Assassin's Dream's draft #2

~ Prologue ~

 Prologue (11 years ago)Naomi

"What are we doing?" I tilt my head at the man walking beside me.

"An experiment. Have you ever heard of the meta-humans?" He asked a sparkle in his eyes.

I took a moment to think of a response, my eyes scanning the pristine corridor we were walking in. Biting cold attacked the nape of my neck, sending a chill down my spine.

"Isn't it the thing that gives some people powers?" I asked skipping ahead strawberry blond hair flying behind me. "Gene, Naomi, the gene it's passed down from family to family through inheritance. Today I'm going to try something on you." I froze, mid-step. Try something? I wonder what it is...

"Ok," We stopped at a door labelled 'Experimentation'. I walked around looking at the vials. Some were scarlet red, others a toxic green and some were colours I didn't have a name for. The room was bare but for the equipment and a grey chair in the middle of the white walls and marble floor.

The man sat me down on the grey chair. It was comfy. Reassuring me. Another man walked in and they exchanged words my six-year-old mind couldn't comprehend. "This won't hurt a bit ok? We just have to get a few things into your system." I nodded, but I was terrified. What... were they doing? He cleaned the needle before the other man filled it with a red liquid that reminded me of blood. That only made my anxiety grow.

He smiled at me before cleaning an area of my arm and injecting me with the scarlet serum. Screams slipped through my lips, as a burning sensation overtook my entire body. I begged my dad to make it go away but he simply stood there. Mesmerized. I struggled against the metal cuffs I hadn't realized were there. My eyes felt like they were changing and a feeling like shivering swept through my skull.

Then... it all stopped.

...

"How do you feel?" The other man asked.

"How do you feel? Hope?" I looked at my reflection that was cast on the vial, my once strawberry blond hair was now starlight white and my aqua eyes were replaced with a startlingly red colour. Similar to blood. How did I feel? I... felt alive. I felt... real. Real but confused.

"That's my name?" I asked, my voice coming out confident and snarky. "I thought it was Naomi."

"No that's your other half's name. You... are Hope." My brows knit together in confusion.

If I am Hope then who is Naomi? Or am I... her?

~{~}~{~}~{~{~}~{~}~{~}~{~}~

8 years later, 9 years before

Nick was acting strange. He kept glancing at me then turning away. It hurt me more than I wanted to admit... and I finally got the perfect chance to ask him about it. All our friends decided to head to bed early leaving just me and him in the east wing common room watching a movie. A movie I wasn't even focused on...

I stared at Nick willing him to look at me.

"Everything okay?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing." He turned to face me brows lifted.

"How come? I've never been better." That moment's pause... fraction of a second before a classic remark... one he uses when he clearly isn't okay.

"I know you better than that... come on Nicky... tell me what's wrong." I leaned closer to him and he leaned back.

"It's nothing honest..." I didn't believe him. And I doubt he believed himself. Upon noticing the look in my eyes Nick sighed running a hand through his hair.

"Look... I swear there isn't anything... okay? I'd tell you if there was something wrong... I swear." I held his gaze and he broke contact first... he wouldn't break a promise, would he?

"Promise me 2 things... one... promise me you'll always talk to me if something is wrong and... to-" His eyes widened prompting me to hesitate for a second. "Promise that you'll never leave me." An emotion shadowed his eyes but it was gone as fast as it came, he nodded his head before offering an easy-going smile.

"I promise." Opening his arms invitingly I lean my head against his chest, sighing to the rhythmic beating of his heart. Please...please... never leave my side.

Hope snickered in my mind but I ignored her. He promised... he wouldn't break a promise... would he?

Moaning I peel open my eyes at the creak of the floorboards. Darkness flooded my vision, my eyes naturally found the alarm clock that read-only 2 in the morning.

Which of the two would be awake at this hour?

Staring in front of me I can make out the hazy outline of 3 figures.

"N-Nick?" Rubbing my eyes I noticed a candle was lit illuminating Nick's solemn expression... and my dad's face.

"Dad." Nick's eyes were welling with tears.

"Don't worry Naomi, you'll forget this all by the morning so don't make a fuss." He smiled, a quirk of his lips that sent goosebumps crawling across my skin.

"I'm so sorry." Nick pressed the cool barrel of a gun against my brow a thousand apologies and unspoken words reflecting in the warm eyes that I had always found comfort in.

"Nick... NO!" But I was too late the sound of a pop and my eyes were closing a single tear sliding down my cheek. The last thing I saw were his sorrow-filled eyes and a mumbled apology.

"I'm sorry..."

A/N: And that's our prologue! You'll notice the first chapter will be similar to the old one but I promise the plot changes so just hang in there until I get the next few chapters up! I hope you guys enjoyed!