Daddy?

Daddy, what did I do wrong?

I’ve been a good girl. I did everything you asked.

I cleaned my cell.

I took my medicine.

Even when… when the darkness came, I learned not to scream.

You don’t even let me play with Tom anymore.

Don’t you love me, daddy?

Anne slowly opened her eyes. Her body was stiff, and her eyes were puffy, making it a little harder to focus.

Another ceiling.

She laid there in silence as she awakened, her body feeling warmer as some time passed. She wiggled her toes when she felt a tingling feeling spread through her legs.

She tried to push herself up but could not.

Why won’t my body listen to me?

Why can’t I move my…?

She holds up her hand to her face, yet there was nothing.

Anne turns her head to inspect her arms, only to be met by white bandages ending where her tiny shoulders should be. The bandages where yellowish-white and relatively clean. She was in a small bed, tucked in under some plain sheets up to her middle. Some machines and equipment were softly beeping away beside her, running their little pipes and wires all over her and disappearing somewhere behind her body, into her sides, and under the sheets. The rest of the room was out of focus and cold, with only a few lights shining down from the ceiling somewhere. Anne suddenly remembers the overturned vehicle.

Oh yeah… that wasn’t a dream.

She could feel a small sense of pity and dismay tugging at the back of her head, but her mind felt exceedingly drained, giving these feelings very little power to influence her.

What is going on?

Tom?

She tries to revive her thoughts. The fatigue made it difficult to tap into her emotions, but pushing her anxiety aside was somehow much simpler. It was as if waking herself from a deep slumber.

This will work, I guess. Anne thought as a small smile spreads across her face. She readies herself as she focusses on her consciousness.

Tom?... Tom!

She releases her thoughts outwards like a wave, drifting and crashing far into the unknown around her, feeling it reverberate out and fill her surroundings. A few moments later she could feel a reaction off in the distance. The touch was familiar. It was from Tom.

Wait. What did I just do?

For a moment Anne could discern her subconscious, yet it felt alien.

I didn’t know I could do that…

Her thoughts were interrupted as a soft patter came from the right of her bed. A door clanks open and Tom comes running. He was smiling from ear to ear, almost crashing into Anne’s bed as he reached her.

“Hey Tom,” Anne said weakly.

Anne could see a figure cloaked in white approaching from behind Tom. Tom spun around and pointed at Anne, clearly excited that she is awake.

“Hello there, young lady.” A woman’s voice echoed as she came into view. She was a long, thin woman with graying brown hair and a thick pair of glasses. Her voice was soft and gentle, speaking slowly so Anne could understand, yet her demeanor was stern and unyielding.

“How are you feeling dear? I’m so happy you are finally awake.”

“I’m… I think I’m ok,” Anne answered.

“Who, who are you? Where are we? How long have I been… here?”

“Well,” The woman sat down on a small stool next to her bad.

“I am doctor Elizabeth Harvey, but you can just call me Elly.”

Tom excitedly holds out his hands and Elly lifts him onto her lap.

Tom clearly trusts her. Can she be trusted? She is a doctor no less. I hate doctors.

“You have been here for about 2 weeks now. We managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize you, but you went into a coma soon after. You had us really worried.”

“The military seemed to think you two are very valuable targets for you to be moved in such a convoy. We just had to keep whoever they had taken, away from them and their experiments.” She added slowly.

“And… I am truly sorry,” Elly said as she stares at the bandages.

“Our intel was a bit off when we commenced the assault. Even after we took you two in, we have no idea who we have found or where you came from.”

She looks sad. Doctors don’t look sad. They can’t be.

Where are these feelings coming from?

I can’t remember ever meeting a doctor, yet I feel disgusted that she is here.

“But,” Elly continued.

“We are working tirelessly to make amends and to fix what we have done to you.”

“What are your names, dear?” Elly asked while Tom was playing with her hands.

“I’m… I’m Anne, and this…” Anne replied.

“That’s… that is such a pretty name.” Elly interrupted. She could not hide the confusion in her voice as she looked at Tom on her lap. The room was silent as Elly looked discerningly at Anne, and then she took Tom’s arm to look at his birthdate imprinted on his wrist.

“Tom?” Elly finally asked quietly.

Tom replied with a big grin and an exaggerated nod.

Elly’s face went a harsh pale. Her eyes were wide.

“I…I…,” Elly stammered as she puts Tom down and slowly gets up. She faced them as she slowly walked backward.

“I have to make a very urgent call.” She stammered and ran for the door.

I was not long after when three other people wearing white coats came bursting in. All of them pale with shock or surprise.

What is going on? Have these people gone mad?

The ran up to the bed and saluted before moving closer.

“We are moving you to better locale, ok ma’am?” The woman asked.

“Ok?” Anne stuttered.

She nodded at the other two men with her and they removed the breaks from her bed and shut down the machines next to her.

“You won’t need most of these anymore, now that you are awake.” The woman points to the machines.

“Some monitoring units will still be needed a little longer though, they will be waiting for you.”

They pushed her bed out of the room and down a long hallway with dozens of doors leading out of it and windows lining the walls. Tom was holding on to one of the bedrails, following closely. Looking through the windows revealed rooms filled with people and equipment, big screens and flashing consoles that lined some of the walls. No more white coats were seen.

The hallway was buzzing with people, yet everyone they passed stopped to gawk at them as everyone’s attention was on Anne and Tom. Some were frozen in place, some saluted, and some even bowed as they passed.

They turned a right corner and soon after turned left. They passed a set of large doors guarded by six heavily armed men, all saluting as they passed. They finally entered a small, well-lit room. In each corner was a big pot filled with either lush ferns or beautiful flowers. They parked her bed, secured the wheels, and reconnected two small machines that were standing next to the bed to Anne. After a quick goodbye, the three doctors scurried out of the room.

Tom was at Anne’s side still holding the bedrails. His knuckles were white as he clung to the rail and both stared at each other.

They were soon joined by Elly who was talking furiously over a phone.

“Push the build for Anne up to highest priority. Prototypes can’t be prototypes forever. I want it done before the general arrives or all of our heads will be served on a plate!” Elly yelled as she ends the call.

“Oh! Sorry dears. I didn’t know you were here already.” She apologized.

“You must be starving!” She exclaimed as she clapped her hands together.

“I’ll have them bring you food right away. It has been weeks since you had a proper meal, Anne.”

Elly started dialing her next call as she disappeared out the door.

Tom climbs up onto her bed so he could sit beside her.

“Thank you, Tom,” Anne said.

“I have no idea what is going on, but I’m glad you are here. Do you trust these people? Has it really been 2 weeks?”

Tom nods as he wipes his teary eyes, looking at Anne’s bandages. He puffs up and moves Anne’s pillows, then helps her to sit upright next to him. The realization of not having arms were quickly filling Anne’s mind.

Tom looked very concerned as he could feel her apprehension growing.

“Tom. Who are we?” Anne suddenly asked.

“And… what do you think Elly meant by fixing what was done to me?”

Tom looked down at their feet and shrugged.

Before they could give it more thought the door opened and a short lady came in. The lady was pushing a tray with two large plates of food and two large glasses of water. She left the tray next to Anne’s bed and left the room quickly.

Tom pulled the trolley closer and picked up a plate. It was warm chicken fillets with green beans and potato wedges. The smells drifted around them, which sent their bellies grumbling.

Without a second thought, Tom starts cutting the food into small bite-sized portions. Careful not to make a mess Tom held out a byte in front of Anne’s face. Blushing slightly, she accepted, and Tom carried on feeding Anne. She was barely three bytes in when the mixture of sadness, fear, and uncertainty that was held back by her mental fatigue broke free. The tears flowed down Anne’s cheeks in broad streaks. Tom pushed on, encouraging her as best he could.

When they finished with her plate, Tom threw his arms around Anne’s now even smaller body and held her till she calmed down.

“We need to be stronger,” Anne whispered.

“And we need to find a purpose.”

To that Tom heartily agreed. He sat in silence as he turned to his own plate while Anne closed her eyes, trying to make sense of all the questions that were plaguing her mind.

The door slowly opened, and Elly walked in.

“I hope the food is amazing, yes?” Elly smiled as she sniffed the air.

“After dinner, you two should be off to bed, ok? Tomorrow is going to be a long day, especially for you Anne.” Elly said clearly.

“We need to get you ready, for in four days you two will meet with the general. I’m sure you have a bunch of questions. They will all be answered in the days to come.”

“Anne, tomorrow after breakfast we begin with your measurements. Tom, your room is now the one next door.”

Tom gave a quick nod.

“And before you two go to bed, drink up please,” She points at the glasses of water.

“I cannot stress this enough. Do you understand?”

“Now, goodnight dearies.” At these words, Elly gave them a bow and left the room.