The storm showed little signs of stopping, raging on as Josie and Bryan made their way back to the cabin. Inside, Lei and Zafina sat, huddled together in front of the cackling fireplace, discussing the situation at hand until the door went agape and Zafina jumped to her feet, storming over to the pair.
"Josie! Have you lost all sense? Why did you do that? By the gods, you're soaked…" she huffed, wrapping Josie up in a blanket before taking her to sit on the empty space in front of the fireplace.
The warmth of the fire was like a soothing hug that made her relax. She was still dressed in Bryan's wet jacket, not thinking to take it off. From the corner of her eyes, she spotted him making his way to the fireplace and sitting down next to her, their shoulders touching.
Thanks to the damp jacket, Josie escaped an influx of visions. Her journey in the storm had left her reasonably exhausted, shielding her from conflicting feelings that flooded her. At least from Zafina and Lei. Glancing over at Bryan, she noted he looked paler than usual, almost blue. No doubt due to the storm's lack of mercy.
He glared over at Zafina, speaking with no warmth whatsoever, "Not gonna give me the same comfort?"
"Ah, I reckon you'd murder her if she touched you again," Lei said from the kitchen, having fixed himself a cup of noodles. He happily feasted on his meal, ignoring the aggravated glare from Bryan.
"Anyway, it seems you two made up," Lei said.
Josie smiled broadly, nodding in response. Inching a little closer, she brushed her shoulder against Bryan, almost resting against him. Her cheeks reddened when she felt his hand on her back on top of the fabric of the now warm jacket. Across the kitchen, Zafina stood, a ponderous expression layered over her face. It seemed that she was deep in thought. That was until she turned to Bryan, frosty as usual when she addressed him.
"So where is this facility?"
"Not far from here I think," he answered nonchalantly. Josie turned to him in shock, surprised at the news. It occurred to her then that she hadn't been thinking to ask him how close they were to their destination. But it excited her that they were close. Finally, Josie could rid herself of her burden and take the ride back to a new life, now with someone important to her.
Breaking the bliss of the news, a hollow snort came from Zafina, cold and unamused, "You think? You can think?"
"I'm undead not braindead, hussy. Now put a cork in it. I'm not in the mood," he growled and slid across Josie's back and to her waist, rubbing against the shape of her, almost as if he was about to prove a point to Zafina. Josie imagined that if he had been sly enough, he would have been more explicitly affectionate. Either way, she was happy sitting close to him and not having him fight anyone, despite his crass nature.
Almost halfway through his cup of noodles, Lei sat back in his chair, content with the mood, "Well, that might be the nicest interaction you two ever had."
Neither Bryan nor Zafina addressed this directly, sending Lei a defiant glare but they were mercifully quiet and not at each other's throats for once.
"Mm-hm," Josie nodded. "Maybe they'll be friends by the end of the week."
And they laughed a little at that, or at least Lei and Josie did while the storm continued to rage outside.
The very next day, it was time to leave the comfort of the cabin. Josie was happy to hear that the cabin could be used on their way back from the facility. Before midday, they found themselves back on the road. Outside, there was little sign of the storm as the sun beamed down on the glistening wet roads, past the numerous pale skies. Due to the time of day, traffic was light, making the ride down the seemingly empty highway streamlined and easygoing.
Josie hadn't paid much attention as she curled up in her seat, yawning and stretching. Despite her high mood, her head was groggy and her nose stuffy. Zafina had been so kind to provide her with a blanket and so, she wrapped it around herself to quell the shivering of her body.
"Wow, I can't believe it's the end soon. Life is gonna be so good when we're done! I guess I have to tell my parents the truth when we get back. My mom is gonna be mad. And my dad is gonna grill you with questions. I hope you're prepared," Josie smiled, her hoarse voice hardly matching her excitement. She reached for the box of tissues, stashed into the glovebox of the car to wipe her runny nose. She whimpered, suppressing a series of intense sneezes.
Zafina had been adamant about Josie staying at the cabin but Josie's excitement to get rid of her powers kept her going and now she regretted that decision slightly. Right now, she could do well with curling up in front of the cackling fireplace, relaxing and recovering. Preferably cuddling with Bryan, who had now driven off the highway to a parking lot where a few trucks were present.
In the meantime, he placed his artificial hand on her forehead, crossing his left arm over his right to reach her. It looked comical but Josie was far too unwell to laugh. Slowly he retracted his hand and parked the vehicle near the gas station but away from other cars. Without a word, he grabbed his jacket and headed out, only stopping when a very hoarse Josie called out to him.
"Where are you going?"
"Inside to get some things and make sure you're not gonna die on me. You've been coughing up your lungs and you got one hell of a fever. I'm gonna lock the doors so cover yourself and get some rest."
"Thanks," she smiled at him and spotted a slight blush spread across his face which he quickly hid under his black bandana. Though the warmth emanating from him was the truest reflection of his reaction. Afterward, he trekked towards the gas store with the hood of his jacket over his head.
In the meantime, Josie crawled to the backseat, laying down with her arms hugging herself to contain the chill of her body. A few moments later, Josie felt worse for wear, just as Bryan returned, opening the door to the backseat. Shifting about, she inched away, making room for him to sit as he handed her some warm tea.
"Ah my holy angel of mercy," she sipped the cup, feeling her body getting slightly warmer. She wasn't a tea person but the mild taste and soothing of her body helped to break that boundary.
"Pfft, you're just showering me with flattery, aren't you?" he chuckled.
"Hehe, someone has to," she said softly, resting her head against his back. Through the fabric of his jacket, she could feel the warmth of his body and hear a slight stirring of the generator. He still felt like every other human and she was happy to be close to him. No matter what he was, he was still Bryan and the person she loved the most. Sitting here with him, made Josie think of what had led them here and the memories she saw during the storm.
"I saw a lot of people dying in your memories. I saw those who remained, being awful. I'm sorry. I promise you, I won't die or hurt you. You can trust me."
Something mild in temperature emerged from him but it was carried on a wave of sadness and bitterness, which only occurred when they were on the topic of his past.
"I don't doubt you. But we can't control the world and sometimes it hates us. So I gotta watch over you until the ride is over. And probably afterward," he said after a long pause.
"I guess I should thank my powers for this. Maybe I'll miss them."
"But you still want them gone, huh?"
She nodded, "Yes. People like Zafina are way more capable than me. We're so close so it would make no sense to stop now."
He held another pause, eventually turning around to face her. His bandana was still pulled over his face but it did little to hide the affection in his eyes.
"Guess my job is far from done. Until then, rely on me."
"Yay. Hopefully, after the job is done too."
He didn't answer her however his artificial hand brushed against her cheek and then her hair, playing with a strain of brown locks.
Things would be so good when this was over.
It took another day of driving before they finally reached the end of their voyage. Close to midnight, the car drove off the highway onto a series of unmarked roads, its headlights being the only source of light.
Finally, they reached the end with a gated entryway where a guard let them in with no questions asked. The facility was an innocent, white structure, akin to that of an office building. Despite its exterior, Josie was hit with a slew of emotions upon staring at the place that would change her destiny.
This was it, the moment she had been waiting for. Now she could get rid of her powers and live a normal life. She'd become normal, move out, and start a new life with Bryan. She'd be the home, he could return to. But for that to happen, she needed to stop by here. A place, she couldn't help but to feel a little off about.
Once they exited the car, Josie ran over to Bryan and reached for his hand. The area had a desolate and icy feeling, without a single soul in sight. Instead towering overhead lamps beamed down cold but bright lights upon the pair. A large gate on the ground floor of the building went agape, casting a beam of sterile light.
At that moment, Bryan didn't turn to look at Josie but he gave her hand a tight squeeze and it soothed her somewhat. Soon all of this would be over and a new life awaited them. A woman in a lab coat walked out, tablet in hand. Her gaze switched between Josie and Bryan but she was specifically enthralled by the former, looking at her as if she was a good price horse.
"Good work. Mr. Fury. I see the specimen is alive and well. You took good care of it," the scientist said, trying hard to contain her excitement. This did not sit well with Bryan and he stared daggers at the woman.
"Shut it, bitch. She's not your fucking specimen. She got a name, and you better use it if you want to keep all your damn teeth," he growled. Through his harsh threats, Josie could feel melancholy filter its way through every word he spoke. In a sad sense, it warmed her heart that he really did feel torn over splitting for her.
The smile on the scientist's face faded and she took a few steps back. Fear and disgust betrayed her composed expression.
"R-right. Josie Rizal. I'm glad you could come. And as for you, Mr. Fury, we should work on compensating you accordingly."
"Keep your stupid rewards," he cursed, betraying his very motivation for taking her to this place. Relief emerged from the scientist as she looked at her tablet, typing something. She only perked her head up when Josie spoke, more eloquently.
"Uhm, could we be alone for a second?"
The scientist didn't respond but slowly made her way back inside although the door behind her didn't close. As soon as she was out of hearing range, Bryan swung his arm around Josie's shoulders.
"I got a bad feeling about this place."
"They just want to help me become normal."
He wasn't convinced and she could feel anxiety radiate from him like a signal beam. In all honesty, she didn't blame him for being worried.
"You gotta go, the second, everything goes to shit, powers be dammed. Get the fuck out, run for the hills. I'll come and find you."
"Where will you be?"
He shrugged, "Around. Close by."
"Alright. I'll look for you when I get out and then we can go home, and you can meet my family. My siblings are going to like you a lot," she spoke with the brightness of ten suns as she imagined the awkward but pleasant scenarios of a reunion with her family. For good measure, she'd invite Lei and Zafina as well. Maybe even Doctor B and Yoshimitsu.
A smile formed on his face. "Heh. Why the hell not?"
And then he hugged her, tightly as if she was to slip away from his grasp. Familiar memories filled her vision for a moment before he let go. It lasted long enough for blood to pour out of Josie's nostrils but her emotions wanted it to last much longer.
"Hehe, I look forward to the day when I can hug you without bleeding," she wiped the blood away from her face, making a note to wash it away once she got inside. Before her, Bryan searched through his pocket before he pulled out a familiar set of dog tags. The ones he tossed to her when they initially met.
"Take these. If people try to fuck with you, threaten them with fury," there was a familiar mischievous gleam in his eyes as he said that, and she couldn't help but giggle, perhaps to mask the woe of being separated from him. It was only heightened by similar feelings coming from Bryan.
Now back outside, the scientist's tapping on the tablet grew louder as she cleared her throat. "We must hurry, Miss Rizal. Please come with me."
She said that; cold and emotionless even if she couldn't mask her own impatience. With a heavy heart, Josie made way for her, casting one final mournful look to Bryan, who was staring daggers at the scientist.
"Remember this, lady. If you fuck with her, you'll hear from me," he growled and she nearly dropped her tablet.
"D-dully noted," she nodded before directing Josie inside with the automatic door shutting to a close behind them. The facility had some semblance of Doctor Bosconovitch's lab; it carried the same, icy, steeling atmosphere that spoke little of personal qualities.
But whereas the doctor and Yoshimitsu had been forthcoming and kind, removing all her fears, she hardly felt anything at all here even with the influx of emotions from the one scientist taking her deeper within the facility. Eventually, Josie was taken to a strange room that bore similarities to the prison cell where she was held during her kidnapping.
"Please wait here," the scientist showed her into the room, and another automatic door slid shut after her. Josie bit her nail with nervousness, pacing around aimlessly. She couldn't quite describe her feelings when she entered the facility, excitement, anxiety, fear, hope.
Above else, however, it irked her to be stuck in this little room, all alone without any idea of what came next or when it would come. After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and a new scientist stepped in. He had swapped out a tablet for a traditional notepad, on which he was busy writing.
"What is going to happen now? Are you going to remove my powers? Will it hurt?" she asked frantically, the questions spilling out of her like a waterfall. The scientist neglected to answer as he wrote, only looking at her when he put his notepad down. Frustration mingled with excitement emanated from him, despite the icy look on his face.
"Miss Rizal. It has been concluded that your powers are most valuable but undeveloped. We hope you will corporate in their further evolution."
"But I don't want my powers!" Josie was not happy; that was not the answer she wanted or expected. She sighed in frustration, fighting to keep her tears in check. The scientist was quiet once more, exiting the room without a single word. On the verge of crying, Josie sat down on a nearby chair and buried her face in her hands, only moving when the door slid open once again. An elderly man, with a scar across his bald scalp, stepped in, carrying a file of sorts.
Curiously, a strange device sat situated on his head. It reminded Josie of some strange combination between headgear and a supervillain's helmet from some comic.
With him were the other two scientists. Something familiar edged in the back of Josie's mind but she would be dammed if she could remember where or if she had met the man.
"Miss Rizal," His tone was welcoming but hollow, lacking the warmth from Doctor Bosconovitch. Emanating from him was the same excitement as the other scientists but something dark lay bubbling underneath, enough to make her shudder.
"My name is Doctor Abel. I do not know if you remember but we have met before. It's nice to see that you have grown into such a fine lady. Your journey must have been long. Please, rest for the night. We will begin the tests and experimentations tomorrow."