Ripley randomly cleared his throat, obviously flapping a folder in his hand. I got up and took it flipping through it at the table once I sat back down. Confirming any memory flashes I was getting first hand right in front of my eyes. With the paper to prove it. Paul took that chance to sit down too. Smart not to speak yet until I completely skimmed through the folder.
"None of this explains why my Mom broke me out."
"That's for you to find out. Just know..."
Ripley winked at me adjusting his cape.
"I'm here whenever you want to start."
Whoosh
"...I know you hate me."
Paul started, I picked up the folder walking over to the fireplace. Dropping it on top of the coals, I sparked the paper. Watching the edges burn.
"You have every right too. I..I wanted to protect you. I love you. I always have..."
I wouldn't say I was speechless as there wasn't much to say. Not really. My head was clanging. Flashes of my traumatic past were horrific and vivid refusing to let me catch a breath. Speaking of that, my breath started to hitch in my throat. I thought it was because I was reaching a point in my panic attack but it was Paul shoving a gas mask over my face. He put his full weight down on me at once. Finally, the amnesia week started to come back to me but it was distracting me from getting Paul off my back-
"It's okay! It'll be alright! Just stay still."
Writhing underneath him, to put it into perspective he was sitting on my upper back arching my chin up with one arm and having the gas mask shiver over my mouth with the other hand. He had his knees on my hands pinning them to the floor. I started to get dizzy but I wouldn't let him win not again. Focusing on my feet I charged lightning into the soles and just blasted forward. Slamming Paul headfirst into the fireplace causing him to lose his grip and drop the mask. Gasping for air I rose and rolled him away from me. He juggled off the ground and slammed into the adjacent wall. Still quite dizzy I shook my head, suddenly seeing Paul sprint at me full speed tackling me out the window.
Crash
Instinctively I grabbed his back with one hand and used my feet to propel up onto the opposite roof. We rolled to a stop and Paul threw haymakers to try and drop me. I yelled.
"Paul STOP-"
"NO! I can't let you leave it's too dangerous!"
That knot in my stomach was building up again but it's not like I wanted it to.
"Paul PLEASE! If you keep attacking me-"
"You're going to explode regardless of what I do! No matter who you are or who you pretend to be you'll always explode! That's why you killed your Mom!"
Bump Bump
"That's why people always die on your watch!"
Bump Bump
"That's why you'll always be a failure!"
Crackle
Paul did end up dropping me, I collapsed to my knees loose tears falling from my face mixing with my bloody nose. Gasping
Boom
The lightning erupted from my gut.
PAUL!
Paul evaporated in seconds, my Mom replaced him a few times. With her, I had a chance to say goodbye since only half her body was charred. Paul mouthed I'm sorry before he turned to dust in front of me. I was completely conscious watching my lightning warp through the city, taking out the power lines and shaking the very foundations that the buildings were built on. Wheezing, I turned to gag and then eventually vomited. Coughing and sobbing, I rubbed my hands over the dust particles that used to be Paul.
Pat
Pat
Pat
Abruptly it started to rain, washing what remained of Paul down the roof and into the rat-infested garbage. I wailed for a while. Eventually, enough people caught notice of it and sent me to the hospital, halfway there I was transported to the sup ambulance. They tried to put me in a box again but I refused.
"I'm not getting in the box."
"Thunder-"
"You put me in that box to silence me. I'm not going."
"Thunder you caused an earthquake, injuries to citizens, and the power is out for one-third of the city. You're getting in that box."
"No, I'm not."
Glaring at the doctors the nurses looked around wondering what to do. The doctor was putting in a brave face, but he was scared shitless.
"Thunder is right. She's an independent woman, she can choose where she lies her head."
That was a different voice but I recognized it.
"Duncan?"
"Correct."
Duncan motioned for the doctors to leave me be and ushered me to come up to the floor he was on. The elevator dinged and I entered the office Duncan was in, he sniffed the whiskey bottle before pouring himself a glass. Looking me up and down with a stoic expression then sat down in his chair, my red dress was torn and dirty full of blood and grime but I sat too. Manspreading and all.
"I'll keep this brief."
"Please."
"Sup's have always been natural born. Up until ten years ago. They are made. You were the first."
"Why did my Mom break me out?"
"She was one of the leading scientists with a military background making her a unique candidate in the process. Down the line, she felt morality breathing down her neck."
Swallowing harshly, Duncan passed me his handkerchief which I used to clean my face and nose.
"She took me in. Knowing I was a liability."
Duncan chuckled dryly adjusting his glasses.
"No my dear, you are a miracle."
Scoffing he must be joking. Sensing my skepticism he used a key to open a drawer and showed me more folders of files to skim through.
Most were redacted but it is clear to see.
"The Calamity?"
