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Chapter 24
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Nathan
Another flawless presentation, Mr Oaks. We wouldn't have expected anything less from you.' The chairman's adenoidal voice breaks the silence.
I have always disliked him. There's an air of double-dealing and deceit hanging over his words. He would constantly praise my father's abilities during his fancy dinners, yet his face had betrayed his hollow actions every time. We started as poor and we will forever be tainted by our inferiority.
Today's meeting is held in the old Library, a sign of power and fatuous attachment to our history. The room oversees the whole campus and it looks more of a vault rather than a boardroom. The glass wall that encircles us seems too fragile to protect all the leaders of the state gathered in one place. Still, I know better than all, the invisible shield is nothing more than a honeycomb mesh of trillions of nanites programmed to emulate the strongest material on the planet. Nothing comes in or out, other than air.
Everyone
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TammyYou need what?' He snaps at her, his whole body shaking in denial, shocked and unwilling to believe her words.Nat, listen to me, please.' Tammy starts begging and furrows her eyebrows at him. She truly needs him to focus. There's no time to waste.You must be joking, Ner. What the heck do your need dad's gun for?' He continues in the same harsh tone, ignoring her insane plea.Then, puffing out the air from his lungs, he moves away, pacing the room and combing his fingers through his golden hair when the locks fall over his forehead. He had shown her the weapon when they were kids, long before his father got promoted. He's seen it one more time since then but never dared to ask any questions. Why on Earth is she bringing it up now?Tammy walks to him and gently grabs his arm. Her touch compels him to look at her, in spite of his efforts to keep his stance. An instant later and all his barriers are shattered to pieces. One a luxuriant forest and th
LOVE–SICK Chapter 26
TammyThe underground is nothing more than a complicated maze of tunnels and quarries. Down there the oxygen is scarce and the air so damp soon their skin gets covered with sweat. They keep running, their boots splashing in puddles, and growing the distance between them and the guards with every single breath. Still, the deeper they get into the unknown, the more unbearable the smell. It started as a mixture of dust and grease and something vaguely metallic, only to morph into a defensive odour of sulphur and mould. The walls have long lost their human touch, concrete turning to hard clay and wood pillars barely holding up the roof. Whoever continued the digging must have been in a rush, determined to never coming back, for their sloppy work is a miracle it hasn't collapsed.They continue following the winding tracks and looking over their shoulders every time they hear the distinctive sounds of splitting and cracking of timber. The white beams of their flashlights captu
LOVE–SICK Chapter 27
TammyWhere are you taking him?' Her desperate cries are growing louder and louder as the door closes shut behind Nathan's body.She's on the verge of losing her self-control. The adrenaline has made her muscles weak and soon her legs turn to jelly. This is not happening!', she keeps telling herself, yet the pool of blood at her feet is more than a cruel reminder her best friend just got shot. What's worse, is the crowd's noise only intensifies her meltdown and the lack of response drives her insane.Where is Nathan?' Tammy asks again, this time shouting to cover their cackles. Her hands are shaking and it feels like thousands of pinpricks are crawling up to her shoulders.The room turns into an uproar. Her pain entertains them and they are having a blast. Suddenly, Lucas's words fill her mind stopping her train of thought and bringing her to reality. They are not to mess with, Tammy. They are not stable.', he had told her
LOVE–SICK Chapter 28
TammyDon't do anything stupid!' Luther jumps off of his throne, shaking and visibly awestricken. You heard her! Bring them in!' He adds through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on the gun pointed to her head.Soon the door slams open revealing two rebels carrying a barely conscious Nathan. His foot is still bleeding and the wound has doubled its size. He slowly raises his head towards the centre of the room, choking with blood when he sees her bargaining for their lives. Tammy gasps in horror at the sight of him, once a beautiful face now painted in bruises. A swollen black eye covers half of one side, while the other is bleeding, leaving out only the light blue in a sea of red. She tightens the hold around the grip as a burning wish of punishing everyone present flames her entire body. They lock their gaze for a second while she watches him being dumped at Grace's feet, his cracked lips begging her not to die. Tammy moves her to stare away, battling the tears that are gat
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Nathan Come, Nathan, a few more steps. You can do it. Talk to me!' Grace's raspy voice keeps bringing me to reality. I am not sure how many times I've dozed off. Every move feels like the skin is tearing off from the bone. The pain is unbearable and I don't know for how long I'll manage to stay awake. Grace's weak body struggles to hold mine, still, she doesn't show any sign of giving up any time soon. The truck, a foggy illusion in the distance, roars abandoned for us to get in. Those monsters have kept their part of the bargain and left us alone. Tears start to pile up thinking about the price she had to pay for our lives. Tammy, our saviour. We leave a trail of salty droplets behind, feeding the scorched land with our sadness. She helps me with my mask, silent and mournful. Any words would be useless right now. I lay hopeless in the back as she steps on it, propelling us closer to safety and to a pointless life. I would have rather died t
LOVE–SICK Chapter 1
Tammy It was the Memorial Day. A sorrowful dent in the lives of everyone in the city. They'd all gathered round the fire that shot towards the sky like a mangrove shrub, keeping warm while paying tribute to the fallen ones. A canopy of dark shadows them all, displaying a ghoulish dance in the dim light. The guards were already in place, behind the shadows, watching from above the rooftops and ready to keep the order by all means. Tammy thought it unnecessary.She couldn't recall the last time there was chaos or even the slightest bit of disorder in the city.But the guards were a constant in the society, like stars are in the night sky.The day was beginning to darken and night was fast approaching. There was no breeze but the air carried a familiar chill. Tammy had a shawl draped on her shoulder even though she had on the sweater her grandma made her.With arms folded, she adopted the same solemn disposition as the body of peo
LOVE–SICK Chapter 2
Lucas I've been preparing for this for far too long. Hell, I've been waiting for it for half of my miserable existence. I can do it. It's a clean-and-clear job after all. How hard can it be? First, detect possible threats. Second, remove any obstructions that hinder a positive outcome two simple steps, no complications. It's my first time here, but it feels like home in a wicked way. The twisted home away from home. I chuckle at the thought, yet the familiarity of it all makes it more real than it sounds. It's been only yesterday when I walked on these streets and now I'm here, stuck at their tedious ceremony. I get it, today is a big deal for them, but I wish the captain would have sent us a day after. Requiems are what I hate the most and, man, this one beats them all. Seeing them staring blankly and stone-cold, at what should be the saddest day of their freaking lives, is driving me nuts. While we were still doi
LOVE–SICK Chapter 3
TammyThe night seems endless, a never-ending waterfall of darkness and despair. How can she fall asleep when the guards could break down the front door at any moment? Tapping her foot nervously on the footboard, she kills the time by searching and counting all the black spots on the ceiling. By the time she reaches a few thousands, the sun has risen high enough to paint the plain walls of her bedroom in bright morning colours.This should do it. It's time to get up and face the day. Maybe they are waiting for me at the Institute. At least, Grace won't be there to make things worse.' Her voice comes out horse and tired, almost defeated.Avoiding her reflection as she passes the mirror on the dressing door, Tammy can almost feel the deep dark circles engraved under her eyes. She squints one of them trying to get rid of the sand-like feeling that is preventing her to keep it open. Then, she ungracefully t
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Nathan Come, Nathan, a few more steps. You can do it. Talk to me!' Grace's raspy voice keeps bringing me to reality. I am not sure how many times I've dozed off. Every move feels like the skin is tearing off from the bone. The pain is unbearable and I don't know for how long I'll manage to stay awake. Grace's weak body struggles to hold mine, still, she doesn't show any sign of giving up any time soon. The truck, a foggy illusion in the distance, roars abandoned for us to get in. Those monsters have kept their part of the bargain and left us alone. Tears start to pile up thinking about the price she had to pay for our lives. Tammy, our saviour. We leave a trail of salty droplets behind, feeding the scorched land with our sadness. She helps me with my mask, silent and mournful. Any words would be useless right now. I lay hopeless in the back as she steps on it, propelling us closer to safety and to a pointless life. I would have rather died t
LOVE–SICK Chapter 28
TammyDon't do anything stupid!' Luther jumps off of his throne, shaking and visibly awestricken. You heard her! Bring them in!' He adds through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on the gun pointed to her head.Soon the door slams open revealing two rebels carrying a barely conscious Nathan. His foot is still bleeding and the wound has doubled its size. He slowly raises his head towards the centre of the room, choking with blood when he sees her bargaining for their lives. Tammy gasps in horror at the sight of him, once a beautiful face now painted in bruises. A swollen black eye covers half of one side, while the other is bleeding, leaving out only the light blue in a sea of red. She tightens the hold around the grip as a burning wish of punishing everyone present flames her entire body. They lock their gaze for a second while she watches him being dumped at Grace's feet, his cracked lips begging her not to die. Tammy moves her to stare away, battling the tears that are gat
LOVE–SICK Chapter 27
TammyWhere are you taking him?' Her desperate cries are growing louder and louder as the door closes shut behind Nathan's body.She's on the verge of losing her self-control. The adrenaline has made her muscles weak and soon her legs turn to jelly. This is not happening!', she keeps telling herself, yet the pool of blood at her feet is more than a cruel reminder her best friend just got shot. What's worse, is the crowd's noise only intensifies her meltdown and the lack of response drives her insane.Where is Nathan?' Tammy asks again, this time shouting to cover their cackles. Her hands are shaking and it feels like thousands of pinpricks are crawling up to her shoulders.The room turns into an uproar. Her pain entertains them and they are having a blast. Suddenly, Lucas's words fill her mind stopping her train of thought and bringing her to reality. They are not to mess with, Tammy. They are not stable.', he had told her
LOVE–SICK Chapter 26
TammyThe underground is nothing more than a complicated maze of tunnels and quarries. Down there the oxygen is scarce and the air so damp soon their skin gets covered with sweat. They keep running, their boots splashing in puddles, and growing the distance between them and the guards with every single breath. Still, the deeper they get into the unknown, the more unbearable the smell. It started as a mixture of dust and grease and something vaguely metallic, only to morph into a defensive odour of sulphur and mould. The walls have long lost their human touch, concrete turning to hard clay and wood pillars barely holding up the roof. Whoever continued the digging must have been in a rush, determined to never coming back, for their sloppy work is a miracle it hasn't collapsed.They continue following the winding tracks and looking over their shoulders every time they hear the distinctive sounds of splitting and cracking of timber. The white beams of their flashlights captu
LOVE–SICK Chapter 25
TammyYou need what?' He snaps at her, his whole body shaking in denial, shocked and unwilling to believe her words.Nat, listen to me, please.' Tammy starts begging and furrows her eyebrows at him. She truly needs him to focus. There's no time to waste.You must be joking, Ner. What the heck do your need dad's gun for?' He continues in the same harsh tone, ignoring her insane plea.Then, puffing out the air from his lungs, he moves away, pacing the room and combing his fingers through his golden hair when the locks fall over his forehead. He had shown her the weapon when they were kids, long before his father got promoted. He's seen it one more time since then but never dared to ask any questions. Why on Earth is she bringing it up now?Tammy walks to him and gently grabs his arm. Her touch compels him to look at her, in spite of his efforts to keep his stance. An instant later and all his barriers are shattered to pieces. One a luxuriant forest and th
LOVE–SICK Chapter 24
NathanAnother flawless presentation, Mr Oaks. We wouldn't have expected anything less from you.' The chairman's adenoidal voice breaks the silence.I have always disliked him. There's an air of double-dealing and deceit hanging over his words. He would constantly praise my father's abilities during his fancy dinners, yet his face had betrayed his hollow actions every time. We started as poor and we will forever be tainted by our inferiority.Today's meeting is held in the old Library, a sign of power and fatuous attachment to our history. The room oversees the whole campus and it looks more of a vault rather than a boardroom. The glass wall that encircles us seems too fragile to protect all the leaders of the state gathered in one place. Still, I know better than all, the invisible shield is nothing more than a honeycomb mesh of trillions of nanites programmed to emulate the strongest material on the planet. Nothing comes in or out, other than air.Everyone
LOVE–SICK Chapter 23
TammyGolden rays filter through her long lashes bringing the thin layer between reality and dreamworld to life. Darkness turned into a rather bronze-coloured veil, cut across by a bright golden halo. With the shimmering aureole growing bigger and bigger, the more absorbed her entity becomes into the present realm. Every single muscle and bone in her body twitches lightly as it lands where it belongs until she's completely awake.Her cheeks feel warm and she's ready now to let the morning light invade her being. As she slowly opens her eyes, the memories of last night start rolling one after another. Suddenly, the soft pillow becomes more rigid, moving slightly up and down to match her breathing. Then, his steady heartbeat cancels out all the bird songs and the leaves fluttering noisily in the wind, leaving her frozen and trapped in the chaos of her mind. Has she really fallen asleep on Nathan's chest? Remorseful, she gently raise
LOVE–SICK Chapter 22
NathanLet me out, Mommy! I promise I won't do it again. Please, let me out!' I beg and I beg long after I hear the basement door shut behind her.Silence and darkness. I'm all alone in the blackness. My hands are throbbing from all the splinters that got caught in my skin. The box is made of raw wood, but somehow it shrank since the last time I've been here. Now I barely fit and I have to lower my head every time I try to stand.Mommy says I have to be punished and think of what I've done. I am a bad boy. I made mommy angry. I told her I love her. Again. I wonder how long it will take this time until she lets me out. Days? Weeks? Last time it's been a month.But then she saved me....She looks straight into my eyes when she lies. I watch closely, absorbed by those beautiful and unique eyes of hers two different worlds, one more perfect than the other. Does she f
LOVE–SICK Chapter 21
TammyThe next few hours drag painfully as her mind keeps reliving the heinous meeting of today's morning. Everything she knows is a lie. Everything she believed in is nothing more than a product of well-forged propaganda, a deceitful agenda of someone else's. Moving her carcass from one lecture to another, her thoughts are too busy to even notice the critical stares of the others. Harsh, judging rumours pass her by for no one has ever been called upstairs to be praised.The fog starts to dissipate only at midday, leaving her standing alone in front of an empty table that once had been the heart of the lunchroom. Tammy stares hesitant and brokenhearted at the window-wall in front of her, frozen and unable to feel the burning tears that are flowing down her cheeks. The right hand on her heart tries in vain to stop the hole in her chest growing bigger. However, when she feels the metal pin attached to the fabric she starts cho
