Project: Hero

Chapter fourteen

 I was just a job to him?

The director stares at me, trying to get a reaction out of me. I don’t give her one, at least not a big over the top one.

I start feeling a pain in my neck, I put a hand to the sore spot and feel a slightly raised bump. It’s what I felt earlier but it’s bigger and more tender than before.

A flash of something lights her eyes and she leans forward slightly. Her eyes narrow and track my movements. It’s quite creepy and her movements are jerky.

I ignore her serpentine gaze and rub my neck, some thick substance coating my fingers. Confused I pull my hand away and see that my fingers are coated with a mix of puss and blood.

I stare at my fingers without really seeing them. The puss on my fingers reacts with the lights and seems to glisten in the light and the blood smells rusty and coppery.

“Miss Stone?” 

“My neck is bleeding,” I say numbly and show her my fingers.

She blinks hard and fast before jumping into action. The director stands up and punches a short number into her phone. While she barks orders into the phone I clamp my hand over my neck.

After a few chaotic seconds the director moves behind me. She lifts my hair away from my neck and pulls my hand off. Her breath fans the sore bit and a small whimper escapes me.

I try and squirm out of her grip but she grabs my shoulders tightly and mutters, “He’s really done a number on his daughter.”

I can almost see her tutting and shaking her head, her fingertips trace the oozing and bleeding wound. I whimper and pull away again, she lets me this time.

“Which Project has the tracker?” A new voice asks, a feminine but oddly strong one.

“New arrival,” the director answers and grabs my arm, squeezing it tightly. “Don’t go anywhere you aren’t allowed to.”

“Come on pet,” the new voice says, placing a hand on my other shoulder. “Let’s get ye sorted.”

“I’m fine,” I say and shake their hands off me. “And don’t call me pet, I’m not a dog.”

Instead of getting annoyed or offended like I thought she would, the woman just laughs. “The lass has her ma’s temper.”

The woman’s accent is an odd mix of Scottish with hints of something else I can’t identify. She’s heavyset but has a kind face, even if it is currently laughing at me.

Laughter still clings to her strong features as she grabs my arm and drags me to my feet. She’s stronger than she looks, guess you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

The Scottish woman leads me down the same corridor that Crystal did. This time no-one is out and about, except two teenagers.

A boy with white hair and a girl with smooth skin like a time-worn stone. They have their arms around each other. The girl’s shoulders shake. It’s a comforting embrace but as I watch the boy moves a strand of hair out of her eyes.

The girl sighs and looks away, right in my direction. The second our eyes meet she blushes and looks down. It’s Crystal and the guy is … Kotey.

Both of them look at me again, shame and shock all over their faces. Then they both seem to plead for me not to say anything to Sergio. It’s in their eyes.

I can tell they know where I’m going and who I’m with. They pale and Kotey’s hand slowly rises to the back of his neck. I look at him and he looks back, in that moment we make an agreement.