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Chastity listen to a scientist babbling away in her ear. Blind. Even if she asked, it didn't matter the reason. Not really. The point was that she'd never again see Raine or Renta. Never see all the beauty still left for her to wonder at. She'd be tortured by the colors of her memories. It have been alright if she'd been born blind, but she had to live with the memory of a better world. A world were she didn't have to depend on......others.
Chastity had nver been trusting, but she now realized that the position she was in left her no other option than to trust. Suddenly her blood was hot, her face flushed. Her rug of independence had just been ripped out from underneath her. She welcomed Renta's embrace then. She needed some comfort, any comfort.
Some other scientist began talking. Something about a locker room. How ridiculous. Had the world really been screwed with so royally? That people could lose their sight and almost no one else even sympathized. An aide came to her side, intending to lead her to the locker room. Chas jerked her arm away from the aide violently. She had made up her mind. She'd either make it on her own or die trying.
Chastity highly value self-efficiency.
"You can't see, Miss!" the aide called after her, obviously a young woman herself. All Chas could think about was that, at the very least, she knew she wasn't married. She ignored the aide, and reached out, slow but not unsure, and found the wall only a few inches away. She ran her hand over it, memorizing the cold steel as best she could. She took a cautious step foward. The hand moved with her, trailing along so nonchalantly that'd you'd think she wasn't using it at all. She followed the footsteps and voices. Eventually they had spit off; to the right the voices were deeper, the footsteps heavier, and to the left were more feminine tones and light steps. She headed left, walking at that same slow, sure pace. She turned the corner and felt a metal hinge bump her hand. Running her fingers lightly for a few more inches, she felt an electronic lock. She reached up near the top, and let her fingers trail across the raised letters that labeled the lock. Maybe God was proud of Chas for showing so much brass, or maybe she was just lucky, but it happened to be her name. She let her fingers caress the name repeatedly, so she could recognize it instantly. Be that as it may, she still couldn't open the door. She paused, contemplating the thought. She heard a shuffle of footsteps. Female. She spun around, defensive.
"You did well, Miss Chastity," the aide confided. Chastity stood stoically. Not answering. "But despite your quick wit when in dire straights, you will require a key card for that door." Then the aide produced said card, bumping the girl's hand with it. Chas took it, not realizing the big step she had made. The aide now had faith that she could manuever on her own. She placed her hand back on the electronic lock, quickly remembering its place. She found the groove in it and swiped the card through. There was an affirmative beep, and the door opened to reveal clothing. The aide smiled.
"Now go on and get dressed. I'm sure you'll want no help in that either," she jested lightly. And then she left. Despite herself, Chas smiled a tiny small, though very triumphant in nature. Maybe she could handle this after all.
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