By the way, and please chime in if you have an opinion because if you don't I'll just do it, I was thinking of tacking on a chapter that gives us some info into what's going on with the adults in this scenario. So basically a thousand or so words about Batman freaking out over his missing son. Yea or nay?
Chapter 14- Rachel
I am not good at saying no to Victor. At least not in recent times, which is ridiculous, as I've rejected his various requests and offers on hundreds of occasions. But he asks me to hang out with him at his dad's work so he's not left alone all night with Richard Wayne. And I said yes. He hugged me, and I said nothing, but nothing wasn't what I would've said. Normally I would have shoved him away in heartbeat but I did not. And then he asked me to perform surgery on him, on his head and his face and his mind… And I said yes. I did it. I have not been so out of my wits afraid in a very long time but today I feared I would ruin or even take his life and I was terrified. I don't know this feeling but I know what it isn't.
"Are you and Victor dating?" Richard, of all people, asked me as I went in to get some pizza after washing all the blood off of my skin in the shower. Gar was already there munching on a slice of cheese pizza and watching a super old movie on the hotel's iffy cable.
"What? No." I have strong, positive feelings toward Victor, but I'm pretty sure they're familial. Definitely not romantic. The thought makes me shudder. The shower is running. Must be Kori. He says quieter this time,
"Do you know if Kori and Gar are dating?" Gar is literally right there. Numerous opportunities have arisen for Richard to pose the question. I do know, but him knowing isn't any of my business. It isn't his business either.
"Reconnect your mouth to your brain and ask them yourself. And before you pose another such question recall that not every story has to be a romance."
"Right. Sorry." He pauses for a second, kind of shuffles. I was rude. It wouldn't be something I'd think about, but since the explosion, I've felt a lot more. Not just my own feelings, those of others. The word for that is empath. The word for that is torture.
"Yeah. I'm sorry too." I force myself to say, pulling my hood closer, wanting to escape the situation.
"Hey uh… When we were getting the pizza we got you something. It was Kori's idea…" He hands me a bag. It's a hoodie, similar to my own but bigger, newer, cleaner.
"Thanks." I'm surprised by the gesture.
"We figured you'd want clean clothes."
"Yeah." This hoodie, my pride and joy for a while, is blood splattered. I leave the room to put the new one on, and it fits really well. I feel safe. Victor is still asleep in the other room, and before I leave again I drag the thin sheets and blankets over him.
I don't go back to the room with the pizza and the people. I need to be alone. I have a book, but I don't read. I dangle my legs into the motel pool and stare at my reflection in the rippled water. The stone in my head confuses me. How did it appear? Was it shrapnel from the explosion? But then, the only thing that really hit us from the explosion was heat and radiation. I don't understand the jewel or what it does. It reminds me of an infinity stone from the comic books Victor's always dragging me into. I stare at it and frown, concentrating my powers. Because, as it happens, I have powers. I need to control them or else… Things could get out of hand. Focus, Rachel… I force my attention and the dark mist comes at my command. It shoots towards the nearest being, at first leaving me nervous of hurting and alerting an innocent pool-goer. Instead, it's just Gar, who turns into a mouse before my shadows can hit.
"I think this hotel has a rodent problem," I say when he appears in his new form, giving him a look that says I want to be alone. He shrugs off the look and my statement and sits by my side, his green toes dangling in the water.
"Practicing your powers?"
"Yeah. Demonic darkness summoning shouldn't be unchecked."
"I don't think of it as demonic." I get a strong feeling off of him. An odd feeling. My cheeks redden impulsively and I shrink into my hoodie, not responding.
"I think your powers are awesome. And you could do so much good with them."
"Is that what you're doing with your powers? You seem to just want to disappear."
"Everyone wants to disappear. You, me, Victor, Kori, Richard. At the heart of all of us, we want to disappear from something. But I'll tell you something…" Another wave of powerful emotion induces a little queasiness. I don't understand where this is going. I'm scared again, but of him? No, I could take him in a fight, pterodactyl or not. Scared of what he has to tell me. I say nothing. Not urging him forward, but stupidly not stopping what comes next.
"I would rather be here next to you than anywhere else disappearing." I stand up, uneasy and unprepared. I've read a lot of books where something like this happens but books don't apply to my real life. They just provide unhelpful parallels. My stomach churns, regretting the pizza.
"I wanted to be alone, so, please excuse me." I feel, as I walk away swiftly, a heart sagging hurt left in the air. I don't know if it's his or mine. I need to be alone.
So I head to the motel roof. I doubt anyone will find me there or interrupt my isolation. He was right, everyone wants to disappear. That's why I'm here watching the blinking motel sign, and I realize it would be beyond simple to truly disappear. I could vanish. Pick a direction and just go. Something keeps me tethered to the roof, however. Maybe it's Gar's feelings or Victor's or maybe the potent emotion keeping me here is my own. Maybe I like being a part of something. Being around people who defy all odds and enjoy spending time with me. People who trust me. People who are there when you don't know you want people there. I don't know. I watch the motel lights and the stars and grow cold and introspective. Before I can fall asleep I levitate back down to the ground and to the people who care. I would rather not disappear tonight.