Chapter 4
When the time came for Hazel to leave and make her way to a new facility she was already beginning to doubt her decision, but she also knew in her heart that she was a person of her word and she couldn't let down March and Vanessa after everything they'd done for her and Magnus. They were given ten minutes to say goodbye to one another whilst March and Vanessa waited in the kitchenette, within earshot of them and offering them no privacy.
'This is the right call, right Magnus?' Hazel asked quietly and shot a wary glance at March and Vanessa.
'They have done so much for us, we owe it to them and besides this is completely awesome! You're going to be turned into some kind of modern superhero. I wish they'd asked me to do it.' Magnus didn't bother to lower his voice but March and Vanessa pretended to be engaged in their own conversation quietly.
'I'm glad they didn't. They've said they'll continue to look after you and you'll have somewhere safe to stay whilst I'm away. I don't know when we'll see one another next.' Hazel was worried about their separation.
'Hey, don't worry, I'll be fine. Vanessa mentioned to me that they're going to try and get me back into education. Hazel they might be able to give me my future back too, they're really only trying to help us so stop worrying.' Magnus instructed her and she looked into his eyes for a moment. They were warm and he was smiling at her, she knew that he genuinely believed in these two people and so she also knew that she had to follow his lead. She sighed and finally let go of all of her doubts.
'You're right.' She smiled weakly and took his hands. 'I just wish we didn't have to be split up.'
'It's probably to avoid distraction for the both of us. Maybe some time apart would be good, this way we can just focus on ourselves and make something of ourselves.' He explained casually giving her hands a slight squeeze.
'Since when did you get so profound?' Hazel laughed lightly but the idea of being separated made her anxious.
'Wrap it up guys.' March called softly and they turned to look at him for a second before returning their attention to one another. There was fear in both of their eyes at being separated but both also smiled in an attempt to comfort the other.
'We're going to be fine.' Magnus told her and Hazel wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.
'No matter where we are, together or apart, I will always do everything in my power to protect you. I won't ever abandon you, okay? That's a promise.' She whispered into his ear and he smiled into her hair.
'I know. I love you, sis.' He replied and she returned her affections. March and Vanessa were there now and Hazel and Magnus were made to separate.
'Unfortunately time is up, we need to get moving. There are cars outside, one each.' March explained and the siblings nodded. They walked from their temporary home hand in hand and gave each others hand one final squeeze of comfort before separating into different cars. Each car had a driver and a colleague of March's escorted Magnus away. Vanessa sat in the back with Hazel whilst March sat in the passenger seat in the front.
'Apologies Hazel but we have certain security protocols.' Vanessa told her in a flat tone as she reached down under her seat to retrieve a small box, she opened the box and Hazel caught sight of a syringe inside. 'You can't know exactly where you're going so I'm going to give you a small injection, you'll simply fall asleep and wake feeling refreshed.'
She removed the syringe from the box and Hazel obediently held out her arm, resolving to do whatever was needed of her. Vanessa injected the contents of the syringe and Hazel immediately felt drowsy, she allowed her eyes and close and the world to slip away from her.
When she awoke the first thing she was aware of was the softness of the bed she was lying on. She slowly sat up and took in her surroundings, she was in a fairly simple room furnished in grey, modern furniture. The large double bed stood in the centre of the room opposite a silver wardrobe and chest of drawers. To the left of the bed Hazel looked out of a large window which overlooked a large forest that seemed to have no end. A door stood slightly ajar to the right of the wardrobe where she could see an en-suite bathroom and another door stood firmly shut directly to the right of the bed. Aside from a large, light grey rug on the darker grey floor there were no other decorations. It was simple and modern and moderately luxurious but Hazel couldn't shake the sense of feeling like she was in a prison cell.
She had only been sat, adjusting to her new home for a couple of minutes before the door was opened and Vanessa swept in with a small entourage of people in identical uniforms.
'Hi, Hazel.' Vanessa greeted her with a tight smile and then gestured to the others. 'These are some of my colleagues and people who we'll be working with. Michael, your trainer, Louise and Clarissa, your stylists, Sophia, your dietician and Ted, your medical assistant.'
As each of them were introduced they gave her a curt nod and the same tight smile that Vanessa wore and Hazel stood and smiled at all of them.
'A medical assistant? That sounds ominous.' She joked and Vanessa broadened her smile.
'Let's hope it's never anything too serious. But let's just say Michael doesn't go easy, even on beginners.' She grinned and, taking it as a joke, Hazel let out a small chuckle in response. 'Let's get to the tour.'
Vanessa took hold of Hazel's arm and guided her out of the room, the entourage followed but remained silent. They walked through pristine corridors that seemed to be designed like some kind of maze, Hazel was sure she would never be able to navigate them without a guide and then it crossed her mind that, that was the idea.
'Where we came from was your quarters, you'll remain there unless you're needed for anything else. You get two meals a day which you'll take in the training centre with Michael and Sophia, they'll carefully monitor your diet to keep you feeling your best.' She explained and Hazel didn't reply, simply nodded. They approached a large window overlooking what resembled an aeroplane hangar with different activities apparently stationed around the walls; a large mat stood in the middle of the room and Hazel noted the different stations. There was one with various firearms, one with knives and swords, some kind of assault course and various gymnastic equipment.
'This is the training centre, as you can see your days are going to be less than dull.' Vanessa smiled and Hazel nodded and returned the smile.
'This is all starting to sink in a little bit now.' She replied and Vanessa grinned.
'Good.' She chirped and led the way on with the tour. They walked down a short corridor and Vanessa opened a door but didn't go in, simply allowing Hazel to see the inside of what looked like an interrogation room. There was a metal table and chair in the centre of the room and a small cabinet in one corner but that was it. It was dimly lit and gave Hazel chills down her spine.
'This is the discipline room. Let's hope you don't end up in here. You won't as long as you follow the rules and do what you're told.' Vanessa explained to her lightly and Hazel nodded firmly.
'I have no intention of making this a regular stopping point.' She replied and Vanessa gave her another smile but this one seemed like it had something behind it, something that Hazel couldn't place.
They continued down the labyrinth of corridors and Vanessa let them into a large room which was almost the scariest room Hazel had seen so far. There was a large bath tub in one corner and a pedestal in the middle of the room, a rack ran along one wall and large mirrors in another corner. Along another wall was a table laden with various tools and equipment of which none was familiar to Hazel.
'What's this room for?' Hazel asked quietly and Vanessa gently pushed her inside, following with Louise and Clarissa, the others left.
'This is the stylist quarters. No need to be scared, but we're all going to become very good friends very quickly. This is where we're stopping today and we're going to begin right here and right now. I hope you don't embarrass too easily.' Vanessa attempted to be comforting but her smooth voice betrayed her ulterior motives.
'This place, it's almost like an army base.' Hazel commented as Louise and Clarissa turned to the bath tub and began to run it and add different lotions. 'Why do you need a styling room?'
Vanessa took her arm and led her over to the bath tub.
'We aren't just trying to help you, we need the public too. We need to create an image for you that fits with current trends. We want to create a girl who other girls want to be and guys want to be with. We basically need to create the most desirable person on the planet, that's why we need this room. Now, strip.' She grinned playfully and Hazel suddenly felt very self-conscious.
'Can I get a low down of what's going to be done to me?' She asked, trying to keep her tone light.
'I'll explain as we go, but remember what I said about doing as you're told? You don't want to end up in discipline on your first day, do you?' Vanessa asked and there was a tinge of a warning in her voice. Hazel swallowed her pride and nodded quickly.
'You're right, I mean, I guess you know best.' She said and began to undress. Once she was naked she tried her hardest to repress the blush but she couldn't.
'Don't worry,' Louise said to her comfortingly, 'it's nothing we haven't seen before.'
She didn't know why but these words seemed to reassure her and Hazel was able to let go of her worries. She allowed her body to be smothered in various lotions and her hair to be pinned up out of the way before her legs and underarms were shaved. She imagined this wasn't the most pleasant job but Louise and Clarissa never even showed any sign of discomfort. They asked her polite questions and made conversations with warm smiles on their faces the whole time whilst Vanessa watched over the whole thing and gradually, Hazel felt more and more at ease.
They removed her from the bath and wrapped in her a fluffy, white robe before placing a reclining chair by the tub and seating her in it.
'Now what's going on?' Hazel couldn't stop herself from asking and she saw Vanessa shoot her a glance but she pretended to ignore it.
'We want to bring out something in you with your hair. Let's have a look at your eyes.' Louise explained and tilted her chin upwards to let her eyes catch the light. 'Bubble-gum.' She concluded and Clarissa nodded her agreement before turning away and moving out of Hazel's sight.
'You're dying my hair?' She asked warily.
'Yes.' Vanessa replied smoothly and Hazel allowed her hair to be washed through by Louise whilst Clarissa prepared the dye.
'But why? I mean I get that image is important to an extent but what good does hair colour do to a superhero or whatever you're turning me into?' She asked.
'It's important because we want you to jump out. We can't let the Avengers steal your spotlight now, can we?' Vanessa responded and her voice was tight and forced.
'Can I at least get a say in the colour?' Hazel requested.
'We probably know best, dear.' Louise told her with a friendly smile before shooting a look at Vanessa. 'You probably want to stop asking so many questions, just let us do our thing.' She whispered so Vanessa couldn't hear and Hazel knew it was a warning.
She silently allowed them to dye her hair and cut it into a short bob around her chin with a full fringe. When she caught sight of herself in the mirror she couldn't help but gasp in surprise, her hair was bright pink. She hated it but allowed herself to be guided to a metal chair which was placed upon the pedestal. Her nails were manicured and painted a glossy pink and then Vanessa took over. Louse and Clarissa rushed about collecting things for her whilst she applied make up to Hazel's face. Hazel failed to see the use of make up if she was in any kind of situation where she would have to use the weapons she had seen in the training centre but she kept her mouth shut, remembering her warning.
She wasn't able to see how she looked before she was stripped of her robe and dressed in her superhero costume, or what little there was of it. She was given thigh-high heeled boots which were dark pink, underwear which was barely covered by her pants which matched the boots in colour, and finally a crop top which was barely more than a brassiere. She had never felt colder or more ridiculous in her life. When she was finally allowed to look at her reflection she saw someone she no longer recognised. She looked like a cross between a cartoon character from a kids show and a prostitute.
'What do you think?' Vanessa asked her, smiling at her in the mirror and for a moment Hazel saw a hint of wickedness in her features and genuine fear surged through her. This wasn't at all what she had signed up for but the discipline room rung through her mind and the knowledge that they had Magnus somewhere else. The idea that this hadn't been an act of kindness after all only now entered her mind and she realised that she and Magnus had been used. The second she realised this however, she somehow resolved to follow every order given her, to do whatever was required of her. In Vanessa's face she saw the threat that was held over Magnus, they had separated them so they could use his fate over her. This was her fate now, she was to become whatever they wanted her to become. So she put on a brave smile and her winning, bright smile and replied sweetly.
'I love it.'
