Her bottom lips starts shaking without her controlling it. "I really can't get numbed?"

"No. I'm sorry, honey," the old lady creaks. She is handy with needles and little things, so Jorge figured she was the best option to insert the healing chip in Siren's neck and arm.

Thing is, they are poor. The money they did have got spent on the stimulations. That means there is nothing to numb Siren's neck and arm; she is wide awake as the woman cuts in the little girl's skin.

Jorge crouches down in front of the wooden chair. "It's okay." He takes her hand. She immediately starts squeezing it, sharing her pain. "It'll be over very soon."

Siren nods. She doesn't want to cry. She wants to be tough. But it's harder not to cry about physical pain than emotional pain. To her, at least.

"After this, you'll be very strong," Jorge starts. "Well, you'll be able to heal from a certain kind of metal WCKD uses. But you will train so much that you will also get muscles! Or don't you want that?"

"I do," she says shakily.

He gives her a soft smile. "Okay. Do you have any idea what exercises help?"

"Um... push-ups," she replies, thoughtful. So thoughtful that it makes her forget the pain, and that's exactly Jorge's goal. "And... and jumping jacks. And the other thing we do. Like... lying down and moving my head up."

"Sit-ups, yes." Jorge nods proudly. "Which one is your favorite?"

"Jumping jacks."

"Yeah? Why?"

"They're the easiest." A small laugh leaves her mouth.

And before she knows it, the old lady calls out, "All done."

Siren's hand automatically reaches out towards her neck to— the lady slaps it off. "You may not touch it. I have sutured the cuts, but they can still get infected. Be very careful. Make sure not to sleep on your neck or arm and don't move them too much."

She puts her hand back on her lap. "Okay."

Jorge raises an eyebrow at Siren.

"Thank you," Siren adds quickly,

"You're welcome."

☯︎︎

She can't sleep.

Who can sleep when they're only allowed to lie on one side, and not on their back or stomach of the other side? She's got one choice and it isn't nice.

But Amery is in front of her door. He'll send her back to bed. Perhaps he'll tell her a story, but stories usually don't work for her. She just wants to get herself something to drink, and then she'll wait for the sun to rise, and stumble around a bit.

Through the tiny window in the steel door, she notices Amery walks off. And she takes her chance immediately.

He will catch her if she stays in the kitchen. Other guards will catch her walking around. No one will catch her if she goes to Jorge.

So fast-paced, she makes her way to his bedroom. It's bigger than hers. He's got a twin size bed, a bigger desk, and windows. Siren doesn't have that.

She silently enters the room, knocking against the wall. "Jorge?"

A sleepy groan comes from his bed.

The little girl walks up to him. Jumps to reach the edge of his bed and then climbs onto it. "I can't sleep, Jorge."

"Mhm," he groans.

"Jorgeeee." She takes ahold of his shoulders to give his body a good shake.

That attracts his attention. "What do you want?" He asks, covering his eyes as if there's a bright light shining at him.

It's my hair, she starts smiling to herself. So white that it blinds him.

"I can't sleep," she announces. Jorge is wearing the same shirt as her, except it actually fits him. His hair is messier than usually. No gel, which means it's also grayer.

"I can't do anything about that," he grumbles. "Get some warm milk or something."

"I don't really like milk," she tells him. "Did you know I once threw up on my Daddy when he tried to feed me milk? But I was three back then. Mommy said that at one, I did simply drink it."

Jorge hums. "Yes, yes. Get water, maybe."

"That doesn't help. I can't get in the right position because I'm only allowed to lie on my right side," she informs.

"If you do it for a week, it will be the only week you have to do it."

She presses her fist in the sheets. "But I can't do it! I want to stay with you."

"In my bed?"

"Where else?" Her arms cross over her chest. "Pleaseee? I promise I don't sleepwalk or kick in my sleep. I just want..." what does she want? "...someone to lie next to," she ends up saying.

Sighing, he scoots to the side. Siren happily lies down, head on his chest.

"Dios, can't you get on your own side, hija?"

"No puedo," she replies, tightening her arms around his torso. "You're like a big teddy bear."

"Please don't make that comparison ever again, Siren."

"Teddy bear Jorge." She laughs and laughs and laughs. "Your curly hair matches, too!"

"Shh, you're about to wake everyone up. All the monsters below the bed as well," he teases.

She scoffs, even though a warning goes off inside her body. "There is no monsters."

"No?"

"No," she says toughly.

A few seconds of silence until Jorge suddenly yelps and wraps his arms around her to tickle her.

"Ahh, stop!" She tries to push him away, laughing. "I can— I cannot... breathe!"

He does stop after he has laughed his own laughs, then moves her hair out of her face. Scoots closer himself. "Try to sleep now, okay?"

"Yes. Good night. Thank you, Jorge."

"Buenas noches," he replies.