{"id":5606,"date":"2026-04-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=5606"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:54:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:54:16","slug":"dimension-of-abnormality-part-viii-the-powerful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/dimension-of-abnormality-part-viii-the-powerful\/","title":{"rendered":"Dimension of Abnormality, Part VIII: The Powerful"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Dimension of Abnormality<\/a><\/div>\n
By Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

All Nova could feel was excruciating pain. Every part of her body, from the top of her head down to the soles of her feet, burned as if she were thrown into a fire. The agony never ceased, tormenting her for an eternity. She couldn\u2019t think about \u2014 couldn\u2019t remember \u2014 anything but the pain throbbing in her bones and slowly taking her soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darkness surrounded her, and she began to wonder if she\u2019d ever see again. She was alone in this expanse of void, where pain became her friend. She didn\u2019t know the time or where she was, except that her body was on fire and felt like it would be consumed by the flames. She didn\u2019t even remember what had happened right before darkness captured her and never let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It tormented her more that she couldn\u2019t figure out why she was in pain. She wondered if she was dying \u2014 if this is what death felt like. She had imagined it would be more peaceful. She thought dying meant traveling into the light and entering into a place where there was no pain or fear. But she now faced torture as if she were traveling into the depths of hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, hell transformed into blinding white lights. The darkness began to slip away as a glaring white circle swallowed her surroundings. Her eyes stung from the brightness, shooting a jolt of pain into her head. Then, the burning sensation began to vanish as well, leaving her limbs trembling and fatigued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova closed her eyes to escape the piercing light, but the darkness only brought the phantom of pain back. She squinted, working her throbbing brain to make sense of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White walls came into focus, bare and suffocating, and there was a wooden door directly in front of her. Turning her head brought on another round of burning pain, but she bore through it to discover herself in a tiny, square room. It was empty except for a metal table beside her, covered with medical tools. Nova noticed clean needles, blades, scissors, and other unknown surgical instruments. Her eyes roamed to her body, finding herself bound to a recliner chair. Behind her, she heard a soft beeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her wrists were cuffed to the armrests, as her ankles were to the foot of the chair. Her heart dropped at the sight of two needles pierced into each of her hands and one into the crook of her left arm. There were patches taped to her skin below the cuffs on both her wrists and ankles. Wires trailed from the patches and attached to a machine behind her. She assumed that the machine was the source of the accelerating beeping. As she continued into consciousness, she felt a sensation all over her skin that she realized was a white bodysuit zipped up to her neck, choking her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her palms began to sweat, and her body broke out into trembles. The throbbing in her brain grew as if it were a disease tearing the inside of her skull to shreds. She couldn\u2019t form any thoughts, but she kept straining because she had<\/em> to remember. She needed to figure out why she was here, what had happened to her, and why she was in so much pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beeping grew louder and more rapid as the pain returned to her limbs. The throbbing suffocated her, and she began to gasp and choke. Stars appeared in her vision, and she felt herself slowly slipping back into the darkness. She fought with everything in her power to avoid that torment again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLittle star,\u201d said a low and mellow voice. Nova\u2019s head shot up, and she saw a man standing in front of the closed door. She had to squint to focus her vision, and she caught a pair of ocean eyes gazing back at her. The man\u2019s lips were slightly upturned at the corners, but the smile didn\u2019t reach his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her heart stopped when the man\u2019s gaze brought back the memory of a blue field, as she saw herself twirling in the arms of this man. It brought her a moment of warmth, but that vanished the second another memory entered her mind: one where she was in a tall room filled with chairs, and there was a gathering of people in golden uniforms. She saw the man again, his face dark. He had lied to her. He had given her a look with zero empathy as he allowed her to be knocked unconscious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the memories were flooding back in. Her and Amias in the cave on Apricus, her betraying Adira and the colony, her and Amias arriving on Caligo and walking to the Council Hall, where she would be betrayed and meet her end in this tiny room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFather,\u201d she finally choked out the word. Her throat was dry and stung when she spoke. However, the rage filling her veins and making her face blazing hot made her forget all the pain she was feeling. Suddenly, her voice came out clear and sharp, \u201cHow could you do this to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father\u2019s face remained unchanged. He tilted his head slightly and studied her, those ocean eyes never leaving hers. Nova refused to let his dark look chill her, so she inclined her head in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know you are afraid, daughter,\u201d he finally replied, beginning to approach her slowly. \u201cBut you must understand we are doing a good thing for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She kept her body still, so it wouldn\u2019t tremble at his closeness. \u201cWhat do you mean? Why am I here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father sighed, and Nova finally caught a shift in his expression. His brows furrowed and his shoulders lowered slightly as he began to speak. \u201cYou deserve to know, so allow me to explain.\u201d He paused, waiting for her permission. All she gave was a hesitant nod, so he continued, \u201cThere have been uprisings on the other planets in our system caused by people who have kept their abilities hidden. The chaos is all over the holographs\u2014towns destroyed, children harmed and killed, and resources stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese people have kept their abilities from the world and created a union so they could catch the entire solar system by surprise and use their powers to destroy us.\u201d Nova\u2019s stomach began to churn as her father\u2019s face grew dark and his eyes fell to the floor. \u201cEvery planet around us is currently under lockdown, trying to capture these criminals and stop them from harming innocent people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFortunately, Caligo is the only planet in this system that has experienced a small number of uprisings, and that is because we have already taken care of those who had powers years ago. These other planets do not have that same protection we do; they lack our resources. But, thanks to you,\u201d his eyes met Nova\u2019s once again, \u201cWe can give them something special and powerful that will keep them safe for centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova\u2019s heart pounded violently against her ribcage, but she swallowed the scream threatening to burst out of her. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father clasped his hands together and leaned towards her, his bright eyes turning as dark as voids. \u201cA drug that will suppress the power of all abnormalities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova felt the blood rush from her face. \u201cWhat?\u201d She gasped. \u201cYou\u2019re taking away their powers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are,\u201d her father nodded. A small smile returned to his face. \u201cYou have inspired us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her throat constricted. \u201cI\u2019m confused.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough killing people like you has kept us safe from these uprisings, the Council has come to realize how much tragedy that solution has caused for Caligean citizens. We were taking children from their parents and parents from their children. It was brutal of us, we admit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut, we have found a better way to eliminate this species without killing the person themself, only their dangerous abilities. We need you because your species contains an unnamed nitrogenous base in your DNA that we want to study and alter. We thought it\u2019d be better to bring you here specifically, because we don\u2019t want to cause anymore unwanted harm for other abnormalities. I knew my kind-hearted daughter would volunteer for our experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was like her world was falling apart underneath her. Nova\u2019s father \u2014 her own<\/em> father \u2014 was allowing these scientists to study her and use her DNA like this. She felt the heat in her veins curling her hands into fists, but at the same time, her eyes were beginning to sting and she felt her heart breaking in her chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou drugged me and threw me in here,\u201d she screamed, the sobs finally taking over her body and making her voice hoarse. \u201cThat\u2019s not me volunteering! I would never<\/em> volunteer to do something like that! This means taking away a part of people that makes them who they are! This is just as horrible as killing them! Father, how could you\u2026\u201d Her voice broke off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man looked down and shut his eyes, his lips pressed into a straight line. \u201cIt seems you aren\u2019t understanding me correctly, Nova. What we are doing is good<\/em>. We are saving humanity from this abnormal species that has harmed and killed many of us. I thought you would be grateful we are still keeping them alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you forgetting that your daughter<\/em> is part of this \u2018abnormal species?\u2019\u201d Nova\u2019s throat stung, but the fire in her chest made her push through. \u201cHave you ever considered that we are human, too? Not all of us use our powers for harm. We can find another way to stop these uprisings, but this isn\u2019t right. I will not stand with you on this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He studied her again for a long moment. Suddenly, he cleared his throat and looked away. \u201cLet\u2019s see if showing you more of what we\u2019re doing will change your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How stubborn could he be?<\/em> Nova gritted her teeth. Every second, she felt the fire rising inside of her. She was betrayed. She was lied to. She was being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even then, she still couldn\u2019t stop the tears from pooling down her cheeks. This was her father, the one who had raised her and loved her when no one else did. He had accepted her and given her everything she needed. But that man she remembered wasn\u2019t the same man she saw standing before her now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t I seen enough?\u201d She choked on another sob. \u201cYou\u2019ve bound me to this chair and stuck needles in me for your \u2018experiment.\u2019 What more could you possibly show me to change my mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is much more to see than what\u2019s inside this room,\u201d her father explained, walking towards the door. \u201cWe will bring some soldiers in here to help you out. Oh, another thing,\u201d he paused with the door half-open and turned to her. \u201cDon\u2019t even try to use your powers. The chip in your skin will cause you immense pain if you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs this why you lied about being sick?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He kept his eyes on hers. \u201cIt was the only way you\u2019d come back after what happened five years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those were his parting words as he shut the door behind her, trapping her in the empty room once again with nothing but her sorrow and rage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an hour of staring into the blinding lights, Nova saw a small squad of soldiers enter the tiny white room. They approached her and removed the cuffs attaching her to the chair, only to place new cuffs on her wrists and ankles so she could move but couldn\u2019t escape. Heavy chains connected to the cuffs and dragged on the floor as she stumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldiers ushered her out of the room and into another room with white walls, though this time it was a long, thin hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova felt numb as they pushed her along. She tripped and stumbled multiple times, her legs too weak to hold her weight for long. Her body was slumped forward, her back heavy with phantom pain and the added weight of the chains. All her limbs felt dysfunctional; she was surprised she was able to stand and walk at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She believed it was the anger boiling inside her that kept her from completely falling apart. She\u2019d never forget what her father allowed these people to do to her, and she could never forgive him for using her love for him to deceive her like this.. She didn\u2019t care what he showed her to try to prove himself heroic; she could never stand by his side and watch people like her lose a part of themselves because people saw them as monsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her anger also went out to Amias as more of the memories flooded in. He had also lied to her about her father\u2019s illness and had convinced her to trust him. She made herself vulnerable to him when she felt the pressure of choosing to go home or stay on Apricus, and he had given her courage. She had felt safe and seen because of him, yet he tricked her and delivered her to this torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was everything he said a lie? Even the story about his brother?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was as if Nova\u2019s thoughts about him attracted his presence, for there he stood at the end of the hallway. Instead of his old clothes from Apricus, Amias now wore a navy-blue Caligean uniform. A belt wrapped around his waist, sheathing a small gun as well as a couple of daggers. His dark hair was parted to one side, the curls falling over one of his piercing eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova hated how handsomely kept he was. He didn\u2019t even seem affected by her presence, for his eyes were vacant and his mouth relaxed. Even his posture was at ease, though he stood upright to make himself tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t even look guilty for what he did to her, and that thought propelled her forward. Her legs were no longer hers as she sprinted down the hallway towards Amias. Her veins were pulsing and making her body burn with rage. Hands were curled into fists without her permission and flying through the air towards his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Nova\u2019s fist only made it a couple of inches away from his face before her chains were pulled back. She fell backwards and collapsed onto the floor, her chest rising and falling shakily. Stars sparkled in her vision as she grunted and pulled herself up, though her body was fighting her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStay down!\u201d A soldier ordered from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her body was pulled up by the chains. The cuffs tightened and made her wince, but that didn\u2019t stop her from glaring at those silver eyes before her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias didn\u2019t move an inch when she tried hitting him, completely undeterred \u2013 though Nova caught a glimpse of something flash through his eyes. And that little wrinkle between his brows formed. It did nothing to settle her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTRAITOR!\u201d She wailed, throwing herself forward again. Her body was jerked backwards again by the soldiers holding her chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias\u2019 shoulders sagged as he released a breath. \u201cNova, I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCruz, we were ordered to take her to the labs,\u201d said another soldier behind Nova. \u201cGet out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias’ eyes narrowed as he glanced at the person over Nova\u2019s shoulder. \u201cFor more testing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe will only be observing today,\u201d the soldier replied in a monotone voice. Nova couldn\u2019t see the man behind her, but she assumed he was bored with Amias\u2019 presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without another word, Amias stood to the side and allowed them to walk through a doorway leading into another hallway. Nova forced herself to look away from him and move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plain white walls seemed to be never-ending until they reached a room with large windows and blue walls. There were long tables full of equipment like microscopes, computers, and vials, and people in long, white coats were walking from table to table, writing and typing things down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldiers pushed her inside, where she was met with many pairs of gazing eyes. She saw bright ocean eyes among them, paired with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNova, you\u2019re here,\u201d her father exclaimed. He, too, wore a white coat. \u201cNow we can show you what we\u2019ll be doing with your DNA.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She couldn\u2019t tear her eyes away from his coat. \u201cYou\u2019re a scientist\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, little star,\u201d he said with a chuckle, patting down his coat as if to show its cleanliness. \u201cI had to keep this job of mine hidden, otherwise I could be a target for the abnormal species. Especially since I have an abnormal daughter. It would\u2019ve been chaos, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova blinked, wondering if the man before her was real. If he was saying these things to her, calling his own daughter abnormal. How much more of these words could she take?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father took Nova\u2019s silence as an initiative, putting a hand on her back and walking her forward. His touch sent shivers down her spine, but the coolness only lasted a second before it was swallowed up by her hot rage. She shook his arm off and let him lead the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her father had no reaction to her pulling away \u2013 instead, he took her over to a holograph screen and showed her a diagram of colorful DNA strands. Her father explained that each color represented a nitrogenous base. In the \u201cnormal\u201d diagram, there were only four colors for the four nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. However, the picture to the right, the \u201cabnormal\u201d diagram, had five colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat fifth color you see here is the new base we\u2019ve discovered in your DNA,\u201d Nova\u2019s father explained. \u201cWe\u2019re calling it abnormine\u2026at least until we pen it a better name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took Nova around the lab from there, explaining all the science they knew about her DNA so far, and all the science they hope to find if she allows them to experiment on her more. Everything went through one ear and out the other. The only thing Nova gathered was that even if her father said it was her choice, she was still trapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had a chip in her that kept her from using her powers. Even if she could use them, where would she go? She couldn\u2019t go back to Apricus, at least not now. She didn\u2019t know if she could face Adira just yet, and the Chieftess wouldn\u2019t hold back her berating \u2013 she had been right about the humans, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova wondered if the Chieftess had known what would happen to her when she came back to Caligo. The thought made her stomach roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even then, what she\u2019d face in Apricus didn\u2019t seem half as bad as partnering with her father to eliminate the part of DNA that made people like her the way they were. This whole experiment was wrong. Her father and whoever else was involved in this were taking away something special and powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope you are ready to resume the experiment, Nova.\u201d Her father\u2019s booming voice shattered her thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova looked up into those bright eyes that were once her comfort but now served as a reminder of humanity\u2019s betrayal, a reminder that even the ones she thought cared for her could never love her because she was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo I even have a choice?\u201d She spat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were hoping you\u2019d be more flexible about this, especially after seeing how you\u2019d be saving the whole solar system if you allowed us to continue. However, it seems you would rather allow the world to fall into the hands of this monstrous species,\u201d her father sighed, rubbing his forehead as if his daughter were giving him a headache. \u201cBut, letting you go is too much of a risk. The fate of humanity is in our hands now, and you are the key to saving it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the key<\/em>,\u201d Nova growled. \u201cYou can just find some other \u2018monster\u2019 to experiment on if you really think what you\u2019re doing is right, which it isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shot her a glare before signaling to a soldier behind her. \u201cMaybe you just need more time to reflect. I understand this is a lot to process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A soldier tugged on Nova\u2019s chains and made her fall back. She grunted at the impact. \u201cYou\u2019re going to force me into more tests?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019re sending you to one of our sleeping rooms here. Go get some rest and be prepared to follow instructions in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it was official: she had no choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything was crumbling down on her, and all she could do was let the soldiers drag her away into whatever torture chamber they had for her next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, this was the one thing her father didn\u2019t lie about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova was sitting on a thick, soft blanket covering a cot. The room she was in was empty besides the cot, a toilet, and a sink. The walls weren\u2019t white this time \u2013 instead, they were a muted yellow that didn\u2019t blind her. Nova still felt like she was in a prison, but she\u2019d take this room over that room with the chair and all those prickly medical tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t have the chains on her anymore, but she still felt a weight pulling her down. She couldn\u2019t even think about the lab \u2014 all her thoughts were still on the betrayal of her father and Amias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tears threatened to fall and, just for this moment, Nova let them. She\u2019d been holding back for far too long, struggling to maintain bravery in the face of her captors and her trainer and everyone she\u2019d ever known. Unfortunately, Amias had seen this side of her once. He made her feel so comfortable and safe that she poured out her sorrows, and he betrayed her. He had told her she was strong, and she believed him. But here she was now, trapped and breaking apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least Amias wasn\u2019t here to see this now, so Nova let herself cry. She sobbed for hours until her eyes were dry and empty of tears. The blanket was a cocoon around her and cut out the blinding overhead lights. She stayed wrapped in darkness for several more hours until she heard the opening and closing of a door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Nova lifted the blanket off her, she saw a dark-blue uniform paired with silver eyes. A wrinkle formed between the soldier\u2019s brows, and his lips parted. In one hand, he held a plate with food, while the other held a glass of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s around dinnertime, so I thought you\u2019d be hungry,\u201d Amias said softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her veins pulsed, urging her to smash the soldier\u2019s face apart. She even felt the electricity telling her to use her power and send him into an endless void despite the chip in her skin. But the pounding organ in her chest told her not to. And her growling stomach told her she needed to take that food regardless of who was giving it to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias set the plate and glass beside the cot and returned to the door. He was in the process of opening it when he hesitated, before turning around to look at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have every right to hate me, Nova,\u201d he sighed. \u201cI will even support you in hating me. But I want you to know that I didn\u2019t lie to you about anything except my mission.\u201d His silver eyes fell to the floor, and his hands retreated from the doorknob. \u201cI still care for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those words did nothing to ease the anger inside her, and she shot out of her cot. \u201cIf you cared<\/em> for me, you wouldn\u2019t have brought me back knowing what it would cost me. You would\u2019ve told me the truth!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou deserved the truth,\u201d he agreed in a weak voice, his expression filled with sorrow. \u201cYou deserved better than this. I wish I could\u2019ve told you everything, but things would\u2019ve been worse if I did\u2026for the both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you dare<\/em> make those excuses,\u201d Nova hissed. \u201cThere were many ways we could\u2019ve gotten out of the situation if you just told me the truth. Now we\u2019re both stuck working for these monsters, and it\u2019s all your fault.\u201d Her face burned. \u201cUnless you want<\/em> to work for these people?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias ran a hand through his black locks, his fists clenched. \u201cI can\u2019t say anything about that.\u201d He made eye contact with the camera in one corner of the room. \u201cBut I will say that if the situation were different, I would\u2019ve done everything I could to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova scoffed and turned her head away. \u201cYou\u2019re a coward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias was so silent, Nova thought he might\u2019ve left. But when she turned back, she saw him standing there, his silver eyes still on her. Suddenly, a thought came to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas the Chieftess in on this? Did she know what would happen when we came back?\u201d Nova recalled how the creature had been so ready to let her and Amias leave. It was suspicious that the Chieftess had allowed it after Nova\u2019s betrayal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Amias replied. \u201cShe has no idea what is happening here. I am still as shocked as you that she let us go, but it can\u2019t be related to this experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about the experiment,\u201d Nova gasped. The Chieftess warned her about humans taking advantage of people like her, and she knew how naive Nova was because her father was a human. It was only natural she would fall into their hands again, and that they would use her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias\u2019 shook his head. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to worry about her, Nova. The Chieftess was wrong and knew nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re wrong,\u201d Nova replied darkly. \u201cShe was right about one thing: you humans are the monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The days that followed were full of agony. Nova\u2019s father was set on doing everything he could to convince her what they were doing was right. Of course, his \u201cconvincing\u201d meant putting her through more tests where the doctors would poke her with needles and fill her body with different drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anything, this made Nova feel less convinced, yet she had to endure it. Even when the tests left her choking on her own vomit or knocked out for days, her father never stopped. He kept reminding Nova that she would see a great outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some days, Nova hoped death would take her. It would probably be better than having to go through another second of this. If she died, her father wouldn\u2019t have a way of creating whatever it is he wants in order to suppress the powers of the abnormalities. Her father chased most of them away, so he only had her to experiment on. But, if she were gone, he\u2019d have nothing \u2014 he\u2019d have to go through more trouble trying to get another test subject. At least Nova would\u2019ve tried something to stop him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today was one of those days she wished she could die. She was chained to another chair with a needle pumping drugs into her arm. Whatever the substance was, it made her surroundings spin, and her stomach churn. Her veins were throbbing, making her entire body burn. Screams were escaping her throat without her permission, the pain possessing her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the haze, Nova could make out a large window above the door. Behind the glass was an observatory room, where a group of scientists watched her and took notes on their tablets. Nova saw her father among them, his face devoid of emotion. His eyes were on hers as she screamed and thrashed. He didn\u2019t speak or move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few feet behind her father, Nova could see Amias. He was standing by the exit of the observatory room, a large gun held in his hands tightly against his chest. He, too, watched Nova. He was as still as a statue, like her father, except he had a heavy look on his face. His silver eyes were narrowed, his lips pressed tightly together into a frown. Even in her delirious state, Nova could see his knuckles were white against the gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her vision began to darken as the drugs pulled her into unconsciousness. She didn\u2019t have the energy to think about the look on Amias\u2019 face or how she felt seeing him there, watching her as these evil humans used her body for their experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last thing she remembered seeing before she fell into the darkness was Amias turning his head away and storming out of the observatory room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trapped
Everything was falling apart, but she was rising out of the shambles. | Hakeem James Hausley (Pexels)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These suffocating white rooms and never-ending hallways were becoming her new normal. It might\u2019ve been months \u2014 maybe years \u2014 since she\u2019s been outside the lab. Nova began to miss the bright yellow fields and the golden rivers of Apricus. She even missed seeing the mountains and forests of Caligo, though her home was tainted with memories of all that had happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every day, she\u2019d go through dozens of tests and endure many different drugs that her body rejected, then she\u2019d end her day eating and vomiting up tasteless food before crying herself to sleep, only to endure more agony in her nightmares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no escape. There was no more hope. She should\u2019ve stayed on Apricus. She should\u2019ve killed that human soldier when she saw him on the broken ship. She should\u2019ve done so many things\u2026but she had been foolish and naive. Now this was what her life would be. She would not only be a traitor on Apricus, but she would also become a traitor to everyone who had abilities as she aided the humans in taking away their powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was finally the end of yet another torturous day, and Nova was being dragged to her room for the night. Everything around her was distorted and spinning, her arms and legs feeling like static, so she was basically dead weight for the soldiers holding her up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her ears were ringing, so she couldn\u2019t hear what the soldiers were yelling at her. All she could see were their eyes flashing with anger and mouths moving furiously. She realized they weren\u2019t yelling at her but at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her eyes blurred, then focused on the two soldiers as they pulled her forward and continued their argument. She felt her body jerk forward when they suddenly froze. When Nova tilted her head up, she saw the two exchanging glances before staring down the empty hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told you I heard something,\u201d said one soldier, his voice slowly coming back as Nova\u2019s ears adjusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I told you that was just the\u2014\u201d began the other soldier, but he was cut off when something shot through his chest and echoed down the hall. Blood splattered onto the floor, oozing out of the second soldier\u2019s chest as he fell to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova couldn\u2019t hear herself scream over the reemerging ringing in her ears or the first soldier firing his gun in the direction the bullet came from. The walls and ceiling all became fuzzy like a dream, yet she could just barely make out a silhouette retreating behind the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldier continued to fire in the direction of the mysterious silhouette and slowly made his way towards the wall it escaped behind. Nova saw the soldier grab his walkie from his belt and speak into it, his hands shaking and white. When he let go of his belt, he jerked his gun around the corner and fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova watched as confusion filled the man\u2019s face. His expression then transformed into horror as he turned to look at Nova. His face was pale as his eyes made contact with something behind her. In seconds, the man collapsed onto the floor, blood spilling out of his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova choked on a sob, scrambling to find the wall and prop herself against it so she could get her bearings. However, mysterious muscled arms wrapped around hers and pulled her up. She was spun around to face the killer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026only to see a chiseled tan face and a pair of silver eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmias\u2026?\u201d She whispered, unsure if it was him she was seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s me,\u201d his deep voice confirmed. \u201cYou need to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d Nova couldn\u2019t form any more words. She felt his warmth all around her, silencing her and the anger that was boiling in her blood. Her heart was racing, but her thoughts began to come back. Her surroundings became clear, the ringing dissipating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say anything, just trust me,\u201d he said. When Nova didn\u2019t respond, he pulled out a dagger from his belt and touched the point to the crook of her arm. She flinched and tried to pull her arm away from the cold metal, but Amias held on firmly. \u201cTrust me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intensity in his metallic eyes made something swell inside her. The way he gazed at her and held her reminded Nova of when he held her in the cave on Apricus, when she felt unwanted and hopeless. His presence was making electricity rush through her body, giving her energy that overpowered the effects of the drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever that feeling was pulsing inside of her, it let her relax her body and allow Amias to run the point of the dagger across her skin. She inhaled a sharp breath as the metal sliced into her and struck something hard above her veins. Amias maneuvered the dagger\u2019s point so that it went underneath the hard surface and began to push it up to her skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got it,\u201d Amias said with a resonant voice, his grip on her firm but comforting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHurry,\u201d replied Nova through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, a chip came flying out of her arm and clattered on the floor. Nova gasped as power filled her veins, heating her body like fire. And the fire wasn\u2019t painful this time because it was hers to control. It was as if the chip had weighed her down, and now, she was free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blood dripping out of the crook of her arm, however, was out of control, so Amias quickly ripped off the sleeve of his uniform and wrapped it over her arm. \u201cGo, Nova. Get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked up at him, their eyes connecting. These past few weeks had felt like years, the pain and agony making each day last forever. It had felt as if there was no end in sight \u2014 that this darkness and burning would be forced to become her friend. Nova had been at the brink of letting go and allowing the world to collapse into the hands of these horrible people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, things were finally changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She may have been beaten, broken, and betrayed by those whom she thought she loved, but now, she was rising up. This soldier, before her, gave her that chance again, but Nova still wasn\u2019t sure how much she could trust him. He had helped her, betrayed her, then helped her again. She didn\u2019t think she could completely forget what he did, but she would be forever thankful for what he did today, proving he had a heart even when the rest of humanity didn\u2019t. A heart for people like her. For her<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She saw it now, the look in his eyes. Those gray irises were alight with passion and intrigue. Amias\u2019 gaze held so much more, and Nova wished she had all the time in the world to explore what it meant. She wished she had more time to figure out the things between them, but he was right: she had to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shouting erupted down the hallway, troops hurtling towards them with guns in hand. Amias\u2019 face paled, and he held Nova by both her arms. \u201cGo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without needing to be told again, Nova reached for the electricity inside her and let it travel into her fingertips. The hallway was coated in purple light, causing the soldiers to fall back and shield their eyes. Yelling rebounded off the barren walls as a portal formed behind her, its gravity pulling her inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked at Amias then, watching as the smallest grin formed on his lips. It was so subtle yet so transparent. He did<\/em> care for her. He abandoned his duties for her, even if it would cost him. He chose to forget it all for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova fell into the void with those thoughts warming her heart and sending a rush through her blood. The last thing she saw before the portal closed were soldiers pulling Amias away, yet his eyes never strayed from hers. She also caught a flash of wide, ocean-blue eyes watching her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova didn\u2019t allow herself to break away from Amias\u2019 gaze, however, and she continued to feel him with her as she fell and disappeared into the unknown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Dimension of Abnormality<\/a><\/div>

By Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer All Nova could feel was excruciating pain. Every part of her body, from the top of her head down to the soles of her feet,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"series":[59],"class_list":["post-5606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-creative","series-dimensions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5606"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5660,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5606\/revisions\/5660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5606"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=5606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}