She was dressed in a plain t-shirt and hospital leggings that were several sizes too big for her. As she shifted to look down the opposite hall I realized why: the leg she had injured was in a cast up to mid-thigh.
“Naya?”
She whipped her head toward me as she careened down the hall. The distraction cost her as she swerved to miss someone coming around the corner. With a vibration I could feel through my boots, I felt her try to stop the speeding wheelchair, but the heavy cast threw her off balance and she tumbled sideways, falling mostly out of the upturned chair.
We rushed toward her, but an angry looking Helios appeared from the corner she had veered around, his most disapproving doctor face on.
“Aw, shit,” she said, sighing as she glared at him defiantly. “You’re going to send me back to the infirmary, aren’t you? I have to see someone!”
“I thought we talked about this Naya?” he said, obviously struggling to be patient. “If your leg is going to heal properly you are going to need atleastanother day or two of healings before you can put weight on it.”
“I’m not putting weight on it! I’m in a fucking wheelchair!”
“You’re putting weight on it right now,” he pointed out. Sure enough, she had struggled to her feet while he spoke, and her foot was grazing the ground gently as she hobbled to try and get back in the chair. Surprised by the comment, she seemed to lose her balance, windmilling her arms to try to stay upright.
Tik rushed to help the girl and reached out to steady her. His hands touched her arm, and the smell of ozone burst through theroom as they both jumped back, simultaneous looks of astonishment on their faces.
Everyone froze as the two faced each other.
Naya began to recover first.
“Hi,” she said, waving shyly at the young man. “I’m Naya.”
“Um, hi,” Tik gulped. “I’m Tik. Pontiki.”
“Mouse? That’s so cute!” she cooed. “I love mice!”
The two gazed into each other’s eyes for long moments and I swear there were little birds flying around their heads singing love songs or something from the way they looked at each other. Hel finally cleared his throat, making both of them jump.
“You…think you could give me a hand getting out—” she stopped suddenly as Hel raised an eyebrow. “Fine…gettingbackto my room in the infirmary?”
“Uh, sure!” The young Mageia replied eagerly.
“Tik?” Luke called.
He turned and looked back at his friend.
“Don’t forget about your application.”
Tik looked around frantically a moment before realizing the application was still in his hand. Then his face fell, as he realized he couldn’t turn it in and take Naya back to her hospital room.
Hel seemed to sigh.
“Tell you what, Tik. If you promise to bring Naya right back, she can be your guide to the temporary administration area.”
The smiles that lit their faces as the two kids headed down the hall together made my throat tighten. So many Somas were still waiting for their matches. We had to find a way to get more Mageia into Illyria. The thought helped me finally make the connection I was missing concerning Naya.
You okay?Luke signed.
I nodded.
I just remembered where I had heard Naya’s name before. Her father died by suicide last year. He was an instructor at the Academy. Her mother died when she was very young,I responded.
That is so sad,Luke answered. He looked down the hall thoughtfully.Did you ever find out why she was in the—
He paused, obviously trying to figure out the correct sign. He used his right hand to make a motion of walking downstairs.
I think you mean basement,I replied, showing him the sign by holding my left hand flat and circling my other hand beneath it. He repeated the question with the correct sign.
