The human torch's flame

Chapter 21

You dropped the half drained cup next to Reed and examined his computer screen. Reed had obviously analysed some sort of  DNA piece. But, after a closer look, you realised that something was seriously wrong with the DNA's strands from the karyotype. Some genes were missing and there was an extra pair of chromosomes on the karyotype.

"Reed, you were supposed to test my DNA, not some mutated gorilla's." You yelled.

Reed rushed into the room from seemingly nowhere, wearing a laboratory blouse and plastic glasses. He bent over the computer and examined the screen. He slowly took off his glasses and whipped them slowly. 

"It's yours." Reed said slowly, eyeing you. 

"That can't be true. A human being has 46 chromosomes. This karyotype has 48 chromosomes...."

Reed slowly picked up a test tube resting on the side of the computer with the top held shut with a rubber top. He turned the tube around so that a paper sticker came into view. On it was written in small, dirty handwriting: (y/n).

You stood there for a minute, not moving exactly. You swallowed and tried to remember how to breath. It's funny; you do it every day but then you take it for granted and you just can't breath anymore. You sat on the desk, your hand measuring your pulse. You only stood up when a steady rhythm drummed trough your fingers.

"Is it the storm? Did it affect the others?"

Reed licked his lips and after a moment's reflection pointed to a computer nearby. You assumed he was showing you the test results of another person from the group. I slumped over and saw the same patter I did in my own karyotype.

"So...... It has..." Your heart dropped. "Has it affected all off us? Is it going to kill us?" you mumbled slowly. Reed' answer was almost drowned out by the drumming in your ears. Almost. But you would've wished you hadn't heard it.

"Yes and I don't know..." Reed's voice dropped. 

You put on a brave face. You tried to look the clever, ready-for-anything, head-strong woman you were before you just learned that you weren't entirely human anymore. Not entirely alive anymore. Not entirely dead though.

"Let's solve this. Get this problem solved." You said.

........................

The afternoon was a blur between mugs of (favourite hot drink) and endless papers. You checked everyone's blood except Ben's (if he even has blood anymore). Every result came back the same. 2 more chromosomes and some missing chromosomes.

You grabbed a sheet a paper from the desk. Reed was surveying Sue's and his blood test. Apparently from the way he was handling the paper, he still wasn't over the breakup. I got my own blood test and Johnny's. (Reed still didn't know yet about the date)

Right now, we were trying to find any other changes in our blood. Rare blood deceases. Accelerated ageing. Low amount of lymphocytes. You name it; you searched for it. You even searched for degrading or darkening of your eye tissue. Or rather, Reed did the searching on you and you did the searching on him.

Apart from a slightly stronger immune system. Apparently your body's first defenders had increased there speed thrice, making you less prone to bacteria. Witch was a good thing.

You were so sure there was something that was going to kill you that you didn't think that maybe the storm had just had positive effects.

At some point, Susan left the building followed by Reed so you were left alone in the lab. So far the conclusion was that the side effects (powers) were permanent if not re-altered. You eyes started to feel heavy, so you quickly glanced outside and saw that the sun was going down.

You grabbed a snack and sat on the couch. Next thing you knew, you were being shook awake by Johnny.

"Johnny? What?" You asked, pressing your hands to the side of your scalp. He raised an eyebrow. Then it suddenly hit you: "Date." You shrugged and gave a guilty smile. Johnny nodded. You immediately bolted up. "I'm ready." You noticed Johnny wasn't wearing any shoes

"Okay. Let's go!" Johnny walked towards the edge of the room. Not towards the elevator. Towards a window. You followed him slowly not exactly sure what you had to do. Johnny scooped you up (witch he seemed to have no trouble doing) and opened the human sized window. Needless to say you were starting to fear for his sanity and for your life. You dug your fingers into his shirt and clung on tightly.

Johnny just chuckled and stepped off the building. I would like to tell you that you never lost faith in Johnny and believed that there was no chance that you would fall and die. Well, that would be a lie. The first thought that you have while you fell was 'Haaaaa'. 

Suddenly Johnny's skin became very warm to the touch. That's when you opened your eyes to a grinning Johnny. His feet were ablaze. The only thing that was driving you slowly

"Seriously? Not even a warning?" You sighed but decided that annoying the person who was holding you a hundred meters above the air isn't a good idea. 

"Well, I like to keep things interesting." Johnny grinned as he slowly went up.

"Why are we moving so slowly?" You asked him

"Because I'd rather not fry my date." Johnny smiled.

"Where are we going?" 

"Up."

"Well, that's precise." You said sarcastically.

Then the top of the roof came into view. Johnny put you down and showed you towards a blanket. There were two glasses and a bottle as well as a picnic basket and a blanket. You lay down on the blanket beside Johnny as he poured you a glass of (drink that you like). The only source of light was  a torch. It felt a bit strange because Johnny didn't seem like the person that would go to all this trouble for a date. And now, he was pouring you a drink.

You looked at him  sceptically. 

"What? I couldn't find any candles. So forgive me for using a torch." Johnny grinned.

"How long did it take you?" You said, amused.

"I don't know."

There was a brief silence. You turned sideways, so that you lay on your elbow. Johnny handed you a drink. You drummed your fingers against the glass then asked:

"Johnny, If you were on the shuttle again. Just before it was about to fly off. Would you hop off or stay on?"

"I would stay on."

"Why?" you asked sipping your drink. Not exactly sure if your answer would be the same as his.

"Because if I hadn't gone to the shuttle. I would never have seen you in that tight suit. Or been as hot, both literally and figuratively, as I am now."

You nodded then 'zapped' towards him and whispered in his ear: "Don't flatter yourself."

"Stop that. You have no idea how terribly sexy that is."

"Really?" You laughed as you leant back.

"Really."