Imperfection

Imperfection Chapter 10

10. 

I'm laughing as soon as my back hits the floor.

"I knew you couldn't do it," I grin, lazily opening my eyes.

He scowls down at the gun in his hand then glaring at the crisp bullet hole in the floor. I gaze at it, too, rubbing the scratch that the shaft of his gun had left on my forehead as he forced it downward seconds before it was shot.

"Get out," He snarls in my face. "Now."

I smile and get to my feet. "It's been a pleasure to be almost killed by you, sir."

He doesn't look at me, instead returns to his chair. "LEAVE."

I walk over to the door, my pride growing with each step. The door slides open when it senses me near it and behind it, I see just about everyone on the Base (minus the Imperfections) glaring straight in. They shoot me dirty looks as I walk past them, cupping their gloved hands to the sides of their mouths and whispering in their companion’s ear.

Behind me, the Alpha barks at the other Dux Duci. "What are you imbeciles doing? Get back to work!"

The other Dux Duci shuffle away, rubber soles of their boots squeaking against the tiled floor.

I follow the Dux Ducis in a lab coat back to the Collationis- or what ever. He mumbles something under his breath but continues walking.

Dozens of eyes linger on me as we walk back into the lab. As I walk near the screens a herd of other Imperfections swarm around me.

Voices emerge from all directions, scolding me.

"What were you thinking?"

"Are you mad?"

"Don't you know what he could have done to you?"

"I heard a gun shot-"

I frown at them all and walk away from the herd, ignoring all of their pointless inquiries.

I stand in front of a screen watching the percentages rise and fall slowly, the numbers flashing from green to red.

30% increase in Population of Imperfections within Betain territories, Current Genus production rate imperfection to Betain is 3:5

I feel the warmth of body heat on my left arm but I don't bother to turn my head. I presume it's just another questioner.

The person beside me clears his or her throat.

I roll my eyes and sigh. "Just say it. You think it was a stupid decision. You don't need-"

"No," A warm, masculine voices interrupts. "I think it was brave."

For a second, Walker flashes into my mind and I bite down on my lip, suppressing the guilt.

I turn to face the person beside me. He smiles, laugh-lines forming like brackets around his lips.

He has eyes the color of the skies above and his cheeks are dotted with light brown freckles. He's tall, so much taller than me that I have to crane my neck just to look up at him. He gazes down at me and runs a hand through his gold hair.

I'm not looking at his face. I'm staring at his hair. It's smooth like mine, just straighter and shorter, loosely resting at the top of his head. My lips part a bit as I stare in awe.

"Hello?" He waves a hand gently in font of my face. "Are you listening?"

"Huh? What was that?" I need to stop zoning out.

"It was brave, what you did there. I know for sure, I couldn't have done that." He pushes his hands down into his pockets, hunching his shoulders.

"Oh..." I am taken back by this. "Well... thanks. I wasn't really thinking straight, though."