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Chapter 24.1
Nyla sat on the edge of her chair in the tucked-away coffee shop, with her back perfectly erect. Sargent Ryan sat across from her stirring his coffee with the little spoon given to him. He glanced around them with uneasy eyes. Answering the unspoken question, Nyla said, “If Eason said he can give us an uninterrupted twenty minutes, then so can he.” Sargent nodded once before lifting his gaze to eat up Nyla’s face.
Breaking the silence again, she admitted, “I’m so happy to see you, Sargent Ryan.”
“Call me Lance, please. I’m not a Sargent anymore. I’m done with the war and everything it brought with it.”
“Okay, Lance.” The name stuck on her tongue, unfamiliar and strange.
He inspected her. “At first glance, you still look like you, but the more I look, well, it’s almost like you’re someone who just resembles the Nyla I know. Hell, you smiled at me.” She felt a ne
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What Is Love? Chapter 24.2
“But Nyla,” Lance pointed out, “did you ever actually know him? Can you know someone if you’ve never understood how they’ve felt?”His words were like icy water being thrown on her. “I don’t know.”“All I know is that the Major wanted to protect you, Nyla, no matter the consequences.”Without warning, Nyla’s mind flashed back to her final moments with the Major. “He told me to leave when he was dying, and I didn’t. I stayed.”Lance gave her a curious look but didn’t push her for further details when she stopped. “Look, Nyla, don’t let this color your memories of him. So much has changed for you, don’t let your memories of the Major be taken from you as well.” He changed topics before she could reply. “I’ve been watching you in the news. You seem different.”“How so?”She watched in fascination
What Is Love? Chapter 25
A knock on the door disrupted Nyla’s homework. She was sitting on the floor and looked up to find Edmond poking his head into her room. The sight was so bizarre she stared in shock. Without preamble, he started, “I have a rally in a swing section of the District tomorrow. I need you to go with me.” Automatically she agreed. “Good. Eason will be going as well; Veronica and Mason are unavailable. I’ve given you a speaking time slot – just do what you did last time. It was excellent.”Nyla couldn’t help it - the praise warmed her from the inside out. Disgust at herself rolled in after the glow – the approval of a man who had started a war for a resource was not the type of approval she wanted. She tried to hide her displeasure as he left the room.The next day followed the same routine the other rally days had taken. They left early in the morning and met at the rally site, where Nyla was prepared by the same three mus
What Is Love? Chapter 26.1
Nyla stayed in the hospital for an additional two days waiting for the wound to be completely healed and no longer tender. When she told Dr. Bunder she was ready to leave, the doctor told her, “We need to run some tests first, and then you’re free to go.”Automatically, Nyla’s mind went to the warning in her letter. She cast a glance at Eason, who was sitting by her bedside again. He met her eyes, a little crease forming between his eyebrows. “Are they really necessary? She says she’s feeling better, and Nyla would know best.”“I’m afraid they are. They’re the same tests you did last time you were here.” She paused, then continued, “You know how everything has to be documented because you’re a Menhit.” Seeing no way out of it, Nyla consented to the tests, praying nothing terrible would come of it. Perhaps th
What Is Love? Chapter 26.2
“Oh.” Eason turned round eyes to Nyla.“I’ve had excessive training on obstacle courses. I find them quite easy. But it’s been quite some time since I’ve practiced. Who knows how long it’ll take me,” lied Nyla. She walked over and stood before the peg wall, grabbing a peg in each hand. All she had to do was pull herself up the wall by placing a peg in one of the many holes going up, again and again, until she reached the top.Taking the peg in her right hand, she reached up and placed it in the highest hole she could reach. She followed with her left and then pulled herself up using just her arms. She froze with her feet off the ground, she counted to ten before removing the right peg and reaching up again, placing it in a higher hole. After counting to seven, she did the same with her left hand. Once both pegs were secure, she pulled herself up again. Repeating the pattern, Nyla inched her way up the wall, counting in be
What Is Love? Chapter 27.1
Yanked out of a deep sleep, Nyla lashed out, and caught someone’s arm. “Ouch! Nyla, it’s me!” Groggily, Nyla opened her eyes to find Eason hovering over her. “What’re you doing?” Ignoring her question, he thrust a holopad into her hands.“Nyla, you have to see this.” Nyla struggled to sit up. Once situated, she took the holopad. “What is it?” “I broke into my dad’s office and -,” “You did what? How?” She was wide awake now. “Nyla, you aren&rsq
What Is Love? Chapter 27.2
Pre-discharge Report – Nyla Braun The agility, speed, and strength of Nyla have deceased quantifiably – however, levels are not where they should be given the length of time wearing the ring. A new, stronger ring might be necessary, although Nyla does not display any outwardly hostile or dangerous behaviors. Dr. Fredrick reported sub-par results from her psychological exam as well. He noted facial ticks several times, along with unsatisfactory answers. Three times he suspected her of lying, although he had no way to prove it. Her discharge was still approved, although conditional on further exams. Nyla sighed, unsurprised. “I knew I didn’t do very well.”&
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Nyla and her friends were sitting on their rooftop spot, avoiding the noise downstairs when Sarah turned to Eason. “Are you having the usual aging out party for your birthday?”“Birthday?” asked Nyla, her attention diverted from her sandwich, which was in the process of falling apart. “Your birthday is coming up?”Eason laughed. “Nyla, it’s next week. Where have you been?”In a dark, dark place.“But that means you’ll be eighteen and will graduate.” Panic started bubbling up in Nyla’s chest. She couldn’t handle school without Eason by her side.He seemed to know exactly where her thoughts had gone. “Calm down, Nyla. Sarah and Breanne will still be here with you. You’re eighteen next month anyway. You’ll only have to survive a little bit of time.”“We’ll be here for you,” Breanne tried to comfort Nyla.
What Is Love? Chapter 28.2
Breanne swallowed and turned to Sarah. “What do we do now?”“Find a place to hide, of course. We’ve got our food, Eason will be busy dancing for a while, and everything else is about to turn political,” Sarah said matter of factly.“Sounds good to me,” Breanne agreed, looking towards Nyla, who hesitated for just a moment before nodding.“Good. I saw back doors somewhere,” Sarah ushered them outside, where they found a small gazebo tucked away. “This is perfect!”They had barely sat down before Sarah leaped back up. “I forgot! You guys stay right here!” She rushed back inside before either girl could respond.Breanne turned to Nyla. “What’s that about, you think?”“No idea.” Nyla gave Breanne a perusal. “You look uncomfortable.”Breanne blushed to the roots of her beautiful, chaotic hair that had been left to its own
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