Chapter Fifteen Faith

"My name is Sophia. I am a student of the Danforth Academy. A few weeks ago, I was taken from the city by some of the citizens of the Eremus community… and…"

Faith bit her lip. Her friend was finding it difficult to even sit up now, but she was determined to get through the speech.

It was Tuesday. With no knowledge of Flynn's whereabouts, and Thursday's memorial service creeping ever-closer, the Resistance was running out of options. They had reluctantly accepted that Flynn's rescue would have to take place during the ceremony itself. And Madeleine felt that Sophia's declaration was their best chance to create a distraction. While Faith agreed that Sophia could provide damning evidence of Danforth's guilt, she wished the recording did not have to take place while her friend was so sick. But without a distraction, their chances of getting Flynn out were extremely limited.

The previous day had been devoted to preparing for the missions to come. The Resistance were stretched thin, between the issues at the academy and the upcoming memorial service. After discovering that Faith's claim about the pendants was correct, Madeleine had moved up the deadline for the academy rescue. She had also assigned more people to the mission, hoping that more hard evidence of Danforth's experiments might be found inside the academy.

Anyone not assigned to the academy assignment was busy preparing for the memorial day rescue. Robyn had been drawing up plans for the operative who would be in the square itself, assigning people to various positions close to the stage. Blake had shut herself away for the entirety of the previous day, attempting to work out how she might hack into Danforth's feed again, now that security had been increased. Even Sophia had managed to compose a speech, enlisting Diane to type it up on a datadev borrowed from Madeleine's office.

And now, they were filming her attempt to deliver it.

"…but the abuse and mistreatment I have suffered since… since m-my return to Bellator," Sophia was struggling, "since my so-called rescuers brought me back here, has been so much worse."

Sophia paused, struggling to catch her breath. Anna had dialled back the amount of painkillers she was on so that she was coherent for the speech. But the reduction came at a price: the pain was returning, full-force. A vivid orange pill lay on the nightstand ready for Sophia the moment she had finished delivering her message.

"Take your time," Blake's voice came from behind the camera. "I can edit this out."

The techie was being far more understanding than usual. But one glance at Sophia was all it took to see why. Her skin was almost see-through and had a permanent sheen of sweat. Her hands shook constantly and she couldn't stay warm. Despite numerous attempts to tempt her to eat, she seemed incapable of keeping any meaningful sustenance in her system.

Anna had devoted herself to caring for Sophia. Between Lily, Rowan, and Noah's ma, Sophia now had round-the-clock care, yet she still wasn't improving. Faith had offered to record the speech in Sophia's place, but she'd had to admit that it wouldn't have the same impact.

"Please." She had clasped Sophia's clammy hand to her chest. "I don't think you're strong enough to do this. Not yet."

Sophia had closed her eyes. Her response, when it came, had been no more than a whisper. "What if I never am?"

"Don't talk–" Faith had swallowed hard. "Don't talk like that. We have one more day before the memorial service. Tomorrow, you'll be–"

"Tomorrow might be too late." Sophia's eyes flew open. "I have to do something, while I still can."

There had been no changing her mind. And now, Faith stood by helplessly, while Sophia gave the performance of her life.

Drawing in a deep breath which seemed to exhaust her, Sophia pushed on. "For the past few weeks, under Chancellor Danforth's orders, I have been kept isolated in an experimental fertility ward at the Bellator Hospital. Only a select few people know about these experiments, which aim to investigate new methods of reproduction. An honourable goal, if we are to believe our chancellor." Sophia stared right into the camera. "But a goal which I believe she has taken to extremes."

She broke off, clutching a hand over her mouth. Hurrying forward, Faith held out a bucket, stroking her friend's back as she retched over and over. Vomiting had become an almost hourly occurrence. Even though there was barely anything in her stomach, the nausea had a powerful hold on her.

When Sophia was finished, Rowan hurried forward to wipe her face with a warm cloth. As he resettled her on the pillows and backed away, Faith turned back to her friend.

"You sure you want to–?"

Sophia nodded firmly. "I do."

"Ready when you are," Blake called out. "Promise I'll edit out the puke section."

Faith shot the techie a dark look, but when Sophia managed a weak smile, she was grateful for Blake's attempt at humour. It felt like her friend hadn't smiled for days.

Was Blake serious?She couldn't decide. The broadcast, Faith admitted, would be far more powerful if it showed Sophia's true state.

Eventually, Sophia began to speak again, her gaze cast downwards.

"Whilst a prisoner on this ward, under sedation and against my will, I was injected with numerous experimental drugs. The result?" She paused, looking directly into the camera. "A pregnancy."

Placing a hand on her stomach, she sighed. As they had rehearsed, Blake zoomed the camera out so she was showing the whole bed rather than just Sophia's face. Waiting just the right amount of time for the shocking revelation to sink in, Sophia continued.

"Yes, Danforth achieved her goal. But at what cost?" With effort, she pulled the blanket away to expose her body. Beside her, Blake swept the camera along Sophia's emaciated body, zooming in on the swollen stomach which sharply contrasted the rest of her. "This pregnancy is not a normal one. I'm told the foetus is growing too fast. I shouldn't be this big at such an early stage."

Sophia broke off, sighing deeply. Faith and Rowan exchanged worried glances as Sophia forced herself to continue.

"I'm a s-shadow of the girl I used to- used to b-be." Sophia's voice broke. "I can't eat, so… I'm wasting away, and–"

Her heart aching, Faith took a step towards her, but Sophia waved her away. With great effort, she continued.

"I have…" she sucked in a deep breath, "…c-constant stomach pains. I throw up almost hourly." Blake panned back to her face as the tears started to fall. "I am carrying a foetus, y-yes." Sophia was whispering now, and Faith had to strain closer to catch her words. "But I fear it's not a normal one. And if… for whatever reason… I don't carry it to term, what's the point?"

Horrified, Faith turned away, her eyes filling with tears. She had promised she would keep it together, but hearing her friend deliver the speech, her tone raw and the words brutal, was too much. Clenching her hands into fists, she dug her nails into her palms so hard she was sure she'd drawn blood.

The one thing she'd promised to do for her friend: bear witness. Be strong.

And she was losing it.

Suddenly, there were arms around her. Faith turned, burying her face in Anna's shoulder.

Noah's ma had told them she would keep checking on them, in case she was needed. And Faith needed her now. Anna didn't speak, but enveloped Faith in her arms. The contact was comforting, sending waves of silent strength coursing through her body. This, Faith thought, was what it was like to have a proper mother.

Somehow, she found the strength to turn and face Sophia as she continued.

"Citizens of Bellator, please listen to my story. Believe… believe me when I tell you that your chancellor does not have your b-best interests at heart. She lies to you. She makes decisions based on her own twisted ambitions, and only… only reveals what she w-wants you to know." Drawing on some desperate strength, Sophia pulled herself forward, lifting her body from the pillows as she delivered her message. "For my sake, question what you're told. Insist on the truth. If we don't do something, and s-s-soon, I won't be the only one forced to suffer like this. Your chancellor has ma-many more subjects like… like me… waiting in the wings at the Danforth Academy. They don't d-deserve this any more than I do." Her voice was impassioned, rising in volume. "Rise up and support the Resistance. There is a better way."

Spent, Sophia collapsed on the pillows. A heavy silence filled the room. No one wanted to break the powerful spell Sophia's words had cast. Eventually, Blake turned off the camera and moved towards the bed.

In an uncharacteristic show of kindness, she reached out and she took Sophia's hand. "You did it. Leave the rest to me. I'll easily have this edited together by tomorrow. You can relax now."

As Blake exited, she shot Faith a concerned glance. The sympathy was so out of character, it felt as shocking as someone else yelling at her would have done. It was a testament to the severity of the situation.

Faith couldn't move. Beside her, Anna came to life, saving the day again. Crossing the room, she removed some of Sophia's pillows, allowing her to rest more comfortably.

"That was so powerful." Anna reached for the tiny orange pill and glass of water. "But you've done enough now." Reaching an arm around Sophia, she supported her into a sitting position. "Take this."

She pressed the pill between Sophia's lips and helped her to sip the water. When she had swallowed, Anna lay her back down on the pillows. Tucking the blankets around Sophia, she somehow managed to smile.

"You'll start to feel better in a minute. The pill will help you sleep."

Sophia was struggling to keep her eyes open. "Is Faith still here?"

"I'm here." Jolted into action at the sound of her name, Faith crossed the room. Anna faded into the background so Faith could take her place by her friend's side. "That was… incredible."

Sophia managed a weak smile. "At least… I know I did something…" She trailed off. "Not much, but something."

Faith took in Sophia's pale skin, her laboured breathing, her tiny form. The speech had taken everything out of her. She opened her mouth to speak and found that she couldn't.

"It was enough." From the other side of the bed, Anna spoke for her. "You did enough."

Sighing softly, Sophia let her eyes close. Within seconds, her breathing deepened and she was asleep.

Anna glanced at Lily. "You up for taking the next shift? I need to speak to Madeleine."

"Sure." Lily drew the curtains again. "I'll make a note of the time, so we know when she can have the next dose."

"Shouldn't the pain be getting better?" Faith asked, her voice dull.

Lily and Anna exchanged glances.

"It should, yes." Anna put her arm around Faith. "Those painkillers aren't the everyday type. They're very powerful." Her face darkened. "Let's hope she doesn't need another dose too soon."

She guided Faith out of the sickroom and down the hallway. When they reached the hub, Madeleine was standing drinking a coffee with Olivia.

"Is it done?" she called across. "The video, I mean. Did she manage?"

"She did." Anna drew Faith with her across the room. "We have a lot of very powerful footage. Blake has gone to edit it." She gestured towards Madeleine's office. "Okay if we speak to you for a few minutes? I have a proposition for you."

Madeleine nodded and they followed her into the private space. Once inside, the Resistance leader gestured at the chairs as she took her own seat.

"Still no message from Kemp," she muttered. "No idea what's going on at the academy. I only hope her cover hasn't been blown." She took a sip of her steaming coffee. "But Kemp is good. No news is probably good news. As in, she's not been in contact as she's working to stay under the radar and doesn't want to risk a message."

She gave a sharp nod, as though she were trying to convince herself.

"What's this about a proposition?" She eyed Anna. "I don't have a lot of time, so spit it out."

Anna sat forward in her chair. "I heard you were struggling to find a place to keep the academy girls together when you get them out? I may have a solution."

"I'm listening."

"What about if we took them to Eremus?" Anna waited while the suggestion sank in. "Not forever, of course. But temporarily, if they were given shelter in the cave system, they would be safe. Danforth is unlikely to consider it as a place of safety for the girls. She still doesn't know our location, and as long as we could get them out of the city at night, without being seen, we'd stand a good chance of keeping their location a secret."

"And you'd be prepared to do that? Eremus would be happy to house a large number of young Bellator women?"

"I've spoken to Paulo and a couple of the other council members and I think we can make it work. With proper planning and preparation." Anna paused. "You'd need to supply us with the resources to support them, of course."

Madeleine was silent for a moment. "Do you think the academy girls will feel safe there?"

"After what they've been through, I should think anyone who shows them kindness and doesn't pump them full of damaging drugs will be a hero." Anna shrugged. "When the truth comes out, Eremus gets to play the hero who sheltered these vulnerable young women. It could rewrite history in terms of the way that Eremus… that men are perceived to treat women."

"What would you ask in return?"

"I think the rebranding of Eremus will be reward enough. Flynn and I have always wanted the Bellator citizens to change their minds about us." She hesitated. "But the others might require more convincing. How about you make sure you're … generous with the supplies you send for the girls? If there are plenty of leftovers to share among the community, that would go a long way to silencing any protests."

"Done." Madeleine didn't hesitate. "Anything else?"

"On a personal level, I'd ask you to do your best to save Flynn's life."

"You have my word." Madeleine gave a solemn nod. "Are we agreed, then? Can we assume that–"

A sound at the door made them turn.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you'd want to know." Robyn paused to catch her breath. "Been listening in to the conversations in Anderson's office. I've just heard Anderson and Danforth talking. They mentioned Helen."

Madeleine stiffened at the sound of the young student's name. "Go on."

"Seems like they're planning something." Robyn gestured to the headphones strung around her neck. "She wasn't specific, but Anderson mentioned something about a publicity stunt."

"At the hospital?"

"She didn't say." Robyn grimaced. "All I know is, we don't have much time to find out more."

"Why not?"

"Because," Robyn rubbed her forehead exhaustedly, "whatever they're plotting, she obviously wants it to happen before Thursday's memorial ceremony. It's happening tomorrow."