Conundrum

Part 22

JessLainsley

Cameera rushed home and threw her bag against the wall, hearing a dull thud resonate throughout the room. Her heartbeat was too fast, she needed to calm down before she had a nuclear meltdown and ruined her house. She ran her hands through her wild, red hair, messing it up even more than it was. Her eyes darted around rapidly, looking at everything, but looking at nothing.

What if they found out about her Robin?

What if they linked her back to Cameera, herself?

What if Robin gave her up? Her mother? Her maker?!?

No... that's impossible. Robin should have no idea who she was, she was so doped up on all sorts of drugs that she would never remember... unless... those brief times she was awake enough... no. That was impossible.

Cameera ran to the bathroom, flicked on the light, and let out a small shriek when she saw her reflection.

No longer was she Dr. Cameera Abacus... she was a disheveled shadow of her old self. Her green eyes were wild and bloodshot, her curly red hair looked like a bomb went off and sent her hair everywhere, her skin was pale and her cheeks were sunken in. All this panic had driven her half mad and it showed. Cameera could not even remember the drive home from the police station, she dared not go back to work for fear of being watched. She took a deep breath and calmed herself, sending herself a glare in the reflection of her broken self.

Her reflection mocked her... showed her what was underneath. She tried to smile but it seemed obviously fake and almost twisted. Her reflection let out a cruel laugh that sounded like a pained animal wanting to let go of its misery. Her green eyes flashed with anger and half the bottles on the counter fell to the floor with a loud clatter as she could feel a bruise form on her arm. Glass shattered somewhere, but it didn't matter. Nothing would if they found out.

They could never find out.

Not about this true reflection.

Cameera looked down at the mess she made on the floor, colorful liquid painted the floor as bottles either shattered or burst open upon contact with the hard tile floor.

"Ugh... another mess..." her voice echoed in the bathroom, her sweetness had worn off and nothing was left but venom.

She bent down and started to close up plastic bottles and set them back on the counter. Cameera picked up the larger shards of glass and dropped them into a plastic trash can. A shard poked her finger and a small drop of blood welled up. She stared at it... fascinated by its color... her favorite color... the color that she used to build Robin. She shook her head and grabbed a mop from the hall closet and started to clean up the sweet smelling mess on the floor.

Once the bathroom looked clean enough to her, Cameera hopped in the shower, hoping to wash off the mess that was the day and to regroup her thoughts and try to clear her mind.

The warm water helped straighten out her hair and her thoughts and once she was done, she grabbed a white, fuzzy bathrobe, and started to dry her hair. Her reflection looked more like her again. Green eyes alight with an intelligent fire, small smile posed on her lips to create a secretly venomous yet elegant appeal. Cameera let out a sigh that echoed off the walls and back to her ears. Everything was going to be fine... unless...

Once she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blouse, Cameera sat on her couch and grabbed her phone. She hit the speed dial and set her phone to her ear as she looked at her cracked nails... she needed to get that fixed.

"Hello?" a voice responded in her ear.

"Papa! Hello! It's me, Cameera-"

"Cameera! My darling! You never call! Come visit me soon, alright? I know you're busy at the hospital, but your old man still misses his daughter," the voice chuckled.

Cameera rolled her eyes at being interrupted, "Alright... I will try to find some time... but I have a favor to ask."

"Of course, of course. What is it, my dear?"

"You remember my project... from a few years ago?"

"Ah yes, the bird one, right?"

"Yes, that. Listen, I got called down to the MDA randomly today and I am worried that they are... snooping. Would you be able to help?"

"Anything for my dear. I will talk to my assistant about it. She is such a bright young girl, I think you would like her."

"Papa... I don't trust anyone but you with my project."

"So my trust for my assistant is not enough for you?"

"No," Cameera's voice was sharp. She couldn't risk anything.

"Alright... Well, how about this. Tell me what the issue is, and I will give you a solution, if you approve, we move forward. Sound good?"

"Fine. I need to make sure that my project is not being hurt or questioned by the MDA. They have her in their grasp, and while I thought I wiped her memory... The mind does funny things under stress. If you could look into it... see if she is alright... make sure she doesn't slip anything out about me."

"How about I talk to my assistant and get her to find your project... maybe become friends. She could probe into your little birdy's mind and maybe see if things are slipping."

Cameera was silent for a moment, "That... could work. Alright. I will trust this with you and your assistant. I will let you deal with it and get back to me about the results."

"Of course, my lovey."

Cameera hung up the phone and smiled to herself, maybe everything will be alright after all.