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Chapter 5
"Life goes on." Quietly, Miss Parker repeats the very words her father had spoken almost thirty years ago right after her mother's death. "Life…goes on."
Unable to fight it any longer, Miss Parker picks up the framed photo of herself and her father. Staring at the photo she can't help but wonder 'why?' Why do two people who claim to have a strong father and daughter relationship appear so formal around each other? Why did her put so many lies between himself and her? Why did he drag her into his hell?
In a sudden act of pent up anger and rage, the picture is sent hurtling into the far wall. Memories from all the years that she put up with his lies, all the hell that she's gone through because of him, assault her all at once. With a primal yell of rage and anguish, the tall brunette shoves everything off of her desk not caring about the fragile objects that are bound to break. Not satisfied with the damage already done, she picks a large marble, paperweight up off the floor and hurls it at one of the glass doors at the entrance of her office. Thousands of tiny shards of glass litter the office floor as the door on the right shatters from the impact.
Hearing the sound of shattering glass, three sweepers, who had been walking down the hall, come running into the office. Scolding herself for her lack of control of her emotions, Miss Parker covers her face with her hands and shakes her head in disgust at her behavior. Her father never would have allowed such behavior from her. Cautiously, one of the sweepers takes a step towards her.
"Are you okay, Miss Parker?" Regaining her composure the ice queen jerks her head up.
"I'm fine! Now, get out of here. And get someone in here to fix that!"
Not wanting to have to face the 'Ice Queen's' fury the three sweepers quickly leave to do as they are told. Miss Parker may not have the highest level of power, but she more than makes up for it with her temper. Most sweepers have heard horror stories of her, but so far none of them has been brave enough to find out if they're just that, stories, or if they're true. That's probably what has kept her alive in the Centre for so long. The fear that she's able to put in people has made her legendary among the employees of the Centre. That and she's the only one brave enough to stand up against Raines.
Running her long, thin fingers though her hair in a distressed way, Miss Parker walks over to the fall picture of her and her father. Carefully, she picks up the pieces of glass lying around the picture, avoiding picking up the picture itself. Only after she has picked up all of the glass, does she pick up the picture. As she stares at the picture for a second time, only anger presents itself once again. Slowly she tightens her hand around the shards of glass so fierce is her anger that she doesn't notice the glass cutting into her flesh.
"Parker!" Jerking out of her state of hypnosis, Miss Parker sees Sydney rush into her office, "You're bleeding!"
Looking down at her hand she becomes aware of the glass cutting deeper into her hand. Gently, as if caring for a child, the older man
carefully pries her hand open and takes the glass out of her hand. Where the glass once was, are small gashes gushing blood forth. Slowly, the crimson
liquid spreads out on her hand, forming a puddle in the palm of her hand. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, Sydney wraps it around his friend's wound.
"You shouldn't be here. It's too soon; there are too many reminders here."
"Sydney." Placing her hand on his, she draws his attention away from her hand. "I'm fine. It was just-just a moment of weakness."
"Still, I don't think that you should be here now. You're clearly emotional right now. You should go home and get some rest. I can give you a ride."
"You want me out of the way, don't you?"
"What?"
"You want me out of the way so you're little guinea pig can run around helping people. Well, you can forget it, Syd. Wonder boy's coming home."
"Parker, I-" Having said all that she cares to, she storms out of her office, leaving Sydney dumbfounded.