How to Undo a Genius
Chapter Seven: Slumber
"No one has any recollection of what went on tonight beyond the opening?" Reed questioned, condensing all he had just been told. "Nope," Johnny answered, allowing his lips to pop on the 'p'. They were on their way back to the Baxter Building and, now that everyone was there and accounted for, they were feeling the full effect of the beating they had each been subject to.
"Yeah they really did a number on us," Ben said his words half mumbled. "But why?" Sue wondered aloud, "What did they want?" Reed glanced down at her hand tightly twined with his before answering, "I don't know." He very rarely uttered those words and when he did it bothered him to no end. He needed answers. And he would get them as soon as possible.
Once the four thankfully made it back, they ran a quick check over the building. They found nothing missing or disturbed, no switch flipped that shouldn't be. Whoever they had dealt with today didn't have robbery on their mind.
Reed fully intended to get right to work on the situation, but Sue wouldn't hear of it and the pain in his head was becoming quite a nuisance. In the end, the Fantastic Four fell into a quick and welcomed slumber after a very odd and confusing day.
He was 17 years old resting on a couch in his Aunt's three floor house. A can of his favorite soda in hand, the TV displaying some program that he knew he liked, and he was happy. Footsteps clomped audibly up the stairs. He sat up instantly anticipating whoever was approaching.
"Lucas?" A familiar, soft voice asked before Becky joined him in the room. It made no sense to see her here, but then this whole scene didn't make sense. She sat down beside him and tossed her long hair behind her. He watched closely, not allowing one move she made to go unnoticed. If he had friends he was sure they would tease him about his fixation with this girl.
She suddenly reached out and placed a hand on his face, cupping his cheek in her palm. "What are you doing up here all alone?" Her question told him what some part of him must have already known: he was dreaming.
No answer emerged from his lips before her face turned abruptly angry. "Why are you doing this Luke?!" she demanded, "You know it's wrong! You're not stupid!" She paused, but all he did was blink. This was an unexpected turn to his seemingly pleasant fantasy. "But you are greedy, aren't you? You'll do anything for a few bucks!"
Becky appeared to be finished with her short and sudden outburst, but then she started shaking her head back and forth, silently saying 'no' over and over. Her motions increased in intensity until her hair was whipping with her head. "Becky?" he said, finally finding his voice.
His only reply was a strong shove in the chest that sent him flying off the couch. Jolting awake was his landing, and he looked around his lab as his breathing slowed. "Darn guilty conscience…" the scientist murmured.
