Broken

Chapter 6: The Truth

I stumbled out of the front door, pulling a Penn State hoodie over me as I made it out on the porch.  The air was brisk and there was still some frost left on the grass after the early morning.
It's been only a few days, and I was slowly beginning to recover. I felt 99% better then I have been. On the upside, my side was healing well and Raquel said the stitches would be able to be removed soon. I will leave a scare, but I have plenty of those already. I inhaled the fresh winter air and felt almost relived as the cold chill passed through my lungs. I left out a sigh as I saw the steam of my breath rise into the atmosphere.
The area the cabin was in had been peaceful. Some of the trees still clung to their leaves and were able to conserve a little bit of their color. The sun was just rising over the hills, leaving a mild fog over the lake. It wasn't like the bright lights of the city, but Raystown was indeed beautiful.
After recent events, this place felt like the garden of Eden to me. But I know that as much as I wanted to stay, I fought at the urge, I had to find my brothers and return home to our dad...back to New York. That was my only objective. But there were still many questions I needed answers to. Like how Eric Sacks is caught up with Quinn's vendetta. Why were they abducting innocent citizens off the streets and forcing them to be in their insane experimental procedures?
I also couldn't get Raquel out of my mind either. I know she said she didn't care about how my DNA changed her, but I know better. Even though she's been more kind to me than anyone else, I feel like she secretly resents me. Though I might be over thinking this. Maybe it's just me resenting myself.
I tightened my belt around my jeans and pulled on the strings of my hood and flipped my hood over my head. Thanks to Raquel lending me some of her father's old clothes, I was able to keep warm. Modifying them to fit, Raquel cut out the back of each t-shirt and jacket so that my shell would fit.
I then settled myself in the rocking chair next to the door and rocked gently back and forth, listening to the relaxing chirps of the birds in the nearby trees surrounding the cabin.
Raquel was running errands at the store buying groceries for the week. She would be  coming back any minute now.
Sure enough, about a half hour later, Raquel came up into the parking lot in that same Chevrolet we broke into and started pulling out the bags. I rushed over jogged over to help.
"Hey Ray, need a hand?"
"Leo! What are you doing out here? Get back inside!"
"I needed the fresh air. And just let me help. I'm feeling a lot better thanks to you." I say as I grab the two milk jugs out of her hands.
"You won't for long if ya don't get your ass back in the house. Now go on, get!" She smiled, shooing me off as she got more bags out of the back.
"Hehe, okay I'm going."
I couldn't help but have this feeling of happiness that always used to feel so foreign to me. But somehow she seems to bring it out in me. These past few days. We both have really bonded and became close friends. I'm slowly beginning to trust her.
I jog backwards and give a cocky smile at her.
"So, what's for dinner today chef Tell?"
Before she could answer, I heard her gasp as I accidentally fall back on the porch steps and dropped the milk jugs. My face flushed with embarrassment. But I managed a small chuckle to cover it up.
To my surprise, she started laughing.
"Watch were ya put your feet ya goof!" She giggled as she rapped her arm around mine, living me back up on my feet. "Are you okay? "
"Yeah I'm good." I pick up the milk and hold the front door for Raquel.
We headed to the kitchen and put the grocery bags on the counter.
"And to answer your earlier question Leo, we're having chili."
"Ooh, sounds good for a day like today."
"Exactly. "
Later that night Raquel finished the chili and left it to cool on the stove. I sat in the living room watching some TV to pass the time. This movie called, Hellboy or something was on. It looked interesting enough.
"Leo, dinner's ready." I heard Raquel call from the kitchen.
I got up and helped her set the tabel. Raquel made her small bowl of chili while I helped myself the the chili and scooped up enough to fill up the whole bowl.
We both sat at the dining table across from each other. The smell of the chili was delicious. I about ready to dive in, but I noticed Raquel giving me and annoyed glare with her hands resting together on the table. Understanding what she wanted to do. I respectfully put down my spoon and copied her hand position. I closed my eyes, waiting in silence for prayer.
"Dear Lord," She finally said quietly as I listened. "Thank you for the refuge and food you blessed us with these last few days. Thank you for being with Leonardo as he's  recovering nicely. " I felt a smile cross my face as she mentioned me in her prayer. "I pray that we will stay safe and that these people who have done harm to us will one day receive justice by your hand. If it's your will, I pray me and Leo will find the answers to our questions about these recent events that you allowed in our lives. For whatever you have planned for us, it is your will and we will not question it. Everything happens for a reason, and I hope that you will help us see that reasoning and help us to be strong in what ever else there is to come in the future. For you are always with us and protect us. Amen."
"Amen."
I opened my eyes to see her smiling at me. She had the most beautiful smile. Her teeth were flawless and her eyes were shining gold in the light of the ceiling fan. Despite what she considered flaws, her pale green, scaly skin, yellow eyes. I thought she wore it all perfectly. Though deep down, I wished there was a way to return her back to normal, how she's suppose to be.
"Leo?"
Her tender voice broke me out of my thoughts. I raised my head from the table and stared into her bright yellow orbs, she looked concerned.
"Y-yes?"
"You look like something's bothering you. There something you wanna talk about?"
I hesitated a moment, fiddling with the spoon in my hand.
"A-actually yes, there is, but I'm afraid it might be a sensitive subject for you."
"If you need to ask me something, than ask."
"How did this all start?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, the hole thing with Quinn and Sacks."
Raquel drew in a deep breath before answering.
"Well, Leo...I don't really know a lot about it. I was very little when it was going on. But I know about Sacks and how he was in the paper several years ago. When the lab caught of fire and their latest experiment at the time was destroyed."
That caught my attention big time.
"Come again?"
"When the lab caught fire, all their research was lost, everything was burnt to the ground. And the test subjects were supposably lost in the fire too. Several years after, I heard Sacks was in a partnership with Carlos Quinn, who apparently had enough money and equipment to continue where he left off. Trying to replicate the research. But they never succeeded until now. Cause now they're testing it on human subjects. All of it is fucked up."
After she finished, she began rubbing her temples, I knew it was a lot of stress on her and I could tell from the tone of her voice she had a hard time talking about it. But there was one more thing I had to tell her. And that was the truth.
"Well, not all of Sacks' test subjects started out human..."
She looked confused as her eyes locked with mine. "What are you talking about."
"I'm saying...what if those test subjects weren't lost in the fire 17 years ago?"
She stared at me with a rather stunned expression on her face as she played with the collar of her nightshirt. "How do you know?"
This was it...
Deep breath Leo...
I sighed, "Because...because you're looking at one of them."
At that, Raquel let the spoon fall from her hand and onto the floor. I flinched as the clang of metal collided with the wooden floorboards. I couldn't read her face. I couldn't tell what she was feeling. She was blank.
Maybe I've said too much. No, I did say too much. I probably just ruined a relationship with someone who now will no longer see me as an equal, but a freak of nature. My hand's clenched against the table cloth. I held my head low, evading her eyes. I didn't even give her a chance to respond before I shoved myself away from the table and made a straight shot for the front door.
"Leo! Leonardo wait!"
I heard her call behind me but I didn't stop. I slammed the door behind me and leaned against the wooden poll on the porch. It was colder now than it was in the morning. I pulled my hood over my head and tucked my hands in my pockets. Small flakes of snow began to fall.
"I'm such an idiot. Why did I have to say that?"
I nuzzled my nose deeper into my hoodie. Already feeling the cold nip at my face.
Not long after I ran out, Raquel followed me out, pulling on her jacket and rubbing her arms together for warmth.
"Leo, why did you come out here? It's freezing."
I didn't answer her.
"Leo..."
Her touch made me flinch as she tenderly rested a hand on my shoulder. I looked over to her, and saw worry and sympathy in her eyes.
"So, you mean to tell me...you're one of the test subjects from Eric Sacks experiment?"
I nodded and wiped my nose in my sleeve.
"You're actually a turtle?"
I nodded again, I really didn't know what to say to her. I can only imagine the judgemental thoughts she was thinking about me. And it only made me feel worse.
"Wow. Just...wow."
"I know, I'm a freak."
"No! No, Leo you're not. You're beautiful. I don't care if you are human or a turtle. You are a living being with feelings and have the right to be treated as such."
What she said surprised me. I guess that triggered something in her. In a way I was somewhat relieved that she didn't view me as a freak, but someone with feelings that matter. And apparently they mattered to her. Again, my heart was fluttering and I felt tingly. These feelings over and over again...with her...What's wrong with me.
All my thoughts stopped when she gently gave me a feathered kiss on my cheek. My cheeks burned as if they were on fire. I felt a smile prick at the corners of my lips. She kissed me. She actually kissed me.
"C'mon back inside where it's warm." She insisted.
I let her take my hand and guide me back inside the cabin.
"I'm glad you told me the truth Leo."
"So, you don't mind that I'm-"
"No."
"Thank you."
"So, your brothers are the other test subjects? "
"Yes."
I let my head fall at the mentioning of my brothers. I missed them so much. As if right on que, she wraps me in a warm embrace, and whispered,
"Don't worry Leo, we'll find them...I promise you."
I gladly returned her embrace with a warm smile. "Thank you Ray."