The Secrets we Reveal
Chapter Four (Riley)
"Come on, Billy. Don't let him win." I quickly shout out in encouragement. Seeing Mason training Billy was always fun, and it was actually one of the things that I was going to miss when I left the Facility the next day. It also showed just how far behind, Billy actually was in comparison to Mason.
Sure, everyone acknowledged the fact that technically, Billy could achieve higher speeds than Mason, but it wasn't quite as impressive as Billy had hoped for and he had a lot of training to do before he got anywhere near his level. Luckily for him as well, was that Mason seemed more than happy to mentor him and help him reach his potential, even if I kind of thought Billy needed to spend more time with me, he was my best friend.
"I think it would help if you didn't distract him so much, Riley." I then hear my sister state with a grin. She had been watching for a little while, and it was nice to see her just relaxing. It almost felt like we were back at home when she was like this, but with my conversation with Aidan fresh in my mind, I couldn't help but look at her a little differently now.
"He doesn't mind." I decide to say with a shrug of the shoulders. He really didn't, and Mason had told me that Billy needed to learn to ignore distractions, so I wasn't going to stop. They would tell to stop if I was too distracted. "Are you and Aidan going to be here more often now. You know, since I know about it, will you spend more time here?" I then decide to ask with a slightly hesitant smile. I wasn't really sure what would happen after tomorrow, but I had been wondering, now that they didn't have to put up a front, to make sure I didn't suspect anything, would that mean they wouldn't need to be at home as much.
"I'm not really sure. I think it's just going to be a lot easier, now that no one has to lie or make up some excuse. I don't really see it meaning we spend more time away from the house." She responds with a smile. Her answer though, actually made me think about something else, and I can't believe that I haven't asked Aidan this already.
"How did Aidan go on these kinds of missions before? You know, like this one he is on now. He was never gone for days on end." I quickly ask curiously. Even thinking about it, I can't really remember him being gone for more than a day or two. I'm sure of it, and even though we weren't joined at the hip, I think I would have noticed him disappearing for a week or something like that.
"With my help, and while teleportation isn't used as much as people would assume. For Aidan, it was definitely helpful." She quickly responds with a smile. She had a nice smile, and it always made me want to smile too. "It also helped that you actually knew about him, and wouldn't try to bring anything up. Plus it's rare for missions to take too long, most you already know about, because they're on TV and the internet. So the majority are a few hours usually." She then adds with the same smile. It was a good point as well. Most of the time, it seemed like the Empowered just saved people from stuff like fires and accidents, rather than going on daring missions and stuff like that.
"Fair enough." I then say with a shrug of the shoulders, before sitting in silence and watching the training for a little while. "It's strange how their powers work." I then find myself saying out loud. I had just been thinking it, but I couldn't help but be curious. It had been debated quite a lot online and by pretty much everyone. However, no one really knew anything for certain.
"How do you mean?" Lily then quickly asks me. I can see the mixture of surprise and curiosity in her expression, and I guess it was understandable, I had just said it out of nowhere. However, thinking about it a little bit more. This really was a good place to get an actual answer, and she was definitely someone who might know at least something about them.
"I don't really know exactly, but you've seen the discussions and debates about why some people have stronger powers than others, or how most have one strong power and the rest average, but then you get someone like Aidan, who seems to be able to use them all equally. It's just weird, and I guess I wondered if there was an actual reason behind it." I decided to ask with a hopeful smile. I just hoped that she would at least have something, and maybe I can show off a bit to some of my friends back home. I can't tell them where I've been for the last month, so I wanted to at least impress and also distract them a little, by having something actually interesting to tell them.
"Honestly? No one really knows, Riley. Not for certain, but a lot of the researches believe that there is some connection between a person character and the way their powers work." She then begins to say, before pausing for a few seconds. "Take Mason, for example, Riley. Before his powers manifested, he was a runner, a very good runner in fact. He's pretty much won all there was to win for his age range. So his speed being his prominent power, makes a lot of sense." She then continues, while looking over to Mason and the others. I knew Mason was a runner before the Empowered emerged, but I didn't know he had won awards and stuff.
"So someone like Shockwave, is strong because he was an MMA fighter and worked out a lot?" I then decide to ask curiously. It actually did kind of make sense, and people had talked about something similar, but while it worked for some, it didn't for everyone. Although I guess, I didn't really know everyone, and no one did really. So it would be hard to actually work it out. Well, unless you have the resources that the facility has.
"We believe so, Riley. However, it's just a theory, and some powers are a lot harder to define and pinpoint when using that theory. For instance, telekinesis, and someone as powerful as Pulse. It's difficult to really know why he is more powerful than the average strength of other Empowered. We know that he has excellent eye-hand coordination, and is gifted in many sports that require that, and other examples of those with higher levels of telekinesis, show a similar pattern." She then says with a warm smile. It did seem a little more far-fetched when you look at it like that, but I still thought it was a pretty good theory.
"So someone like Breeze, who can fly faster and better than most. Might be able to, because she is a gymnast, so she is light on her feet and quite agile, and maybe that is part of the reason?" I decide to then ask. It did sound more than a little stupid when you actually say it out loud, but I still thought I was in the right area, even if I might be wrong about the gymnast thing.
"We believe that it has some bearing on her ability to fly. It is all just a theory though and the more scientific among the Facilities staff, favor a more genetic-based theory, and are trying to isolate any genes that might not only cause the powers to manifest in the first place but also dictate which are more prominent." Lily then says with a slight blush. She enjoyed this, I could tell that much. It had been a while since I saw her looking so happy, and even though I doubt she would admit it, I think she might be one of those more scientific people, that believed that theory over what we were discussing.
"So there is definitely an Empowered gene, then?" I decide to then ask. It was interesting to talk about the powers, and my friends will definitely want to hear about that, but I was also curious about why certain people seemed to have powers and others don't. I know my sister isn't a scientist or researcher, but she must know something.
"There is, but we don't know why it only appears in some, and not others. We also don't know why they activate at different times, it's almost impossible to detect until it activates. You're proof of..." She then begins to answer happily, before quickly trailing off and tensing up. She just let something big slip, and from her reaction and her choice of words. I was definitely worried, did she just say that I was an Empowered now?
"I have the Empowered gene?" I quickly ask nervously. I was still unsure how I felt about the possibility, but I did know that I didn't want to give her a chance to change the subject or come up with some kind of cover-up story. We had enough secrets, and I didn't want any more between us.
"Look, don't speak too loudly and you don't say a word to anyone, while you're still here. Do you understand me, Riley?" She then suddenly tells me, as she leans closer to me. I could barely hear her at all, but I guess that was the point and I got the message loud and clear. Even if I didn't understand what was happening right now.
Instead of answering though, I just nod my head and wait for her to continue. I had so many thoughts going through my mind, and I didn't really know how to process this. I also couldn't quite believe I was an Empowered, I didn't have any powers, and I didn't feel any different. Maybe around Billy, I feel a bit more excited and stuff, but nothing that I would ever associate with being an Empowered.
"I've been testing you for the past three years, Riley, and you didn't have any signs of being an Empowered, but you did have an anomaly in your DNA, but it wasn't anything to be worried about. You would be surprised how many people have anomalies in their DNA. We can't talk about it here though, and I'm being serious, Riley. If you want out of here tomorrow, you need to wait until we get home, before we talk about it. Okay?" She then says after a few moments. I could tell that she was being honest, or at least as honest as she could be, but I was still curious, and couldn't just leave it at that.
"But you said that..." I then begin to ask in response, and while I understood I needed to wait, I needed to know if I was an Empowered. However, before I can even finish my question, she quickly cuts me off, and I quickly give her a pleading look. I just needed to know.
"You're not an Empowered, Riley. I know that much, but there is a change in your DNA, and we honestly don't know what it is, but I promise to tell you everything when we get home. I promise." She then says with a warm smile, while at the same time, giving my cheek a gentle stroke with her hand. It was a gesture that she rarely used unless she was being genuine, and despite not entirely being happy to wait. I didn't want to get stuck here any longer.
"Okay, but I want to know, Lily. I just want to go home, tomorrow can't come soon enough." I then decide to say as I look back over to Mason and Billy training together with some other people. They looked like they were having fun, but for me, all I could think about was the fact that I had something wrong with me. I felt fine, but surely having an anomaly in your DNA, which changed after an Empowered merged with your body. Had to be bad, it couldn't be good. I don't think.
"Trust me, Riley. If I thought you were in danger, or something could be wrong with you. I wouldn't be insisting on you going home. Your safety is my main priority, it always will be." I then hear her say sincerely. I had been lost in my own thoughts, and hearing her words, quickly drew my attention back to her, and I couldn't help but smile. She would never let me get hurt, not if she could help it, and despite still being worried, it did reassure me enough to not freak out or something.
"I still want to go home." I decide to then say with a half smile. It wasn't all bad, but I really just wanted to get away and see my friends. Although as I look back over to the others, I can't help but think about Billy. He had no family apparently, not any that want to take in an Empowered kid. I don't want to leave him here, but we would figure something out. I didn't want to be away from him for too long, that would be torture.
"It can't be that bad, Riley. Your little night time walks have made you quite popular among the night shift. So I am sure you will miss at least a few of them." I then hear her say casually. She was obviously changing the subject on purpose, but I had to do a double take and make sure that I heard her right.
"Huh?" Is all I can ask in response though. I seriously had no idea what she was on about. I pretty much go to sleep and then that's it, and I can only remember a few times I went for a walk after going to sleep, and that was to see Billy or Aidan, and I rarely saw anyone else, let alone make conversation with them.
"Oh, don't be all shy, Riley. You've made quite the impression on some people." She quickly states with an amused expression, and my confusion just increased tenfold. "Oh, speaking of which. Here comes one of your biggest fans." She then suddenly says, and if I wasn't confused before, I was now. Although as I look to where she was looking, I couldn't help but blush.
"Lily, I have no idea what..." I then begin to say, before being cut off by the girl. She was my age and someone I had seen around, I think she was a medical student or something. I didn't even know her name, so I had no idea how she could be one of my biggest fans, and how my sister would even know that.
"Hey, Lily. Hi, Riley." The girl says politely, and even a little shyly, and despite my confusion and embarrassment, I can't help but smile a little. She was really pretty and unlike Aidan's crush, Mason. She appeared to be the same age as me, although it was hard to really tell. I just thought she had a nice smile and pretty eyes.
However, as the seconds passed, I realized that no one was speaking now, and they were both looking at me expectantly. The problem was, I had no idea what her name was, and it was pretty obvious that I should know who she was. Shit, this wasn't going to end well. What the hell am I meant to do, without making myself look like a moron or a complete jack-ass?
"Well, I guess he is full of conversation today, Amelia. How are you?" My sister then says with a slightly questioning look and saving me in the process. However, hearing the girls name, instantly makes me tense up and as I stare at her, I suddenly recognize her. It was the girl from my experience with Billy. It was my apparent fiancé. Holy shit, what the fuck am I meant to do now?
It was bad enough trying to discourage Aidan from going after Mason, but at least that was settled now for a few years at least. This though, fuck, what the hell am I meant to do. I saw it, I saw myself or what looked very like me, kill her. I heard Aidan tell the other me, that we were going to get married. What the hell am I supposed to do, just ignore her? Pretend she doesn't exist? Fuck.
"Pretty good, Lily. I just finished some tests with Dr. Erickson and got the all clear for my training with Shockwave. It's going to be so much fun." I then hear Amelia say. This was just crazy, and crap, she was an Empowered, I forgot about that, and she's training with Shockwave? Shit, does that mean that she is super strong? Is my future fiancé stronger than I am? Fuck, Aidan is going to have a field day with this.
"He's looking forward to it. It's been a while since he got to train someone, and he can't wait to see how you shape up." Lily responds happily, and with a smile. For me though, I still had no idea what to do. They had to be playing some kind of prank or joke. There was no way I would forget going to nighttime walks or talking to people. Especially with her. There is no way I would forget about that happening. No way.
"Shockwave is kind of cool, I guess." I then suddenly find myself saying out loud. I had no idea why I said it, or why I wanted to draw attention to myself. I had hoped they would just talk among themselves, but for whatever reason, my brain decides to be a complete dick, and now I'm screwed. Seriously screwed.
"I just hope that I can be as strong as him one day. I want to be the strongest Empowered ever. Well, strength wise, because everyone knows that Aidan is the most powerful, he can do everything." She then says with a look of admiration. Not that I could blame her, because Aidan was pretty much regarded as the most powerful.
"I'm sure you will do okay." I then say a little awkwardly, as I find myself blushing as well. It was just too weird, and a little scary as well. It was another thing that made what I had experienced with Billy, real. I could deny it and pretend it never happened, but the more things that seemed to be falling into place, the harder it was. On top of all that, I've also apparently been sleepwalking or some variation of that, because I still have no memory of talking with Amelia. I don't even know her last name.
"From what I've seen and heard. She's going to be doing more than just okay. Shockwave isn't the most forthcoming of the senior Empowered when it comes to training apprentices." Lily then says with a genuine smile. I didn't know enough about this place or the other Empowered to really know if that was true, but Amelia seemed to stand a little taller from the compliment, and I found myself staring at her. She was really pretty.
"It's going to be tough, but I'm ready." I then hear Amelia say confidently. Although I quickly blush even more, as I realize that both my sister and her, were giving me a slightly curious look. "Are we still on for tonight? As it's your last one here." She then asks slightly nervously. The tone of her voice and look on her face, desperately made me want to remember what she was on about, but I had nothing, and I could only think of one response, even if it was lame.
"Sure, I er… well, the usual place and time, right?" I slowly ask in response. I was trying to sound casual and stuff, but by the looks on both their faces, it definitely didn't come out that way, and once again, I had no idea what to do or say. I'm seriously considering just being honest and telling them that I had no idea what was going on. It might be a stupid idea, but right now, it would at least make me look a little less stupid.
"Are you okay, Riley?" Amelia then asks before I can say anything else. Which was more than a little bit of a relief. The more I thought about just admitting that I had no idea what had been happening with these nighttime meetings, the more worried I was, that my sister would think something was wrong with me, and insist that I stay here.
Staying here though wasn't an option for me though. Not only because I had had enough of being tested and asked questions, but because of what was going on with Aidan investigating Lily, and what Lily herself was going to tell me about myself, and how there was something different about my DNA or genes, or whatever it was, and I definitely wanted to get answers to that.
But as I was thinking about that, and trying to figure out how to answer Amelia's question, I suddenly feel something like a breeze and watch as some dirt floats past me, and I don't have to look to even know who it was, and I couldn't be happier. I'm not sure why he had come here though, he should be training, but there was just something nice about Billy being near me, that I didn't really care, and I quickly smile at him.
"Hey, Amelia." I then hear him say shyly. It was always amusing to see him around girls. Around us guys, he was pretty confident and trying to prove himself. Around girls though, especially those older than himself, he was always shy and awkward, and it was just funny to watch.
"I'm fine, how are you doing, Billy, training hard?" Amelia quickly responds with a slightly amused smile. Which was a little surprising, but she wasn't doing it in a mean way, and I guess it must be fun for the girls to watch a boy acting so shyly, especially someone who was still just a kid.
"Yeah, it's pretty tough, but I'm tough, and I can do it." He quickly responds with a proud expression. It was almost too funny, and I couldn't help but smirk a little bit, although when I see my sister giving me an unimpressed look, I quickly behave myself. I didn't want to make her angry or to mock Billy. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, he was too important to me.
"That's good to hear." Amelia then says with a sweet smile, before looking back at me, and I couldn't help but tense up a little. "Are you sure you're okay, you look really nervous, Riley." I then hear her stating in a worried tone. Which just adds to my nervousness, and I could see my sister giving me a concerned look, but then I suddenly feel a little spark run through me, and a certain calmness flowing through my body.
I'm then vaguely aware of everyone talking, including myself. It was an odd experience, and I wasn't really sure what was happening, all I knew, was that I felt calm and I didn't have a care in the world. I could even look around a little bit and realized that Billy had put his hand on my shoulder, that felt nice and comforting. The conversation though, was weird, because I knew I was talking, and I sort of heard what they were saying, but it was just weird but good weird.
I'm not even sure how much time had passed, because the feeling of calmness and happiness was so nice. It wasn't until I felt another little spark run through me that I realized that the calm and happy feeling was slowly fading, and as I looked around, I saw that Billy was giving Amelia and then my sister a quick cuddle. Where they leaving? I had no idea, I kind of remember that we were talking, but nothing really specific.
"See you later, Riley. Around ten, in the cafeteria, okay." I then hear Amelia tell me. I could see her smiling, and even Lily was smiling. It was so weird, but I could feel myself smiling as well. I am sure I was nervous about something before, but I couldn't remember what, and it didn't seem to matter. If it were that important, I would remember, I think.
"Yeah, sounds good, and tell the others as well." I then find myself responding with a smile. I still didn't quite know what was going on, but all I did know, was that it was okay and that I would have fun. Amelia and the others were always fun to hang around with. At least I think they were, I don't really remember, but it's still cool, and Billy seemed to like them, as well.
"I better be heading back as well, I have a few meetings to attend." Lily then states with a smile of her own. She even gives me a wider smile, which was strange. I'm sure she was worried about me before, but now she seemed okay. It was weird, but I guess it's okay, everyone seems happy, so it can't be a bad thing.
"I think you should go back too, Billy. I think Mason is looking at you, and he doesn't look impressed." I then hear Amelia state in amusement, and I couldn't help but smile at the look on Billy's face. He actually looked embarrassed and a little nervous. For all his bravado around us guys, he was definitely more than a little intimidated by Mason, and definitely had a bit of a hero-worship thing going on with him too.
"Er… I kind of said I would only be a little while." He then says shyly, as he looks over to Mason and gives him an awkward thumbs up. Which I don't think really goes down that well, as even from this distance, I could swear I could see Mason rolling his eyes. The sound of someone coughing though quickly draws my attention, and I can see my sister giving me an expectant look.
"See you later, Amelia." I quickly state with a smile. There was something I was forgetting about her, but I was still feeling pretty good, and I didn't want to ruin that with something stupid. "And bye, Lily. Don't be too long, I want to know how Aidan is getting on." I then say to my sister. Who had continued to stare at me. I had thought she wanted me to say goodbye to Amelia, but it was obvious that she wanted me to say goodbye to her, and I couldn't help but feel a little stupid saying it.
"That's better." Lily then says with a slight smirk. I could swear that she did that on purpose, and as I look at the amused expression on Amelia's face, I quickly figured out the reason. "Walk with me, Amelia, there are a few things I want to talk to you about Shockwave, and also my little brother. He can be a little bit of an idiot, and I have some interesting stories." I then hear her say with a quick wink in my direction. Before I can protest or defend myself though, I can only watch as she puts an arm around her shoulder, and starts to guide her away.
"She's pretty." I then hear Billy state with a sigh. I had almost forgotten he was still here, after giving Amelia a weak smile, after she had given me a quick wink as well. She really was pretty, and I got the feeling that we got along really well, and I found myself blushing again.
"Yeah." Is all I could really say in response. She was, and I could feel myself reacting a little bit, and was glad that I was still sitting down. Although as I looked at Billy, I couldn't help but notice that he had also reacted, and I couldn't help but stare at him with a slight grin. He was still young, and from the looks of it, had a long way to go, before he was finished growing.
"You're lucky she's your age. It's going to be ages before I meet a girl I like my age." I then hear him say. There was a slightly wistful sound to his voice as he said it, and I couldn't help but be a little surprised by his admission. Although I also suddenly realized what he had actually said.
"What do you mean, I'm lucky she's, she's my age?" I quickly ask in confusion, before rolling my eyes, as he starts to smirk. "Shouldn't you be getting back to training. Mason is our friend, but he takes training seriously." I then decide to say with an unimpressed expression. Which doesn't work at all, as his smirk turns into a grin, and I know that I'm not going to win this little exchange.
"Fine, but she likes you. You should be less weird around her." I then hear him say with the same grin. However, before I can even think of a response, he suddenly disappears. One second he is there, the next he is gone, and it takes me several seconds to really process it.
When I look around though, I can't help but smirk a little bit. I could see him standing next to Mason, and with a couple of the other people training, and by the looks of it, he was getting told off. He deserved it as well, although my attention quickly turns to the main building, as I see my sister and Amelia standing outside the main entrance, before going their separate ways, and I swear Amelia looked directly at me, before walking out of sight.
It then dawned on me, that I was now alone. It was an odd realization, and what was even odder, was that the sense of calmness and happiness that I had been feeling was starting to fade a little, and I couldn't help but think about what had just happened. It was like a cloud was starting to lift, and I could really remember what happened.
I know that I talked to my sister, and what it was about, but then it became a bit foggy. I'm sure someone else turned up, and Billy was here too, I think. But as I look across the field, I could see that he was training with Mason, so there was no way, that he could have been here. Was the other person a girl? I'm sure it was, but I can't remember who was it the girl that was talking to my sister and who had winked at me? I didn't recognize her.
It was just weird, but it couldn't have been that important. I had more important things to think about anyway, and decided to just head back to my room. I wanted to see if Aidan has left me any messages. I know he's on a mission and stuff, but he's one of the most powerful Empowered. He would find the time to text more or something if he wanted to.
"Hey, Riley. Want to hang out?" I then hear from behind me, after walking into the Facility and heading towards my room. The question pretty much puts an end to my initial plans, but when I turn around and see Pulse and Breeze walking towards me. Although I guess I need to use their real names, now that I know them.
"Hey, Sandy. Hey, Kyle. Sure." I quickly respond with a smile. I still wanted to check to see if Aidan had sent me a message, but at the same time, I was leaving tomorrow. So it might be a while before I get to see some of the friends I had made, and wanted to make the most of it. I really liked Sandy and Kyle, and I knew Aidan liked them a lot as well. Maybe they would even tell me some more funny stories about him as well.
"Follow us, we're meeting some of the others for some food and drink." Kyle then says with a friendly smile, as they walk past me and then begin to turn around the second corridor to our left. I was hoping it was some of the other staff, and not just Empowered people. Not that it bothered me, but it would be nice to not feel like the odd one out, even if no one ever tried to do that, it was still a little intimidating to be around so many superheroes.
To be continued...