Self-Seeker

36

Genesis stood rooted to the spot as she found herself with the barrel of a gun held up at her face for the second time that week. It was the same gun she had seen in Damon's kitchen drawer the first time he had brought her to his house. The two of them watched each other in silence for a minute, wary of what the other's next move would be, before Damon picked up the rest of the envelopes from the counter.

He took careful steps back, not once breaking eye contact with Genesis until he had reached the other side, with the island between them. Genesis knew he had only done it so that she couldn't easily disarm him. His next actions were made cautiously as he glanced down every so often to read the name on each envelope.

"Emily, Hann, Marcus, Lydia, Dominic, Dimitri, Audrey, Damon, Tyler and Carter." Damon read each name aloud - confusion etched onto his face. He directed his attention back to Genesis, who hadn't moved an inch the whole time, she simply observed with an indifferent expression on her face.

"Nothing for Jazmine?" Damon questioned, picking up the envelope that had Carter's name on the front - probably wondering why Genesis had chosen to write to someone she clearly disliked, but hadn't written a thing for her own sister.

"I highly doubt she will be around to read one." Genesis answered with certainty. She hadn't planned on letting Jazmine leave this time.

"Clearly you're not going to be around for too long either. Otherwise you would have said whatever it was you wrote in these letters, in person." Damon spat with annoyance, slamming down the envelope he had picked up.

With the hope that Genesis wouldn't try anything, he tucked the gun back into his waistband and raked a hand through his tousled locks. He let out a lengthy breath from frustration. Once again Genesis reverted back to withholding information, ignoring the statement he had made.

Abruptly, Damon gathered all the letters back into a neat pile and rounded the island to stop in front of Genesis. He angrily shoved the stack of envelopes onto her chest and she stumbled slightly from the impact.

"If you want to let me know anything - I want to hear it from your mouth. Not a stupid piece of paper." He spat, making his way back towards the door. He was halfway down the corridor when he heard his name being shouted, causing him to stop in his tracks.

"Wait." Genesis called out reluctantly, tired of everyone constantly walking out on her.

Everybody she grew close to, she eventually pushed away. But Damon was different, he cared too much. He made her want to share things with him even when every fibre of her body told her otherwise. It was too late to turn back now as he had already turned around to walk back into her apartment. She stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind him. It seemed she would have to postpone the meeting with her father.

"What is it?" Damon huffed, folding his arms as he looked down at her with furrowed brows.

For the first time in years, Genesis felt terrified. She wasn't naive, she knew what she was about to reveal would be the final notch to drive him away. It was the concept of truly losing him that made her afraid. He hadn't yet physically left her, but she knew he had already emotionally departed and there was nothing she could do to prevent the inevitable. He would be completely gone by the end of the night.

"I'll tell you. Everything. Whatever it is you want to know." Genesis admitted, her eyes aimed down at the floor. It had been a long time since anything had felt so nerve-wracking; it was as if she couldn't maintain control of her feelings whatsoever. Everything was trying to surface at once.

"You will? Really?" Damon suddenly perked up, a hopeful glint in his eye.

Genesis nodded in response.

"Yes. But, Damon, I need you to know. What I'm about to tell you is completely confidential - nobody can ever know about this. Also, you have to know that I doubt there can be anything between us after this. It's much too dangerous. I've already caused enough harm to the people I care about."

"I'm prepared to take that risk for us, I can handle your enemies."

"It isn't only about my opponents, Damon. Once you find out who the person standing across from you really is, I guarantee you will want nothing to do with me." Genesis explained, not pausing for a reply as she walked past him and led him down the hallway.

Assuming he had followed, she came to a stop inside her closet and waited for him to arrive. Damon entered the room and looked around with a puzzled expression. He fathomably had no idea why she had taken him there.

"What are we doing in your closet?" Damon asked, with the suspicion that Genesis was either playing games with him or leading him into some sort of trap. He had to admit, though, it was likely to have been the most organised closet he had ever stepped foot in. The architectural side of him was very much enjoying the view. It was then that he spotted the camera in the far-left corner. "And why do you have a camera in here?" He continued.

"You'll see." Genesis replied. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked up to a blank part of the wall, she pushed the shoe rack beside her to the right to reveal the transparent switch that was behind it, glistening from the spotlights on the ceiling. She only moved the rack aside so Damon was able to see, usually she would have just reached her hand behind it.

Pressing her thumb onto the switch, the biometric access control read her fingerprint, it flashed blue to confirm that the DNA was accurate. Genesis heard Damon mutter a 'what the' under his breath as the wall in front of her slid open to reveal part of the hallway that would inescapably lead to the end of their relationship.

Taking a deep breath, she proceeded down the dark stretch of path. Glancing back once, she noticed Damon running his hands along the strip of velvet wallpaper. His eyes wandered from the red, antique patterned carpet on the floor to the Victorian lanterns placed on either side of the walls. Genesis let a small smile slip onto her face for a fraction of a second as she realised that he approved of her interior design.

Unfortunately, the reality of the situation hit once again as they reached the end of the hallway and came to a stop in front of the large metal door.

Her eyes found their way to Damon and he nodded as if to permit her to continue. Genesis responded to the gesture by leaning in so the retinal monitor could scan her irises. Once it had flashed blue to confirm her biometrics, she typed in the four-digit code on the lock system and was welcomed by the small red light turning green. The sound of churning and machinery whirring broke through the silence as the door unlocked.

Allowing him to see for himself, Genesis stepped back from the door and gestured for Damon to open it. He hesitantly trod in front of her, rubbing his palms on his sweatpants before pressing down on the handle and pushing open the door.