The Project

The Secret In His Eyes

-Arista's POV-

My head feels incredibly foggy as light swirls before my eyes.

I have got to stop waking up like this...

My eyes attempt to focus, as whatever drug put me out works its merry way through my system, leaving what feels like a filmy residue over my eyes, inhibiting my attempts to see clearly. What I can make out seems to be a poorly lit room, wooden walls and a cracked cement floor. I stretch my limbs to see if I can move and thankfully, I can.

A creaky door swings open and a man walks in. My vision is rapidly clearing up, so I can take in his features easier than I could have a few minutes ago. I stand and notice my legs are still wobbly, so I lean against the nearest wall as casually as I can. He sees through my pretend nonchalance however, and I'm struck by how bright his smile appears surrounded by the dark skin of his face. He looks to be about my height, his black hair shaved close to his head.

"Sorry about getting you into that mess earlier." He says, his grin turning sheepish.

"Honestly I didn't even expect an apology from someone willing to throw me to the human equivalent of Jabba the Hut. And I'm not sure I feel up to accepting it either."

He laughs, un-phased by my glare, "I take it we shouldn't ask you to speak at his funeral then. "

"I'm assuming by funeral you mean a hasty pit dug on the outskirts of this charming town?"

"Exactly. But going off his size, I'd say the digging process will be lengthy."

We stand in a few moments of silence, both of us remembering the earlier events, my fight with that disgusting creature. My skin still crawls at the thought of him touching me, and I'm glad I killed him. This wasn't like the man I killed on the cliff, this time I did mankind a favor. I feel no guilt for the life I took this time.

"My name is John." The guy blurts out suddenly.

I raise a brow at him, and he quickly states, "I just don't like long pauses in conversations."

"That's where we're different John. I enjoy a person who knows how to be quiet."

He shifts from one foot to another, and before he can get out a retort, another voice cuts in.

"Miss Arista Neal. Or should I call you by the number you go by?"

It's him. The other Fire Wielder. He leans in the door, a lounging indolence draped around him like a coat. I lurch forwards and towards him and John quickly blocks my way. The wielder laughs at my feeble attempt to get anywhere near him.

"Are you so afraid of me that you have to have a boy keep you safe?" I spit out bitterly.

"Hardly. I am not Leona."

I gape at him, he has already referenced my number and the man who sent me here, but how can he know of those things? Leona I could understand, he has enough of a name for himself it would've spread by now I'm sure. But my number, that's something that is usually only used in the Project...

"You're from there, aren't you?" I blurt out.

He maintains eye contact as I hastily elaborate, "You're from the Project. That's the only way you could know these things."

He gives me a withering look, "There are other ways of obtaining information, child."

I ignore the thing against my age, I know I'm young. I came here to figure things out, and it seems to be working.

I feign ignorance, "Like what? The Project seems to keep things pretty locked away."

"Like the children inside? Yes, that it does. But children tend to speak out, when coaxed to do so." He says in response, "That is the flaw with child workers, secrecy dies out."

I raise a brow, "That is the only flaw?" I spit out.

"Excuse me, one flaw among many. Now if you don't mind me prying, what are you doing here Miss Neal?"

I lean against the wall, feigning ease. I look around the room then at him, square in the eye, "Why do you think I would tell you?"

"Oh don't play that game. Using cliché defiant lines as a farce, trying to bullshit your way out of here? I have seen it many times before Miss."

"Well you just saw me fight, I'm sure you were watching . That was your plan no? Take me out of the equation without dirtying your own hands? And how exactly did that work out for you my dear sir?" I return, widening my eyes and shaking my head in supposed dismay at his poor planning skills, "I could easily take on any of your men."

He says nothing, but strides towards me quickly, making my body tingle with alertness, waiting for the blow. He gets close to my face, and I force myself to not be the first to break eye contact.

"Do not think, that just because you beat one out of shape bastard on the street, you could take on one of my men. Pride is a fatal flaw Miss Neal, and could cost you dearly."

"Why were you in such a hurry to get rid of me?" I question.

"I don't like having brats like you dirtying up this town."

I merely raise my brows at that, knowing full well that isn't the reason.

"I want to make a wager with you." I say, pushing myself off the wall and leaning even closer to him.

"I don't have to comply."

"You may want to, hear me out." I say, taking in his face, seeing if he will show any signs of doubt.

"Fine." He steps back a few paces, and I hide my smirk at the fact that this tiny battle was my victory.

"If I can guess how you came to be here, where you came from, and the purpose of this base, I get to go free. If not, you can do with me what you want. Kill me fast, sacrifice me to whatever the hell you want, or even throw me in the grave with my dear old chum I killed today, it's up to you. Sound fair?"

"If you will comply to it, it sounds like I have nothing to lose." He says, his face concealing any emotion he may have.

"You came from the Project. Fairly clear since you do have powers and not many people outside of it do. You left because you saw it for what it is. A corrupt organization that thrives off the forced labor of children to shut down uprisings the government wants to disappear. How you found that out, I'm not sure. I only recently discovered it and it is more of a guess than anything. We don't exist according to the outside world, we exist for the purpose of making things go away for organizations bigger than us. I believe you are trying to take it down, and that under this tiny shack of a hideout is a bunker built exactly like a smaller scale version of The Project, because that is all you know."

He looks at me for a moment, then says, "That is fairly obvious, aside from the theory of the bunker..."

"I'm not finished." I state, starting to walk closer to him. This time, he seems a bit uneasy. "I believe you have a personal vendetta, something to prove. Sure, the kids in the Project hate being there, but it is what they know. Escapes are rare, and you had to have found a weak spot in order to get out seemingly unscathed."

He starts to back up, but it is too late. I already stole the secret he held in his eyes.

"You exploited your father to escape. You counted on the fact that he had one weakness, and you used it. And by your father, I of course mean our dear leader, Isaac Leona."

His eyes, so similar to Isaac's that it cannot be coincidence, widen then instantly darken to an intensity so deep they seem pure black. I simply smile, enjoying the torment in those dark eyes.

He spins on his heel and paces to the door, past a shocked John who gapes at me. He pauses in the doorway, and hisses through his teeth, "Take her to the Room."

John looks sadly at me now, and as he comes near me I panic.

"What about our deal?" I yell at the Wielder's retreating form.

"I don't make deals with children Miss Neal. Enjoy your stay."