The Evil That Came

Part 12: Pressure

Victoria was surprised, to say the least, when Greg O'Dunn barged into her home. Interestingly enough, she did not feel frightened. Her trust in Greg far outweighed her startled feelings.

"Greg, what are you doing here?" Victoria asked, upright but relaxed on her living room couch.

"I'm here to take you away," Greg replied. "You don't have to come with me, but you asked me years ago to take you away. Now is your opportunity. Your mom is at work, your brother is off somewhere else, and your father—you know where your father is."

Victoria hesitated, "Where are you taking me, and why?"

Greg blinked. He hadn't thought about what to say, so he told her the blunt truth: "Your mom and dad are not your parents. Viktor is your cousin, and you will eventually need to leave Earth. Due to the powers you will soon possess, you will be stronger than the rest of the Robos and humans. According to your mother, you must lead your people away from Earth and to a land of their own. "

Lifting an eyebrow, she said, "Honestly, Greg, that seems a little far-fetched. Viktor is the only brother I have known; my parents have cared for me all my life. I would know if Viktor wasn't my brother."

Greg's voice carried a weight of concern and urgency as he leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on Victoria's. "Have you ever delved into a treasure trove of baby pictures? Have you felt the warmth of unwavering parental love? They are not your parents. Your so-called brother is hostile towards you, isn't he? He asked, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "He exudes hatred as if it were woven into his very being. His father was an evil man. He killed his sister, your mother! Viktor; he was born to despise you." His words hung between them.

The weight of his revelation was heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the room. Victoria felt a knot tighten in her stomach, the realization sinking like a stone. It was a truth she had long suspected but had hesitated to acknowledge. The animosity between her and her supposed brother ran deep, a rift from years of resentment and misunderstanding. Victoria, remembering the rage in his eyes, monstrous and preternatural. A rage that far exceeded the circumstance. The anxiety when he walked past her, the back flips her gut would go through when he was in her room, the very air that she breathed would disappear when he looked at her. The dread he inflicted was Victoria's friend. She knew it well. And what she now knows is that her very cells recognized the evil in him. 

"Victoria," he continued, his tone tinged with pure urgency, "I need you to be brutally honest with yourself. This may sting, but I care for you deeply, as if you were my flesh and blood." His gaze softened momentarily. "In a different reality, I would have embraced the role your mother intended for me, guiding you through life's trials, and for that, I'm sorry ."

Victoria's chest was heavy. "My mother?"She said quietly. Something about his saying her mother triggered a deep longing in the marrow of her bones, a hollow ache Victoria never knew was there. 

But then his voice dropped to a hushed whisper, laden with foreboding. "There's more, Victoria. General Alden, a man with significant power and influence, is the President's right-hand man. And he's set his sights on you, on your power."

"My power?" With the air leaving her lungs. Victoria's world was upside down.

Greg's words were pregnant with implications: "He's not to be trusted, Victoria. I've seen the darkness lurking within him; I sifted through his classified reports." His jaw tightened with determination. "He's concocting schemes and plans that involve you as a pawn in his twisted game of power and control. I promise you, nothing good will come from aligning yourself with him."

Greg's revelation lingered, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Victoria's world seemed to tilt on its axis, the gravity of Greg's words sinking in increasingly like lead weights.