Seeing Red

Chapter 3 - Katarina

Pain.

That was all she felt right now- intense pain. Her legs were on fire, her hands, burning to a crisp and she was sure at least three of her fingernails ha peeled off. One of the muscles in her leg was ripped, there was a hole in her shoulder and her teeth had burst from her guns. She tasted blood.

Groaning, she stood up, shaking violently. She took a step forward and the pain took over, her legs buckling underneath her, sending her to the cold, stone road. She screamed. Raising her head, she took a look at her leg; there was a syringe sticking out of it. With wide eyes she pulled it out, hissing at the pain.

With a sound of disgust, she threw it to the ground and rolled on to her back. She didn’t remember anything; it was all a black and white blur with hints of crimson. She sighed and took a closer look at her hands; they were sticky.

Red. They were a startling scarlet.

She brought them closer to her paling face, her eyes feeling like they were going to pop out of their sockets. Red. There was something on her hands. Something red and sticky.

Blood.

She had blood on her hands.

And it wasn’t hers.

Her breath cam quick and rapid as she backed up. She couldn’t feel anymore. She had killed somebody. She was a murderer.

Her hand hit something- something that was once warm, but was now cold. She looked behind her, looked at the body and felt bile rise in her throat. She turned around fully, looking at the unfortunate man.

He was bloody.

She had killed somebody.

And she was still here.

She raised her hand, reaching out to touch the man, soon letting it fall to the ground instead. It was a gruesome sight- his black hair was relatively clean, but she could see the hole in his stomach, she could see his intestines. He was covered with the sticky red substance. She took a closer look at his blazer; he had a name tag. Bill.

She had killed this Bill.

Upon closer inspection, she found long gashes in his arms with what looked to be-nails- sticking out. There were nails- fingernails; more like talons, though- sticking out of his arms.

Her thoughts drifted back to her missing nails and she felt tears sting her eyes. There was no doubt about it; she was a cold-blooded killer. She looked at the body of Bill again and turned around, heaving.

She emptied her stomach's contents on to the road and crawled a short distance away before collapsing to the ground.

How many other people had she killed? She was a monster, she wasn’t natural. She killed a man with her nails.

But how could she be a monster if she felt remorse?

She heard a groan- she heard a man groan. Her head whipped around, too fast. She felt one of the tendons in her neck stretch painfully- but she didn’t care. Her eyes drifted to another man, not so far away from her.

His blonde hair was matted with blood, and there were a few cuts along his arms. His leg was twisted awkwardly beneath him and he was staring.

He was staring at her.

He took a deep breath and began to crawl over to him. Now that he adrenaline rush was over, she felt everything. Each step was pure agony; hell. She felt like she had been dipped in a vat of acid over and over again; she felt raw. She wanted to stop.

But she had to see if he was alright.

After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to make it to his side.

“A- are you all right?” She began pushing him up into a sitting position, leaning him against the wall for support. She felt his hand reach out and touch the side of her cheek and she jumped back.

“It worked.”

“Pardon?” She didn’t like the way he was looking at her; it made her feel uneasy. But another part of her didn’t mind, a voice was telling her that this man saved her.

“Do you not remember anything?” He seemed genuinely surprised, he looked down to her leg, where she had found the syringe and she leaned back a bit.

“No, I just woke up here. I found that man- wait, did I- kill him?” Her eyes widened and she fell back. “Oh, god. I did, didn’t I?”

The man looked down, pity evident on his face. She wouldn’t admit it, but she felt something stir within her. Like this man would make a good friend- or possibly more.

He caught her looks and smiled. “Basic instinct.” She cocked her head and he sighed. “God, I have so much to teach you.”

“What do you mean?” She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms, wincing at the slight pain. “You didn’t answer my question before. Did I kill him?” Her voice had softened. She was scared.

“It wasn’t your fault.” The man’s voice was soft- comforting. She looked into his chocolate brown eyes and hers widened.

“He was your friend.” Horror dawned on her. She had killed this man’s friend.

“Now, listen-“

“I killed your friend.”

“Please-“

“Why aren’t you mad!” She shouted, an array of emotions crossing her face. Hurt, pain, disbelief- pity. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, and looked at her.

“He was my friend, and I am sad. But not mad, at you anyway.” He sighed, rolling hi shoulders and wincing at the pain. “Would you like me to explain?”

She looked down, and then nodded slowly. “Yes. But first- what’s your name?”

“Joseph.” He took a deep breath. “Okay. Here goes.” He laughed nervously before continuing. “Well, just-“He looked down at his watch. “A few hours ago, you were trying to kill me.”

“I was what?” Shock passed over her face before she looked down. “I’m sorry. Please go on.”

“It’s okay. Like I said, you were trying to kill me.” He took a breath. “I know this is going to seem hard to believe, but you’re not human.”

She looked at him, then at her hands. “I believe you.”

His eyebrows flew up, shocked. “Really?”

“Yeah.” She clenched her fists, her nails finally growing back. She healed fast.

“You were created in the genetics lab. Something I did not agree with, by the way. They used genes from people who were already extraordinary, then enhanced them to make an indestructible killing machine.”

“I’m only a machine?” She looked up at Joseph, tears in her eyes. “Is that what you think?”

“What-no! Of course not!” He sighed and shook his head. “Look, we should really get you inside; this is my house by the way.”

She looked down at Bill, then up at Joseph. “Okay. Thank you Joseph.”

“Please, just call me Joe.”

She stood up, her injuries having healed fully, save for the wound in her arm. “Joe, I’m only a clone?”

He smiled. “I believe that you’re something- not someone much more important than a clone.”

She smiled, her eyes lighting up, then frowning again. “Then I don’t have a name?” She held out her hand to him, helping him to his feet. He groaned at the pain, but managed to hop to his doorstep.

“No, but we can give you one.”

“Really?” Joe smiled at the hopeful tone in her voice and opened the door.

“Really. I think we’ll call you… Katarina.”