the fall pt ii - [nell/day4]

nell cyprus

I am only in the lab for moments. There are sounds from above, beeping and screeching. I'm not a fan. My feet cycle, push me forward faster.

I know where I'm going. This is not it.

I pedal and think of Cedar. I hope he and Red are okay. I'm not supposed to hope that, but I do. I do and the humanity in my veins begs to be released.

"No," I whisper, pedaling faster and blinking out tears.

I think of Elite. Of Eos. Of Hanaa. Elite calling after me as I stormed past him. Eos helping me get my bag over my coat, now coated in blood. Hanaa hoping for my best. Showing her humanity. Showing all of their humanity. We aren't supposed to have that here. But we do. We all do.

And it drives me wild.

My eyes are too wet and I jerk my feet back. Bike skids. I sit. A minute. Two.

To my side several robots lie, broken, their parts scattered about. I step off my bike and walk over. Nuts and bolts, tangles of wires. I stare at them till their humanity looms in front of me, rising from their debris.

I'm as broken as them. I'm still falling.

I mount my bike and pedal through the next airlock.

girl you almost made it through the fall
girl you almost made it through the fall
girl you almost made it through the fall

nell enters the cargo hold, flees