"Wake up, sleepyhead," a gentle voice whispered from my side.
My heavy lids struggled to open and wires flowed from me in every direction. I tried to remember how I got here.
"It's okay. Take your time," the gentle voice spoke again.
I knew who it was now without a doubt.
"Cia," I said through sticky lips and forced my eyes wider.
Valencia sat at the corner of my bed, the sun from a nearby window warming her tan skin.
"There we go, I knew you were awake," she said and leaned closer.
"What happened?" I asked
"You're at the doctor's," Valencia said.
"I'm sick?"
"No, not at all," Valencia said and put her hand on mine, "You've been asleep for three weeks. V33 has been asking every day if you're awake yet."
"Is she mad at me?" I said and lifted myself off the bed.
A pressure rushed into my head and forced me back down.
"Here, have some juice," Valencia said and grabbed a carton of orange juice.
I took slow sips from the straw when I noticed a mirror behind Valencia.
There I saw my reflection.
Gone was my unruly auburn hair. Only pale flesh was left in its place. And at the center of my brows, a thick black "X" stared back at me.
This was how I learned. Marks weren't contagious, they were forced.
YOU ARE READING
X-Marks: Stealing Shadows
Science FictionChildren are disappearing. And their parents don't want to find them. After Valen is taken from her home she is used for government plans never spoken aloud. Only the mark of an "X" on her forehead is left to tell her past. When her new home is over...
