CHAPTER 23

       "What I am going to do today is not a good thing."

       The security guy glanced me over with a glazed look and nodded me through.

       "And under any other circumstances I wouldn't do it."

       I would've thought that a new worker dressed in dark greys with a duffle bag over her shoulder would've been more suspicious but apparently not.

       "Because it's an inhumane and wrong thing."

       His eyes flashed black and I realised I wasn't alone.

       "But what they're doing is also inhumane and wrong. I know, Becky knows, well, deep down she does."

       I turned my attention to the fifty-floored elevator, choosing one of the top levels. A specially booked out spot for today under a fake alias.

       "And if their work does spread, it could be the key to immortality."

       I inserted the keycard I was provided, slipping inside. There was no one present on this floor, well anyone mortal. I couldn't sense their imenient deaths. There were no security cameras either, I was free to do my bidding.

       "Imagine that, endless war and bloodshed. No one dying, overpopulation, the Earth crashing in on itself."

       I pulled around the vending machine, so the back of it was facing me, and got to work. Duct-taping the materials that I'd prepared before, connecting wires, measuring quantities of chemicals. In the back of my mind, I was aware that the clock was ticking, I needed to leave soon.

       I walked out into the hallway, drawing invisible materials across that could account for very, deadly booby traps. I didn't set them yet, just left them to be and left.

       "The world's destruction, all in its pursuit for immortality." I reached out and ended the vlog, looking down at my hands thoughtfully. I heard a scuffle of material and shot up but no one was there.

       Unsettled, I sat back down in my chair.

       Time to begin.

       I was dressed in black dress pants and a white long-sleeved shirt. My now blonde, hair was pulled away from my face and I was accessorised with a platter of champagne glasses. My mission, was to drop the individual invites to the targets and leave before the scheduled time.

       It was easy and basic, slid in into their lap or underneath their glass, go onto the next.

       Once I had delivered all of them, I headed up to the room, changing into something more formal. Which basically means that I added a jacket.

       I stood outside the door and greeted each one, encouraging them to go inside and wait before the meaning of the gathering would be revealed. They'd worked with SHIELD before and probably assumed it was something to do with that nature. I counted the guests and realised there were a perfect number.

       "Let's begin." I chuckled to myself .

       I locked the door and began activating the surrounding 'booby traps' if emergency services tried reaching these guys then they should be deterred long enough for the bomb to go off.

       The average police response was about seven minutes. It'd take roughly six minutes for the building to be cleared. I rustled through my bag and sourced an indestructible phone that I gotten from my caravan. It was a prepaid mobile and none of my previous data had been entered into it. I managed a shake in my hands which transferred to my voice as I fed the info to the emergency services.

       "... T-t-there were t-t-these guys t-t-talking about it, saying it was going to happen s-soon." I wailed, feigning sobs, getting out the rest of the information on the matter.

       "Don't worry Miss, we've got police on the way, please evacuate yourself from the premises."

       "Okay." I muffled a sob and rushed out, ending the call and dropping the phone in a trash can nearby. I probably wasn't supposed to do that but the woman would probably put it down to an accident, even though I could've given her more information.

       The stench of my Mother was heavy around this place, the lower-floor occupants, not so much. Which was good, I guess, sometimes it didn't matter who gets caught in the crossfire.

       I blended into the walking crowd, waiting for the timer to do its magic and when the flames engulfed the penthouse section, I was already gone with the wind.

...

       I quickly proceeded to destroy any evidence; the uniform I wore, the leftover materials and bag I used. Nothing, except I, had been on the scene of the crime. That's how it was going to stay.

      I showered and browsed on the web aimlessly for a hour or so, applying my alibi. When I deemed it were long enough, I drifted to the living room where the Offspring were watching news coverage of the bombing.

       I jumped, and began to worry, did they suspect me? My hands began to shake.

       Get over this, I scowled to myself. They know nothing.

       "Hey." I whisper to James, sitting besides him on the couch quietly.

       "So apparently it was all SHIELD agents that died in the bombing. It's not public info, but it seems suspicious that SHIELD agents are being targeted like this." I nod convincingly, breathing an internal sigh of relief. Sure, I didn't care if there were civilians in the crossfire, but it just made things easier.

       "Hey guys! I'm in!" Tom suddenly appeared, over-excited. Everyone processed what I didn't quicker and jumped over to him in excitement. "Avengers; Offspring Division." Tom grinned, flashing us his card where he was dressed in his super suit with all of his hero details alongside it.

       "We get badges?" I asked, confused. Why hadn't I got one? Rude.

       "Yeah. We've all got ones." James speaks shamelessly.

       "Oh, uh, okay." I shuffled awkwardly.

       "You don't have one?" Nile wonders. "I wonder why that is."

       I shrug. "Beats me." Appearing nonchalant but my eyes stinging with hurt. I look down. I want a badge.

       Nile, thank God, is the first to break the awkward silence. "Well, since we're all together, I'd like an update on how everyone is going?"

       We all shuffle to the couches and I begin to think of my cover story. Somehow thought, I can't help going back to the stupid badge.

       Why didn't I get one? Is it because I died? Because I've killed people? I betcha Becky has a badge. Flying fuck. Fricken hell.

       "So as we know, the poison is projected to reach its peak within a couple of months."

       "Ten." James corrected. Nile bobs his head to James.

       "I stand corrected. Anyway, we know it comes with serious side effects and that they've been revealed already so just tell us what they are and how you're coping with them." I suppress a groan. This is going to be literal hell.

       It's a stubborn breeze. Cleo is losing control of her powers, as she speaks, little shocks of electricity jump between her fingers and hands. Angel and Aaron are physically weak and sick but it seems like they might also have hallucinationary episodes. Nile is the same. Gale like Cleo, a match made in Heaven although they're kind of cousins but not really at the same time, are having the same problem; control over powers. James, the most surprising of all, seems to be having amnesic episodes, my empathy for him is immediately extended. I'm jittery throughout the entire thing, I have an anxiety bell ringing off in my head, telling me that I'm going to be caught for all the deaths I've caused.

       Then my turn: "Uh yeah, I've just been having visions, uh, hallucinations, of me in an asylum. And aside from that... Yeah, that's it."

       For a self-acclaimed expert lair, I wasn't a very good one.

       "What's wrong with that?" Cleo's voice is gentle but for all my nerves, I take it as an accusation and jump up as if I've been spiked.

       I maintain an angry glare at Cleo before pivioting and rushing out of there.

       I stop at the next room over, sinking into one of the couches and clutching at my shaking hands.

       Someone enters softly, but I don't look, I maintain my glaze, looking at the rough, wooden patchwork, willing myself not to cry. I do speak though. "I was administered there when I was four, because I could see ghosts." I suck in a breath. "Spirits. SHIELD didn't understand because at that time, they didn't know who my DNA mother was and what I'd been given in her genes... I was only there for a couple of weeks, but..." My voice cracks and a tear borders on the edge of my vision. "What if I'm still there? What if I never left that clinic. What if you're all the imaginary characters that they claim I've made up?" A tear streaks down my cheek and hangs to my chin. I look to Gale who's sitting beside me, the sincerest look of sympathy across his face.

       I look to the other Offspring; to Cleo whose lip is trembling, downcast Aaron, shocked Nile and Angel, stoic but faltering Castor, and Becky, whose face is decorated with tears. Tom is standing alone and has the same expression of confirmation as James.

       Then what confuses me the most, happens next; Gale, hugs me.

       I freeze, rigid, and for the entire time he has his arms around me, I'm frozen, I simply refuse to believe that he's acting like this.

       He still loves you, the voice whispers to me.

       Once Gale pulls away, we all look to the floor as if the shame of looking to one another is too embarrassing to bear. It's an interesting moment for us all.

       "Here." Nile says, handing the compass to James, "do what you must, we need to save our parents."

       James nods sullenly like he's accepted the full responsibility of what the compass holds. "Death's scales, the scythe and the blood of a Deathling."

       "And how much time do the Avengers have?" Cleo asks.

       "Ten months." James replies, undoing the compass lid and closing his eyes, focusing.

       Just enough time for the baby to be born.