Turning around I crossed my arms replying.
"I don't think that's a good idea-"
"Why? What are you so afraid of?"
Paul's tone was irritated and that much I'll give him credit for. He rose from the couch walking over to me.
"I've been working my ass off for years to make you feel happy and comfortable. T-To address all the needs you had, putting up with your bullshit. And THIS is how you repay me?!"
"Paul-"
"Don't Paul me! I'm sick of your horse shit Leto!"
He glared at me forcing me to look him in the eye whenever I looked away from him.
"You keep obsessing over the smallest of things. The amnesia thing isn't the only thing that's been eating away at you, hasn't it? You still see me as the weak little boy from high school..."
When his index started pointing at my chest I finally started glaring back, tears welling up behind my eyes I caught his wrist. My turn.
"How dare you. Hmm?"
He tried to wriggle out of my grip but wasn't going anywhere. His face grimaced as he struggled.
"Let you hurt me-"
"You're the one who said we need to be honest with each other. So are you?"
"Am I what-"
"Now who's spouting bullshit? I said are you?"
"Don't-"
Igniting my pupils I let go and watched Paul shrink back holding his wrist. Not only that but his heart was beating out his chest. Shaking my head I scoffed slowly brewing into laughter. I watched the realization melt over Paul's face but it was far too late for that.
"Let wait-"
"You're still scared of me! I thought you liked that I was stronger than you! Better than you!"
"I-I do I-"
"I can hear your heartbeat, Paul. I can smell your fear stop lying to ME!"
The lights flickered and Paul shrunk down to his knees. Now that I had him at that level I grit my teeth and towered over him.
"Tell me what you know."
"I don't-"
"I'm going to ask again..."
Exhaling lightning crackling between my fingernails.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Paul trembled but despite all of it, he refused to open his mouth. Sniffling I wiped the loose tears from my face, grabbed my purse, and stomped past him slamming the door so hard it cracked the wall and broke the hinges. Sliding my heels off I chucked them into the nearby closet. I pulled the floorboard up and slid out my burner tablet. Hearing Paul's approaching footsteps.
"I fucked up okay? Alright? I admit but please whatever Ripley said to you-"
Both of us paused when he said that. Paul cursed under his breath telling me he shouldn't have told me that name.
"Forget I told you that. What matters is why I lied to you all these years. I was with the wrong crowd. I injected myself with superpowers. I abused your body for my benefit but PLEASE, whatever he sold you it's a trap. It always is."
"Yeah well...it's a bit late to try and convince me out of it."
"I'm not scared like I used to be okay? I just..."
Tuning him out for a second I placed the USB into the port. It was a video file. By the static image, this was at my old house. When my Mom was still alive. Pressing play I felt Paul enter but I was a bit more interested in the video. The doctor had a young girl sitting in an all-white room, innocence written all over her face. The doctor said.
"What's your name sweetie?"
"Leto."
Gasping softly I covered my mouth.
"You know why we're running these tests right?"
"Yes. I'm going to be the best superhero ever!"
"That's right."
I watched the doctor wave a vile with green liquid in it.
"Can you believe you were born from this?"
Shuddering in horror, I moved to turn it off but saw another woman walking in saying.
"Hey, sweetheart. Cover your ears okay?"
Mom?
"Ma'am what are you-"
The video cut out then. My ears seemed to ring as the news crashed over me. I wasn't even born. I was made out of a fucking test tube. My Mom was a sup, and knew full well I was a lab rat born in a white room. Surrounded by doctors and nurses. Test tubes and machines. She took me in any way. As these things became apparent to me my head started to ache. Leaning on the bed, I winced Paul rushed over but I shoved him back.
"Don't! Don't..."
"You need help-"
"You've helped enough! You'll only make this worse."
The pain throbbed from the back of my skull to the front and I stumbled back into the living room. Finding a nearby water bottle and chugging that down.
"Your memory is coming back. If you rush it you'll explode again-"
"Like I want to hear that from you."
"I'm still me."
"Yeah. That's the problem."
Whoosh
Wildfire showed up, with a wide grin circling us.
"Ooh. You don't look too hot cupcake."
"What the hell are you doing here Ripley-"
So that's his name. Figures. Ripley sucked his teeth shaking his head.
"You gave away my secret identity that easily Paul. I should take your spine for that-"
"What do you gain from curing my amnesia?"
"It's entertaining."
Neither of them was helping, I pulled out a chair catching Ripley's gaze at me up and down from the slit in my dress. Paul noticed I didn't say anything about it and jumped to conclusions.
"You two have been fucking haven't you?"
"Oh get over yourself, Paul. You're not that important."
"Silence is an answer too Leto-"
"Would you both SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Both of them closed their mouths, as the migraine only continued to pound my skull. Flashes of my Mom came in per usual, but now I was getting flashes of the black site facility I was raised in. So many fucking experiments. I was a product.
