Chapter 4

May 15th, 3030

Itus awoke to a world spinning around him, the trees above blurring into a dizzying kaleidoscope as consciousness slowly returned. The rising sun painted the forest in hues of amber and gold, a stark contrast to the pain that wracked his body. As he struggled to sit up, a groan escaped his lips, the sharp agony in his head forcing him to cradle it in his hands for a moment.

When he finally managed to lift his gaze and survey his surroundings, a new torment made itself known. His left arm hung at an unnatural angle, and even the slightest movement sent shockwaves of pain through his entire body.

"Fuck," he whispered, his voice barely audible and laced with anguish.

Itus gingerly prodded at his arm, each touch eliciting a cry that he struggled to suppress. The reality of his situation began to sink in. Here he was, alone and injured in an unfamiliar forest, with no idea how long he'd been unconscious.

This can't be happening, he thought, panic beginning to creep into the edges of his mind. What am I supposed to do now? I can't even move without feeling like I'm being torn apart.

Steeling himself against the pain, Itus slowly peeled back the top of his jumpsuit, revealing a canvas of bruises across his torso. The suit had protected him from the worst of it, but the mottled purple and blue patches told a story of a violent impact.

As he sat there, contemplating his next move, a memory flashed through Itus's mind—his mother, confident and skilled, popping dislocated shoulders back into place for injured workers. He had witnessed her perform this procedure countless times, her hands moving with practiced precision. How bad could it possibly be, he thought, a glimmer of hope rising in his chest.

Taking a deep breath, Itus lay back down on the forest floor. He reached across his body with his good arm, grasping the injured limb. Slowly, achingly, he began to rotate it outward, bringing it up and over his head.

"One... two... three," he whispered, gathering his courage for the final, excruciating movement.

With a swift motion, he brought his hand to his opposite shoulder. The pain was blinding, but the joint remained stubbornly out of place. Tears streamed down his face as he returned his arm to its original position, trying desperately to control his ragged breathing.

I have to try again, he thought, gritting his teeth. I can't give up now.

Once more, he rotated his arm behind his head. This time, as he brought it across to his shoulder, he felt a sickening pop. A silent scream tore from his throat as his shoulder slid back into its socket, the pain so intense that the world around him began to fade.

For what felt like an eternity, Itus lay curled on his side, tears flowing freely as his body shook with silent sobs. As the initial agony subsided to a dull throb, a numbness settled over him, his mind retreating.

Eventually, he found the strength to sit up and pull his jumpsuit back on. Each movement was a study in caution and pain management as he stumbled to his feet and limped towards a nearby tree. Collapsing against its trunk, Itus tried to piece together how much time had passed and how he would find his way to the training facility.

As he sat there, his thoughts began to spiral. Does anyone even know I'm missing? Probably Lucas, but what can he do? No one will care enough to go looking for me.  The pain in his heart rivaled that in his body as he considered the possibility that no one was looking for him. Maybe it's better this way, he thought bitterly. Maybe I should just stay here in the forest forever.

"Don't be stupid, Itus," he chided himself aloud. "You can't stay here."

But why not? a small voice in his head whispered. What's waiting for you back there? House assignment? More expectations you can't meet?

As he rubbed his face, trying to clear his mind, his fingers brushed against the necklace at his throat. Almost instinctively, he began fiddling with it, eventually clasping the charm tightly in his fist. The cool metal against his palm triggered a flood of memories.

In his mind's eye, he saw himself as a child, huddled under the covers with Selene. The excitement in her voice as she spoke, the wonder he felt at the thought of exploring space – it all came rushing back.

"I'm going to go there in a month from now," Selene had whispered, pointing to an image in the book between them.

"Really?!" young Itus had exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.

"Yeah, Bell approved me to be her apprentice, and she said that after some training, that will be my first mission. I'll finally be able to see more of what life has to offer," Selene explained, her eyes shining with excitement.

"That's so cool!" Itus had replied. "I haven't seen anything outside these stupid walls," he added in a whiny voice.

Selene laughed. "You will eventually. I can bring something back for you when I go."

"Yes, please!" Itus yelled, forgetting to keep his voice down.

"Okay, calm down!" Selene had scolded gently. "You're going to wake the whole house, and then you'll get nothing."

"Sorry. Sorry," Itus whispered, chastened.

They sat in silence for a moment, both staring at the image in the book. Then Itus asked, "When are you leaving?"

"In four days," Selene replied. "I wanted to leave tomorrow, but Bell said I needed time to pack my belongings. I'll be living with her for the next year, so I can do training and missions. Just imagine, Itus, this time next year, I'm going to be a real space explorer." She let out a quiet squeal of joy.

"So I won't see you for a year," Itus said sadly.

Selene grabbed Itus's hand, holding them over the open book. "No! No! I'm sure I'll be able to come home to visit. But yeah...I'll be gone for the majority of the year. That doesn't mean that we can't talk or I can't be there for you."

"Yeah, I guess," Itus replied, unconvinced.

"Hey, you'll be okay," Selene said softly. "You have been surviving without me for a while now."

"Yeah, but I thought things would be different now that you're home," Itus admitted.

"I'm sorry if I made you think that, but I have to start representing my house now. I'm not a child in training anymore. My life is finally starting, and this is what I was meant to do, you know. I can't stay here, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know, and I'm happy for you. I just wish..." Itus trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"Me too," Selene said, understanding. "But sometimes, we have to go off on our own. We only have one life, and we have to make the most of it. We can't let it pass us by, okay?"

"Okay," Itus agreed reluctantly.

Selene let go of Itus's hands and stuck out her hand, holding her pinky out. "Pinky promise?"

Itus connected his pinky with Selene's. "Promise."

As the memory faded, Itus found himself back in the forest, his hand still clutching the necklace. Selene's words echoed in his mind. 

The weight of that childhood promise settled over him, bringing with it a renewed sense of purpose. Itus released the necklace, his jaw set with determination. He couldn't give up now. He had made a promise, not just to Selene, but to himself.

With a grunt of effort, Itus pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the protests of his battered body. He was more than just a lost, injured man in the forest. He was a dreamer, an explorer in his own right. And he had a life to live. And it was time to start his own adventure.

Searching his pockets, he found his compass, only to discover it had been broken in the fall. But as he stared at the damaged instrument, a new thought occurred to him. Did he really need to know which way was north? Or was this the perfect opportunity to let chance guide him to a new destiny?

"One life," Itus murmured to himself, echoing Selene's words. "Let's make it count."

Instead of trying to orient himself, Itus closed his eyes and slowly turned in a circle. When he stopped, he opened his eyes and looked at the path before him. This random direction would be his new course - away from the training facility, away from his predetermined future, and towards the unknown.

Am I really doing this? Leaving everything behind? What if I'm making a huge mistake?

But as Itus limped off into the forest, each step was a reminder of his ordeal but also a step towards a new life. The pain in his body was still present, but it was overshadowed by a growing sense of excitement and possibility. He may have been lost, but for the first time, he felt truly free. Itus continued and disappeared further into the distance, nothing but his newfound determination and the memory of a pinky promise guiding him forward.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Itus became just another shadow among the trees, but his resolve shone brighter than ever. Where this path would lead, he didn't know. But as he ventured deeper into the unknown, Itus felt a smile tugging at his lips.

For the first time in my life, I'm making my own choices. Whatever happens next, it'll be because I chose it.

The uncertainty of the future filled him not with dread but with hope. His one life was truly beginning.