The Marked People

Lexi Emerson

Indigo

"So, I'm going to be personal security, for him, the person I want to kill?" I stare at Patrick and Phoenix, eyes sliding between the two as I wait for one to answer me.

Phoenix nods, looking uneasy about the whole thing "Yes, we thought it would be the best way for you to get close. You'll know his movements and being able to listen in on conversations without him realising."

I'm still shaking my head "But he'll recognise me, besides I thought I was going to be your bodyguard."

Patrick gives me a droll look while pushing the plate of food he'd set in front of me earlier closer. "No, trust me, he won't, not after the operation."

He looks pointedly at the food and I sigh, picking up a piece of sliced up carrot and chewing it. After yesterday, after Phoenix had climbed through my window I'd finally started eating and Patrick hadn't let me have a moment without food.

Phoenix answers the second part of my question "As my bodyguard all you can do is protect me. As Aradonious' though, you can get us intel. At the moment I'm slowly winning back allies but I'm blind when it comes to figuring out my brother's next move. Having someone on the inside will help. Besides Lexi Emerson finished top of her police force class and has since moved into private security due to it be a better paying job."

Patrick passes me a file, outlining the numerous achievements of Lexi Emerson. I scoff "And you really think he's going to hire me? I'm what, twenty on these documents. Can I even pass as a twenty-year old"

"Yes and you were fast tracked because of your talent." Phoenix says "Besides, my brother is known for his way with the ladies."

I roll my eyes "Still, I doubt this is going to get me hired."

"We've already sent in the resume and it did. You start work for him tomorrow." Patrick takes the folder back, "It doesn't matter why he hired you, the point is we've now got an in, I suggest we use it as best as we can."

Phoenix bristles "Of course sleeping with the enemy is completely off the table." He shoots a look at Patrick.

I grin my hand going out to touch Phoenix's "The only way I want to touch his lips, is with my fist."

Phoenix squeezes my hand "And while I'd love that, we don't want him to fire you or press charges."

"So what now?" I ask while pushing the plate full of cut up vegetables away.

Patrick pushes them towards me again "You eat, get your energy up and we run through your cover story. A slip up could end this all."

Four hours later and after constant questioning from Patrick and Phoenix I know more about Lexi and her fabricated life than I do about my own. A lot of the lies are mixtures of truth to help me remember my backstory. Other things though, are complete lies. Where I was born, went to school and who my parents are, for example. I trace one of the markings on my skin, it's not just my body that is being rewritten, my past is getting reconstructed as well. For the rest of the day I immerse myself in Lexi Emerson, until I begin to think her name suits me better than Indigo.

It's only at night, when I get into the shower that I feel the mask wash away. I stand, letting the water flow across my body for far longer than I need to. Once I get out, Lexi needs to be in my mind, not Indigo. I went to Charleston Cross school as a child, I didn't learn how to read and write from my father down in caves. I had a best friend named Ann, not Demon. I volunteered at a shelter for animals, I was never caught and used for slave labour. I never saw my parents get killed in front of me. I never underwent experiments that twisted my blood, and then later my body. I haven't lost my only remaining family and friends to some farm.