Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen

Author:Stephanie Hansen [Hansen, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781953735027
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC

I spot two guards heading in my direction as I’m turning the corner of a hallway. I take a step back around the corner and lean against the wall. I can hear them speaking to one another.

“They said I was making illegal bets on Waterbag tournaments. I don’t know how they got the charges to stick. I’ve never made a bet with Kroon in my life.”

“That sounds just like my trial. Said I was involved with drugs, but I’ve never even taken Pycnogenol to relieve pain.”

“Were you ever involved in sports?”

“I wasn’t betting on them if that’s what you’re asking.”

“No, I mean did you ever compete? I’ve noticed that many of us labeled as criminals were athletes at one point in our lives.”

“Well, yeah, I played back in guidance institute.”

“I think they’ve targeted the athletic types to be guards.”

I’m so engaged in their conversation that I almost forget to move from my location before the guards turn the corner. I walk only a few feet before we’re in the same hallway. I imagine running down the hall away from them, but my daydream turns into one of them tackling me. I decide against fleeing.

“Where are you headed?” one of the guards asks me.

“I’m going to my lab.”

The other guard looks at my identification card and says, “Your lab’s that way.” He points his finger over my shoulder, the way I just came from, and moves so that each blocks a direction.

The first guard places a hand on his weapon and looks me in the eye. I spot Al in my periphery from an adjoining hallway and notice that instead of the angry glance I would have predicted, he looks concerned for me.

“Guess I was daydreaming and got turned the wrong way. Thank you for correcting me.” I’m fearful of the guard’s hand. I know what it can do. I reach into the depths of any strength I have left and play the only card I can. I fist my right hand and hold it over the left side of my chest like some of the guards had after Rigled’s brutal death. The other guard drops his jaw. The guard with his hand on his weapon moves his arm and returns the gesture. Then he steps aside and allows me to walk to my lab as I breathe in a sigh of relief. I spy Al turning to walk the same way. I’m glad when the guards turn a corner. The sense of walking on pins and needles doesn’t escape until we head to the cafeteria. Spots swim into my vision and I stagger. I have to squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head before I can take a step forward. It seems with my increased meditation abilities my emotions and the emotions of those around me are causing me to be more prone to fainting which is rather annoying.

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