But now, as the symbol of both life and death stood above me, I found myself starting to crumble. I had always been strong, but when I was a child, I, like other children, had that perfect innocence about them. Mine was always stored away where Lydecker couldn't reach it. With my memories returning, I was thinking with that same mind and seeing with those same eyes.
I rose unsteadily to my feet and looked blankly at Carly, inhaling deeply. Her eyes were wide and frightened like most people would've been after watching a man collapse in their apartment.
"What's wrong?" she asked me again.
"That lady…" I began, but couldn't bring myself to finish. For, telling Carly anything would be the first step to admit I was who I was.
"Mary?"
"Mary?" I echoed.
"You don't know who she is, but yet you fall on your knees before her?"
"Yes."
Carly walked closer to me and rested a hand on my shoulder. "Yes, that's Mary, the mother of Jesus." She smiled faintly. "My mom's pretty religious, and it's only fair that I should have at least one religious object in my house. Penance for not going to church."
"Oh."
She slowly let her hand trail down my back, feeling the soft leather of my coat. The next thing I knew, she had yanked her hand back and was nearly screaming. "Zack!" she cried, horrified.
"What?!" I snapped, jerking around, fearing that Brin had been seen, (somehow, though, I don't think it would've been possible for Carly to see her before me). But, once I was facing Carly, I didn't seen Brin or Lydecker or anybody else-just Carly.
She was standing in front of me, clutching her left hand as blood ran over it. My blood. "You're hurt!" she gasped, and, ignoring her bloody hand, began to yank off my coat.
"I'm fine!" I bit right back and pulled myself away from her. She wasn't my doctor and didn't need to go examining me like one.
"Stop being such a jerk about it. You're hurt and you damn well know it. Just take your dumb coat off so I can see it."
"Why should I?" I retorted. Carly walked up to me, glaring angrily without saying anything. Not taking her eyes off of mine, she reached for my coat. Immediately, I slapped her hand away. She wasn't discouraged, for again she tried. Now I was pissed. You don't cross me twice. Grabbing her by the wrists, I hissed, "Stop it."
"You know what, Zack? You think you're this immortal god and you're not. You're a normal human."
I laughed hoarsely and let her go, walking away. "If only you knew."