Chapter 8: Those pretty, evil eyes…

It felt extremely good to walk out of that motel room feeling fresh and clean. I zipped up the cardigan and inhaled a deep breath as the sun beat down on my face and slowly began to dry my hair. Being in sneakers was better too after wearing those heavy boots for two days. I decided that my clothes I had been wearing were no longer important, so I left them neatly folded in the bathroom on top of the small counter next to the sink. It didn't matter anymore. The only thing left to do now was to go back to Cell where he could return me to my place of torment. I had a bag load of food, and hopefully that would last me long enough until he decided to end my life. I was beginning to wonder how soon that day would be.

I held the bag over my shoulder like a giant purse and made my way back down the street where the android stood perfectly still. His eyes were on me, though, and I could tell as I got closer that they were locked on my face. I had no idea what he was thinking and his expressionless face wouldn't allow me to attempt to tap into his thoughts. But as I drew closer, the more I got the feeling he was mad at me; what else was new?

"Are you finally done?" he asked coldly.

"Yeah, I'm done," I replied, though I had a terrible urge to add, "you stupid bastard."

"Then lets go," he said and appeared to be waiting for me to waltz into his arms. If I knew I could I'd go by myself and not let his disgusting whitish hands touch my now clean body I'd do so; but I had no other choice than to allow him to carry me like he had earlier and bring me back.

The trip back was uneventful and quiet—good. I soon found myself settled down in my now-familiar corner, sitting against the cone-shaped pillar and watching a ladybug crawling across the tiles near my feet. Cell repositioned himself to the center of the square arena, his back to me. I don't know why he had to act the way he did, but I guess it was better this way instead of what he was like before when I had suffered my first broken arm and ribs.

As time rolled on further into the day, I began to wonder about him. I mean, what was it about him that was so interesting? Could it be his stamina or maybe his voice? Even those eyes had a way of staring a person down where no words were needed to understand what he was thinking. And then there were his actions—like him being able to stand in the exact same position for hours without even starting to sway back and forth after a while. And where exactly did he take off to the other night?

Questions swam through my head and eventually my mouth was practically ready to burst with several of them flying out without notice. I wanted to know—I had spent my life making it my business to know things about others. And yet I couldn't with this one; I was the one who was being looked into if anything. Maybe that's what it was. Maybe Cell just wants to see how a human acts?

I scolded myself for even considering that. Cell was probably itching to get his hands on me so he could strangle me, or pull me apart, or blow me into microscopic pieces. I let out a heavy sigh and put my head on top of my bent knees. I just wanted to go home.

"What are you thinking this time?"

My eyes opened and looked over the edge of my knees, my vision straining to look up at his now turned head. He looked over his shoulder at me and although I could barely see his face in the sun, I could tell he was just asking a simple question without anger washing over the words.

"I don't know," I lied and put my head back down.

I heard his feet turning and making a few steps closer to me. I didn't want to verbally battle him anymore. Unless I knew it was going to get me somewhere, I decided the best thing was refuse to speak to him.

"Something's on your mind," Cell said and I gave a small snort. "What is it?"

"None of your beeswax," I said, remembering a statement I used to use as a kid.

"A childish answer," he claimed as if he knew what I had been thinking. Maybe he did. Actually, no, I doubt it; if he could read my mind he wouldn't be bugging me right now.

"Says who?"

"Says I," he replied simply. "You're acting strangely."

"I'm acting like I'm bored and tired."

Cell was quiet for a moment. I actually moved my head to see if he was still there and to my surprise he was—closer than I had thought. He was maybe two arms' lengths away from me, which was a bit surprising because I didn't remember his feet squeaking that much.

"What are you thinking?" I asked without realizing I had. Sometimes I wish I could sew my mouth shut.

For once Cell smiled, his eyes closing and his head bending forward. "I'm thinking of what it would be like to be as weak as a human such as you."

Instantly I felt a burning rage fire up inside me. How dare he say such a thing! I mean, what kind of sick pleasure does he get out of making fun of people? "What the hell is your problem?"

"I beg your pardon?" he replied quickly, his eyes snapping open and narrowing quickly to stare down at me.

"I asked what the hell your problem was," I repeated. "Why do you have the need to say stuff like that? You're the one who's causing all the problems around here!"

I could see it in his eyes…I had pushed the wrong buttons again and his tightly clenched fists told me he was doing everything in his inhuman power not to beat me into the ground. I couldn't let him see my fear; I stood up and backed up against the pillar, my arms behind me before he could grab them and throw me away.

Cell didn't make any attacks though. Instead his fists let up and his eyes closed to let his mouth curl into a smile. "My dear girl, you think you're really brave, don't you?"

"Fuck you." There. I said it. I finally let that disgusting, terrible, horrible word roll off my tongue and splash against his perfect face. And it splattered on him hard. His cockiness disappeared quicker than it had the first time during this little squabble.

Cell's perfectly shaped white teeth appeared during a silent growl. I barely saw his hand rise up and grab my neck, his long fingers curling around my throat and pushing his palm up against my windpipe. This was it—he was going to strangle me. I'd have to slowly wither away while staring at those magenta eyes I actually…liked. They were pretty.

My brain shouted at me to wake up. The quick loss of air was making my mind play tricks on me and start thinking things that I didn't think where true. I opened my eyes and stared at him since it was the only thing I could get my body to do. I don't know what happened to the rest of me…actually, yes I do; it was hanging in the air as he raised his arm to be parallel with the ground. I think I felt my hands come up and grab his wrists…and I could barely feel a tear trickle down my cheek.

"You claim I'm vulgar and rude, however you come out with dirtier statements," he protested calmly. "Do you think your words affect me? Do you honestly think I feel anything by what you say to me?"

I looked at him and listened carefully, since basically it was all there was left for me to do as I felt my body slowing down and giving up. "….y-yes…" Did I say that?

I felt my feet touch the ground again and the clasp on my throat loosened, although it hadn't backed away. "What?"

I looked up at him fearfully, yet somehow I understood what was happening. I found that nerve again. That same nerve I had hit back in Nikki Town. It was a bit of a variation with the approach, but I still struck that chord as hard as the first time; I confused him.

"Answer me!"

His loud tone rang in my ears, but I didn't back away. I think it was mainly because I was so damn scared my feet couldn't remember how to run away. Though they had no choice but to move as Cell pressed forward and backed me against the pillar, his hand still closed around my throat minus the choking part.

"I demand you answer me."

"Why?"

His eyes grew wide for a mere second and then he looked at me so coldly I wondered if it was possible for him to freeze me in the heat of the afternoon. "Because I said so, that's why!"

I felt a small wave of courage gathering inside of me. He was confused and it angered him. This was so cool! No. No it wasn't. Cell being mad meant pain for me. I didn't need that anymore.

"I swear, Layrial, you better give me an answer or I'll end it right here."

"Then end it." His jaw became tense as he clenched his teeth while hearing my words. "What's stopping you?"

I felt the pressure on my throat grow a bit, but he didn't go as far as he had before. He was hesitating—and it was making his mood very bad. "My patience is growing thin, girl."

"You're mad at me because you don't know what the hell to do, is that it? I tell you to go fuck off and you immediately become angry because someone was bold enough to say it to your face."

"Is that what you think?"

"No, Cell, that's what I know."

BAM!

I immediately anticipated him to hit me, kick me or whatever. I was wrong. He released me, but didn't step back. He stood up as tall as his body would allow, his head bent only enough so his eyes could look down at me. But I wasn't done. I was determined to finish this off and let him have it as hard as it could possibly get.

"And to answer your previous question, yeah, I think you are bothered by me telling you stuff like that," I said defiantly and almost proudly. Go me. "You're ego is so damn big it hurts when someone touches it with a pinprick. You think you're so damn tough—whether physically or mentally—but when someone challenges that and almost catches you off guard, you can't handle it!"

Cell stood silently and listened, but I knew his blood was beyond boiling point. Like I said, those eyes said it all. "Furthermore," I continued, "what hurts most is that it's all coming from a weak, stupid human girl as you pointed out to me so many times."

His fists were clenched again. I was actually surprised to realize I was still alive and pain-free. Yet I was shaking. Hell, I could barely stand up. I looked up at him proudly, though, and refused to let my own ego get blown down this time.

"Are you finished?"

I blinked a few times. His words were calm. Did he expect me to go off on him like that?

"I'll take your silence as a yes," he stated. "Now, let me set you straight. You mean nothing to me. What you say only angers me because you've yet to learn your place. I am a perfect being and nothing you can possibly come up with can change that."

"Hold on," I said and I know I caught him again, though he did stop his speech. "You're not perfect."

"What?"

"You heard me. You heard me better than I heard myself. And right now you're trying very hard to figure out those three words: You're, not, perfect."

"And what makes you possibly believe—"

"Stop," I said before he could finish. "You're starting to be really predictable. You're not perfect because of that. You're not perfect because you can't understand the human mind, such as why I am the way I am around you. And you're especially not perfect because, regardless of what you had told me earlier about yourself, you're not complete. You lack all emotion other than anger."

He was silent for a long time. And he was standing like stone. I had finally found enough strength inside of my pitiful existence to shut up the android who wanted to destroy the world. And it felt damn good.

Author's Moment for Words: Yes, I know what you're thinking—how could I possibly be so evil and leave you with such a huge cliffhanger? I'll admit that what you've just read has been written and sitting around for several days, but with the thoughts of adding more to it. However, after rereading what I wrote, I felt this was a good place to stop. And it would've been posted earlier, but it seems this site is having technical difficulties. That hurts, now doesn't it? ;)