My body feels numb and my throat dry as I carefully open my eyes. I scan the room seeing white walls, a table and two chairs, one of them being occupied.

Trying to turn around I notice something pulling on my wrists.
Confused I glance over at my wrists to see them tied to the sides of the bed.

'What the fuck?' I ask, my voice sounding raspy.

The head of the boy in the chair shoots up and turns towards me.

'You're awake!'

He rushes towards me.

I scan the boy, there were dark circles under his green eyes, his blond hair looked greasy and there were serval stains on his shirts. He looked like a mess.

'You like shit,' I laugh as he sits down on the side of my bed.
'Great to see you again too Grace.'
'Yeah yeah, I know I'm a valuable person to miss.'

He chuckles at my joke.

'What's up with these?' I roll my eyes as I nod my head towards my wrist. 'Last time you crashed the place,' he explains.

He reaches down towards my wrists and start untying them leaning over me to reach both sides. I smirk as I come up with a plan.

Just when he finishes untying my last wrist, I kick against his leg making him lose balance and fall onto the bed with me.

'What was that for? Never mind, I kind of deserved that didn't I?'

I chuckle as he turns on his side laying down next to me.

'As much of a dick, I still think you are for voting the wrong thing, I did miss you just a bit,' I admit.

I can't lie, I rather woke up to Noa than a hungry metal bat.

'Am I in trouble?' I ask thinking back at my little adventure in the woods. 'Huge,' he sighs, 'there's a meeting planned for when you wake up again.' 'Right, I'm asleep.'

I turn to my side facing Noa and close my eyes. He chuckles as he wraps and arm around my waist and pulls me against him, my head now resting on his chest.

'You're softer than a tree,' I mutter against his shirt.

I was still mad at him, but when he touched me, I felt relieved and save again. I just needed a hug after everything that happened.

'Are you comparing me to a tree?'
'Hm hm,' I hum.

I'm way too tired to talk to him, I just want to sleep. I cuddle up closer to him as he moves his hand up and down my back.

'I thought you would hate me,' he starts. 'I don't hate you.'
'You ran into the woods.'
'Noa shut up and stay where you are. I'm tired, probably high on medication and need some warmth,' I state.

He chuckles and pulls the sheets over us.

'Your wish is my command,' he jokes.

He stops moving his hand and just lets it rest.

'I just have to ask one more thing,' he starts. I groan in response.
'How are you feeling?'
'I don't feel much,' I shrug, 'only a rumbling stomach.'
'I could get you something to eat,' he suggests as he immediately tries to get up.

I grip his shirt and pull him back down readjusting myself on his chest.

'You're staying right where you are.'

*

The next time I wake up I can hear quiet snores underneath me, telling me that Noa is fast asleep.

I free myself from his embrace and quietly make my way out of bed.

My legs felt weak, but they were strong enough to walk on if I took my time.

I make my way towards the door holding onto the wall and reach for the handle, hoping they didn't lock it this time. I feel relieved when it opens as I push the handle down.

I carefully make my way over towards the toilets at the end of the hall. My legs and my mind feel like pudding juggling around.

The toilets were mostly holes in the ground but at least they had doors, in the woods there weren't any doors, imagine how many bugs saw me out there.

As I make my way back leaning against everything I can I run into Cosmo.

'Ah, I was just on my way to see how you're doin' m'lady.'
'I feel like I've been run over by a herd of hungry hippos, but besides that I'm fine,' I snarl back.
'Here let me help you, I think your medication ran out.'

I take his hand he offered me as he leads me back to my bed, where Noa was still deep asleep.

I sit on the edge of the bed as Cosmo talks me through everything they did during my rest.

'I got to say, m'lady, the ants were a smart solution. We did open it up, clean the wound and stitch it back together with proper stitches.'

I nod as I lift my gown looking at my new stitches.

'Where did you guys even get these supplies?' I ask.
'They arrived in the crates with new recruits,' he explains.

I notice an arm around my waist as the boy in the bed wakes up with a big groan from all the talking. Cosmo ignores it as he continues.

'Are you willin' to tell me how you got your wounds?' He asks.
'Tripped and fell on my cutlass, some scratches from branches and I got bit by a robotic bat,' I explain. 'And the huge bruise on your side?' he asks.
'Had to jump out of a tree.'

He shakes his head as he starts heading towards the door.

'I'm goin' to get you some new pain medication and somethin' to eat,' he explains before walking out.

'Noa?' 'Hm?'
'I'm sorry for overreacting,' I sigh, 'how did you hold up without your amazingly funny roommate?'

He laughs as he sits down behind me pulling me into his chest.

'Don't apologise, I'm just glad you're back I.. I felt so guilty.'
'I indeed ran because I would rather die out there than meet the faith awaiting me here, but I had some time to think about it. I don't respect your choice, but I'm glad you were honest with me.'

He sighs as he moves my hair to the side, looking at my neck.

'You've got hurt because of me.'
'Don't take all the credit pretty boy,' I joke, 'it's okay, it's not your fault.'

'We actually,' he starts, but pauses to take a deep breath, 'we talked about the program. Ace wanted to start as soon as possible, but we protested against it. We were planning on calling a meeting, letting everyone vote again.'

'Vote on what?' I ask.
'Giving you more time, uh.. Odin suggested that you might come around yourself.'
'Ace can kiss my ass, I'm not agreeing to any of this,' I mutter.
'What would you think if.. if you know uh, we try to fake you're on board.'

I look up meeting Noa's eyes.

'What do you mean?'
'The guys know we're close, maybe we can.. suggest for you to join the program if it's with uh.. me instead of Ace and we fake it,' he suggests with an awkward look on his face.

'Fine.'
'What?' He asks surprised.
'I trust you Noa, don't break that trust.'