They sat together in silence for a long time, both of them thinking about their families and the unfair burden that had been placed upon them.
“I never wanted a pony, you know,” Renee said at last, the hint of a smile played on her lips as she looked sideways at Blake. “A unicorn, perhaps, but not a pony.”
“I should have known that,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Come on,” he added and stood, pulling Renee to her feet as well. “It’s your birthday, so no more worrying about things we can’t control at the moment. As of right now, the day is yours and I want to make it the best ever. What have you always wanted to do?”
“I… haven’t got a clue,” she said, slightly embarrassed to have been put on the spot.
“Oh come on, there has got to be something! What is something that we’ll never have the chance to do again once we’re back in the real world?”
Renee looked down at their still entwined hands with a blush. “There is… one thing,” she stammered, “but it’s kind of… never mind.”
“No, I will not never mind,” said Blake, stepping closer and leaning down so that Renee couldn’t keep avoiding his eyes. “What is it?”
Renee lifted her eyes slowly. As she did, soft music began to play and the trees overhead twisted together and morphed into the walls and ceiling of an ornately decorated ballroom. She swapped her sweater and jeans for a shimmering floor length gown of a deep green that set off her eyes.
“W-would you… dance with me?” she asked in a nervous, breathy whisper.
Blake swapped his flannel shirt and jeans for formal attire and slipped his arms around Renee’s waist.
“I’d be honored,” he replied with a warm smile, noting that Renee’s hands shook as she placed them lightly on his shoulders. “But I should warn you, I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“I don’t either,” Renee admitted with a blush, but relaxed slightly as they swayed gently in time to the music, a new wave ballad from the end of one of Renee’s favorite movies. “I’ve never been to a dance before.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Blake said honestly. She was fun, smart, and very pretty. Blake didn’t know what kind of guys had gone to her school, but at his, Renee would have had to beat the boys back with a stick.
“Do you?” she asked, raising her head to give him a skeptical look. “You know my whole life, Blake. I’m the weird girl. No one asks the weird girl to dance.”
“I’m dancing with you right now,” he countered with a warm smile, but the self-doubt he heard in her words bothered him.
“That’s because I asked you,” Renee reminded him.
“Yes, you did,” he whispered in a low voice, pulling her closer, and leaning in even closer still. “And I suppose you think I’m only dancing with you because I said I would do whatever you wanted for your birthday, don’t you?”
“Well… yes, actually,” she said with a heavy shrug.
“I see,” he said, shaking his head as he sighed. “I guess nothing that I do is going to convince you that I’m absolutely crazy about you, is it?”
“That’s… You’re just saying that…” Renee’s heart caught in her throat. She looked away with a blush, but Blake reached up and gently turned her head back.
“I’m saying it because it’s true,” Blake said softly, but there was a fierce conviction in his voice. “You don’t even realize how beautiful you are, Renee, but that’s only part of why I’m drawn to you. You are amazing. You’re fun, imaginative, smart, and kind. That’s a very intimidating combination, but I’m trying to be brave right now. Renee, I…” His voice trailed off as he lowered his eyes, feeling suddenly quite nervous about admitting his feelings, but at the same time, he was relieved that it was finally there, out in the open.
Renee stepped closer, tilting her head up to meet his. “You what?” she asked in a trembling voice.
Blake’s fingertips trailed from her cheek to the back of her neck. “I… just… this,” he whispered, breathless and tongue-tied as he tilted his head just a fraction of an inch and brought his lips down onto hers.
An explosive energy seemed to hum through Renee’s entire body as Blake kissed her. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, leaning into him as her legs seemed to melt from beneath her. After a moment, he pulled away, leaving both of them slightly breathless with their pulses racing.
“You’re not hitting me or running away,” Blake said with a cautious smile. “Can I take that as a good sign?”
With her head still fogged by the kiss, it took Renee a moment to realize what Blake was asking. She smiled shyly, knowing her face must have been bright red, and nodded.
“I’ve wanted to… I mean, yeah, I’ve thought about us,” she stammered. “But I wanted to make sure, you know…”
“Make sure?” he asked nervously.
She blushed again. “I wanted to make sure that you felt the way I did,” she said in a rush. “And that what we were feeling was real, not just because of the situation we’re in.”
Blake leaned in and brushed another soft kiss across Renee’s lips before meeting her eye with a serious expression.
“You mean, you want to make sure that we aren’t just drawn to each other because there is no one else around, is that it?”
Renee nodded.
“Well, you aren’t the first female they stuck in here with me,” he said, causing Renee’s heart to sink. “However,” he continued, placing a gentle hand on the side of her face as he noticed her reaction, “nothing like this ever happened before. Ever. The way I feel about you, I… I can’t even describe it, but I know it’s real. It has to be because if this is just a symptom of the situation we’re in, then I’m too far gone to ever return to reality.”
Renee took a deep, steadying breath and tilted her head up, catching Blake’s lips in a lingering, passionate kiss that left them both breathless. The gold in her eyes seemed to blaze, as if on fire, as she pulled away and leveled Blake with a determined look. The music faded and the ballroom disappeared as the door into Blake’s mind rippled into existence.
“It appears that we’ve got some work to do,” she said in a husky voice.
“Oh?” Blake raised his eyebrows, questioning her as she took his hand.
“If the only way that we’re going to know for sure if this is real is to get ourselves out of here, then I don’t want to waste another minute here in fantasyland.”
Chapter 25
Renee and Blake stood together, hand in hand, each taking deep, cleansing breaths as they stared out over the brilliantly lit network of Blake’s mind. The reason for the breathing exercises was to put them into a calm, almost meditative state. The machines that monitored them were set to alert the doctors if there were any irregularities, specifically, a change in heart rate.
“Ready?” Blake asked, taking a step forward and seating himself among the dull, broken filaments of his damaged nerves. As much as the stark reminder that he was not whole bothered him, Blake realized that this was the safest part of his mind from which to conduct their experiment. Touching the damaged nerves did nothing, so there was no chance of accidentally awakening himself before they were ready.
Renee positioned herself behind Blake with her legs on either side of him and put her arms around his waist, pulling him back until he rested against her chest. While Blake was busy trying to strengthen his body, Renee would continue with the breathing exercises in hopes that his heartbeat would remain in a steady rhythm with hers.
“I’m ready. Be careful, Blake,” she said, brushing a soft kiss along the side of his neck.
“Hey,” he said lightly as a shiver ran up his spine. “You’re supposed to be keeping me calm.”
“Sorry,” she whispered, placing one hand over his heart, surprised, yet secretly delighted, to see that she did in fact distract him enough to cause his pulse to flutter. With a deep breath, she began again. After a few minutes, both she and Blake were back to a slow resting pulse.
; “Here goes,” Blake whispered, placing his hand on the brilliantly lit nerve ending. Although he had braced himself for the experience, coming out of unconsciousness was still just as uncomfortable as it had been the last time. But this time, the heavy sensation of his physical body didn’t panic him as it had previously. Yes, he was still weak. His muscles were atrophied from two years of disuse. It was going to take a lot of hard work to get to where he needed to be in order to escape, but they were going to escape.
Blake listened to the steady beeping of the machines that monitored his life signs, smiling to himself as the machine maintained a slow, steady, continuous sound. Cautiously, he opened his eyes and looked around the room, noting that there was no trace of the doctors.
It worked, he told Renee, who could hear the relief in his voice. And it looks like we’re alone.
Then let’s do this, she called back, sliding her arms down Blake’s until she was holding his wrists, carefully avoiding his hands so that she did not disrupt the connection.
I felt that! Blake all but shouted as a tingling sensation raced down his arms where Renee touched him. Aside from just being pleasant, this was a good sign. The stimulation of his nerves caused his muscles to tense involuntarily, meaning that they still worked, even if they were weak. Whatever you just did, do it again, but slowly. I want to try something.
As Renee ran her fingertips back up from his wrist to his shoulders, Blake concentrated on tensing the muscles in his arms. What should have been a simple movement took every ounce of energy he had, but after a few passes, Blake managed to curl the fingers on both hands into a loose fist.
Yes!
What did you do? Renee asked. Your muscles are really tense.
Good, Blake sighed and allowed himself to relax for a moment. Do you think you can keep that up and still regulate our breathing? He asked. I don’t really know how, but it’s helping.
I think so, Renee said as she absently ran her hands up and down Blake’s arms, noting the slight, barely noticeable ticks as she found sensitive nerve endings. I think I get it, she said suddenly, trying to suppress her excitement so that she didn’t accidentally raise Blake’s heart rate. It’s similar to electrical muscle stimulation.
Eh, what?
The use of electric current to stimulate muscles, she explained. A few years ago, my parents were hiking and my dad took a pretty nasty fall and injured his spine. While he was laid up, the doctors would put his legs in these sleeves that sent electric current into the muscles. They said it was to prevent the muscles from weakening to the point where he would need physical therapy to walk again. He said it felt like he was flexing his muscles without doing anything at all.
Yeah, that’s what it feels like for me too, Blake said as he stared down at his arms. Though it was wearing him out, he had managed to lift his arms a fraction of an inch off the bed. Renee, I think this is really working.
Even in her head, Blake’s voice sounded ragged and worn out.
Don’t get too excited, she warned. We don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention just yet.
Good point, he noted and let his arms fall back onto the bed. He took a moment to relax and allow Renee’s touch to recharge his muscles before trying again.
For nearly an hour, they worked uninterrupted. Blake managed to strengthen his arms enough that he could now push his body up and rest on his elbows, noting that if there were hidden cameras in the room, he was certainly pressing his luck. Yet so far, no one had come to check in on them.
Blake? My arms are starting to cramp. I think I need a rest.
Renee drew back slightly and rolled her shoulders and neck until she heard her muscles pop.
Do you want me to come back? Blake asked, concerned by the strain he heard in Renee’s voice.
No, just give me a second.
Making sure that she maintained the connection between them, Renee flexed her arms behind her back, locking her fingers together so that she could stretch her tired muscles. As she did, her fingers grazed the rough, scaly texture of Blake’s damaged nerves and her heart sank. Although it made her feel wonderful to know that her participation was helping Blake get stronger faster, the fact that she still couldn’t fix all that was broken haunted her.
Did you just do something?
Renee’s attention snapped back to the moment. I don’t think so, she replied. Why?
Maybe it was nothing, Blake said with an air of bewilderment, but I could have sworn I just felt a zap, kind of like an electric shock.
Renee paused her stretching. Where?
In my leg.
She looked back at the damaged nerves and gasped. A faint, almost imperceptible glow flickered in and out of existence where her fingers had touched the nerve. Impossible, she thought as she squinted to see the dying light. How many times had she examined, poked, and prodded those nerves without a single reaction? Dozens, at least. As she looked down at her own hand, she noticed a faint glow that hadn’t been there before. In fact, the aura wasn’t just coming from her hand. A soft glow surrounded both her and Blake. She realized that it was Blake’s own hold on his mind that was causing the glow. Because she was touching him, she acted as a catalyst.
Blake, I’m going to try something, but I want you to let me know if your heart rate changes or if anything hurts.
Um, okay, Blake said hesitantly. What are you-”
Renee didn’t hear the rest of Blake’s question because she had placed her palm fully against the damaged nerve. As soon as she made contact, her head filled with a deafening buzz and she felt like her brain was about to rattle out of her skull. For several agonizing moments, Renee was powerless against the surge of pure energy that flowed through her. She watched in fascination as the light from her hand intensified, spreading along the damaged nerves, mending the broken, scaly ends as they reknitted themselves back into the complex web that made up Blake’s central nervous system. At last, the surge subsided and her hand slipped from the now pulsating nerve. Completely exhausted from her role as a catalyst, Renee collapsed against Blake’s back.
Oh my god!
Blake’s voice held a note of panic and awe that brought her out of her momentary stupor.
Blake… she called out, but even communicating mentally took too much of her energy.
I can feel my legs! I can MOVE my legs! This is amazing! Renee, what did you do? What’s going on?
I… think you need to see this.
Using the last of her energy, Renee leaned forward and tugged Blake’s hand, severing the connection before she collapsed into unconsciousness.
When she awoke, Renee found herself in a huge, comfy bed, surrounded by the world’s fluffiest pillows, and snuggled under the world’s softest comforter. A few feet away, Blake slumped sideways, asleep on an armchair. When he heard Renee sit up, his eyes fluttered open and wide smile spread across his face.
“You’re back,” he said as he got up and moved to sit on the side of the bed.
“How long was I out?”
“Just a couple of hours,” Blake said with a glance at an old-fashioned alarm clock that sat on the table next to the bed. “But you scared the hell out of me. I couldn’t wake you at all. I, uh, figured you might not be too happy if you woke up on the floor,” he added sheepishly with a look around the room, which appeared to be either a bedroom in a palace or the most expensive suite of a five star hotel. “I might have overdone it.”
“Maybe just a little,” she replied with a laugh, tossing aside several pillows so that she could slide closer to where he sat. “But I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“Renee,” Blake said softly, putting his hands on her shoulders. “I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
For a moment, confusion registered in her eyes until Renee remembered the events that led to her passing out in the first place. “Did it work?” she asked in hopeful whisper.
“I have no idea what you did, but yes, it worked!” Blake all but shouted as he pulled Rene
e into a tight embrace. “My legs work. I’m no longer paralyzed. Renee, I...” He pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. “I owe you big time. Thank you.”
Before Renee had a chance to reply, Blake’s mouth covered hers. Still feeling a bit weak and taken completely off guard by the intensity of the kiss, Renee fell back against the pile of pillows, taking Blake with her. Feeling the weight of his body as it collapsed against hers stirred up several new feelings, as well as several warning bells, but Renee paid them no mind as she trailed her hands down Blake’s back. He shifted slightly, moving most of his weight off of her, but still, his torso pressed against hers. After several long minutes, and many intense kisses, the warning bells in Renee’s mind became too loud to ignore.
“I think we’re getting into dangerous territory,” she whispered.
“I think you’re right,” Blake said in a ragged whisper and pulled away, rolling onto his back next to her. “I’m sorry,” he said, turning his head to face her. “I got a little hormonal. I didn’t mean for us to do anything we’re not ready for.”
Renee shifted onto her side and took Blake’s hand. “We got hormonal,” she said with a deep blush. “I mean, I only just had my first kiss yesterday. I’m not trying to set a record.”
“Now, I know that’s not true,” Blake said, narrowing his eyes at her. “You were kissing that pretty boy when I first saw you.”
“I meant my first real kiss,” she said and rolled her eyes. “I mean, if you’re going to count that, you might as well count most of my daydreams since I was twelve.”
“I guess you have a point,” he said with a chuckle, squeezing Renee’s hand in his. “Technically, it was my first kiss too.”
“Technically?” Renee asked, raising her eyebrows in suspicion.
“Well,” he drawled with some amusement. “There was this one time in fourth grade when Brenda Martin cornered me on the playground.”
“That sounds romantic,” Renee teased.
“You don’t know the half of it,” he said, remembering now with humor what had been quite an uncomfortable scene at the time. “First she kicked me in the crotch, then she pushed me to the ground, then she sat on me and practically broke my nose when she smashed her face into mine. After that, she got up, told me I was now her boyfriend, and kicked me again for good measure. You have no idea how happy I was a week later when she set her sights on someone else. I was so scared of her that if she hadn’t dumped me for Billy Robbins, I’d probably still be her boyfriend today.”
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