He sighed hard, "I was able to pick you back up and carry you over the fallen walls to the other escape tunnel. One that lead to the other side of the mountain. Another grace of luck came our way, a security vehicle was parked as if it was waiting for us. I drove us away and to this cabin and set up that room for you to heal. Using all of the serum IV's I managed to scavenge from the destroyed cooler. I induced your coma and waited for your body to either fail again or heal completely."
I ran a hand over my hair, "If it was Claire's serum, why was I asleep for six months? It should have been days."
He nodded, "Under normal circumstances, yes. A day or two at most. But the serums I collected were an older formula. With the damage to your body internally and externally, it was going to take a long time. That and I didn't have the equipment like I did in the Centre or in a normal medical facility." His blue eyes met mine, "I almost lost you a couple of times that first week." I clenched my jaw, understanding what he meant. Erich had told me the injuries I suffered and it was a surprise even to me that I had survived at all. I ran my hands over my legs, my skin tingling where the pink scars sat, the still healing burn scars.
I folded my arms across my chest, "Why didn't you take me to a hospital or to a lab? Back to Claire?" I was getting angry at the man who had in reality saved me. I pushed my plate away, blurting it out finally, "When is Claire coming to see me?"
Erich dropped his eyes to the table top, pushing his glasses up, "She isn't, Caitriona." He paused before looking back up at me, "Claire doesn't know we are alive. I had to keep it that way." He stood up, collecting my empty plate to take in the kitchen, "I had all of the intentions in the world to take you to her the second I had you stabilized. Then I received reports that mad woman had escaped and was attacking Claire's other homes, searching her out and forcing her into hiding." He slowly set the plate in the sink, bracing himself on the edge of the sink, "I thought it was safest to leave you in the ashes until you finally woke up."
I felt the anger well up, shaking my head angrily at the man in front of me, "Call her now, and tell her. Have her come here. I need to see her, she." I paused, feeling the tears fall, "She needs to know I am alive and okay, that I love her." I turned away from him, looking at the floor, suddenly remembering what I had asked Claire as I laid on that table, making my heart tighten unbearably.
Erich looked over at me, pushing off the sink and walking over to me. He knelt down, placing his warm hand on my arm, "I don't know where Claire is. She disappeared a week after the incident. I tried searching for her discreetly, but after having a large Russian man approach me in the grocery store, telling me my nose looked better on my face and not in others business, I took that as a hint. To leave things for a little longer." He sucked in a breath, "I am sorry Caitriona, but if Halston knew the miracle you are now, she would destroy the world to get to Claire and you."
I furrowed my brow confused, "What do you mean, Erich? I’m just me. A little sluggish, but I have all of my arms and legs, Claire and you grew my new organs from my old DNA. There's nothing special about me."
Erich's gaze turned piercing as he smiled tightly, "Something happened when the two serums mixed that day. I ran hundreds of blood tests and DNA tests, I cannot disprove it nor believe it." He stood up slowly, "You're entire DNA was re-coded, mutated in a way Claire and I only dreamed of.”
I stared at him still confused, "Spit it out, Erich."
He nodded, "You are now a perfect specimen, Kit. You have all the things us selfish humans dream of. Super strength, regenerative healing abilities, speed, sight, and hearing. Your genetic coding is that of the super humans, fiction stories have been written about for years." Erich held my stare, "After we get your body moving again you will see the difference. You are what Claire has been working towards for the last fifteen years. A perfect living specimen."
I knew I was staring at him blankly, my eyes blinking like a cartoon character trying to absorb what he was telling me. Erich held out his hand, straightening up, "Come my dear, let's get these legs of yours walking again."
I took his hand, leaning forward as he took on most of my weight to get me to my feet. He smiled as I found my balance, "Perfect." He grinned at me, linking his arm in mine, "Tomorrow we get you running, then after that we go find Claire." Erich winked at me, guiding me as I stumbled through heavy steps. Knowing each one would bring me closer to finding Claire.
-Four months later -
It took more than today and tomorrow to get me walking then running. Erich was right about my other senses. They had heightened to a point I felt like superman, but stronger. I could see things an expensive pair of binoculars couldn't; I could hear things that were miles away. My sense of smell and taste was off the charts, ruining some of my guilty pleasures of eating cheap junk food since I could taste or smell most of the chemicals they were made of. My strength was something I was still adjusting to, I had to be careful I didn't crush things by simply picking them up, but I could lift cars like they were toys. My arms and legs were perfect specimens, but they had never known how to walk and run in their new state. I literally had to learn how to walk again, and it took more time than I was happy with. Erich had to go everywhere with me until I was able to use a walker, and then upgrade to a cane. It took me three and a half months to move freely with only a small limp and the cane.
I was certain it was proof I was not the superhuman Erich decreed me to be, that it would wear off like the other serums had, but after showing me my DNA mapping and the bloodwork, I had to believe him. Believe it was just my new body had to be taught a few basic things. Believe that I was everything Claire had worked for in her life as a scientist. I also understood why Erich kept us in hiding, if the CIA or any other agency knew I was alive and existed in my reborn state, we would be hunted. That Claire would be hunted by others along with Halston who was still on the loose tormenting her. It broke my heart to sit in the cabin, fighting the urge to call her, reach out to Davey or Tito and tell them I was alive and beg them to take me to Claire. Sensibility always won out, making me walk away from the phone or the computer and work on walking up the stairs faster than the day before. Erich had promised me that the moment I was one hundred percent healthy, I could go find her. Knowing when I was healthy, I would be unstoppable.
Erich had finally agreed to let me leave the cabin and drive around the town as long as I promised to disguise myself. Handing me the keys to his old truck like a hesitant father. I promised I would keep my face hidden with a hat and a hood.
I told him I was just going to the store for cookies and would be back in an hour.
I never went to the store, driving the truck straight to the burnt remains of Claire's cottage, I parked the old green truck at the end of the driveway. Looking up at the black charred beams sticking up like lone bare tree. I slowly got of the truck and walked up the driveway, scanning the scene from behind my sunglasses. I had wanted to go the Centre, but as I drove by there was nothing but a construction site. The Centre in the beginning stages of rebuilding. A large sign telling everyone it was the future site of an Ocel Steel foundry. I drove away before the urge to call her parents overwhelmed me.
Stepping lightly over the soot covered floors, my cane wobbling as I set it on chunks of wood and melted glass, I moved to where the living room was. The last place Claire and I had a peaceful moment together. One not heavy with confused unspoken emotions or the panic of being chased. I stopped in the middle where a few stones from the fireplace lay haphazardly.
Erich had told me that Claire's parents had demanded the local police do a thorough search of the cottage, hence why it was still a burnt out shell almost a year later. The local police had gone through the scene a thousand times, picking out all the evidence to find Halston. Finally clearing it two days ago and readying it for final demolition.
I poked at pieces with the bottom of my cane, my jaw twitching as I wanted to cry and scream. My rage was boiling over the longer I thought about how
Halston had won. I yanked my sunglasses off, wiping away the angry tears when something in the black mess glinted and caught my eye. It was in the far corner where the bedroom would have sat above. I squinted harder, there was definitely something attracting the sunlight.
Hobbling over, I kept my eyes on the object. Glinting more as I got closer, I bent down. Shoving a large piece of burned wall plaster, I gasped.
Sitting in a small pile of black dirt and soot, was a small oval diamond surrounded by a square one. The heat of the blast had twisted the white gold band and setting the stones still sat in. Curling the ring into a twisted piece of metal that looked intentional by the artist. My hand shook, grabbing the edge and holding the sparkling piece up. I bit my lip as I laughed in disbelief. This was the ring Claire had bought in the shop after the museum. The one I caught a quick glimpse of the salesman slipping into that ominous black ring box I had kicked in the closet. So afraid of what it meant.
The mangled piece of metal and precious stone in my fingertips was my intended engagement ring.
I palmed the ring, clutching it in my fist and pressing it over my heart. I looked up in the sunny sky, shaking my head and crying softly as I stood up. I turned and walked out of the burnt shell and back to the car.
All I wanted to do was get back to Erich and speed up my progress, speed up my walking and running so I could find Claire and run to her as fast as I could.
-Two months later -
The crunch of the snow under my boots was the only sound outside of the random bird chirping in the trees around me. I pulled the collar up on my thick jacket, pulling the top of my large knit hat over my ears as I tucked my chin in deeper to hide more of my face from the brisk Russian wind. It was early winter, yet it looked like winter never actually left the country. It had snowed five inches last night when I landed, delaying me a day since no driver or car rental place wanted to deal with the weather at night.
I kept my head down, only glancing up as the snow covered roof of the farmhouse came into view. I sucked in a nervous breath, picking up my pace.
I had left the hotel at the first sign of the sun rising, and drove to the address Erich had given me four days ago on my last and final day of testing. He signed me off as one hundred percent healthy, and handed me a scrap of paper with his distinct handwriting, telling me, "Go and heal completely."
Erich had found Claire when Ivan returned to Geneva to rebuild the mainframe for the steel foundry. Allowing Erich to access his old files and reach out to the kid. Telling him that we were both alive and I needed to find Claire. Ivan eagerly rushed to the cabin that day Erich cleared me, to see for himself, crying and laughing as he rushed me. Grabbing me with his thin arms in a surprisingly strong embrace.
I left the second I had the address in my hands, walking out on Ivan in mid-sentence, asking how it was possible we survived. Only looking back to tell him not to tell anyone I was alive until I saw Claire.
Cresting the final hill I stopped at the stone fence, wrapping around the front of the farmhouse. I was nervous, scared and anxious. It had been a year since I saw Claire, Davey or anyone. I knew they would all think I was a ghost or Halston in disguise. I took in a deep breath of the cold air, blowing it out just as quick and pushed open the thin iron gate acting more like decoration than a barrier.
I looked around the farmland, looking for any sign of Claire or anyone milling about. Ivan had told me the farmhouse was deeply secured by his systems and Davey's Russian friends. I half expected Russian ninjas to drop out of the trees and lunge at me.
Instead the front door of the house was opened quickly, Davey waking out with a gun in his hands pointed at me, "Stop right there or I will shoot!" His appearance threw me off. Davey wasn't dressed in one of his perfectly tailored suits, instead he was wearing a thick blue hooded sweatshirt, paint splattered jeans and had a thick red beard covering his face.
I raised my hands up slowly, swallowing down the nerves as I spoke, "When did you start asking questions first and shooting last, Davey?"
Davey flinched when he heard my voice, moving closer he kept his gun aimed at my chest. "Halston, your disguises are getting old. Drop to your knees or I will shoot!"
I clenched my jaw, moving slowly to my knees with my hands still raised, "I'm not her, Davey. You know who I am." I reached up to pull off my hat slowly, when Davey hollered at me, "Stop! I said don't move." He was fighting his emotions, the sound of my voice confusing him.
I smiled softly, "I'm just taking off my hat." I moved slower, "Look at my eyes, Davey. They're hazel, not blue." I tugged my hat off, letting my hair fall free.
Davey flinched again, shaking his head, "No, you're dead! I watched you die!" He raised his gun higher, moving closer, "You're a sick bitch, Halston!"
He stood in front of me looking down the barrel of his P99, visibly struggling. I kept my hands raised, "That first day of my first assignment in the Capital building, I was so nervous you confessed something to me to make me feel better. Something only I, Kit Witmer, would know. No one else."
Davey shook his head, his face scrunching up as his eyes turned glassy, "It can't be."
I nodded, slowly standing up to look in his watery copper eyes, "You told me on your first day of presidential detail you threw up on rug in the Oval office from nerves two minutes after the president and his staff left. You were the only one in the room. You cleaned it up but it left a stain." I smiled at him as my own tears began to form, "You blamed the Vice Presidents dog. That the dog had peed on the rug." I laughed like I did the day he told me the story, "You said the poor dog spent a week in his crate, eyeing you like the bastard you are."
Davey dropped his gun, covering his mouth as he gasped out a sob. I covered the three steps in between us and let him fall in my arms. Squeezing him as tightly as he squeezed me, crying and laughing as he whispered, "How?"
I smiled, sniffling, "A miracle of science. That and Erich managed to save me before getting me out of the Centre. Long story short, I've been under his care for the last year." I sighed as I hugged one of my best friends for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. Making a note to hug him as often as he would allow. "We can talk about it all later."
Davey leaned back in my arms, holding the sides of my face with his hands as he scanned over it. Absorbing every little detail. I smirked, "You can pinch my cheek. It's no mask."
He chuckled, "It's you, Kit, no doubt about that. I can see the stubborn mule in your eyes; no disguise could ever replicate that. And you're the only one who knows that Oval Office story." He sighed, "It's good to see you, Kit." He smiled sheepishly as the tears welled up again, "You've been missed."
I covered his hands with mine, gently pulling them down and holding them in mine. "I know." I nodded, "I know." I looked at him, "Claire?"
He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply, "She's on one of her walks around the property. Probably sitting up under the large oak tree next to the barn." He opened his eyes, "She's changed, Kit." He dropped one of his hands free from mine, still holding onto one. Davey fidgeted nervously, "When you died, Kit, it destroyed her. Destroyed her heart and will to live." He furrowed his brow, clear it had been a hard last year for him and Claire. "She shut down. Retreated deep into her walls, deeper than I ever had seen in our lives together. Claire ceased to live to a point, becoming a ghost, a shell of a person." He motioned for me to walk closer to the house, "She works all day and night. Only leaves the house to walk for two hours a day, then comes back to hide in her lab until I force her to go to bed or eat." He paused, "Claire barely speaks."
I squeezed his hand, looking in the direction of the barn, "I want to go to her." Every fiber of my being begged for me to run to the barn, to that tree and scoop her up in my arms. Tell her it was okay, I was alive and that she had saved me. I absently reached up to the necklace I had placed around my neck months ago. Rolling my fingers over the engagement ring I had looped on a chain.
Davey sighed, looking in the same direc
tion, "Then go, Kit." He looked at me, "Just remember what I said, she's been lost for a very long time. You might not recognize her."
I smiled, pulling him in for another hug, whispering against his ear, "I will always recognize the woman who has my heart." I stepped back, kissing him on the cheek before I started walking towards the barn. Davey calling after me, "Bring her back with you? It's too cold for her to sit out there." I smiled and waved in acknowledgement, loving the fact Davey was still the caring, overprotective big brother.
I walked quickly towards the barn. Taking deep breaths every third step as I moved closer, the thick trunk of the old tree coming in view. I had to bite back the uncontrollable grin from spreading further when I saw the long blonde hair cascading down the back of her thick grey coat. Claire turned slightly to the sound of my boots crunching over the snow. She looked more beautiful than ever. My heart raced at the simple sight of her hair and the side of her face.
I couldn't help it, opening my mouth, I called out her name softly, "Claire."
I turned in the direction of the crunching snow. Irritation building that Davidek was disturbing my daily walk when he knew I would come back to the house at the same time every day. In ten minutes I would be walking in through the back kitchen door, where he would ask me if I was hungry, offer me a sandwich or stew. Which I would politely decline before taking my coat off and returning to the basement to work the day away.
It was a carefully orchestrated routine that ran like clockwork since I started it two weeks ago.
Sighing hard, I rolled my back against the tree trunk where I sat. "I will be in in another ten minutes, Davidek, just please leave me be." I kept my tone light, since he was getting frustrated with my closed off ways. I knew I was getting worse with every day but I couldn't bring myself to care.
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