Gold

Betrayal

    Leo and I were in the Armory and the silence was deafening. We were stocking up on weapons and layering with bulletproof clothing, even though the Rebel's main weapon was the use of bombs. Leo was rustling through some bag and I took a second to glance at him. He was tall and had dark hair that was cut close to his scalp. He had green eyes and scars that marked up his face. He had three, one by his left eye that started at his eyebrow and ended at his cheekbone. Another was on his chin and the third was on his forehead over his right eyebrow. He saw me staring at his face.

    “Like what you see?” Leo asked snarkily. I rolled my eyes. I did in fact like what I saw. He had clearly been through a lot and his very not personable attitude made me like him but I couldn’t admit it. 

    “Nah, you’re nothing special. Just wondering where those scars are from.” I wondered out loud. Leo reached up to his face and touched the scar by his left eye. 

    “These scars were from a bomb in the Uprising,” He looked troubled for a second but then his eyes resumed their usual bravado. 

    “I almost died in the Uprising,” I didn’t know why I said that. It was true but I didn’t want to tell Leo all my secrets. I had been with my parents at a market. Stocking up on supplies because there was a warning that the Rebels may attack. They had been gathering strength and weapons. 

    All of a sudden a huge explosion rocked the market and I was knocked unconscious. The next thing I knew I was in the Emergency Clinic and the doctors were amazed that I woke and had bright gold eyes as opposed to my original brown ones. They didn't know about my original eye color. The change was only obvious to me and at first, it scared me but I slowly pieced things together. One day I had been cleaning out my house when I was old enough to decide what to do with everything in it and I found files about the serum. I was so surprised and so relieved to find it. But now that I’m about to face my parents I can finally found out the full story.

    “How?” Leo’s question broke me out of my reverie. He looked actually a little interested. 

    “Well I was in the marketplace with my parents and a bomb went off.” I started pulling at my ponytail. It was weird having a conversation with someone that wasn't Ren. 

    “I was at the Market too, it was so sudden.” Leo’s wall seemed to be breaking down a little. “Hey, Kira, I’m sorry about the fact we have to go kill your parents.”

    I laughed at how blunt he said that. He smiled slightly “I know that was blunt but I mean it, you’re much braver than I’ll ever be.” 

    “Leo, I’m not brave, I just believe that Utopia is right and the Rebels are wrong. I’m not brave but I fight for what I believe is right.” I spoke softly. I may be an amazing warrior and I’m not scared of anything because I know I can’t be killed because no one can fight as amazingly as me. “I don’t think I’m brave because I’m invincible.”

    “What do you mean you’re invincible?” Leo asked. I took a deep breath, debating whether I should tell him the truth.

    “I was injected with an experimental serum, that was hypothetically going to create the perfect soldier. I have quicker reflexes, extra strength, fewer pain receptors, heightened five senses, and my brain is wired to strategize better.” Leo was staring at me in wonder. 

    “How are you not being experimented on right now?” 

    “Well, I never told anyone my secret, and anyone ever asked because they just thought I worked extremely hard, which I do but I also am naturally good.” It felt sort of relieving to share my secret with Leo. 

    “That’s good that you kept it secret, you’re going to save so many lives, Kira. Once we take down the Rebels you can relax and never have to rely on your ‘powers’ ever again.” The way Leo spoke about saving Utopia made me realize how passionate he is about being a hero and saving as many people as he could. “Kira, I have one more question. How do you feel about the fact that we actually have to go kill your parents?”

    “I feel betrayed. They did this to themselves and to me. I won’t let emotions cloud my judgment. Don’t worry.” I made sure to speak in my usual tone of confidence. In reality, however,  it will be hard to kill them. I had good memories but in the end, they betrayed me first and I lived most of my life without them. So I’ll be fine without them now. 

    “I’m not worried,” Leo sensed that our little moment was over and let his bravado cover him again. “ Let’s go.”