Ava woke up in a daze, just like she had the past few mornings since they started phase two of her treatment. She didn’t know why they insisted on the injections dead on midnight, or why she had to stay awake for an hour or two afterwards.

Rubbing her arm, Ava looked at the display next to her bed. The time was nine eighteen, and next to the time was a symbol of ribbon, on seeing this she got excited. Today, she got to meet her idol, Melody Moon. This had been in the fore front of her mind as she endured the procedures and pain. She had wanted to tell Drake more about it but he’d been acting strangely, even passing out the last time she talked. She’d guessed his job was a lot more then what he’d said it was. Not that she was in much of a position to do anything. The current phase of her treatment rendered her weak and bed bound for parts of the day, yet the doctors said she was getting better. She tried to swing her legs round off the bed but gave up after five minutes of achieving nothing. The curtains in her room were closed, blocking all light from outside. If no one else came in the room, Ava would be trapped in the darkness for hours.

“Ava? Are you awake? Time for your happy wake up call? A voice from behind the door called. It belonged to Ava’s personal nurse, a very energetic woman called Tina, who didn’t look much older than Drake. They had been introduced just under a week ago but given the nurse’s big personality, they had hit it off. Turned out they both shared a taste in music, liking the songs of Melody Moon, indeed Tina was just as excited as she was that the idol was coming to the hospital. What really endeared Tina to Ava though was the admission from the nurse, of her real eye colour, taking her contacts out on their first meeting to reveal her Silver eyes. It was a big secret to share as Tina made it clear that Silvers only had a few job options open to them, and her current job, wasn’t one of them.

“I’m awake, did you bring it?” Ava asked inquisitively.“

Would I tell you that I would bring it and then not bring it? What kind of person do you take me for?” Tina replied from beyond the door. The door slowly creaked open as Tina backed her way into the room while carrying a breakfast tray filled with treats that were meant for more, ‘deserving’ patients. One of these was a unassuming coffee cup, containing Ava’s holy grail of drinks, a hot chocolate. Tina set the tray down and handed the cup over. “Lucky for you, one of the chefs has a crush on me so I can get all the best stuff for me and my bestie!”

“Thank you Tina!” Ava smiled.

“So in an hour you’ll be meeting her! And like I promised earlier, I’ll distract her manager so you can get a bit longer!”

“I can’t believe you’ve been lucky enough to meet Melody Moon before...Why won’t you tell me what she’s like?”

“Because its better for her to tell you herself. Believe me, you’re going to need to hear the full story from her. It’ll change your life.” Tina got to work changing sheets and helping Ava get off the bed, moving her to a more comfortable chair.

“You spoken to your brother recently?” She asked as she started working on Ava’s hair.

“Not as much as I wanted... Last time he fell asleep on me. He seemed upset about something...” Ava had been concerned with what Drake was really doing, she’d figured that there must have been a hefty price in getting them into the Domes, but the marks she saw on his face, the look in his eyes, she realised she couldn’t begin to imagine what he had put himself through.

“What did you say he did again?” Tina asked, seemingly tuning in to her concerns.

“I don’t know. He told me something but I don’t believe it.”

“Sounds like he was trying to shield you from something. You’ll have to drag the answer out of him when you see him.” Tina then turned her attention to cleaning up the bed, while Ava flittered between excitement for Melody and worrying about her brother. In the end, everything was set for Melody’s arrival. Ava went through the different songs of hers, trying to fit one for her mood. She had dreamed of this, practised different conversations, not wanting to freak her idol out but wanting answers to questions she long held. Now though, she wasn’t sure how much company she would be.

Tina’s communicator that she wore around her neck started beeping, not stopping till she answered it in a huff at being interrupted.

“Alright! Alright! Nurse Benatar speaking, what’s up....Oh...Oh! She’s here? Right! I’ll be right down then...What about that jackass?...I mean...What about her manager....To be expected...Okay then.” Tina closed it up and then beamed a massive smile at Ava. “It’s show time!”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“She’s here?” She started panic breathing, taking huge breaths.

“Calm down!” Tina said as she rushed over to her. “I’m going to go and get her, you need to pull yourself together!” She put her arms around Ava to help calm her down. “Don’t be afraid, and remember, Melody is just like you, but...”

“She’s not like me...She has a life I could only have dreamed of...” Tears formed in Ava’s eyes as glimpses of her past filled her mind, the hardships, the death of her parents, the threats coming from those just as desperate, her brother dealing with bringing her up, and finally, learning that she too, would die. Tina wiped her face, and sighed.

“You don’t know the truth of her life...That’s why I want you to ask her. Share her story. There’s things you can only understand when you hear it from her... You gonna be strong for me? The three of us are going to have some fun when that wan-I mean, her manager, is distracted.” Ava laughed a little at Tina’s self censoring, and a smile returned.

“Okay... I can do this” She said.

“Good! Now wait there while I go and get her!” With blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speed, Tina was already at the door. “Back soon!” With that, she made her way down to reception. Ava listened as Tina’s steps echoed away to silence. She appeared calmer but was also unnerved by what Tina was hinting, if Melody’s life wasn’t better, then what horrors had she lived through, or still going through. Ava idolised her, but what aspect mattered most to her? She longed for the glamour, the outfits, the happiness that was draped over her music. She presented a way of life that was alien to all those outside the Domes, yet m, gave them hope that life could be better. The possibility that this was all a lie was almost too much to think about...

Tina took the stairs instead of the lift, not caring for the metal cages ever since a previous encounter saw her trapped in one for too long. She was fleet of foot, moving quickly down the corridors, avoiding other nurses as she encountered them. She had took an interest in Ava and her situation early on, spotting herself in the young girl, not and just by the fact they were both Silvers and Melody fans. There was a lot she hadn’t told the young girl, which was just a safety precaution to do with her real job, the one that occupied the time when she wasn’t at the hospital. The people in charge wouldn’t be pleased that she was getting involved, but Tina didn’t care, she was doing what she thought was right, damn the consequences! The way she looked at it, she was just spreading the truth. As she turned onto the last corridor before the reception area, she spared a thought about the serendipity of meeting Ava, and learning that someone had arranged for her to meet Melody, someone she had previously met. What she didn’t like that Melody was being used like this, and what it meant for Ava’s future, she saw the meeting, with manager attached as a potential grooming session, setting the young girl up for a future career, and a sentence. Honestly, she thought this plan was bold, perhaps too bold for her. She couldn’t stand idle while the girl was sold up the river. Not on her watch.

She turned the corner and saw Melody, but also the lurking form of Darren, busy on the phone. That wasn’t all, seems she had additional escort. Two helmeted guards, lightly armed, not impossible to work around she guessed.

Unfortunately it was Darren who spotted her first.

“Finally, a wayward nurse shows up!” He stormed over to her, acting all high and mighty, which was remarkably different then the previous time she’d seen him, when she had the gun. He got right into her face and, because she had to play up the role she was acting, she had to act intimidated. She slumped back and put all her acting skill into a frightened look.

“S-Sorry! I was d-dealing with an urgent patient!” She said, wishing that someone would take notice and reward her for her talent.

“Time this place hired some staff who knew how to do their job!” Tina took all of Darren’s anger, waiting until he had calmed down before speaking again.

“Well Ava Vern is free now, she’s ready for Melody to visit...” She wanted to hit the prick so hard, break his nose, and that was just for starters.

“Great...Come on then, let’s get this over with.” Darren gestured for Melody to move, along with her guards, he turned back to Tina. “Aren’t you supposed to be leading the way?” Begrudgingly Tina led, she had hoped to talk to Melody before she got too the room, to see if she recognised her after these years. All the way to Ava, Tina led the silent procession, she guessed how it would go down, that Melody would jump into a song and dance routine and put on a show for Ava, all under Darren’s watchful eye.

Ava heard the footsteps coming back, multiples of footsteps. She knew one of them was Tina, then Melody, and she guessed another set belonged to the manager. The other two though, she had no idea of who they were, and she braced herself when the door opened. It was Tina who walked in first, then she held the door open for Melody herself. Ava caught a glimpse of her before she fully walked in, then saw her face, the solemn unhappy expression. When she crossed the threshold she burst into life, like the Melody that Ava had seen from afar on posters, her voice sounded like the songs she had rehearsed herself. Behind her though, came a man who was every bit the creep that Tina explained he was. After him, she saw two people, dressed the same as the military guards that greeted her and Drake as they came into the Dome. Why were they here? Tina saw the look, and acted.

“Excuse me, I think it might be a bit much if they come in?” She stepped in between Darren and the guards, causing him to roll his eyes.

“Fine, wait outside. There’s going to be no trouble here...” The guards nodded and went outside the door, closing it. Locking all four of them in there, just as Tina wanted, though she still had the hardest part of her plan left....