Project: Hero

Chapter eight

Deciding to ignore Sergio I help Kotey. There's something familiar and almost ritualistic about the way he shoulders the bag. I almost want to put my arms around him and hug him. Tell him to be careful. I don't though.

The only goodbye or good luck the boys share is a sharp and short nod. Kotey reaches the stairs and turns back to smile at us.

"Don't wait up," he grins but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"We won't," Sergio grins back, able to pull it off a lot better, but it's not perfect.

As Kotey leaves I get the feeling that the whole display they put on was for my benefit. I hear the door shut and wince at the noise as Sergio moves through his boxes again. He seems distracted - mumbling under his breath - and it looks like he can't find something.

Leaving him to his search I close my eyes, trying to unlock my memories. Deciding to start gently I slowly let my mind wander back, casting the net wide.

The memories are fish, little goldfish ranging to imposing sharks. I change my mind about starting slow and ignore the shiny goldfish - they'd probably just be snippets of memories - and reach out to the biggest and baddest shark of the lot. 

However, the moment I make contact the shark dissolves into silky mist. Not before it turns and rakes its teeth down my arm. I scream in pain, grabbing my arm tightly. My mind throbs but my arm hurts more.

"Blair, are you alright?" A soft masculine voice asks, Sergio's voice.

"M-my a-arm," I manage to whimper. "A-and m-my h-head."

My eyes are still closed and I feel Sergio gently take my arm. His fingertips trace the skin, it hurts and I start to pull it back. Sergio tugs it back towards him and tightens his grip slightly.

"Blair, look at me," his voice still soft but also urgent. "There's nothing wrong with your arm."

This time my eyes open. There has to be something wrong, I got attacked by a shark! A shark for freak's sake! My eyes find my arm and widen. Sergio's right, the skin is completely unbroken and smooth. My head on the other hand still throbs, I wince and massage my temples.

"I leave you to yourself and you end up hurting yourself. What did you do?"

"Tried to unlock my memories," I answer, but I can see he's not convinced. "There were fish and sharks and I went up to the biggest shark and it bit me." It comes out in a breathless rush.

Sergio groans and rubs his eyes, "in future Blair, don't force the memories out, especially the big," he breaks off to grin at me - the same grin from the dream - "sharks."

I nod, "Okay, did you find what you were looking for?"

He grins and points to a dust-covered box resting on the side of the sofa. I go over and dust it down. revealing the bright cardboard underneath.

"Risk? You want tp play Risk?"

Sergio doesn't seem annoyed or surprised by my disbelief. He just nods, "Si. It teaches strategy."

I run my fingers along the box lid, still not convinced - well not entirely.

"I'll make it interesting. When I win I get to ask you one question about anything."

"If I win I get to ask you anything?" I'm not sure he means it, or if I can actually win against him.

"Si," he confirms and starts to set the game out. "What colour do you want?"

"Red," I answer and watch him carefully, I have to be sure he's setting the game up right.

We start playing the game. The difference in our style is obvious. I jump in and make the first move I see, making it harder for me later on. The game slows down whenever Sergio takes his turn.