Fated Retribution

17 [Target Alpha]

15th September, Monday, 10:02 pm, 2028

If a God existed, I was questioning his powers with every inch of my being.

How could he let something like this happen to innocent people? Where did I go wrong, that I ended up here? What actions of mine was I being punished for? Cold, hurt, empty and devoid of all emotions, I felt like a rag doll left for vicious hunters to look for and destroy. Prey to predator, weak to strong, innocent to guilty. That's all I felt, meek, helpless, weak.

Weak.

I pulled my knees close to my chest, the hurt in my body did not subside after the wonder the lady officer, Jessica, had performed to get information from me. I licked my lips, tasting dry blood on my lower one. I raised my hand to my face, feeling cuts and bruises forming around my eyes and cheek. My pants were torn and not all of the blood on my clothes was others' now.

A slight cling against the door of the cell made me flinch as I looked up and saw a familiar mop of raven curls. Leo's friendly blue eyes came into my view as he winced at my state. He nodded his head and gestured to me to come towards him, I deadpanned, gesturing to my state and he rolled his eyes before looking around and entering my cell.

He made his way towards me and crouched down beside me, leaning against the wall, matching my actions.

"Come here to beat me up too, pretty boy? Wasn't Miss John Cena enough?" I mumbled sarcastically and quirked an eyebrow when I heard him laugh.

"No, I'm not here to beat you up, I'm here because I believe you." He said, and I looked at him in surprise as he continued, "You were too laid back and unaware of the situation for a person who could've planned this all. I checked your records, too. Not even a speeding ticket, ever. We learned about body language while in training, you were nervous but not lying."

"Thanks for the background check, rookie."

"Hey!"

"Yeah, well tell your boss that." I replied to his earlier statement sourly, Richard's jabs and constant questioning coming back to my mind.

"Mr. Nelson's a nice man, he's just a little assuming and a bit-"

"A bit?!" I cut him short and he corrected his statement with a sigh.

"Okay, maybe very assuming and hard-headed and an absolute fucktard but, hey, he's still a nice guy." Leo offered, spreading his hands and I gave him a look before shaking my head at his antics.

"What'd you want, Walsh?" I said, getting to the point. Leo sat up straight as he moved closer to me and crossed his legs.

"The truth." He said dramatically and I gave him a bored look before he slouched, "Are you sure about the Grave Markers?"

"100% that was their symbol, I'm sure of it." I confirmed and he pursed his lips as he started to get up and dust his pants.

Just as he exited the cell, I spoke again, "That's all you came here for?" I squinted my eyes at him in suspicion.

Leo's lips turned into a small smirk as he looked back at me, "Sometimes, one answer can be the last piece to many unsolved puzzles." I raised an eyebrow at his statement, "You're watching too much anime kid, chill out."

Leo shook his head and leaned forward to rest his elbow on the gate of the cell, "Make looking around your surroundings your second nature, Mrs. Petrova. Trust me, it'll help." He winked and left me sitting there in the cell in the same state I was when he arrived, cold, bloody, hurt but now more confused than scared.