The Undergrad

by Mela NoLeuca

  *

  I woke to the sound of a familiar beep right next to me.

  I pried my eyes wide open as I adjusted to the light rudely angled right at me, making it difficult to see anything at all. I tried to bring my hands up to my eyes but realized I couldn’t because something was keeping it in place against the cold metal gurney. This felt kind of nostalgic if you asked me. 

  You know what? I’m beginning to realize how often I’m taken for hostage these past few months. I’m not sure myself if it’s by coincidence, but this was slowly starting to become an irritating trend ever since I met Robyn. She must be bad luck.

  “Too bright for you, love?” that voice haunted me so much that I didn’t want to face her yet out of guilt and shame. But it wasn’t like she was going to give me the consideration. She took away the light that made seeing impossible and showed me her immaculate face; she showed no effort of hiding how much she loathed me right now. I can’t blame her for that. I was just as angry with Ares before I learned he was my brother.

  Of course! This was why I should be the one angry with these liars! They never told me that he was alive, they never even told me much about my past or who my father was! And these bastards still had the balls to be the ones feeling all angry and betrayed? I opened my mouth ready to let a steamy line of profanities escape my lips until I was interrupted.

  “General, Sleeping Gorgeous is up, what do we do to him?” she stepped back, her infuriated eyes still connected with mine as I equaled the vehemence she was trying to strain into me. This girl probably knew where I came from as well and kept it from me! The simple thought of that made me want to puke. To think I was starting to go soft on her many years ago. I knew she meant no good.

  “Agent Green, you should clearly tell the difference between what a General and a Colonel is by now,” sighed a familiar voice, a tall proud man came into my line of sight. He had graying cropped hair and a virile moustache that were trimmed smartly just above his upper lip. He held his hands behind his back with his chest puffed out. “Agent Gould, it has been a while since we’ve seen each other, eh?”

  I kept my mouth shut. Throughout the ten years of my life under this man’s great tutelage, I’d never come to realize how difficult it was to see them now in these awkward situations. I’d never imagine for them to be the bad guys after they’ve taught me so much and—they were still the bad guys. The liars who fed me lies as I grew up longing for my family. 

  “You knew didn’t you?” I hissed matching the anger that radiated throughout every fiber in my body. I was biding my energy and waited for my metabolism to pick up. The beeping next to me informed them what I was planning.

  The Colonel didn’t seem scared at all. His face was just as hard as I was accustomed to; Emily on the other hand, gave me the satisfaction of showing the slightest hint of fear. She narrowed her eyes at me when she saw me smirking proudly, “Sir, he’s…”

  The old man simply raised his hand to shut her up. He never looked away from me and spoke carefully.  “Tell me, Gould, what are going to do now that you know?”

  I smirked, playing a dangerous hint in my eyes, "that was all I needed to hear, sir."