Generation Freaks✔️

Chapter 16

Stick thin, bony fingers, lips too wide for her sallow face. Ice cubes of fear cascaded down Paisley's back, stomach twisting and churning uncomfortably, making her feel like she wanted to vomit but there was nothing to heave up. She could pretend, it was worth a shot to get this frightening woman away from her. The sight of her jostled something in the back of Paisley's mind, rattling it. A memory or a nightmare? It wouldn't move forward, it was stuck in the cobwebs that lay thick in the corners of her mind. Though, Paisley wasn't exactly sure she wanted to know what lay in those depths. Things were usually locked up for a reason and Paisley had learned long ago that somethings were just meant to be that way.

"I've come a long way to find you, Paisley," her words were venom, trickling in streams to reach the heart. "You weren't easy to find. Who would've guessed, hiding in plain sight. Well done, I have to congratulate you for that. But I win. I told you before, I always get what I want."

Before? Was that what was prodding around in the dark of her mind? How did she know this woman? Uncertainty fell over Paisley like a blanket. She wasn't really sure she wanted to know how she knew this woman. That part was a certainty, to now know the truth. She wanted the memories to be hidden. Why? It felt right that they did. There was something wrong about the woman and Paisley really didn't want to know what it was.

"You've grown up so much since last we saw each other. It's been, what, seven, maybe eight years?" Her smile was like before, never reaching her eyes. "It's a shame, Paisley. You had so much potential, you still do, but it's all wasted now. You're lucky you aren't going to prison." She chuckled, as if her words were some kind of joke only she understood. "Though, where you're going is so much worse. At least that's what I've been told."

Paisley's eyes flickered in the direction of Nova. The other girl was still unmoving, that is Paisley just couldn't detect any movement from her. A jab of pain followed by anger stung at her heart. While she wanted Nova to be alive, bitterness coated her tongue. Nova had done her wrong, had betrayed them all, and made Paisley be abandoned. She had every right to be angry with her. But it didn't mean she had to wish death on the girl.

"Is she your friend?" The woman cooed, feigning sympathy. "She sings dead if that's what you're thinking sweetheart. The serum we injected you both with works like a sedative but it also paralyzes. Everyone comes out of it different. The average time frame to come out of it is about an hour and a half." She shrugged, the bones of her shoulders raising and falling with what seemed like a snap of a movement.

Paisley's head jerked, taking her eyes off of Nova. If she could argue she would explain how Nova wasn't her friend. Backstabbers weren't welcome in her book. But all Paisley could do was stare straight ahead.

The woman stood with elegance, more so than thought possible given her stick figure. Paisley was sure she would've toppled over from her head being bigger than her entire body. "It wears off slowly though. To slow for my liking. It's a malfunction we have yet been able to fix." She turned her eyes off of Paisley, sliding them over Nova and purses her lips. "I do hope she's awake by dinner. It'd be unfortunate if she had to miss it. I have quite the show planned for this weekend."

Paisley could only stare, but the anger still bailed beneath her skin. It told her to yell, to punch, to kick. Actions of a Youngling or someone so furious that controlling themselves wasn't even an option. Confusion lay in a thick haze in her mind, blocking the path of the memories, refusing to allow them access to the forefront of her brain. At that moment, she didn't really care. Her main focus point was for who sat in front of her.

Curiosity suddenly gleamed in those yellow eyes as the woman tilted her head, lips pursed in momentary thought. "You don't remember who I am, do you?"