I can’t tell you anything about them.” Lorna noticed the instant sadness that flooded Echo’s eyes. “But, I can say that they are still not awake. Can’t say anything more than that. Hope you understand.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she said, thinking back to Kyah, wondering if she had made it. “No, it’s okay,” she said, shrugging. “I’ll find out eventually if I am able to.”

“I know, but good news! You do get released today. We didn’t have any emergency contacts listed for you, well, one’s we could use anyways, so we called the only person we could find. You don’t know him all too well, but he’s held to a high regard in this territory. You won’t be disappointed.”

Echo jumped at the thought. “What? Really? Who?”

“Titan. Titan Ludgate.”

Her heart sank, and the light in her eyes faded as they drifted back towards the window. “Oh. Couldn’t find Clyde?” She knew Titan, or as everyone else called him, Lud. It wasn’t him that was the problem. What bothered her the most was that Clyde was the only one of the crew that hadn’t bothered to come see her, or anything. No note, card, nothing.

Lorna checked the tablet once more. “No. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. He’s probably got a surprise waiting for me, or something. I don’t have a family. He was the closest thing I did have.” She knew it was a tad lie, that didn’t bother her as much as claiming a man who basically used her, or a mother who was deceased. Especially not the person who turned her entire existence into a puddle of dirt. Family meant something different to Echo. And that was not it.

She met Echo’s hand and patted it gently. “I’m sure that’s it. I like this positivity. If it were me—never mind,” she smiled. “We can send some lunch up early for you early, if you’d like. I read Boe’s note on your meals. I’ll get you hooked up with something great, don’t worry.”

Echo chuckled. That was one of her favorite parts of the day. Dinner wasn’t as good, and breakfast there was no delight either. “Thanks. I’d love that.”

“Okay, I’ll let the doctor know you’re still awake. He’ll come in and double check everything before signing any release papers. Is that okay?”

Echo nodded.

She exited in a quickness the other nurses lacked. They all seemed to have slowed down once it was time to leave, as if waiting for Echo to do or say something else. She never did. But Lorna did not hesitate. Almost too quick in Echo’s opinion. As if trying to get as far away as possible.

She sighed. Her breath, warm against her tongue, relieved her in a way only a handful of people would appreciate. They didn’t add that sensation in the system. Her chest fluttered at the thought of how easy it was to convince 300 people that it was real. It shouldn’t be that easy, she thought. Because if minds were twisted with just a few simple tricks out of the hat, how hard would it be to do so to an entire civilization ready to forget a time before crossing the border? If not for Rachel, there was no telling what he truly had planned.

An army? Perhaps. Testing? Most definitely.

She shook the thoughts out of her head and jerked towards the direction of a repetitive bang upon her door. The Doctor.