The Enhanced Ones (paused)

Ch. 18 Beau

My latest form is sluggish at best. The sheer weight of it is nearly overpowering causing my breathing to be labored and tiny beads of sweat t form on my brow.

"Dan, was it?" Ted asks me as he glances down at a clipboard.

I wipe away the sweat with a handkerchief from one of my pockets. "Yea that's me." I say adjusting to the weight of my jaw. My words come out slow and heavy like each syllable weighs as much as my body.

"Well, Dan, I don't see you on my chart."

"Fresh hire. First day." I say quickly. Ted's brow crunches in disbelief and I give a dopey smile. Normally it would be cute, but in this form it may just be terrifying. "I don't even have a name tag or anything yet. Of course I'm not on the chart." I say with a laugh. Ted's face drops slack and my half chuckle dies. "Ted?" He blinks at me. "Ted?" I reach out to touch his shoulder. His head lolls back and a woman's voice laughs in my ear.

"It's good to see you're still up to your old tricks Beau."

I spin the weight of my stomach slowing me down but as soon as I see her I freeze.

"Celeste." The name is a whisper.

"Do us both a favor and change into something more comfortable." She says, disgust and desire roiling in her eyes.

My gut clenches with the my last memory of her. "I think I'll pass thanks."

"Your loss." She says shrugging a delicate shoulder. "My gain."

I close my eyes to avoid hers. But I see them still. Violent purple orbs floating around in my skull.

"You ran from my proposal." She lays a hand on my shoulder and I feel sick.

"I guess I just wasn't ready to settle down." I say my voice beginning to shake from the effort to keep her out of my mind.

"Oh no darling Beau, you know exactly what I mean. The Herald could use your talents."

"I have no desire to be a pawn." I say fighting the urge to look at her.

"We are all pawns." Her hand lifts away. Then I feel her breath on my neck. "But if you follow the Herald, you will be a pawn for the winning side." She backs me against the counter and I focus. I focus on one image. Wait until it's crystal clear in my mind then I run. I get half way to the revolving door when my world goes black.