Ark (#Wattys2016)

The Sting Operation

"The most sublime act is to set another before you."

-William Blake

I went back to my room and took a shower. The hot water felt amazing against my sore and stiff muscles. I almost convinced myself that if I stood in there long enough, I could wash away the memory of Alice. When I got out, I wrapped a towel around my waist. The room was hot and steamy, the mirror fogged up. I wiped away the water on the glass and looked at my reflection. Droplets of water ran down my face and clung onto my black hair. My eyes seemed brighter than they had before, almost like a different shade. I leaned closer to the mirror, trying to figure it all out.

If my dad was an Ark agent, he must have had powers. Reese said that I was the first human to be in the Ark but Alice said that I was special. And then there were the dreams I kept having; I was sure they fit into the picture somehow but I didn't know how. None of it made sense. If my dad had powers he would have told me. Or would he? Its not like he was the most reliable of men. Hell, I didn't even know if he was dead or alive.

I quickly got dressed and began the walk to Laurel's office. Theo told me that it was on the top floor so I got in one of the elevators and went up. A secretary of some sort met me outside of the elevator. She had fur on her face, whiskers, and cat eyes. I tried not to stare at her tail as she escorted me into Laurel's office. I assumed that this was just something you got use to seeing at Ark.

The witch was sitting behind a large oak desk, glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she read from an old book. Her feet were propped up on the surface of the desk. She looked up at smiled at the girl, putting her feet down. "Thank you, Claire. That will be all."

"Yes ma'am." the cat girl purred, turning and leaving the room. I awkwardly shifted my weight back and forth on my feet, wringing my hands in front of me. Laurel gestured to an empty chair in front of the desk. I sat down and waited for her to speak first.

"Are you nervous?" she asked, her eyes kind. I nodded.

"A bit." I admitted.

"That's understandable. Tonight's going to be very dangerous and nobody would think less of you if you don't want to go through with it." she said slowly, stressing that I could back out at anytime. I shook my head.

"I'm not backing out. I said I would help you and I will." I said firmly. I was not going to let someone else be Alice's victim. No one else was going to die at her hands.

"You are very brave, Mr. Hayes. You remind me of your father." she smiled. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. On one hand, I held a bitter hatred towards my father but on the other, there was still so much I didn't know about him. I cleared my throat.

"Laurel, was my father an agent here? At Ark?" I asked.

"He was. He was one the best we've had." she confirmed. I let out a shaking exhale.

"What was he like? I mean, what were his powers? He did have powers, didn't he?" I continued to question. Laurel folded her hands on top of her desk.

"Yes, your father was gifted. He had the power to heal at an inhuman rate. A power which I believe you have inherited. Your wounds, even with the medicine we gave you, should have taken at least a few more days to fully heal and yet they were reduced to mere scars in less than twenty four hours." she explained. I leaned back in the chair and covered my face with my hand.

"I cant believe he didn't tell me about this. I cant believe Baz didn't tell me." I sighed. Laurel stood and walked in front of the desk. Leaning against its surface, she looked at me with kind, patient eyes.