Chương 27: 7.1 Inhuman Besties

The pain was gone, but I remained bowed to the floor. My hand covered my chest and the artificial Core embedded into it. I could feel my self-inflicted wound heal around the small Core, flesh wriggling as it reformed itself. This stupid, low-quality, replica thingy couldn't pierce my superhuman skin, so I had to help it out. Pretending to be in excruciating pain, I had bent down and dug my fingers into my flesh.

I was too focused on getting the artificial Core and I realized almost too late that it might expose me as an Adumbrae. Thankfully, these weirdos didn't notice anything odd. And my body didn't spit out the Core like it did when bullets were shot into me. I was also relieved it wasn't covering it with skin or something. Close fucking call. Why did I want the artificial Core? Why not? They always say to be open to new experiences. Seriously, though, I was willing to try anything to stop Spooky Erind.

Be it an artificial Core or, I don't know, dried poop laced with saffron and toenail clippings. Anything! If it could help me retain my mind against the Adumbrae, it was more than welcome to stick on me. Since the artificial Core could give superpowers, it must have some effect on Spooky Erind, right? I know this reasoning wasn't very scientific, but I had zero recourse at present. My only other lead was the brain thingy that Purple Mohawk mentioned. I didn't have that. So, how about this Core for now?

Even if this didn't work the way I hoped, it might help me get stronger. My eyes were opened to how dangerous the 'real' world was. It wasn't about working, paying the bills, and general adulting. There were tons of monsters around! More powers, please. Deen helped me stand up.

"Slowly breathe," she said.

"It'll be okay." I smeared my blood around my Core to hide anything that might look suspicious. Another thing that impelled me to take it was the pushiness of Dario. He might be desperate to check anyone with a chance to be compatible with the artificial Cores, so much so that he'd knock us out. Well, I wasn't too sure he'd be able to knock me out like a normal human. By then, the jig would be up. No way I'd win against these discount-store dingbats, even if I transformed into my hot monster body.

And I didn't want to do so if I could help it. But I was going to join Dario's group, so it all worked out in the end. I needed a cover for my inhuman body while getting close to them—by giving me the artificial Core, they provided me with the perfect excuse. Another perk was that they'd help me hide my inhumanity because I'd become 'one of them', not knowing it was the other type of inhumanity.

"We're in this together," Deen whispered to me, rubbing my back.

"Ye-yes," I piped. I hoped this touchiness thing wouldn't become regular now that Deen and my law school Erind face were drawn closer by this experience. Even if I didn't want the artificial Core, Rule #2 would've impelled me to take it so Deen wouldn't be alone. Having a best friend sure was a hassle.

"Are we… are we Corebrings now?" I asked, looking at Dario.

"I don't feel anything different."

"Me neither," said Deen.

"What's supposed to happen next?"

"Nothing immediate," Dario said.

"We'll need to wait for a few days before any significant physical changes happen. If the melding is successful, you'll start to feel some pain. That said, the fact that you're recovering quite well from the rooting indicates that it most likely worked. I had this gut feeling you'd be compatible. You had it in you." His monotone voice didn't make his words sound encouraging at all.

"Care to show us your Cores?" Deen exposed her chest while crossing her arms over her breasts. Her Core had turned gold with hints of sparkles. It looked like a gem set on a necklace of blood. She then zipped up her jacket that I had stolen from dead Bigsby, and turned to me with a slight blush. I pulled down my shirt's collar, which had turned bloody, to present a Core that had turned white, accented by squiggly colors of the rainbow.

It was hard to get a good look because of the angle, but it reminded me of a white marble flecked with imperfections. Its appearance was familiar.

"Let me take a look at it," Myra said. Still in her sports bra and cycling shorts, she approached us while carrying a small bag with a red cross on its side. A first-aid kit.

"I'll clean it up and make sure the Core has sealed the wound it made." Myra went to Deen and made her turn away from the rest, mumbling about perverts.

"I heard that," Reo grumbled.

"Or were you referring to Everett?"

"Don't lump me in with you," Everett was quick to retort. Should I let myself get checked? Would there be something different with a Core attaching to an Adumbrae? While I was thinking of an excuse, Dario droned in monotone, "Best case scenario, the 2Ms will forget about you two. It's also the unlikeliest. They'd surely want to find those who attacked them and investigate any leads."

"Do they even keep a list of people they've kidnapped?" Johann wondered.

"If they don't, these girls would be safe."

"Whether they do or don't, the 2Ms will resume looking for Kelsey," Dario said, "correctly assuming she's connected with us. They'll be extra angry with us now that we've trashed their warehouses."

"And killed their men," Myra added.

"With their only lead being Kelsey's appearance on the train," said Dario, "they'd eventually reach Erind again. Before that happens, we will strike them. Hinder their operations. Cause more problems and confusion. We're also going to create false leads for them to follow, drawing them away from you."

"Another mission so soon?" Reo asked.

"Need time to prepare, man. I haven't even scouted the place." One of Reo's fairies is for scouting, I realized. I should learn more about it. If these hero wannabes would spy on us, it'd be Reo who'd do it.

"This target has been identified prior," Dario said.

"The docks. We're just moving up the schedule of hitting it to divert attention from Erind and Deen." He gave me another forced smile. After pressuring us to accept the Core, he was now showing he cared for us. Maybe he really did.

"We'll disrupt the 2Ms' operations and help our new friends. Two birds, one stone."

"I'm hoping that woman will show up," Myra said while wiping away the blood on Deen's chest.

"She's probably not Kelsey, but my gut tells me she knows something…"

"Are we, um, required to participate or something?" I asked.

"We'd appreciate it if you do," Dario answered.

"We'll train you beforehand, and we won't put you in harm's way. You can stay with Johann if you don't want to join the attack. But we do hope you'd be there. After all, we're one group now." The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I understand," Deen said.

"We… we'll think about it."

"It's for your own good," Dario said.

"You should be with us, so you should learn how to control your powers and to fight."

"That is… if we're compatible with the Core," I said. I really wished my absolutely baseless plan would work.

"Okay, we're done," Myra said. She left Deen and approached me. I hugged myself.

"Uh, no. I can just clean myself at home. I'm not so sure—""She's self-conscious about her chest," Deen whispered to Myra. What the fuck? Friendly fire with a grenade launcher?

"It's fine," Dario said, checking his watch.

"We should get them home. It's been a few hours already, and someone might miss them. The first chance you get, inform those likely to contact you that you lost your phone or dropped it in water. After that, lay low for a few days while keeping up with your routine, as if nothing happened. I'll give you more pointers while we're on the road." As they drove over the dusty and empty roads of New Hope, Dario asked Deen and me to recount how we were taken.

Pointing out that the switched-off security camera in the parking area might mean the 2Ms had paid off a condo employee, Dario suggested that I pack my things and change locations, like renting somewhere until my powers were usable.

"I know!" Deen exclaimed.

"You can live with me. It's just me and my sister at our place. It'd be good for both of us if we were together as we change. Be each other's support system."

"What about your sister?" I asked. I despised the idea of moving, but I had no choice. As an Adumbrae, I really didn't care if they tried to kidnap me again. I could take them on. But the face I wore would definitely go with Deen. I couldn't defy what my face would do and break Rule #2. Hey, that rhymed! Dario also instructed us about the progression of the changes brought by the artificial Core. First would be increased healing, which we were experiencing now. Next would be superstrength.

The special abilities would come last, manifesting within several days to weeks.

"Mine took a month, the longest," Reo said.

"That's because I'm special."

"Oh, you're special alright," said Myra.

"There's something about chemicals?" I asked before Reo and Myra's banter took over the conversation.

"I think Everett mentioned that."

"Yes, it's part of the process," Dario said.

"Understand that we're artificially changing the body. Not that Cores or Adumbrae do it naturally. You know what I mean. We don't have that… supernatural element. Thusly, we need science to compensate. Don't be afraid; we've all done it." We also discussed how to contact each other.

"We can meet on campus, if really needed," said Myra.

"Is the Core going to stay like this forever?" Deen asked.

"Can we have it removed someday?"

"As I've mentioned, once you reach a hundred percent compatibility, it will be completely melded inside your body. There'll be no more marks on you." That didn't answer Deen's question. I bet there was no way out after getting the artificial Core. But that was a problem for future Erind.

"You'll be free to display some cleavage again," Myra said, laughing huskily. The others laughed too, perhaps a bit forcefully. They steered away from the tense topic.

"Buy sports bras to hide it."

"At least that won't be an issue for me," I muttered. That surprised everyone because I didn't seem to be the type to joke about it. But I willed my face to awkwardly make friends with them to lower their guard. They hesitantly chuckled. I bowed my head, as if ashamed.

"Never mind what I said." That made them laugh again, less restrained this time. Johann drove us to my condo, returning to the parking area. Deen and I went to her car. She had a spare shirt inside, so she changed. I used Bigsby's jacket to cover my bloody shirt. Deen and Myra accompanied me up to my room.

"Just stay here," I told them as we reached my unit's door.

"My room's a mess, and I don't want you to see it." My room was my sanctuary, and I didn't want anyone violating its sanctity. It was the only place I could drop the faces I presented to the world.

"I'll pack for a week or so. Should be quick. Give me fifteen minutes."

"We're not going to judge you," said Myra.

"You should see my room. It's a total pigsty."

"I… don't want…" I gazed up at Deen, looking as pitiable as possible.

"We're fine staying here, Erind," Deen said. I nodded and entered my room, hearing a snippet of, "… she's very shy." I held back from slamming the door. Packing luggage was in my top three most hated activities. Seething, I rushed all over my unit, grabbing bags, clothes, and law school stuff. Before the fifteen minutes were up, I was ready to go. I was a rarity among the girl species when it came to getting-ready-speed.

"Wow, that was quick," Deen said after I opened the door.

"I thought you'd take half an hour or so."

"I don't have those beauty products and all that," I said. Deen, Myra, and I rode in Deen's car while Johann's sketchy van followed us. Myra performed a bit about not wanting to ride with Reo. She also said she wanted to know us more, especially since we were fellow Eloyce students. That was plausible. She could also be keeping an eye on us.

"You live at Poblacion Verde Hills, right?" I asked. I was sitting in the passenger's seat. Myra was behind us.

"Yup," Deen answered.

"I've invited you a few times to come over, but you always rejected me."

"I just… don't want to be a bother."

"You're not going to bother anyone. It's mostly only me there. You can consider my sister a ghost. She'll be staying at her boyfriend's house. For all I know, she could be in another dimension." Myra whistled.

"Verde Hills? Damn, you're rich. Well, you're a Leska. How much do houses cost there? Ten million? Twenty million?"

"Thereabouts," Deen nonchalantly said.

"We are just renting while I study. Our main house is in San Diego, and I'm unsure where I'll live after graduation. Maybe New York."

"Must be nice to be from a wealthy family," Myra wistfully said.

"It'll help a lot hiding Kelsey's condition." Silence followed. I kind of wanted to ask about Kelsey, but it didn't seem appropriate. Deen probably thought the same. When we neared the gates of Poblacion Verde Hills, Deen said, "Myra, I don't think they'll allow the van inside. Will you still be coming with us?"

"I could just jog out later," Myra said.

"Don't mind me." Deen and I glanced at each other. If I wasn't misinterpreting the best-friend-telepathic-connection, we were telling each other that Myra wanted to see where Deen was living. Perhaps it was better that I moved in with Deen because we were more secure here. Not from the 2Ms, but from Dario and his group. It was a high-end neighborhood, posh houses flaunting eccentric architectural designs with yards about twice or even thrice the size you could find in an average American suburb.

Deen stopped in front of a marble grey house with a minimalist geometric theme. Sleek wood panels accented the walls, contrasting nicely with the modern style.

"Here we are," Deen said.

"Want to come in with us, Myra?"

"I'll just carry Erind's bags and be on my way," Myra said.

"I still have a lot of material to study. And I don't want those guys to wait for too long. I can already hear Reo complaining." Good that Myra's not staying, I thought, following Deen to the door. Or maybe it wasn't a good thing? I didn't want to be left alone with Deen. Best friends were supposed to talk to each other. Yeah, there was the topic of what just happened to us. But how long would that last?

We'd eventually reach the dreaded 'small talk' era—this required a steady supply of social energy I couldn't provide.

"Welcome," Deen said, "to my not-so-humble abode." The interior of the house mirrored its facade, the same clash of geometric style with intricate woodwork. It was the sort of place that was so fancy you'd barely move for fear of breaking something expensive. Deen led me to the living room, and wow they had a pool in their backyard, separated by sliding glass doors.

"This place is huge!" Myra exclaimed.

"You could fit our whole group here. We should have our meetings here instead of that shithole at New Hope. Erind, where do you want me to put your bags?" Soon enough, it was just Deen and I inside. As soon as Myra closed the front door, saying goodbye, Deen hugged me. It caught me so off-guard that I was about to lash out, but the tears streaming from her eyes stopped me.

"Erind, I'm so sorry!" Deen cried.

"I couldn't save you."