Chapter 2
"Who are you?"
For most people it would be such a simple question, easily answered with shallow surface facts, but for those who have spent their lives pretending to be everyone BUT themselves it becomes so complicated.
The stranger before him grows anxious and fidgety, looking around for God only knows what… well, God and Jason Bourne – she's looking for signs of the enemy.
"Not here, do you have, uh, time for a special conference? In your office maybe?"
He should go into self-defense mode, he should attack, he should run, but something about her makes him stay; she feels familiar, he has seen that look of fear and determination, confident desperation, she looks like someone he knows – himself.
With a "sure" and a quick glance around for invisible enemies, he slowly backs up towards the door, keeping his eyes on her the whole time.
Once in the hallway they walk side by side trying to act natural while hiding their "ready for attack" stance.
They pass a few adoring students, Professor Matthews winks and waves, his signature move that causes the giddy girls to giggle with delight. The mystery woman tucks her hair behind her ear and gives a mockingly questioning look to the obvious campus heart throb.
But Bourne offers no visible reply, and he has his game face on as he opens the door to what she can only assume must be the "coolest" office on campus.
She walks through the doorway observing her new surroundings: a big read couch, to disguise blood no doubt, walls lined with historical weapons (that have obviously been kept in good condition in case they are ever needed), a refreshment table, for drinks and poisoning if need be…
BAAM
The door slams behind her and before she can turn around to react, she is up against the wall pinned in a choke hold by hands that could kill with the slightest squeeze.
"So, who are you?"
"Sydney Bristow" she chokes out, she has no reason to lie, she is beyond that now, she didn't come to lie, "the question is, who are you?"
"Sydney?" he releases her and doesn't even notice as she chokes and sputters trying to breathe normally. He is too preoccupied with the headache coming on and the flashes of images playing out before him: a little girl in a pink dress, summer camp, swimming, weaponry, fighting, crying…
"Jason? Jason are you okay?"
The sound of her soothing voice makes the spinning stop and he opens his eyes to find himself on the floor with his head in his hands.
"What? Yeah, yeah, I don't know what came over me. Sydney? Do I know you?"
She helps him up, gets him to the couch, and then pours him a poison free glass of water.
"Here, I don't know, I doubt if you really know. But I know who you are, and I need your help, is this place safe? Can we talk?"
He sighs heavily, "well if you wanted to kill me, I guess you'd be dead after trying, so since you made it this far… no, come to my place tonight around 7 o'clock, we can talk then, I gatta get out of here."
So, he handed her directions to his home and left quickly trying not to black out from the intense pain in his brain… man these memory headaches are a pain in the …
TBC