Jessica

Us Part Four

"—and this leads me to the gist of things. I'm sure you expected this but your errors cannot be excused Dr..." Krieger checked his notes on the meeting room's table and said: "Marshall..."

Krieger and Marshall sat on opposite sides of the table and between them there were all the other members of the Brain Trust who showed disheartened expressions as they looked at their colleague who was most likely about to be fired. He knew, however, that it was all fake.

"...it's not fair." That was a thing that he trained himself to never say to his superiors since school but that day was different. He could sense that there was more than ineptitude at play.

"What can I say? I'm just as sorry as you are but it happens. To lose a job—" said Krieger, using the art of diction to soothe his heart.

It didn't work, though. Just like with his colleagues' expression, he could recognise that his words were empty and void.

"How is this fair? How is this any different than when Witter escaped?! No one was fired then!"

"I mean, they are completely different. Look..." he grabbed his notes to his left and explained with the same words written on the documents, "You're comparing a class 10 to masters of light and dark energy which, I'd like to add, we went through a lot of trouble getting from their families. I mean, I— dude... I don't understand half the powers listed here but I know this is on a whole other level..."

"No, that's not it. You say you don't understand half their powers— their beautiful, uncanny powers— but the truth is you don't even know half of this story."

When he saw his unnerving smile, Krieger froze just like Marshall's wide open ice coloured eyes. "That's— that's really unacceptable—"

"Shut it! Puppet! That's what you are!"

And so he did and he listened to the following words bewildered.

"You're not in charge here. I know who is... and he wants me gone just because I'm not a part of his plan."

"What...? What are you talking about?"

This time he didn't even pay attention to Krieger, he had his eyes set straight for another man sitting halfway between the previous interlocutors. His chalk white skin and chromatically opposite hair caused a furious outburst.

"Slave of the demon! I know what you are and what you want! And you want me gone because I refused to be a part of it!"

Essex was unfazed as his burning red eyes met his opponent's ice cold blue eyes. Krieger was looking at all the other people in the room, trying to figure out what was going on and what any of that meant.

At one point he looked at Essex and just as he did, he turned around, glaring at him. When their eyes made contact, the pale man's eyes shined brighter and Krieger's expression changed yet again. He stood up, this time being determined.

"You want to hear the real reason I don't want you here? It's because you're not even meant to be here."

"What?" said Marshall, looking back at the puppet that believed he was his boss.

"I don't even know why you're here. How do you help in any way? Simply put, you're not even supposed to be here. So what difference will it make if I get rid of you?"

He held himself back from lashing out at Essex and instead just walked away.

"I know it was you...! You think I'm not meant to be here, you think I'm not a part of your grand scheme— this story... I'll show you! I'll make a difference!"

And with that he left the room, leaving the rest of the Brain Trust the opportunity to calm down once again. Essex's eyes stopped glowing and Krieger's expression changed back to the norm. It looked as if he had just noticed Marshall's disappearance and so he let himself go.