Astrid opened the doors to the glass chamber and waved me through. “We’re going to try something new today.”
I stepped inside and went to the middle of the room with a couple of the guards.
She walked around me, looking over my tattoos. “They all seem to be holding. I’ve heard you’ve been losing control over your emotions.”
Did she know that I cried in front of Watt?
I shook my head. “No, nothing is broken.” I motioned to my body. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Breaking something isn’t a requirement. You’re forgetting what your energy feeds on. It starts small, and without restraints, it’ll grow.”
A possessor entered the chamber holding a box. My body felt heavy as I let out a sigh. It was happening again. I could handle it. Pain was something I used to feeling. I’d take new bands over the seals. Astrid opened the box and took out a necklace with a chain connected to a lower band. What the hell was that? I felt unsure, but that didn’t stop Astrid from snapping it around my neck. She locked the second metal band around my waist.
“What does it do?” I said, trying to control my breathing. It didn’t feel right.
“Confines,” she replied. “Emotions are the enemy. It feeds on instability.” She motioned for the others to leave. “You’ll stay the night here. I wouldn’t want Watt or Hellana trying to take it off before we can even test it.”
***
All I could do was sit and wait. I didn’t even know what I was waiting for. I didn’t like the way the metal remained cold on my skin. Sensing movement, I lifted my head to see Watt marching into the room. He went straight to Astrid, who was watching a computer monitor. By his posture alone, I could tell he was furious. He kept waving his arm toward me and wasn’t afraid to get in Astrid’s face.
The memory of what happened the other day entered my mind. I embarrassed myself in front of him. Why did I have to start crying? The necklace constricted on my throat. I gagged and dug my fingers between it and the metal. What the hell? It began to get tighter around my waist. Were they trying to kill me? I yanked on the center chain as it got harder to breathe. What was this thing?
I used both hands to try and break it. Thin coils shot out and pinned my arms in place. They were trying to kill me!
Panicking, I screamed in frustration and thrashed my body across the floor. My tattoo glowed as I fought to get free. It was so hard to get enough air. The coils wound around my legs and grew tighter and tighter. They started to slice into my skin.
It was attacking me. I didn’t want to die. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move. My limbs were trapped. Rolling to my stomach, I cried out as my power fought the seal on my back. Blood flowed in streams and followed the coils. I wanted out. I need to escape. I wouldn’t let this kill me.
“Eiko!”
Watt raced to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “It’s alright. You need to calm down.”
I scanned the wall. It was blue. The energy was leaking out and combusting when it hit the glass. The sirens were blaring.
He laid my head back on his shoulder. “Eiko, Eiko, breathing.”
My breath was ragged as my nails dug at the skin near the band. His touch wasn’t working this time. It was making it worse.
“Get it off him!” yelled Watt.
Astrid folded her arms and watched for a safe distance. “I can’t. He has to calm down. There’s nothing I can do. He has to learn this lesson the hard way.”
“I’ve had enough of your faulty shit! He’s not a lab rat!” Watt clasped my forehead.
I fought it at first until I felt the panic leave and peace enter. I lost all of my strength as the coils drew back. The strength left my body, and I collapsed into his arms.
Watt laid me down. “Deep breaths. I’ll get Hellana to heal you.” He stood and faced Astrid. “Remove it.”
“Why? It worked.”
“That thing does know when to stop. It kept going even after he was restrained.”
“Emotions activate it. This wouldn't have happened if Eiko could learn how to control his emotions.” She shrugged. “That device will teach him.”
Watt shook his head. “You are so delusional.”
“Excuse me. Why don’t you go fuck yourself? He’s a dangerous asset—”
He grabbed her throat and slammed her into the glass. Astrid gagged and clawed at his hand. She opened her mouth, but no noise came out. She tried again. Her voice was gone as a thick tattoo wrapped around her throat. Watt backed away and watched her. Fury filled Astrid’s eyes. She looked ready to hit him. Shaking with anger, she stormed off and banged on the glass. My energy was still sparking around the chamber, though it was starting to settle. Astrid kicked the door again and again until it opened.
Watt knelt beside me. “I got tired of listening to her. I borrowed something while I was at it.” He held up the charm that unlocked the necklace. Taking the two bands off, he chucked it at the glass. The remaining blue energy bolts shot straight to it, and I flinched when the necklace erupted. Chunks of it flew throughout the chamber.
“Woah.” Watt stared at the burnt spot on the ground. “That was terrifying and kind of amazing at the same time.” His eyes roamed over my body. “I’m so sorry. Eiko.” Taking off his jacket, he wrapped it around my waist. My shorts had been shredded. I was struggling to control my limbs. They felt so heavy. I didn’t know what to do.
He picked me up. I cried out in pain. He guided my arms around his neck. I latched onto him and felt my body shaking. I was still bleeding. It was soaking into his clothes. Watt rose to his feet.
Some of my hair fluttered to the ground. My eyes grew wide. Was it all gone? I stared at the black strands on the floor. It cut off my hair! Why would they do that? I followed the rules. I felt like crying. I wanted to cry, but I was scared of the pain returning.
“Most of it’s still there,” Watt whispered. “We’ll even it out, and you’ll be good as new.”
I couldn’t hold it anymore. I started to sob. I was doing good. I thought I was doing so well, and they still punished me. The tears kept flowing—from the pain, sense of relief, and loss of the only thing I had control over.
Watt carried me from the glass chamber to the elevator. The room had been evacuated except for a few high-ranking asters who could withstand my energy. Once on my floor, he carried me to my room and kicked Hellana’s door several times before continuing.
“Ever heard of knock—” Her mouth dropped open. “What happened?” She followed us. “Are you bleeding? Is he bleeding? What is going on? Oh my god, Eiko.”
Watt put me on the bed, and Hellane pushed past him to start to heal the wounds. I hid my face in a pillow and tried to regain my composure. My breath was still ragged.
“What did they do to him? These are deep.”
Watt took off his shirt and wiped his arms. “Astrid tried a new toy. Some fucked up piece of shit a possessor made. Thankfully, Eiko blew it up, so this won’t happen again.” He went to the bathroom, and I heard the water turn on.
“I’ll fix this. Don’t worry. You’ll be good as new.” She touched the jacket tucked between my legs.
“No!” I grabbed it. “Leave it. Leave that alone.”
She retracted for a moment before starting on my legs.
Watt brought a damp towel and cleaned my body where Hellana had healed. My energy was flickering from the wounds as it tried to quicken the healing process. A frantic feeling was welling in my chest. I need to get away. I didn’t want anyone near me—touching me. They’d end up hurting me.
Watt scanned my appearance.
My breath caught in my throat when he picked me up and laid me across his lap. I fought to get away until he touched my face. The calming presence spread from his touch. My head fell back, and I peered up at him, feeling confused but content. He removed the jacket, and Hellana set to work healing the rest of the wounds around my hips. The blood-splattered blanket was pulled up and tucked around me. It was warm and peaceful. Resting my head on his shoulder, I allowed my eyes to close.
“You’re safe,” said Watt.
“Safe?” I whispered. “From what?”
He moved my hair away from my face. “Whatever scares you most. I make sure they stay away from you while you’re asleep.”
I smiled to myself and started to drift off. That was good enough for me.
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