Inner Predator: Unleashed

Chapter 14

“This is the medical report from my exam. Dr. Williams was able to complete most of the exam while I was sedated and then I went back for the scans and x-rays a few days later.”

“You went back?” Chase interrupts. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you.”

He’s not upset that I went without him, but I can tell he feels guilty for not having been there for me. As if it was his personal choice. It wasn’t. It was mine. I put my hand on top of his and he flips his hand over so that our fingers can lace together. I squeeze once, reassuringly, hoping to rid him of the sense of guilt.

“It’s likely that most of what was done to me was harmless,” I tell Chase choosing to start on a not so terrible note. “We heal faster and don’t get cancers or illnesses like AIDS, so they probably did a lot of research seeing how these viruses react to Supernaturals and hoping to find cures. That’s what Dr. Williams thinks anyway based on some of the scars and such. It makes sense though. He said an evidence of injections or blood draws would be nonexistent, so we can’t know for sure, but since there’re no lasting issues, it’s not a big deal.”

Chase turns to look at me, his eyebrows slammed down and his lips thinned. I quickly realize I said the wrong thing.

“Not a big deal?” He asks disbelievingly.

“Not compared to the rest of it,” I tell him honestly. “Chase… if you don’t want to hear this…”

“No, I’m sorry,” he says forcing himself to relax some. “I won’t stop you again.”

“So, he thinks a lot of it beyond that was trying to figure out what makes us Supernatural and maybe how to create their own. Think of how useful an army of trained Supernaturals would be against anyone in the world.”

I pause, not really wanting to go on. Everything I’ve told him was information that seemed fairly obvious. But having to go into detail about it all is not something I want to do. Sensing my hesitance, Chase rubs his softly, back and forth, over of the top of my hand.

I look at Mrs. Bellevue, hesitant to continue. She knows what I have to say, but I’ve never been able to bring myself to speak with her about it. Or anyone. I don’t even let myself think about it, really. If I did I would obsess over it, it would control my whole existence. Which is why I’m not sure anyone—Chase, should ever hear it.

I haven’t cried about it. Not really. Not in the way I would have expected. Finding out shocked me. More than shocked. I couldn’t even process the words coming out of Dr. Williams’ mouth when he told me. I still haven’t really let myself process them. I went numb. And then I went cold. And then I threw myself into training and forgetting about this very topic.

Until now. That I’m being forced to talk about it.

The old lady smiles and nods reassuringly as if the next words out of my mouth don’t completely alter my existence. Chase’s existence. As if we will ever be the same after this. As if it doesn’t have the potential to destroy us.

“Aurora,” Chase whispers. It’s almost inaudible, but it rings in my mind louder than a train horn and causes me to jump, surprised, at the sound.

I can feel my eyes watering, the tears brimming to the edge and though I do my best to blink them back, Chase notices. Of course he does. He’s staring right at me. Trying to read my mind or see into my soul.  With his free hand Chase reaches up and catches a tear as it spills over.

I take a deep breath and force words out.

“Some of the scars weren’t explainable, likely they just wanted to observe, or biopsy, or inject something. But, um, they, uh,” I stutter through the next part. Unable to just spit it out. “Took some things,” I finally manage to get out.