Megan ORussell - Eye of Stone

For those still learning to fight back

T rapped. Caged in. Locked up.

I shook my arms out, trying to convince myself not to slip back into panic.

Watched. Helpless. Weak.

Stop it, Lanni. I pushed myself off my bed and started pacing the length of the small room Mari and I shared. The walk from our kitchen to the closet wasnt far, but it only took three passes for the wound in my calf to start throbbing.

Theyd pulled out the shrapnel from the bomb and patched me up, but I was still supposed to stay off my leg and give the ripped muscle time to heal.

I didnt care.

I wouldve sprinted around the domes if I could. I needed the pain. It gave me something to think about besides being locked in my room.

Trapped. Prisoner. Alone.

Shit. I dug my fingers into my too-short hair as my breath started coming in shaky gasps. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I sped up my steps. My calf seized, shooting pain into my ankle.

I needed to get to Mari. I needed to see Alec.

I needed to get out of my room.

But I couldnt. Id been placed in lockdown. Confined to my room by the Domes Council.

All the teens whod survived the atrium bombing had been placed in isolation. I didnt know why. The Council hadnt said if they were going to question us. Or kick us out of the domes. Or if being trapped in isolation for the past two days was our punishment for daring to question the Incorporation.

I gasped as the pain shot from my ankle to my hip.

Shit. I sat back down on my bed, propping my bad leg up.

Theyd taken Mari to stay with our guardian, Miranda. Mari was mine to protect, but they wouldnt let her stay with me. I had to be locked in alone. And I couldnt fight them. Not with the damage Id already caused.

What if they decided to kick me out of the Arc Domes for creating too much trouble? What if they decided I was irresponsible and Mari should live with Miranda permanently? What if my fighting to keep Mari with me while I was locked up made them angry at Mari? What if the Council decided to punish her, too?

There was nothing I could do that wouldnt make things worse. So Id just let them take my sister. Alec had promised hed keep her safe. But there were monsters everywhere, and Id just let her walk away.

Useless. Helpless. Alone.

Fuck.

I pressed my fist to the wound on my calf. The blazing pain drowned out every other thought in my mind.

Two days. It had only been two days since the bomb went off in the atrium. Id only been locked in my room alone for two days, and I was already losing it.

I got back off my bed and limped to the computer screen set into the wall. I tapped on the screen, but it stayed blank.

Shit. Shit. I pressed my forehead against the wall. PAM, can you still hear me? PAM?

Silence.

Isolation. The worlds shittiest way to deal with traumatized people. I propped my foot up on Maris bed and took a few deep breaths.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I punched my calf four times. Stars zinged through my vision, and a scream dragged itself from my throat.

I closed my eyes, making sure Id be steady enough to stay upright before taking my foot off Maris bed. Hot agony sliced from my hip to my toes as soon as I put weight on my leg.

PAM, call medical. Im in need of a doctors assistance.

A beep came from the wall. Medical has been notified. Are you experiencing a medical emergency?

Not an emergency. I lowered myself to the floor. Just urgent.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against Maris bed.

Reckless. Impatient. Foolish.

Stop it. I dug my knuckles into my temples.

Dont be so hard on yourself, a different voice spoke in my mind. Jaimes voice.

A pang tightened the knot in my chest.

You almost got blown up. Youre allowed to not be okay.

No, Im not. Heat pressed against my eyelids. I have to take care of Mari. I have to figure out how to protect her.

Jaime lifted my hands away from my head. You have to heal. You have to wait and see whats coming next.

But the city through the tunnel was attacked, I whispered. It was

I couldnt even whisper it to Jaime. If PAM was listening enough to hear I needed a doctor, she could still be listening. Or recording.

I know. Jaime kissed my forehead. You are stronger than any monster, Lanni Sampson. Dont let them make you forget that.

Lanni Roberts. Someone knocked on the door. Miss Roberts, are you conscious?

Yes. I opened my eyes, swallowing the grief that came with imaginary Jaime disappearing. My leg hurts really bad. I think I need a doctor to look at it.

Were coming in, Miss Roberts.

Let me unlock

The regular deadbolt Id turned from the inside twisted, and the new magnetic lockthe one the guards had added to the outside of the door so they could trap medidnt make any sort of noise as they disengaged it before opening the door.

A guard stepped into my room. He looked around like he was searching for a threat, like forty-eight hours of isolation would have made me desperate enough to try and attack him with a kitchen knife, before stepping aside and letting a doctor come in.

What happened? The doctor set her med kit down and knelt beside me.

I was walking, and my calf just really started to hurt. I pulled up the leg of my pants. The skin around my bandage was bright red. I know Im supposed to stay off it, and I have been trying.

We need to get her down to the medical corridor. The doctor looked to the guard.

You cant treat her here? The guard narrowed his eyes at her.

The wound could very well be infected, the doctor said. Do you really want to risk the health of a young woman rather than let me take her downstairs to treat her properly?

Ill inform Captain Tate. The guard stepped out into the corridor. Bring the gurney.

Thanks. I kept my voice low. I really appreciate you coming to help me.

Its my duty to ensure a bountiful future for the domes. The doctor gave me a tight smile. Keeping you healthy is in the Incorporations best interest.

U nfortunately, Im going to need to go back in and do some more work on the muscles in your calf. The shrapnel penetrated deep enough to do some real damage, but you should be a lot further along in your healing by now. The second doctor Id seen in the last hour tapped away on her computer screen. Are you sure you didnt do anything to it?