A/N: Hello all! Welcome back to Gis' (or Nova's) mind. Please like and comment if you enjoy it! :)

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06 - 02 - 2089

G I S

I have a dad. And a mom. I have parents. 

I've been trying to wrap my brain around these revelations all night. As a result I've gotten little to no sleep. Every time I try to silence my brain and relax, the tidal wave of questions, doubts and fears bombard me. I'm trying to process the news but it's not going well.

Cade is in his own room sleeping. At least I hope he's having better luck than I am. I wanted him to stay with me, but Alex said no. I'm still not sure I trust Alex yet, or even know what to call him. I'm not sure about a lot of things. But at this point I'm exhausted and am willing to pick my battles.

After talking with Alex, Cade came back to see me and was obviously upset. He refused to tell me why, though. Instead, he told me to focus on taking care of myself and that he was okay. Whatever Alex said to him caused some serious turmoil in Cade's mind. And so I hope he is able to sleep. At least one of us should have energy and brain power to figure out our next steps. 

I readjust in the infirmary cot for the hundredth time, groaning and sighing. Go away intrusive thoughts! Come back tomorrow. Or never. 

I smile, imagining all the thoughts floating away and leaving me for good. Letting my mind rest from the constant cycle of doubt, fear, and worry. My body relaxes and breathing evens out. I pull up the thin blanket under my chin to protect me against the draft. 

You have a father. 

You have a mother.

Your name is Nova.

And there we go again. Ugh. 

The mattress squeaks as I sit up and rub my eyes. Sleep isn't going to be nice and come around, so I might as well do something else. My eyes wander to the door, noting the strip of light at the bottom from the hallway. No one has checked on me in several hours. I don't know if the door is locked, but maybe it's worth a shot.

I stand and quietly pad over to the door. The handle turns silently and releases. Light shines in my eyes forcing me to blink rapidly to adjust as I step into the hallway. It's so bright. Too bright. I can't see anything.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," a surprised voice states from my right. I blink and turn in that direction, making out a desk with a nurse sitting behind it.

"I can't sleep," I whisper. I'm not sure what time it is, but would hate to wake anyone else. There are no windows nearby for me to see the color of the sky.

"I can give you something to help you relax," the nurse says, rising and coming around the desk to meet me. "Come with me, let's get you back into bed." She reaches for my arm to guide me to my room, but I step back out of her reach.

"No, I am done trying to sleep. I'm done being in that room. Please," I add as an afterthought. Maybe it will help my case. I know I haven't been exactly cooperative thus far, but that isn't entirely my fault. "I just need to walk. To clear my head."

The nurse glances behind me down the hall, where I hear footsteps approaching. I turn to see a man approaching, also dressed in scrubs. 

Just like that, I'm feeling trapped. I cross my arms, backing against the door to my room, staring at the two people. They both wear hesitant expressions of caution. Like they're dealing with a wild animal.

"It's the middle of the night," the man says. "Let's go back to bed and tomorrow we can talk about exploring some." He's trying to compromise with me. To get me to trust him and work with him. But all I want to do in this moment is run away. 

"I can't sleep," I say again, this time more forcefully. "I need to go for a walk."

The female nurse's expression softens and she nods. "Tomorrow," she says. "Right now you need rest. You've been through a lot, Nova."

"Stop." I shake my head. "My name is Gis. At least, I think it is. Nova- that's not me."

"We have medications to help you relax," the man says. He reaches into his scrub pocket for a vial and syringe.

"No way," I all but growl and take off, sprinting past the two nurses. They call after me, but I don't hear any sounds of pursuit. At least I've got a head start. 

I'm fed up with people deciding my life for me. With them telling me how to live and everything I should do. Can't anyone understand that I've never had a choice? That I need to be able to make my own decisions? 

I sniffle, realizing my eyes are wet with tears as I run. I rub at my face and slow down, coming to the end of the sterile hallway where it splits into a T. I look left and right, trying to decide which way to go. 

I glance over my shoulder, and see several people running towards me. No time to waste. I take off running again, this time to the left. The hallway cuts off in double doors, which swing open easily. The white walls and fluorescent lights contrast starkly against this new area.

Dark blue walls, made darker by dim lighting. The floor is still tiled, but also looks darker. Instead of a narrow hallway with many doors dotting each side, this is a corridor that branches off into at least ten different areas. By each branching hallway are large letters and numbers, painted in red on the walls. Zone A1, Zone A2, Zone A3 and so on. The hallways are short and cut off abruptly with locked gates. Each gate has a bold sign that reads: 

NO ENTRY

RESTRICTED QUARANTINE ZONE

The hallways are too dim to see beyond the fencing and locked gate. Nevertheless, the signage builds dread in the pit of my stomach. 

"Nova, please stop. You can't be back here!" 

"Please, we're not trying to harm you."

I take off running away from the voices. My feet tread down the main dark corridor, not waiting to see who called my name. I hear someone swear and the sound of footsteps behind me. But I run on until I reach the end of the corridor and realize it's a dead end.

I come to a stop, breathing heavy. My eyes have managed to adjust to the dim lighting, and realize it's not actually a dead end. No, there's an elevator. I push the button. Then again. And again. 

Nothing happens. No sounds to indicate an elevator is coming to rescue me. To give me an escape from that horrid medical room. From the people pursuing me with their drugs and syringes and green surgical masks.

Seconds go by. Moments that stretch into a lifetime. I'm sure I'm almost out of time. That at any moment someone will find me and drag me back to that room. I'll feel the pinch of a needle. My limbs will go weak and I will have lost the fight. Again. 

Ding

The elevator doors open and I stumble inside, pressing the close door button repeatedly. I can see several people a few yards away, telling me to stop. They look worried. I don't care.

The elevator doors shut and I release a breath. Only to realize I'm not alone.

"Are you alright?" A lanky man with a scuffed leather jacket stares down at me, a mildly concerned expression on his face. His hair is wild - brown locks swirl in every direction. Does he know what a hairbrush is? His leather jacket is worn; there's a red patch on one of the elbows. He has the kind of eyes which make you wonder what he's thinking. Hard to read, I think. I stare at him, then realize I'm staring. 

The elevator is moving, though I'm unsure of which direction. The man is still staring at me. I realize how I must look, like a crazed animal. Hair wild and face tired from tossing and turning. From no sleep.

"Nova?" He says, and the name- my name- snaps me out of this mental trance I'm in. 

"Who are you?" I ask. 

The man hesitates before answering, his expression thoughtful. "My name is Owen. I work here. But it's the middle of the night. You should be sleeping. Where are you going?"

"So should you," I snap back, tired of people bossing me around. At least we're both stuck in this elevator, so he can't drag me back to those nurses. Knowing I'm safe from them for the moment gives me courage to speak up. "Why aren't you?"

"I'm sorry?"

I cross my arms. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Owen leans against the opposite side of the elevator, facing me. He smirks. "I have a job to do."

"Why is everyone so vague? I've been here for several days and am still completely in the dark. Why can't you just tell me what you do plainly? You have a job to do? Okay then, what job?"

Instead of answering my questions, Owen says, "Have you been able to sleep at all? You look exhausted." He frowns. "I know it's a lot to process and take in, but we're on the same side. If you can't sleep, there are ways to help you."

"You mean drugs."

The elevator dings and stops, opening the doors. I wait for Owen to step out and leave me be. You can imagine my frustration when he doesn't budge. 

"This is your floor," I tell him. "Get off the elevator and leave me alone."

"You'll get lost," he points out, still not moving. "Let me help you."

I open my mouth to tell him I don't want any more drugs, but he raises his hands and shakes his head. "I just mean, let me come with you. Wherever you're going. That way you don't get lost. This place is a lot bigger than it seems."

"You're not going to drug me and drag me back to those nurses?" I say, surprised by his offer. I'm not totally naive to take him at his word, but a part of me wants to trust him. He seems gentle and nonthreatening. 

You don't have the greatest track record for trusting people, Gis.

"We don't do that here," he says simply.

I scoff, "That is exactly what the nurses have done. Forgive me for doubting you, but you're going to have to do better than that to earn my trust."

Owen sticks his hands in his pockets, pulling out the lining to show me they're empty. "See? No drugs. No weapons."

I bite my lip, realizing I don't have much of a choice. Either he comes with, or he'll probably take me back to the infirmary anyway. I scan the buttons on the elevator, trying to decide where to go. There are names near the floor numbers, but I don't know what they mean. 

"Where are we headed?" Owen asks. 

Outside. I need to go outside. I need fresh air. 

"Which way to the exit?" I ask, planting my hands on my hips. "I need to go outside." I'm prepared for him to tell me no. To tell me it isn't safe. That we can't risk it. 

Instead, he steps closer and leans around me to push one of the buttons. It lights up golden yellow and the elevator begins to move. I stand next to him in muted silence until we come to a stop and the doors open.

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