007

— i believe in hope, don't you? —

IT WAS EERILY SILENT; THE ONLY SOUND WAS SHYLEEN'S SOFT BREATHS. Hazel stood in the doorway, looking at Shyleen who Cliff had carried to an upstairs room. She was still wrapped tightly in a blanket and Rita had set a cup of tea and water on the nightstand for when she woke up. 

"There you are!" Larry called out and Hazel spun around. Larry strolled towards Hazel, holding a brown jacket at his side. "We have dessert ready. Rachel said you like tea."

Hazel nodded, sparing a glance at Shyleen before walking to Larry. "She'll be okay. If Chief can save us, he can save her," Larry promised.

"What exactly did he save you from?" Hazel questioned.

"I guess you'll find out." Larry held his hand out, holding up a Schott sheepskin leather bomber jacket, the leather a light brown the inside lined with white cotton. "Gar said you didn't have a jacket, and this is too small for me."

Hazel took it with a smile, "Thanks, Larry." Hazel pulled it one fluffing the collar out. "Now, you said there was tea?"

Hazel laughed with Larry as they walked to the dining room. Everyone sat where they originally did except for Rita, who now sat next to Cliff and the chief sat at the head of the table. After a few minutes of everyone collecting their desserts, Hazel settling for a rose tea, Rachel spoke up. "We didn't mean to be any trouble," Rachel apologised. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Chief waved off, his jacket discarded leaving it hanging on his chair. "You girls helped us save that young woman's life, and we are very grateful for it. You were a surprise to me. That's all."

"I tried to warn the kids," Cliff said.

The Chief nodded and turned to Rachel and Hazel. "Well, we keep what we're doing here very secret, you see?" Chief explained in a soft voice and Rachel nodded.

Hazel stirred her tea and looked up at the Chief, "What do you do here?"

The thought of such a mismatched group hiding from the world, and more so the fact Gar's interaction with Hazel at the arcade was the most he'd interacted with someone in months sounded so foreign to her.

Chief smiled softly, "I help people that others have given up on. I go beyond what medical science is willing to do because I believe in hope. Don't you?" Rachel looked down and Hazel stirred her tea.

He turned his attention down the table, smiling at Rita. "Our dear Rita," She looked up, taking a bit of the small cake, "she had been in an institution for decades after a toxic gas left her cells unstable. I freed her."

"And I'm very thankful, Chief," Rita smiled, sitting straighter.

"Then Larry," Chief went on and Larry saluted the girls. "A pilot in the Air Force, he crashed his plane and was exposed to negative energy. He was given mere days to live. That was over 50 years ago. Cliff's story you already know," Chief pointed out. "And finally, Garfield."

Hazel turned to Gar who took a bite of a strawberry, "He cured me."

"From what?" Rachel questioned.

"A rare disease he contracted from an even rarer species of primate in the Congo basin," Chief explained and Rachel looked back at him, but Hazel kept her eyes on Gar. He still held his smile, but it was softer, almost sullen. "Although, the cure I administered had unforeseen side effects."

"Chief thinks that I can unzip my DNA and rearrange it," Gar explained. "It took me a while to figure it out, but-"

"That's how you transform," Hazel cut in and Gar nodded softly. "Why a tiger?"

Gar shrugged softly, "I don't know. He thinks it's psychological. Tigers have always been my favourite. Ever since I was a kid."

Gar turned his head away and Hazel looked back at the Chief. "So... You all just live here?"

"This isn't simply a sanctuary, Hazel," Chief started. "It's an incubation chamber, an experiment. The work I do on them will push medical science forward decades in a matter of years. What's happening here will one day save thousands, even millions, of lives." Chief paused and his eyes moved to Rachel. "I think I can help you, too, Rachel."

Hazel set down her tea and both girls looked up at Chief. "You- You can't help me," Rachel stuttered.

The Chief shrugged. "That's what they said about Cliff, Larry and Rita... and Garfield," Chief recalled, his eyes moving around. "That I couldn't. That they were doomed. And yet, here they all sit, enjoying dessert." Hazel looked over the table, noticing the way Cliff tapped his fingers against his empty plate. "If you'd let me examine you, do some tests-" Rachel turned away, sighing heavily and she reached for Hazel's hand under the table. "Hazel can stay with you the whole time. Rachel, you're not alone." Rachel sat in silence, thinking.

"Can we talk about it?" Hazel asked and The Chief nodded.

Hazel kept her hand on Rachel's and pulled them into the connecting living room. Hazel closed the door and Rachel sat on the leather one-seater. "You don't have to do this," Hazel said softly, walking to sit on the coffee table in front of her. Hazel tilted her head, trying to meet Rachel's eyes but she wouldn't look up. "But it's your choice."

Rachel brushed her hair behind her ear and took a deep breath. "Maybe we can," Rachel shrugged softly, "Give it a shot."

Hazel nodded softly. "You give me the word and I'll stop him, okay?" Rachel nodded.

❁

THE COLD AIR HAD ESCAPED THE BASEMENT AND THE MONITORS HAD BEEN TURNED OFF, LEAVING THE SPACE DEADLY QUIET. Rachel lay on the medical bed, tapping her fingers against her stomach softly. Hazel held onto Rachel's jacket, sitting on a stool beside Gar. The chief was moving around, collecting everything he needed. 

Hazel nervously toyed with the parts of broken cotton hanging loosely from the sleeves. Gar looked up at her, watching Hazel's eyes stay focussed on Rachel and her shaking figure. Gar rolled closer to Hazel, knocking his knee against hers. She turned to him and Gar offered her a smile. "She'll be okay," Gar whispered. Hazel nodded softly and Gar squeezed her arm softly.

Chief secured straps across Rachel, tightening them, securing her legs and arms down. Rachel sucked a deep breath through her teeth. "Does it have to be so tight?" Rachel asked, her voice soft.

The Chief nodded. "Yes. This ability you possess is likely tied to your nervous system," Chief assessed. "Trying to analyse it could trigger some physical movements. I don't want you getting hurt." Rachel nodded softly but her hands gripped the side of the medical bed tightly.

"Chief, are you sure about this?" Gar asked.

"This is a relatively simple procedure, given what I've dealt with before," Chief assured smiling slightly. "Bring me my case."

Gar furrowed his eyebrows. "Why? What are you gonna do?" Gar asked, looking between him and Rachel.

Chief sighed softly, his patient nature wearing thin. "You are here to assist me, Garfield, not to question me," Chief remained, tightening his gloves. "Understood?"

"Yeah, but I-"

"Do what I ask," Chief ordered in a loud voice, interrupting Gar. Hazel flinched slightly and Gar hung his head. "For her. Please?" Gar paused before nodding. Gar opened the drawer and retrieved Chief's case, walking over and handing it to him. "Thank you, my boy." Chief clicked it open, revealing different vials and synergies sorted neatly inside. "I can remove whatever's inside you."

Rachel's breath doubled and shook her head. "No. No, wait, wait. I don't wanna do this anymore."

"This is for your own good, my child," Chief spoke, readying two long syringes. "I promise you."

"Let me up. Please," Rachel begged.

"She said let her up," Hazel repeated. The Chief ignored her and continued, readying his tools.

"Hazel please," Rachel pleaded.

Hazel set Rachel's jacket down and walked to Rachel, reaching for the straps. "Do not!" The Chief yelled and Hazel flinched.

Gar jumped to his feet, grabbing Hazel's arm and pushed her back position himself between Hazel and the bed. "She doesn't want to do this anymore. I've gotta unstrap her."

Chief took a breath and held his head high. "Leave this room. Now," The Chief ordered.

"Get her out," Gar whispered, looking back at Hazel. Hazel turned, tugging at the straps holding Rachel's legs down. "Chief let her go," Gar growled his eyes transforming into the green tigers. "I mean it." 

Gar roared at The Chief, his skin turning bright green and sharp fangs growing from his teeth. Hazel went to move forward but the Chief pulled out a dart gun, shooting a needle into Gar's shoulder.

"Gar!" Rachel shouted. Gar's legs buckled and he stumbled. Hazel rushed to catch him as his knees gave out and lay him on the floor, his body going limp. Hazel stood, facing the Chief. He reacted quickly, shooting a second dart at Hazel, and it caught in her upper arm. The needle released into her blood immediately, but Hazel simply huffed and tore it out, tossing it on the floor. "Idiot," Hazel cursed. The Chief reached for his case as Hazel ran at him. He swung the case, just missing her face. Hazel grabbed his wrist and pushed him against the cabinets.

He grabbed the collar of her jacket and ducked away, and he pulled her into the cabinet, smashing her nose against the top. Sharp pain ran through Hazel's face, the bones in her nose twisting strangely as she winced. Blood rushed from her nose, falling to the front of her shirt and before Hazel could gain her senses and heal, the Chief slammed the case across her temple.

Hazel hit the counter with a loud bang. Hazel clawed at the countertop, trying to keep herself up. Hazel heard Rachel's faint voice call for her but the world around Hazel spun and the noises blurred together. Hazel's hands slipped and she fell back against the floor, the pounding in her head taking over and the world went dark.

Hazel's head throbbed relentlessly, pain reverberating through her skull. It was as though each heartbeat sent shockwaves of agony. Yet, at the same time, her body felt strangely weightless, as if it were detached from her consciousness. She felt trapped in her own mind, a dream her brain was creating, but it felt so out of her control. Maybe it was a nightmare.

She was flat on her back on the hard ground, her body desperately wanting to move, open her eyes, and see what was around her but she couldn't. The sound of the wind was so loud in her ears that her eyes screwed shut in pain. Grass brushed against her arms, dragging across her skin as the wind blew softly. She could see the blurred outline of the sun through her eyelids. She knew the sun was meant to warm her skin; it always did. Days spent in her garden with her guitar, reading a book on a warm spring morning, but this Sun, the one she could barely tell was real did nothing. It simply stayed as a light she wished she could see.

The howling wind suddenly stopped. The pain that held her to the ground disappeared in an instant. Hazel's body shuddered and she forced her eyes open, staring up at the endless blue sky. It stretched on and on, with no clouds blocking the bright colours of the sky and sun. Rays of light poured over Hazel's body and the grass around her but there was no centre source of light. Hazel pushed her body up, her limbs feeling almost magnetised to the ground. She looked over the grass-felid, bright lavender flowers standing high in the grass.

With a pained groan, Hazel pushed herself onto her knees, staring off into the sky. "You look lost," A voice called. Hazel looked over her shoulder. A woman, taller than Hazel stood in the field, her long golden skirt flowing in the wind, the runes that covered her body lit golden like the sun. Hazel brought her arm up, trying to shield her eyes from the sun, squinting to see the woman's face but her sun hid her face completely. "You'll find your way. You always do."

— gods —