Perpetual

Chapter 4

Tessa jumped from the top of the bus, landing beside Theo in a crouched position.

"Did you see it?" she asked him.

"It's too fast," he panted.

"But it's here."

"Yeah. So keep your distance, it's dangerous."

She nodded, following behind him as he crept forward.

"We're not trying to catch it. Not yet," Theo reminded her.

A loud roar echoed through the school parking lot. Theo glanced at Tessa before taking off towards the sound. She sprinted after him.

They entered the deserted school, rounding the corner of the hall as moonlight shone through the window. Theo's eyes turned yellow as he looked at something on the lockers. Tessa let her eyes glow their bright green, seeing the same thing he saw.

DAMNATIO MEMORIAE

"It's the same message," she pointed out, remembering seeing the words when they had fought Scott in the tunnels.

Her fingers traced the scar where Scott had slashed her face. For some reason it hadn't fully healed.

"What're they trying to tell it?"

"They're trying to get it to remember who it was," Theo told her.

"But isn't it just a teenager? Isn't it just a kid underneath?"

"Yeah, they don't care about that," Theo said, looking down at Tessa, moonlight shining on his face. "The Doctors, they needed a body because they couldn't resurrect the Beast out of thin air. The kid underneath, whoever it is, is just a side effect. All the Doctors care about is the Beast." He walked down the hall as he spoke.

"They sound like lovely people," Tessa muttered sarcastically.

Theo stopped walking, turning abruptly so that she almost crashed into his chest. She put her hands out to stop herself from smashing into him and he grabbed her waist to steady her. She tilted her head up to see his face.

"I know you don't remember, but you've encountered them before," he told her. "They did something to you. Made you something more than you already were."

"What did they do?" she asked. "You told me I already had my powers before the Doctors came. What did they change? What am I?"

Theo sighed, gently tracing his thumb along the scar that stretched from her cheek across her nose, "I don't know. But you're faster, stronger and a better fighter. It doesn't matter what you are as long as it gives us an advantage."

Tessa nodded, sighing. "I just wish I knew. It feels weird not knowing what a part of me is. Like I'm missing some big piece of my life that I should be able to remember."

Theo hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "If we make it through this, I'll help you find out what you are. I'll ask the Dread Doctors themselves if I have to."

She smiled at him gratefully and he chuckled.

"What?" she asked.

He smirked. "You're cute when you're happy."

Tessa blushed, her eyes darting away from his gaze. He brought one hand up, putting a finger under her chin and pulling her head back up so she was looking into his eyes again.

Her heart beat faster as his face grew closer to hers. His hand dropped down to her waist again and he pulled her closer to him. His warm breath fanned across her face as she looked into his eyes.