Experiment VII

Chapter Thirteen: Some Extra Embarrassment

 I pant as I continue to run on the treadmill at a faster pace than normal when I see a blurred figure in my peripheral vision. Glancing up I see the winged mutant girl staring at me expectantly causing me some confusion however after several moments of the only hearable sound being my feet touching the ground repeatedly I sigh and ask, "What do you want Gemma?"

 She does not respond for a while, but when she does her expression turns from blank to concern as she asks, "Are you okay?" When she asks it I realise I seem to be receiving a lot of either concerned or scared looks from people today which is confusing to me despite my mutation, there is much scarier looking mutants in here than me.

 Snapping myself out of my one thoughts I look back up at her almost tripping on my own foot in the process and respond, "Yeah why?" with a curious look whilst resuming my running.

 In reaction to my question, Gemma looks at me as though I have two heads and wide eyes before responding, "You just got mutated. A mutation isn't something you feel great immediately afterword. I've been through it too."

 For some reason, her words begin to make me feel irritated causing me to sound quite irritated when I answer, "I told you I'm fine."

 While I wait for an answer form Gemma I manage to spot an overly young-looking girl furiously yet weakly hitting one of the punch bags across the room. When I look back at Gemma I can tell she is unsatisfied with my answer and most probably knows I am not telling her everything however I cannot help thinking that though she too is not saying everything either.

 I just slow down the treadmill to a stop when the voice in my head says, "Well, you're not exactly an amazing liar Axel." causing my entire body to flinch in surprise as I was not expecting it to speak so suddenly.

"Don't call me it, call me...." after a short pause the voice finishes its sentence, "Charthrax. Ah yes, I like that, Charthrax."

 "Charthrax?" I repeat only to realize after the name leaves my mouth that I just said it aloud, and in front of Gemma. I sigh and close my eyes for a moment in frustration at myself, I really have not got used to talking to someone, or rather something, inside of my head.

"Charthrax."   the voice corrects me from calling it 'something' much to my annoyance, however before I can say something back the girl in front of me asks, "What?" making me mentally slap myself at my stupidity.

"Oh I uh, wasn't talking to you," I respond and leave Gemma in a state of farther confusion. From her expression I realize I have merely made myself sound even more foolish, then something unexpected happens... My right-hand springs up from my side and slaps me across the side of my face, causing my face to be pushed to an uncomfortable angle.

"Charthrax did you just slap me?!" I practically yell aloud, swiftly realising my mistake and seeing various people in the room stop what they are doing to see what the commotion is.

"No, I made you slap you. It would appear with enough willpower I can still slightly control you... This will be interesting."

 I lift my hand again, but this time to rub my face rather than to slap it, now left in a state of annoyance, irritation, confusion, and downright embarrassment now that Gemma is for sure going to think I am out of my mind.

 Replying to what is now call 'Charthrax' I speak in my head saying, "Well you only made me look even crazier by slapping me, and yourself while did it." before looking up at the now even more confused girl before me and say to her, "Wha- I um...nevermind I just-...sorry? I gotta go." then briskly walking in the opposite direction of her.