As the doctor said, I started developing more powers. At first, it started with light telekinesis, I started lifting object with my hands. It was cool, but it also came with severe pain.
The pain seemed to be on the increase with each added power.
With every tick of the clock, my mind kept drifting back to Ma. I had a week till the next antidote is tested out to decide if I want to be whisked away as a lab rat just to see her. That was a risk I was willing to take. I might drop dead anytime soon.
Recent scans are showing rapid disintegration of my cells. My veins were now slightly more visible and an ugly shade of blue.
Ashely just bought her last house and built a hotel. She smiled up at me looking very mischievous.
Carlos ruffled her hair as he rolled his dice.
We were hanging out in my bedroom, right there on the rug, a large monopoly board was spread out in front of us.
Carlos tossed his dice after much frivolities.
I rolled my eyes when he landed close to my property.
I groaned
"I won't pay you a dime till this game is over"
He said smiling widely at me.
We kept on playing the game till late afternoon, I went bankrupt first, which had never happened before.
Ashely ended up winning, after inheriting my properties.
I lay on the bed, looking up at the pink and white patterned ceiling board. My mind was miles away.
Sacrificing myself to see someone who might not recognize me, can go very wrong.
If she doesn't recognize me, I might end up dead.
What if this is the right antidote and I end up cured?
What if she recognizes me?
But why hadn't she tried looking for me?
John said she was being held captive, maybe that's all the explanation I needed.
"I'm going to get pizza, do you care for a slice?"
Carlos asked getting up with a low grunt.
"Yeah, sure"
I answered off handedly.
"Are you going into town to get it?"
I asked suddenly, sitting up.
"Yeahhh"
He looked at me curiously.
"Can I come with you?"
"No. It's too dangerous. There are machines everywhere now that can detect even a tiny bit of power. And your powers now are greater than what they use to be"
"What's the worst that can happen?"
I asked looking up at him.
He sighed before sitting down heavily on the bed and turned towards me.
"While you were living in the forest, things changed. The mutants are no longer save. There is an order now to capture any mutant at first sight. The world now sees you all as dangerous beings"
"But why? We haven't done anything wrong. We never brought this upon ourselves"
I was beyond confused
"You see, criminals who got mutated, now use their powers for evil, they destroy things, kill people...Some people hire mutants too to do unimaginable things. Everyone believes now that the mutants are spiraling out of control"
I sighed deeply.
"So we all have to take the fall for the wicked ones?"
"Exactly. You'll be safe here"
"How long will this continue? That antidote needs to be made"
I dragged my hand through my hair.
"Everything will be fine..."
"No. We can't fold our hands and do nothing and expect everything to be fine"
I was shaking now. I was angry, so angry.
"Calm down. Please"
Carlos suddenly threw his arms around me and hugged me so tight.
I felt the anger slowly sipping away.
When he released me. He looked me straight in the eye.
"I care so much about you, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise"
I believed him.
He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room.
Ashely who sat quietly by the corner, kept staring at me long after Carlos left the house.
He green eyes were bright, her dark hair in two braids, was packed neatly behind her neck. Her pale skin had some colors in them.
"Ash are you okay? Come here"
I gestured.
She stood up and walked towards me as if she was carrying a heavy burden.
"Are you planing to be used as a lab rat for those heartless scientists?"
I looked at her confused
"I heard the conversation you were having with yourself in your head"
I paused for a second staring at her.
"I have to see my mother. She needs help with the antidote I can feel it"
"Is that the only way to go to her?"
"Yeah. I think so. And I've not made up my mind yet"
She looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"I don't want you to go too"
"Nothing will happen to me if I decide to go. I'm dieing Ash. I need that antidote and my Ma might know what to do"
She threw her arms around me.
I hugged her back tightly.
"I'm not going anywhere"
I kept on whispering against her hair.
That night as I lay awake in bed, unable to get some sleep.
I made up my mind.
=============
The tension in the lab was so thick, it was the final day to work on the antidote before the ultimate test or perhaps death.
Cathy had her eyes glued on the antidote boiling in a large test tube.
There were days to keep silent, and to observe.
Today every one was watching to know what would be the outcome of this particular antidote.
Even before the antidote was finally ready and extracted from the burner, I knew it won't work. I used the exact same chemicals I used in the last one.
Cathy's eyes met mine from across the room, I nodded my head and she nodded hers a mutual understanding passed between us.
The only way to fish out those documents was to keep making ineffective antidotes, not that we could actually make one that works if we wanted to. Those documents were really essential, if an effective antidote must be made.
The plan was to keep repeating the exact same antidote until Katherine gets tired and finally surrender those documents, that's if she has a heart.
I looked up from the burner and looked at Kate who was pacing restlessly, a stress ball in her hand, the only sound echoing in the room were the click of her stilettoes as they hit the stark white tiles.
I smiled within myself, she would definitly break if this doesn't work and that would be an opportunity.
And if she doesn't break down, I would keep serving her useless antidotes.
Next week more mutants would be brought in for testing.
Normally, I would feel bad because I knew what awaited them as soon as the gas gets into their body.
I've watched many of them drop dead within seconds as the gas passes through their veins. That was never a pleasant sight.
Now, as I watched the gas being placed into a small transparent box, I wished next week would come faster.
Bad antidote, dead mutant, easy access to the documents... I hope.
Sorry all Mutants, I've lost my sense of sympathy.