He wasn’t sure if he was awake or asleep, but Denzin had definitely heard a voice. It was a nice voice. He liked the sound of it. And as quickly as lightning in a Suddenly, it cut through the nightmare that he had fallen into.

  Why he had fallen asleep, he didn’t really know. Was he asleep? It didn’t feel much like sleep. When you’re asleep, you dream, and you don’t know what’s going on around you. Denzin, though, despite the fact that he couldn’t move a muscle, had heard everything. Everything.

  Something about a hospital. Mam crying his name, and sobbing. Dad arguing and pleading with the medics, then desperately telling him it would alright, and that they would find him. But by the sound of Dad’s voice, things were not going to be alright.

  If Denzin could have shuddered, he would have.

  More sounds. The door of their partment locking behind them, muffing his parents’ cries. The squeak of one of the gurney’s wheels as it rolled down the hall. Slamming doors of … he assumed it was an ambulance, although he couldn’t open his eyes to check. And then the quiet whirring as it drove down the smooth road.

  And then all kinds of strange sounds. Clinking and cutting and tearing and squeaking and bleeping. Like some kind a machinery in a factory. But quieter, smaller.

  And this voice cut through it all.

  ‘My Child, I know this is frightening, confusing. But I am here. I am with you.’

  Who or what was that? Denz didn’t recognise the voice.

  ‘I am here,’ the Voice repeated. ‘Whatever happens, my Child, I am always with you. I will never leave you.’

  Denz thought, ‘Who are you?’ hoping the Voice could hear his thoughts. Because he could just about breathe, much less speak.

  ‘Yes, I can hear your thoughts, so you can talk with me any time you want to. I am here. I am always here.’

  ‘But who are you?’ Denz asked the Voice.

  ‘Others know me by other names. When my Name is too dangerous to say, I give them a new name to use. But you know me as Senda,’ the Voice added.

  ‘Senda! You’re real!’

  ‘Yes, my Child,’ he noticed a hint of laughter in the Voice. Senda’s Voice. ‘Never forget that I am here. They’re going to tell you things they want you to believe. But I know you well enough to know that you won’t believe everything you’re told. Never forget that I am always with you.’

  Just then, another voice – far too loud – broke in, calling his name. This time, he heard it through his ears. How he had heard the Voice was a mystery for another time.

  His eyelids flipped a few times in the bright light and then opened as his pupils adjusted. Before him stood three people in white uniforms, white masks over their faces. One of them leaned over him, his eyes floating above his mask like a phantom.

  “Denzin, I’m Doctor Peterson. We’ve woken you up a bit, so that I can explain what is happening to you. But before I do that, I’m going to do something to help you breathe. It’s a special mask. It works best if you’re awake when we put it in place. Just a warning – you might not be able to breathe for a few seconds, because it takes the air a moment to come. But remember this: be at peace. All is well.”

  One of them lifted up something that had been laying on his chest – it looked like a bit of rubber, with a tube through it. He shoved it into Denzin’s mouth. The thing felt bigger than it looked, and by reflex his tongue pushed it back in a desperate attempt to spit it out again. A cup was shoved snugly over his nose, and he twisted his head, resisting.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Dr. Peterson repeated, “Remember this, Denzin, everything is okay. Be at peace. All is well.”

  An electric shock zapped his face as the mask glued itself to his skin. His mouth contorted. His teeth clamped. His lips instantly clung to the tube, forming a tight O around it.

  Then his lungs seized! He couldn’t breathe!

  He thrashed about again, fighting for breath, as Dr. Peterson continued to say calming words. A moment later, his lungs sucked in life-giving air. The shock calmed to a warm tingle – not unpleasant, just strange.

  Denzin drank in that air, commanding his heart to stand down once again. Not that his commands were having any effect against the panic that grabbed him as strongly as that skibbing mask.

  “See?” the medic told him. “All is well. That’s right. Just breathe. Remember this: be at peace. Remember this: all is well.”

  A peace settled inside Denzin, and his heartrate slowed at last. All was well. He knew it, like he knew his own name. All was well.

  But something niggled him about that.

  “Take a few nice, deep breaths. That’s right. That’s right,” Dr. Peterson told him gently but firmly, and Denzin obeyed. “Now, I need you to pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you. Remember this: you must pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you.”

  Paying attention had never been his strong point. But for some reason, everything in him wanted to pay attention to Dr. Peterson.

  “Remember this: you are very grateful for the mask that helps you to breathe.”

  Denzin inhaled the sweet air into his lungs. After that moment of not being able to breathe, he was so happy that he could now breathe again. He had never valued air so much in all his life. Despite the strange tingle in his face, he was very grateful for his mask.

  “Remember this: you will forever be grateful to the Pendraken and the City for saving your life.”

  The Pendraken knew about him? And the Pendraken had saved his life? Joy bubbled up within him that the City and its wonderful leader cared so much for him!

  “We’ve had to remove your legs. But do not fear, we have developed a special pod that will not only keep you alive, but help you to show your gratefulness to the Pendraken and the City. Remember this: you are incredibly grateful for the pod that keeps you alive.”

  Joy gave way to panic, and his heart rolled like the billowing clouds of a suddenly! They’d removed his legs? But as Dr. Peterson spoke, gratitude seeped in, mingling with the fear, quickly driving it away. He was grateful. So grateful. They’d saved his life. He didn’t know what a pod was, but obviously, it was wonderful. He was overwhelmingly grateful.

  Dr. Peterson continued, “Remember this: you are very grateful for the braces that hold your hands and keep you safe. Remember this: you have great respect and love for the Helpers who look after you and help you to serve the Pendraken and the City.

  “Remember this: you will think of your family with fondness for allowing you to be here, but you will think of them without sadness.

  “Remember this: with all your heart you want to serve the Pendraken and the City because of your immense gratitude.

  “And one more thing. Your name is Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three. Remember this: the only name you have ever had is Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three. Remember this: your name is Dee En Zero Zero Three and you love your name for it describes exactly who you are. You are so proud of your name.

  “When you wake up, things will be different. But be at peace. All is well. Remember this: you are so, so grateful, Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three, and all is well.”

  Dr. Peterson’s voice continued in the background. “Is everything ready? Take him down then. Good job, crew.”

  Deep gratitude seeped into Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three’s soul. He knew that Dr. Peterson and the medics who helped him had done a good job. Everything inside of Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three wanted to believe what he’d just been told. His life had just been saved.

  He was forever grateful to the Pendraken and the City for saving his life.

  He was incredibly grateful for the pod that kept him alive. He didn’t know what a pod was, but he was incredibly grateful for it! He was also very glad to have the braces that held his hands and kept him safe. Just what those braces were, he didn’t know, but he was very glad to have them. And he had great respect and love for the Helpers who looked after him and helped him to serve the Pendraken and the City. Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three wanted to serve the Pendraken and the City out of his immense gratitude. And he was at peace. All was well.

  All was well. Or was it?

  There was a tug-o-war going on his in mind. Dee Ee En Zero Zero Three was desperate to believe what Dr. Peterson had told him. And yet something about this whole thing felt anything but peaceful, and definitely not well. He was more grateful than he’d ever been in his life, and knew that all was well. But he was also terrified!