I slapped a hand over my face to stifle a laugh.
Why is it, that no matter what sort of messed-up situation I'm in, I always find time to sympathise with my stomach?
As if I needed proof that my priorities aren't in order.
Sure, hunger was one of the better outcomes of being stabbed through the chest by razor-sharp claws...
But when it comes to prolonging my life, I pay attention.
And from what Apollo had said in the ballroom when I first brought up the issue of starvation.
Hungry.
Is not a good sign.
.... He said all my cells had been rejuvenated... I was supposed to be invincible...Or working at 100% capacity or something like tha-Wait a second.
My body, heart and soul, froze solid as the realisation finally dawned on me.
... I had been so busy being traumatised by Vain showing up that I hadn't notice.
Apollo never got me that hor'dourve.
My hand convulsed, gripping onto my hair as horror racked my body.
I had been robbed.
Of chocolate.
Of Giant. Fancy. Rich people chocolate.
My eyes opened, staring at the bars above me.
I'm going to kill him-
No.
For once in your life, Focus. You are doomed here, Maddison.
More importantly, you are hungry.
Which means the nanotechnology isn't working like it's supposed to.
With a shaky breath, I turned my head to look out at the room once more. Though I still couldn't see Jack, the music continued on flawlessly, so I could only hope my freaking out was going unnoticed.
Whether not working meant the nanotech had worn off, or run out of an energy source or something... I wasn't sure.
I wasn't smart enough to figure out the truth behind my sudden hunger.... or come to any real sort of conclusion... Which didn't really stop my panicking mind from trying to jump to one.
Whatever the reason was didn't matter, though.
The consequences of not working nanotechnology was what I had to deal with.
Looks like counting on super healing powers from now on is a no go.
I shivered slightly at the idea of dealing with Jack again without any sort of safety net.
Like I wasn't already terrified...
But that wasn't the worst part.
The haunting thought that, maybe... Peri wouldn't be able to see through me anymore, was what had my heart sinking with dread.
If that was indeed the case, then we could kiss the whole Hack into the system and kick evil ass plan goodbye.
Making this entire ordeal... Everything I had gone through since being shrunk... Since joining the Hill... Pointless.
Yep Maddison. You've done goofed this time.
My eyes burned with the sudden urge to cry.
You had one job. Be the eyes and ears of the guy who was going to actually solve your problems, and you go right ahead and use up all the nano-tech magic on healing your mortal injuries. Way to ruin everything moron. Go die in a hole.
I bit my tongue. Just for good measure
Okay.
Now that the customary berating and feeling sorry for myself for is over, time to go do something to salvage the situation.
With a small sigh,
I sit up.
Knowing that action was my only distraction from despair.
... Besides, pretending to sleep was not going to get me out of this cage.
If one thing was certain, I wasn't going to stay here and be Jack's pet.
Pushing away the insecurities, doubts, and most importantly the Fear, I shove myself up onto my feet.
Wobbling only a little bit.
If failure could not defeat me, starvation, blood loss, and agonising pain stood no chance.
I breathed through the sudden wave of light-headedness, determined to stay on my feet even as my vision turned a little grey at the edges.
Unconsciousness can back the hell off, it's my time to shine.
Turning my attention to the room beyond the bars of my cage, I prepared myself for the worse.
.... And failed.
If it had been Jack standing there, playing the violin among the bodies of all my friends I would have been ready.
Even if he had been wearing a clown costume and playing the
greatest hits of generic boy band number one, I would have dealt with that madness like a girl trying to out scream a hurricane.
But there was no bloody horror scene. No wall of torture weapons.
It wasn't even Jack.
Standing in the centre of the room, eyes closed as he played the violin with the same posture and grace as Jack himself.
Stood a child.
My eyes widen, betraying my surprise.
A boy, his small frame swamped in a dusty hospital gown and feet left bare on the cold floor.
Messy red hair falling to bone-thin shoulders.
That a child was here... someone barely older than Monica... Could possibly be here...
It. Was. Wrong.
I swore, the rude word falling from my lips before my brain could even begin to catch up with what the hell was going on.
At the sound of my voice the boy's eyes shot open, focusing on me intensely... yet never wavering in his music.
Blue. And. Green.
My hand shot up to cover my mouth, both in mortification from what I had said in front of a kid and the horror that familiar gaze.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
This was Wrong.
I had to be Wrong.
The child spoke for the first time, his little voice grim.
"She'll know if I stop."
It hurt. The realisation. The crushing hit of guilt.
I flinched, gaze falling nervously to the violin in his hands.
It wasn't hard to figure out who he was talking about.
Still, my suspicions were confirmed when I looked back into the child's eyes.
"I have to keep practising, or she'll send him to find out why I stopped." As he spoke, the little boy glared grumpily.
When I stayed quiet under his gaze, the boy sent a sour look at the floor.
I swallowed hard, trying to get my heart to stop beating in my throat.
Just say it. Just say it. Just say it. Just say it.
".... Alex?"
The boy glanced up.
And that was all the confirmation I needed.
Isn't it obvious?
Before he could answer, or say anything at all really.
'Mother dearest intends to hit the reset button on her precious. Little.
Alexander.'
I burst out laughing.