Chapter 12: Chapter 12
As the alarm blared it's note by her bedside, Lola jolted awake looking to her digital clock that displayed thirty minutes past five in the morning.
She briskly switched on her room lights. Took a quick bath before changing into a Black Sports Bra and yoga pants streamlined with shades of pink. Courtesy of The Shining. She packed her ruffled long black hair into a messy bun and then wore her matching Droypods that blared, Rousey- The Sunny Side. The popular feminine popstar of their dystopian World. She jetted out of her room stealthily to avoid waking the others and then outside. The open space that stormed her body with cold breeze and serenity. She hummed to the song as she jogged to the training ground.
Take me to the sunny side
Toss me, into a welcoming reality
A garden filled with so much love,
A chance to be what you want,
An open space with your crush,
Reading a book or something,
Enjoying the breeze across your skin
I'm tired of the rainy side!
This raging storm that strikes,
This darkened clouds that dampens
This forsaken cold that grips!
Ohhh it reminds me of my dark place
The loneliness in my room!
The silence that haunts!
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Take me to the sunny side
Toss me, into a welcoming reality
A garden filled of so much love,
A chance to be what you want
A open space with your crush,
Reading a book or something,
Enjoying the breeze across your skin
For two weeks now, this had been her daily routine. Visiting training grounds very early in the morning and joining the others at home before anyone noticed. This weeks too, had been hell living with the team. Collins daily troubles and Michael's stupidity to begin with. Then there was Theodore, the blonde who detached himself from the rest. And Ariel, the mystery girl who spends most of her leisure time playing Chess. Marcus, the talented pianist amongst them who she constantly had arguments with. Both of them always had contradictory points to every topic.
Once she arrived the Training ground, she studied her environment carefully for stalky eyes. But when she found none, she eagerly pressed her customized remote, Doctor Roberts had given each of them. The ground quaked for minutes before she lowered beneath the ground. At the same time, she wondered how Doctor Roberts was able to build all these and why he had much love for underground rooms.
The upper panels slid shut and lights brightened the vast room. She toured towards the right side and an elevator pinged open. Travelling her downwards to the training room.
"Good Morning, Miss Lola." Service solemnly greeted as the lights instantly illuminated the room. She smiled at no one in particular but to the humanly voice that encompassed the room.
"Morning, Service." She replied strolling to the bar side for a bottle of water.
"I trust you had a splendid night." Service stated. She rolled her eyes recalling last night argumentative incident. Instigated by no one else but Collins.
"Horrible!" She declared. "I wonder if it's too late to live separately from the others." She chuckled.
"With time, you'll get along." Service simply responded but the phrase 'With time' jolted her mind to recall Doctor Roberts phrase. She was even more surprised, their phrases carried the same intonation. Her eyes darted towards the end of the room, where an elevator, one Doctor Roberts had warned to be off limits. She strolled towards the elevator, wondering where it led too or what it contained. As she pressed the button, Service's voice arose on it's accustomed solemn note.
"I'm sorry, Miss Lola. But this elevator is currently off limits until you finish your one month basic training."
She sighed and walked up to a Treadmill. Activating her Droypods, so they played Rousey's- The Sunny Side at a ear deafening tone.
As she ran on the equipment her mind inadvertently trailed to the past.
IBADAN CITY
2020
"Mommy!! Daddy!!" She screeched as she trotted down the stairs excitedly to their large parlour. Where her parents were busied watching their Telenovela drama.
"What happened?" Her mother asked with concerns expressed on her face as she detached from Father on the Couch.
She beamed a smile at them dosing their curiosity to pick on an higher note.
"Guess!" She squeaked whilst marching her feet excitedly to the marbled floor.
"Stop putting us in suspense already and tell us what happened!" Father groaned wearily.
She rewarded them with a knowing look, biting her lower lips in anticipation before spilling the words out.
"I got the internship job into Light hospital!" She screamed and instantly her parents jumped up to her. Giving her the tightest hug that made her breathless.
"Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord!!" Her mother praised, looking at the ceilings and rubbing her palms in admiration. Father on the other hand, grinned at her. One so proud and endearing.
"I'm proud of you sweetie!" He muttered in a much relaxed tone unlike mother. But his voice only hid the excitement coursing through him barely.
"This calls for celebration!" Mother pitched.
"Indeed! And I know just the perfect place." Father grinned.
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As she scooped ceaseless spoons of her garnished jollof rice and beef, she watched her Father's mouth dance with excited mumblings.
"Oh I can't wait to tell your uncle about this!" Father chattered with his smile that refused to disappear.
"You can tell him now." She urged but mother wriggled her head.
"Your uncle has been busy with his governorship campaign for days now."
"In fact I need to inform the whole family!" Father declared.
"No honey, don't let your excitement go too extreme!" Mother cautioned in a low tone while Lola giggled.
"My daughter is the first person in my family to study Medicine and that too, will be working in a prestigious hospital, " Father pitched, totally ignoring the amused attention his antics brought. "And you're telling me not to be overexcited. In fact I'll throw a party!"
"Come on, Dad. It's not worth a party." She chuckled and when her parents opted to respond, her crush. Samuel, approached their table. Dressed handsomely in his stripped white and blue shirt, a blue chinos and a perfect smile to complement it all.
"Good afternoon sir and ma." He courteously greeted while they responded in the same mannerism. But she lost her tongue, he was standing so close that his handsomeness had successfully sealed her mouth.
Then the violent quake of the earth shook her from mouth watering thoughts. Her eyes exclaimed with mouth agape as she witnessed an horrific explosion rage the restaurant. That was the last of everything. Darkness and pain.
Her eyes faintly opened to nurses speeding her on a gurney, their faces concerned and restless. She could also hear the sirens of Ambulances blare from outside but it faded as they continued to wheel her into a ward.
"Put her on life support!" The Doctor declared agitatedly. "Prepare her for surgery quick!"
"Lola!" The voice yelled but it wasn't the Doctor nor any of the nurses. It was something faint and overly concerned.
"Lola!" The voice protruded again. "Lola!!!"
She finally jolted back to reality only to realize her body were all sweaty, her breaths toured out unsteady and her pace on the Treadmill had relatively stopped. Her eyes darted to the 3D hologram visualizing in front. Displaying images of her body scan Service had performed. She soon realized the soft touch stroking her right palm. The Trainer, his countenance wasn't the stern looking one he usually carried about. They were expressing worry and care at the same time.
"You don't look good." He avowed solemnly.
"We're leaving now." He muttered and without haste, slipped her into his arms and to the elevator.