Wanted

What if I Touch Someone?

~ Chapter 10 ~

Arden

"I can't believe I'm one of those-those freaks!"

"You're not a freak, Arden. Wanteds aren't freaks. They're heroes," Leo tried his best to talk me out of my fit of rage.

"Or villains," I glared at him.

"That depends entirely on what you do with your power," Leo held his hands up in surrender, but I turned away.

"I don't want that responsibility. I don't want any of this. I don't want the title, and I do not want the power. I want my brother back. I want to see my best friend again!" My face was turning purple by the end of the sentence.

"Arden, I know things are tough-"

"Oh, don't you start that speech with me," I wheeled back around to ensure Leo could see the raging fire in my eyes.

"What speech?"

"The I-know-things-are-tough-but-you've-got-to-stay-strong-think-about-all-the-great-things-in-life speech."

"I wasn't aware I was making a speech," Leo backed up farther.

"You think I haven't heard that one before? Well, I've heard it so many times. I heard it when my mom died. I heard it after they told me my dad was dead. The only people I haven't heard it from are John and Luke, so don't blame me for not wanting to hear it from you."

"Ok, ok. Look, all I'm saying is you can't believe everything the media tells us about Wanteds. You're still you, although your hair has somewhat changed, and you can't let this get in the way of everything you still have. Now, whether or not you choose to embrace it, is your choice. But as of today you have the genes, and there's no getting out of this one, Arden, so my advice to you is to just accept what you've become."

"What if I don't want to accept it?"

"Well, there isn't much you can do."

"You're positive?" My anger began to fade away as I came to the realization that Leo was right. And, that he might've been the only person I could trust.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Leo's voice softened a bit.

"I can't believe this," my voice broke.

"Arden, come on. There isn't anything you can do to make this go away."

"I wish this wasn't here in the first place," I referenced myself, and the last of my anger was finally extinguished as all of the energy drained out of me.

"I know, Arden."

"I hate this."

"I know."

"There really isn't anything I can do?" I asked, even though I knew the answer already.

"I'm sorry, but there really isn't anything." Leo walked forward slowly.

"I suppose I need to learn to live with it, then." I stared down at my feet.

"You good now?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I mumbled, a tinge of pink growing on my cheeks.

"Don't be embarrassed," Leo practically read my mind, "You have every right to be angry. At least you aren't internalizing this one."

I took a deep, calming breath. I wasn't used to being so open with someone so quickly. Leo and I had known each other for a while, but we'd only ever worked together. Yeah, we had always been friendly, but we'd never "hung out." I was definitely no social butterfly, and considering my blatant lack of social skills, Leo was about the closest I'd ever been to someone outside of my family, besides Luke and maybe his brother.