NightTide: The Girl With Red Eyes

When we got back I guess Jessica got in trouble with the doctor, he wasn’t going to let her take me anywhere again while I was there. I don’t blame him I guess… Literally nothing happened after that. I had to lay in bed all day and but I could start eating solid food. It wasn’t until they said the wounds fully healed that I found out what happen to Elizabeth. She had been given two choices, go to jail for kidnapping, or let Jessica reprimand her… She’s in the infirmary so I guess she went with Jessica’s option.

The doctor was pleased this morning, he came in with a small skip in his step. “Ah hello Red. How did you sleep?”

I slept well, I could raise my arms above my head now and I could stand up but it was exhausting. “Good.”

He seemed happy to hear that. “Well that’s good, it seems that your injuries are healed up enough for it to be deemed safe. You can start rehabilitation soon.”

Rehabilitation? “What’s that.”

He seemed disappointed in my response. “Oh, you don’t know? Well it seems your muscles deteriorated quite a bit, its meant to help you get them back to what they once were, or at least enough for it to not be a burden. Try to stand up and I can give you an example.”

I rolled over and stood on the floor. I could stand maybe a minute or two before my legs started get sore and shake a little bit.

He motioned for me to sit back down. “The goal now is to make it so you don’t have that problem, at least within a reasonable amount of work. I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to go several hours at a time by the end of it though. That will come as your body demands it, if whatever you’re doing needs that amount of work your muscles with accommodate in time… Just don’t expect to pull off the stunts Jessica and Keith do, they’re; special, to say the least.”

Special? “What do you mean?”

He smiled again, I guess he likes talking about this stuff. “Well most of the time NightTides don’t differ much from the average person. Of course, there are exceptions to this, Jessica and Keith. Exceptional strength between those two, it’d take an army just to deal with one of them. I can’t imagine anyone winning against them both. Elizabeth has her own ability that we simply can’t grasp, if there’s a shadow and she feel likes leaving she’ll just vanish within it. We don’t know the limitations of how far she can reappear though, of course this causes... issues, given her personality.”

I wondered if I fall into those. “Do I have any special ability?”

He rubbed his chin. “Well if you do have one I’d most likely be durability. You’re the first person I’ve seen survive one of Jessica’s punches when she puts everything into it. Most people break in half, she only took out your ribs. Of course, you already had some serious issues going on inside you, for all we know you might be able to take a punch from her. Though I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket for that one, it’d be best if you not attempt to find out… Your bones are exceptionally strong and you seem to regenerate rather than have your wounds simply heal. Normally a surgery like that would leave scar tissue behind, there’s none to be found on you. I’d say you fall into the special category but it’s not exceptionally useful to others, just yourself.”

Wait Elizabeth can just move into any shadow. “Wait so does that mean Elizabeth can go anywhere?”

He shook his head. “No, in a situation like this we keep lights in all corners of the rooms so that there are no shadows in there. As of right now she can’t go anywhere. Of course, she hates it since she can’t sleep with it so bright but it needs to be done. If she wasn’t so rambunctious we wouldn’t have to do it.” That’s good to hear I guess. “So Red, may I ask you something?”

I tilted my head. “What?”

He was pointing at my neck. “Why are you wearing that collar?”

I hadn’t even noticed, I forgot to take this thing off. “Oh! I forgot it was there.” I went to take it off, the second I touched and had a feeling of dread wash over me, I decided to leave it on. “I’ll leave it on for right now…”

He shook his head. “Alright, I’m not happy about the circumstances of which you obtained that but I guess were over the bridge on that matter. Anyways we’ll be starting your rehabilitation tomorrow, if you want to try and walk around you can just don’t push yourself to hard. There should be people around in the event you need help.”

He just gave me free rein to walk around?! I was excited for some reason. “Are there any limitations to where I can go?”

He smiled. “Don’t leave the building, and if it says authorized personnel only don’t head in there. Obviously don’t go into the men’s bathroom as well.” That last bit was unnecessary I already had an incident at the other place about that.

I had one last question. “Are there any specials at the other bases?”

His eyebrow perked up. “Um, well yes. Base three has two Base one has three but you might be the fourth Base four has one and Base two has five. Jessica is the only special NightTide that runs a base though, that makes her special in more ways than one. She’s not the only NightTide that runs a base though. Base two is also run by a NightTide but he’s… Well he’s a rather rough character, by the book on almost everything he does. Anyways I have other patients I need to go see, have a good day Red. If you need anything just ask a nurse.” He walked out.

I wonder how many people he talks to everyday? Well I decided to get off the bed, I went to walk but I was a bit wobbly at first. I stumbled to the door and leaned on it, at least I wasn’t falling. It was exhausting but I wanted to walk around, I opened the door and stepped in the doorway. I leaned against the frame and just breathed for a minute. It’s been a week and half since I got out of this room, it’s Wednesday the twelfth now, of… November I think. It was nice not having the stiches out, they took those out a few days ago. They said the ones inside me would dissolve so I didn’t need to worry about them, they didn’t leave a scar so I guess that’s helpful. I had almost forgot to tighten the string on the gown, the last thing I want is someone looking at my underwear. Once that was done I stepped fully outside the door. It was cold, then again, I’ve been under blankets most of the time. The walls had plastic railings so I spent most of my time leaning on that. It was easier to walk when I put some of my weight on that but it made my arms sore. I was watching those tiles on the floor and counted about thirty or so before someone stopped me.

It was a nurse, he seemed surprised. “Excuse me miss. Should you be walking around? you look like your struggling there.”

I looked up at him. “I’m fine. The doctor said I could walk around and I haven’t been out of that room for a while. I’ve been stuck in bed for to long.”

He looked warily at me. “What’s your name miss?”

I told him. “My names Red.”

He seemed surprised. “Oh, you’re the commander’s sister?! If you want I can get you a walker.”

That might actually be helpful. “Is that okay?”

He nodded. “Alright, please wait here I’ll be right back.”

I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. I was sweating, this was harder than I was expecting. By the time I caught my breath he was back, he had a fairly new looking walker. He helped me up and showed me how to use it. After he made sure I was fine he went to go do whatever it was he needed to do. This was a lot easier, I could stop wherever I needed to so I could rest instead of having to lean against the wall. Unfortunately, I lost my way so I had no idea where I was at, not unusual I guess; I seem to have a terrible sense of direction. I kept walking around, stopping every once in a while, to take a breath. I guess this place has multiple floors but I didn’t want to take an elevator anywhere, I don’t want to get lost anymore then I already am. I didn’t seem to mind wandering around. Some of the nurses stopped me to ask what I was doing, I would tell them and they’d let me continue. I walked for a bit longer, I eventually made my way to a door it led outside. I wanted to see what was outside but I turned around and started walking back. It was clear I didn’t know my way back. I ended up somewhere that didn’t even look remotely familiar.

I heard noises around the corner and decided to check it out. I saw a woman towering over a bunch of tiny people, it took me a second to register they were children. Why were they here, then I noticed they all had nametags? Were they on a field trip? They were distracted so I tried to walk past them.

Wasn’t happening one of the kids stopped me, it was a little boy. “Oh, coooooool! Your one of those Night thingies!”

The expression I made would be described as horribly confused, why was that cool? “Um, h-hi…” The teacher turned to around and saw in him my way.

She looked at me and froze for a second… “Jessica?”

She thought I was Jessica. “Oh! No-no I’m her sister.” I gave her a weak smile.

She looked slightly miffed. The children were distracted, she walked over and shooed the one back to the crowd. “How are you feeling?”

Why was she interested? “A little tired. I’m trying to walk again. It’s exhausting. Do I know you?”

She seemed abnormally calm. “No, I’m afraid you don’t. The children have been working hard and wanted to take a field trip to base one, we’re from base three. I heard about you though. I’m actually surprised your alive.”

One of the little kids ran up to her. “Mrs. Taylor, who’s that?”

She looked down towards the little girl. “This is Jessica’s sister. You remember her right, we went over who runs each base last week.”

The little girl was rocking back and forth on her toes. “Yah, I remember.” She turned towards me. “Why are you here? Did you get hurt?”

The lady looked sternly at the girl. ““Lillie, that’s rude.” The little girl apologized. She walked back of to the crowd of children.

I wondered what they’re looking at. “What are they all so absorbed in?”

The lady looked over at them and back at me. “They’re incredibly curious about how we contain specials.”

Specials? “What are specials?”

The lady laughed. “I’m supposed to be teaching them not you. I guess you don’t know then. Jessica counts as a special. They’re staring at Elizabeth, I heard she got in trouble. She’s good with children at least, I guess she’s making faces and they find it funny.

Elizabeth was in there. “Is it okay if I see?”

She smiled. “I don’t see why not.” She walked over the children and moved them aside.

It took me a minute to get to the window but when I did I felt nervous, I didn’t know why. Once I looked in I saw Elizabeth, she was sitting in a chair. Her right arm was in a sling, she had a bandage of her left eye, and she was wearing a boot in her left foot. I’ve seen those on people that break their ankles. I guess Jessica did do a number on her, I almost felt bad for her. I was slightly concerned about how much privacy Elizabeth had though, the entirety of the room was lit up and it had a window. At least it did at first, once she saw me she pressed a button on the wall and something covered up the window.

While I was standing there confused when the lady called to the little kids. “Alright children, it’s time to go check out the air field.” They all cheered and she shushed them. She looked at me before walking away. “Have a good day Red.” I smiled at her and they all started going down the hallway.

I stood there for a minute when I heard a voice. “Hey Red.” It startled me and I looked around franticly. “Behind you.” I turned around and saw Elizabeth through the window, she was right in front of it and scared me. I fell on the ground, I struggled to stand back up and grab the walker. She was laughing.

She was surprisingly carefree, I guess I should ask what happen. “So, Jessica did that you?”

She sighed. “Yah, she did. I should be happy she didn’t do worse.”

I gave her a devious smile. “It looks like the tables are about to turn again.”

She gave me one back. “Right, we’ll see how well that turns out for you… Nice collar you got there.” She pressed a button and the window went black again.

I decided to walk around some more, I eventually found a doctor and they helped me find my room. When I opened the door, Jessica was sitting in the chair in there.

She seemed excited to see me. “So how was the walk.”

I was exhausted. “Good I guess, I’m tired.” I walked next to the bed but the second I let go of the walker I collapsed.

Jessica grabbed me before I hit the floor. “I think you overexerted yourself Red.”

She helped me on the bed. I was out the second my head touched the pillow.