The Life of Jezebel Firetongue

29

I met Jake at our rendezvous outside of town and we reached California by lunch. We ate lunch at a restaurant in silence, contemplating our own thoughts. Something was different, and we both knew it. Soon, it would surface, and who knew what would happen then.

After lunch, I took a break and let Jake drive me the rest of the way to Point Arena. When we arrived, I smiled and gave Jake directions to the labs. As we rolled through the town, memories sprung up. That's where I got my hair cut. That was my old elementary school. My friend lived over there. I sighed and leaned my head against the window, feeling so sad and old. Upon seeing my old high school, I knew that this would have been my senior year.

When we arrived at the labs, I was shocked by the devastation.

Originally, the labs were a two-story building in a sort of T-shape. All that remained now was the ends of the T. I walked in through the space where the front door used to be and nearly broke down then. Police tape fluttered in the wind, and the tile floor was still there, leading me to the skeleton of my parent's office. I walked into it and let the memories bring me to my knees. Sitting in here, playing with a teddy bear...talking to my parents...arguing...being blown through here on my way out...

Jake pulled me close, shushing me as I screamed. Tears evaporated and I buried my head into his shoulder, trying to stop. But the memories kept on hitting. Now Dr. Davis was giving me the teddy bear, back when he was a younger man. Then he was older, standing behind my parents as I talked to them. With his wig and the fat piling on, he took my side when I argued. Then, he was watching in the distance as I shot out of the labs. He always stood nearby. With every memory of this place, Dr. Davis followed. How could I stop screaming at what he had done to me? 

I woke up in chains. My mother was wiping my forehead with a cold rag. A bucket of ice water sat beside her, almost out of water. Empty buckets littered the floor behind her. "Hey Jez," she whispered. Her face was bruised, and her eyes were puffy and red. "Just play along. Pretend you're one of them. Your father is still under Davis' control."

"Molly? Is Jezebel awake?" We both cringed at the sound of my father's voice.

"Yes!" My mother called, struggling to keep her voice steady.

My father was by her side in a flash, a brand new bucket sloshing at his side. I had already realized that they were both subjected to the SFS serum. Stronger Faster Smarter serum 320. I shuddered at the idea that this serum had been tested that many times.

"Jez, Dr. Davis told us the most wonderful thing. He has finally given you your powers!"

It took every ounce of strength I had left to plaster a smile on my face and actually look happy. "What is it?"

His look was one of awe. "You will be his official advisor and right hand woman. His very best creation! Known by the name Jezebel Firetongue." He took my hands and looked me in the eyes. "You will be a dragon. You can now breathe and control fire. And look," he reached out and stroked something behind my back that I could feel. I turned my head and saw a wing poking out. "You have dragon wings. Wings that you can make disappear at any time dear. Isn't that wonderful?"

I looked back at my parents, and felt the rage bubble up in me. No, not bubble up, smolder. My mother pulled away the rag and I leaped to my feet. Fire ran out of my mouth and went to my hands, where it flared up and melted the cuffs. My wings burst out of my jacket to their full wingspan, leaving behind two large holes in the back.