Marked

Chapter 20

Each item inside that box was separate memory, full of color and life, some moments I could barely remember others were permanently engraved in my remembrance. My first lock of hair, the video tape of my first steps, pictures from when I first met Jen and then another one of her fourteenth birthday, back when I had a frizzy shoulder length cut and Jen's face had as many freckles as there were stars in the sky. And other small things that to other would mean nothing, but to me it meant everything I had lived up until now. I sighted. I covered the box and put it back where it was making sure to place the slab of wood perfectly in its place.

"Memories are dangerous"

I turned around in a gasp, even though I already knew whom it was. I still felt speechless, but I stood up slowly, never taking my eyes of Terrence and his brown eyes never left mine.

"Strangers are dangerous too" I bit back, not bothering to hide the hostility in my voice. But he smiled, creating indents in his cheeks making the marks on his forehead and temples more prominent.

"I'm not a stranger and you know that"

"No I don't" I lied.

"Yes you do, I can't be the only one" his last words were a whisper, but I took no notice.

"And if I said I knew you before, so what? It doesn't make things any less strange" I looked into his dark brown eyes once again, I wanted to know what was happening but I wasn't sure if I would be able to take it in. Somehow the truth felt dreadful but I was done with living in a life plagued with lies and then there was a temptation to build up a life from a perfect collection of lies, to create my own paper castle, a life so brittle it could be torn down by a single blow. But that was not it, that could not be the rest of my life.

"I know that, and trust me I hate being in the dark, but we need to figure this out. I just know that we have to" his brown eyes shined with vulnerability, I understood him completely I didn't want any more mysteries. I had enough with being one to myself.

"Fine"

We stood there just looking at each other. My eyes danced over his peeking marks and deep down mynmind ached to know the stories behind them.

"Skylar!!" Marcus voice shook me out of my daze as he stood next to the doorframe with an agitated look on his face. His eyes met Terrence but he didn't seem shocked, just wary. "So this is the other morpher" his eyes scanned him meticulously, but he always kept his distance.

"The morpher has a name" Terrence muttered annoyed, "I'm Terrence and you are?"

"Marcus, I'm Skylar's boyfriend" he held me by the waist and pulled me close to him; Great, men and their pissing contests.

"How about we go downstairs?"

Marcus offered me his hand as we exited my room; I just walked past and walked towards the secret room, maybe Terrence could help us see something we haven't ever since we entered that place. We were standing in the middle of the room, Marcus on my right, analyzing the tiled floor, and Terrence on my left, taking it all in.

"I've known about being a morpher for about a week or so" I began to explain, as a look of complete shock and surprise took over his features. "My par- a pair of doctors inhibited that part of me somehow, we know they belonged to a company called MARC but they erased all the important files and I don't exactly remember or have any idea of why they had me with them."

His eyes pranced around the cold room, he saw the monitor screen, the desk, and the operating table and then he eyed the exit.

"So you don't really have any idea of what you are, do you?" Terrence said, "Or what you can do?" his last words were sharp, frustrated. He sucked air through his teeth making the sound of a deflated balloon, his arms were still at his sides but his hands were clutched so tight his knuckles threatened to tear through his skin.