Gold

Experiments

    I didn’t get back to my room until midnight. Leo and I had talked for hours and I slowly was starting to understand what the characters in the star crossed lovers' book were feeling. Leo made me feel like I could be myself but that I was also a completely new person. I found out that I was physically capable of giggling. I had never known that until Leo tickled me and I couldn't control the giggles pouring out of me. Who would have thought that I of all people would be extremely ticklish? 

    The room was dark but that didn’t really hinder me at all, I made my way to the bedroom and switched on the light. I took off my outfit and slipped into a pair of soft sweatpants and a tank top. I went into the bathroom and brushed my hair and teeth and then heard a knock on the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone so it startled me slightly.

    I slowly opened the door and was greeted by Leo’s handsome face. “Um, hi?” I asked sounding really confused. Leo had an intense look in his eyes. He pulled me close to him and kissed me. He was so warm and I liked kissing him but I was so surprised. I pulled away.

    “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what the next couple of days hold for us and I wanted to do that before I never got a chance too.” Leo kissed me again. “Goodnight Kira.”

    I stood in my doorway stunned. He hurried away but I couldn’t move. I lifted my hands to my lips. “Woah,” I whispered to myself and then made my way to the bedroom where I fell asleep within minutes.

    When I woke up the next morning I felt extremely rested and happy. I had never slept in such a soft bed and I had my first kiss. I can just chalk last night up to be the best night ever. I stretched and sat up in bed. There were no windows in this room, probably because it was in the heart of the Estate. All residential rooms are in the center because that's the safest part of the building. 

    I finally stood and went to the closet, I put on the Guard outfit that was in there and made my way to the kitchen. I rustled through all the cabinets hoping to find prepared food cause I’ve never cooked in my life. Luckily I found a box of granola bars. I ate a few of those till I was full and then drank some water and went into the living room and waited.

    There was a bookcase in the living room and I found a book about war strategy that seemed interesting and I curled up with it. I was halfway through the book when someone finally knocked on my door. I jumped up and ran to open it. Before I swung it open though I composed myself, Leo didn't need to know how excited I was to see him.

    “Good morning Guard Kira,” Mr. Stiff greeted me briskly. I sighed. That was probably the biggest disappoints ever. 

    “Good morning Mr. Stiff,” I said rolling my eyes, when Mr. Stiff heard his nickname he frowned slightly.

    “My name isn't Mr. Stiff, it's Protector Dura,” Protector Dura spoke stiffly.

    “Yeah but I like Mr. Stiff better,” I smiled, “I think I’m gonna stick with it.” I walked into the hallway and slammed the door shut. “Let’s go!”

    “Yes let us,” Mr. Stiff grumbled and led me to the laboratory.

    Leo was sitting in a chair and he was strapped down to it. He looked nervous but once he saw me he grinned. “Good morning Kira.”

    “Good morning,” I smiled and was then strapped into the chair next to him. 

    “How did you sleep?” Leo asked, making small talk.

    “Great, I think that may have been the softest bed I’ve ever encountered.”

    “That’s one benefit of being the Mayor, you get the best of everything. One downfall of being the Mayor is that it makes you crazy and feel like it's okay to experiment on your only son.” Leo glared at his father as he made his way into the room. 

    I could only imagine what Leo felt like. His dad was allowing him to be an experiment. But then again my parents faked their deaths and then left me behind to grow up alone in the Compound so I might have an idea of what Leo was feeling. 

    “I’m not crazy, I’m trying to save Utopia and your life. I don’t want you going behind enemy lines without having this serum in your system,” Ward was just trying to look out for his son but Leo didn't see it that way.

    “You’re not saving me, you're turning me into a freak,” Leo seemed to immediately regret saying that right after he said it. It stung a little, knowing that’s what he viewed me as, a freak. “Kira I didn’t mean it like that.”

    I ignored him. “Mayor, can you please just take my blood so I can go back to my room?” Ward sighed.

    “Of course,” he waved a scientist forward. The scientist took a cleansing wipe and cleaned a small area on my skin where the vein was close to the surface. He jabbed the needle into my arm and then hooked it up to a tube that led to a bag. Ward saw me notice how big the bag was. “We need a lot of blood to do this.”

    “Fine, I’ll just need some time to recuperate before our mission.” I laid back and sat there quietly as I waited for the bag to fill up. Leo was staring at me. I could feel his eyes.

    “Kira. I didn’t mean that you are a freak. It worked right for you but we don’t know how it will interact with me. It might not work as perfectly as it did for you.” I turned to look at him. I knew he hadn’t meant to be insensitive and honestly, I don’t hold on to grudges for long so I smiled softly.

    “It’s okay, I am a freak but I've come to accept that. Honestly, I don’t even know who I would be without this serum.” I reached my free hand out and grasped onto Leo’s. “It’s okay.”