Chapter 9

Sophrona's POV:

My eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the bright light in the room. Hecate was already awake and was sliding the tray through the hole at the bottom of the door. "There you go," Michael," she chirped, "Thank you for the delicious breakfast!" I groaned as I sat up and rubbed my eyes as I heard footsteps on the other side of the door. I greatly disliked morning people; they're too happy this early in the morning. "You're welcome," Michael replied warmly, "Is Sophrona awake yet? It's almost ten o'clock."

"I'm awake," I revealed as I dragged myself out of bed. I shuffled over to the table and stared hungrily at my food. I picked up my fork and stabbed it into the waffle. As I started eating my breakfast, I looked up at Hecate, who was staring at me wide-eyed, "Did you remember to chew?" She asked.

I wiped away the syrup from my lips, "I'm positive," I confirmed before sliding the tray under the door, "Thanks for the grub, Mike. Oh, is Jasmine in the lab?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied almost sympathetically, or was it guilt? I couldn't quite tell, "I'll be back around 1:30 to give you your lunch." And with that, he left to return the trays. I wonder how much trouble Jasmine is causing.

Jasmine's POV:

"Lay down!" A nurse ordered before I slammed my head into hers. Ouch, that hurt a little bit. "I don't feel like it," I protest through gritted teeth. The ugly woman kissed her teeth before walking away to grab more restraints leaving me with the scrawny noobie. I sent a death glare at the poor blonde boy. He attempted to restrain me, but I elbowed him in the nose, hearing a satisfying crack upon contact. "You bitch!" He cried, holding onto his nose.

"Yes?" I asked, looking at him innocently. Another nurse attempted to restrain me, but I sunk my teeth into her arm. She cried out in pain and began thrashing around, but I kept my grip. I was cackling on the inside. This was more entertaining than I thought! Unfortunately, my fun was short-lived because then I felt a pinch in my neck.

"Nighty night," a detached voice said from before a needle is inserted into my neck, causing me to release my grip become unconscious.

When I woke up again, I was back in the room with Hecate and Sophrona. I'm not sure which one is which, though. The two of them were sitting beside me, looking worried. "You're finally awake!" The girl with the sky blue hair and matching eyes exclaimed in relief.

"You were unconscious for a few days," the blonde said. The blonde girl picked up some food and offered it to me. I attempted to reach out for it and screeched in pain. The girl quickly, but gently lowered my arm and darted over to the door. She began whispering something through the opening at the bottom of the door, "I'll see what I can do," a deep male's voice replied before walking away. I sat up slowly and hissed at the pain all over my body.

"Wow," the blonde girl said, "You hadn't reacted this way when you had pain ever since we were kids, Jas."

I'm taken aback by her comment. I don't even know this girl, so how does she know that about me? Did I tell her something without understanding it, perhaps in my sleep? "I don't know you, so how do you know that about me?" I questioned as I stared straight into her eyes.

She furrowed her eyebrows and said, "Jasmine, it's me, Sophrona. I've known you since kindergarten. You had and still have a gigantic crush on my brother, Cahal."

"How can I have a crush on someone I've never met?" I was lost and overwhelmed with confusion. Sophrona and Hecate looked at each other with the same expression. "I think you need to get some more rest," Sophrona said worriedly.

"No, I don-" and before I knew it, I was unconscious again.

Sophrona's POV:

After knocking Jasmine out, there was a knock on the door before Michael walked in with our lunch. "Good afternoon, ladies," he greeted with a comforting smile. He sat the food on the table and looked over at Jasmine. "She's still asleep?"

"Nope, I knocked her out," I said without regretting a single word that came out of my mouth. He gave me a questionable look, "Why?" He asked.

"Because she started acting weird, saying she didn't know us and stuff like that," Hecate answered. Michael frowned and said something that I didn't expect him to say, "Remember, for freedom and peace. I'll see the three of you at recreation time in an hour and a half." And with that, he marched out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Hecate and me in a pool of confusion. What did he me by that? Was it some sort of code, or was it just a comforting phrase?

"He's been treating us well," Hecate pointed out hopefully. It's true; he has been treating us well. Ever since he was assigned to us, he's always made sure we were eating healthy and always brought us our favorite meals. He'd also spent some time talking to us when he would come, which was nice. He wasn't like most of the guards. It almost made me think he was on our side if that was such a thing. But the most puzzling part about him is that I can't read him. He acts like a guard most of the time, but when he's with us, he acts more like......a brother, so it's difficult to pick up on his intentions.

I've also noticed the way he acts around Hecate. He always has a sorrowful expression on his face when he sees her as if Michael knows something about her that we don't, and if that's the case, I would like to know what he knows.