Ark (#Wattys2016)

The Steroid Superhuman In Canada

"I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare to let out."

-Ally Carter

"What are we even looking for?" I asked through the comms. The new ear bud they had given me was actually made to fit my ear and was much more comfortable than the other one I had used before. Zane and Baz were walking beside me as we made our way down the busy street. Jasmine and Dylan were about a block ahead of us while Reese and Theo were on the next street over.

It had been two weeks since I had killed Alice and found out about my past or lack thereof. Baz and Laurel had gone through every book they had, consulted with every expert out there but had still found no clue as to what I was or where I came from. It was frustrating to say the least. Here I was, surrounded by vampires, werewolves and witches with supernatural knowledge out the wazoo, and I was till no closer to finding an answer.

After two weeks of grueling training and invasive tests, Laurel had finally decided to allow me back out into the field. Baz was not happy about that but Laurel was the boss and her orders had to be obeyed. After receiving reports of strange, possibly paranormal, activity in Canada of all places, the witch had sent us out to investigate, with Baz supervising us, and by us, I mean me. He probably wanted to make sure that I didn't go nuclear again, as Reese had once crudely put it.

"Anything supernatural." Dylan replied in a matter of fact tone. I rolled my eyes as Zane snickered. One of the things I had learned about the werewolf is that she took everything literally.

"That doesn't really narrow it down, Dyl. I mean, look at us. We look like normal people but your a werewolf and I'm a-" I trailed off, not knowing how to finish the sentence,

"A human disco ball?" Reese offered. I scoffed, shaking my head while pinching the bridge of my nose. Reese had a strange sense of humor but I liked him.

"Yeah, I guess. What I'm saying is that I doubt whatever we're looking for is going to have a neon, flashing sign around its neck that says 'I'm the paranormal creature you're looking for.', you know?" I clarified.

"You never know. We might get lucky." Baz chuckled. I grinned and reached up to rub the back of my neck. A sudden, stabbing pain arched down my pain, making me groan with a wince. A dull ache began between my shoulders right where those mysterious scars were and was steadily growing. Baz and Laurel had inspected them but were unable to find out what might have caused them. I stopped and keeled over, putting my hands on my knees and closing my eyes as the pain slowly ebbed away.

You okay, kid?" Baz asked, dropping back to stand beside me. He laid a comforting hand on my back, but that actually just caused more pain. I bit back a yell and moved away from him. He pulled his hand away, "I'm sorry."

"No, its okay. It usually goes away after a few minutes." I ground out, forcing myself to stand up straight. Zane leaned close to his dad and spoke to him in a low voice.

"Its those scars on his back. They hurt him sometimes." he told him. Baz shook his head with a somewhat disappoint look in his face; a look I was steadily becoming accustomed to.

"You should have told us this, Paxton." he scolded. The pain was finally gone, as if it had never been there. I let out a sigh and began walking down the street again.

"Well, now you know." I brushed it off. I was tired of being examined and treated like a specimen under a microscope. Baz knew that I still held resentment towards him for lying to me and he hadn't said anything when I intentionally began to avoid him. Zane and Baz dropped it, returning to the task at hand. I addressed everyone over the comms, "What exactly was the information that Laurel got?"