Persona (45 page)

There is a brief pause before he answers her, and it’s long enough that she wonders if maybe he doesn’t know why they react to one another.

“The way I see it, it’s all about the original infection serum that the good old’ folks back at the facility designed. Since I’m the carrier for it, anyone I infect has half of what I carry and so on and so forth.”

She is still stuck on the whole infection serum thing, but doesn’t interrupt him to ask about it.

“That is to be said that any child of mine, would be like a replica of me, since we are so closely bound. That goes for you as well, I suppose.”

Moira’s thoughts crash into a brick wall and figuratively crumble to the ground in shock. Did he just say what she thinks he did? That any child of his would be linked to him, like she is?

She knows for certain that she is not his daughter, and Liam is not her brother. Bile rises at the back of her throat, and she resists the urge to vomit up the apple Danish she had for breakfast.

She must look pretty alarmed, because his eyes go large and he immediately begins to shake his head no.

“I know what you must be thinking, but no that isn’t what I mean. You know your mother was pregnant when I infected her right?”

Moira nods, too freaked to grunt out a response.

“The way I see it, is that you got the infected instead of her. That means the infection spread through you, as if you were my child; even though you are not. We’re not related by any means, but our personas don’t know that. Like recognizes like, and all that.”

Huh, and he said he didn’t know as much as she would like. She likes his knowledge just fine, especially since he knows more than her. She does find it rather strange that he knows so much in the first place though. From what everything she has gathered about him, he was pretty much a lab rat, but here he is all wise about the facilities coming and goings.

There must be more to his past than what she originally though, but she isn’t going to be the one to ask about it. Not now anyways; what with the idea of being related to someone she kissed. Alright, so they’re not related, but still. It’s icky to think about.

So a change in subject is totally what she needs, and Marshall seems patient enough to let her ask what she wants.

“But it’s in the blood right? Liam mentioned that before. If our ‘blood’ recognizes one another, then aren’t they the same?” Moira asks not able to stop the words from pouring out of her mouth, all the while thinking so much for changing the subject.

“Not necessarily, it’s more the infection that is in the blood. It’s really not the same. It sounds crazy I know, but that is just the way it is.

It’s how the infection skipped your mother all together and went right for you. It’s all genome biology and such, but the logistics are pretty simple.”

The way he talks about the facility and her mother, she is genuinely curious about his stay there. Like if he knew her mother more than her just being his nurse or what the place was like back then.

She is inching to the edge of the chair she is in and is about to gush out all these questions, when they get interrupted.

It’s a young college age woman, with blonde hair pinned up into a bun and a clipboard held closely to her chest. She has come in from the door on the left near a series of bookshelves, leaving Moira to believe that she might be Marshall’s assistant if he has one.

Marshall greets her with a warm smile, and she automatically places the clipboard in front of him on the desk and takes a step back for him to read over it.

He does with quick eyes, and from what he sees, it must be important because he gives her a guilty look; one saying that their conversation has come to an end.

“Sorry Moira, but duty calls. Can we pick this up at another time?”

He doesn’t even glance at her, as he continues to read over whatever is before him. Feeling dismissed, Moira gets up on shaking legs and moves to the door at the back of the room that leads to the hallway.

It’s only when she is closing the door behind her and walking down the hallway to go back outside, that she realizes something that makes her pause. She never got the chance to ask about Marty, what with all the grandstanding and possible new paternity. Well, he did say they could talk again, so she’ll just have to be a little more patient. And maybe a little less selfish, Marty has rescued her twice now. Would it really kill her to focus enough to return the favor; it’s the least she could do.

Sighing, she resumes her progress to the back porch, and then realizes something worse than her spotty memory. She has no freaking clue where Raven went off too. The last time she saw her friend, the girl was making moon eyes at Liam’s second William.

Hard telling where they good have gotten off too and she is so not in the mood to go exploring while looking for her. She spies the sweeping staircase back behind the way she just came and figures now would be a great time for a nap. And no, she is not hiding out.

All of this stress is wearing her out, and she will hold onto that confession too; that is if anyone bothers to find her, which she doubts they will. Feeling less worked up than when she got up this morning, Moira turns around and paces to the stairs before anyone stops her. She just knows she is going to have nightmares when she goes to sleep, and they will all be about Liam and her being related. That is something that will stick to her for a while, and she’ll have to remember to ask Marshall about it.

Because when she had talked to his wife Paula, she had said it’s a blood thing. If that is true, then doesn’t that mean she and Liam share the same blood. And wouldn’t that make them somewhat related? She visibly shivers, as she quickens her steps.

Moira adds that to the ever growing list of questions she has about herself.

***

The following morning, Liam stands at the head of his dining room table, and gazes out at the people he considers part of his very own junior pack. It’s been a while since they have all been in the same room together, what with all his traveling as of late. And it surprises him how the people he grew up with can change in such a short time frame. Of course, he is one to talk, he feels like it’s been a lifetime; and he isn’t the same as before either.

He wonders if he would have still noticed the subtle changes in them all if he had stuck around. He’d like to think that he would, but then maybe he wouldn’t have. Besides, their attitudes aren’t the only thing that has changed the last couple of months; it’s their looks too.

Take William for example, the boy clearly stepped up as defacto leader while Liam was away; and it shows on how the others speak to him. Then there is the fact that he appears more comfortable in his own skin, and with being all arms and legs; that is no easy feat. He actually sits straighter than usual in the chair to his right.

Then there is his third, Gianna, a girl that doesn’t take being bossed around lightly. This is good because she is a tall waif of a girl, and is all long wild brown curls with big brown eyes. He believes that she over compensates to not come off as just a girl, and boy does she ever. It’s nice to know that didn’t change, as she sits to his left, with a stern glare written across her features.

On William’s other side is Lucas, and is supposed to one of their valued members. He might even be in line for fourth place, if he wasn’t such a tool. Liam has never really been that big a fan of the boy, but his father is close with his parents. The kid slouches in his seat, and to all the world looks like a laid back surfer type. What with the longish dirty blonde hair and too blue eyes, but he does wear baggy clothes to hide all the muscle he acquired over the years. That would have to be his only great skill; his ability to appear useless, but still be able to beat anyone at anything.

Usually there little meetings are conducted with just the four of them, and he’d prefer to keep it that way. But with the recent events, four more have been added to the group; courtesy of his father. Two boys and two girls, but he chooses to ignore them for now, it’s best to just jump right in. There is a lot he missed out on, and even more that they have.

Sighing, Liam deftly sits back down in the chair behind him and wishes that there were different faces before him. Whether he likes it or not, he somehow managed to grow fond of the people he has been traveling with the last couple of weeks. It hits close to home, that none of them can even be in the same room with him for a period of time. This kind of thinking only distracts him, so he dismisses it and turns to William.

“How are things in town now that the bill got shut down?”

William looks across the table to Gianna, before returning to him with a shrug.

“More of the same really, just sterner with their punishments.”

This makes Liam nod; he knows the regular people can become quite paranoid over people like them. It’s like fear makes them stupid, and they think keeping us in line will keep them safe.

If only they knew the opposite was true; not that anyone on of them would speak up about it. Ginna snorts out a laugh though, drawing all of their eyes to her.

“If by sterner you mean they have a free pass to be cruel, then yeah, more of the same.” She says in her soft but stern tone of voice, directed at him.

“Oh Gia, come on now. You know those morons don’t need a free pass, they have clearance to act like that.” Lucas says as he leans towards her with a smile.

She simply shifts away and rolls her eyes at him, which of course only makes him laugh and moves closer. Liam sighs again; at least some things don’t change. Lucas has been chasing after Gia for as long as they have known each other, but she never gives him a chance.

Their interactions, makes the new comers more relaxed and they join in on the laughter. But now isn’t the time for fun and games, and Liam lets out a loud whistle. All laughter comes to a stop, and all eyes are now on him again.

“Gia is right about cruelty and don’t ever forget that. We are walking a thin line being around the norms all the time, and sooner or later they won’t want any of us around.”

They all let out a collective breathe and glance at the table; avoiding his glare is more like it.

“What can we do though? We don’t really have a lot of options now do we.” A boy in the back calls out.

Liam fixes his glare on him, and feels his persona wanting to rush out at the boy. He holds it back though. It wouldn’t be good to fight with a newbie. Besides, with a gangly boy like Max, Liam would just come off as a bully.

The kid is so skinny; he wonders how he’s never been beat up before, especially with his obvious confrontational demeanor. None the less, he can tell the others are thinking the same thing as him, so Liam leans forward resting his palms on the table.

“The best thing we can do right now, is to keep a low profile. Unwanted attention is something we really can’t afford at the moment. Plus, there is the matter of us housing the ‘fugitives’.”

“Low profile, it’s so insidious.” Gianna grumbles as she slouches down in her chair.

“That is one word for it, but Li is right Gia. The bill being shut down can only mean big problems for us. It’s all about safety in numbers now.” William retorts back to her.

“Yeah well, how can we keep more of a low profile than we already are?” Lucas speaks up.

Liam almost wants to laugh, but holds it back to himself. If they don’t like the idea of lying low, then they are really going to hate him after the suggestion he is about to make.

There are some simple pleasures they all take part in, even him at one point. But things need to be different now.

“For starters, no more weekly bonfire on Fridays in the woods, we’re supposed to be hidden out here. Having a smoke signal isn’t very smart.”

***

And just like he thought, no one likes the idea, including the new kids but especially Lucas. That boy has been all over the bonfire since he could walk. It’s how he got so popular with the other kids their age.

But it’s just one more thing that Liam doesn’t like about him.

“Dude, seriously. You check out for like months, and now you come back here making demands. It’s a little harsh don’t you think?”

Liam zeroes in on Lucas, and he feels his eyes change as they become clearer from his persona. He has been looking for a reason to pummel the boy, and now is becoming the perfect opportunity.

Liam has many things he would like to vent about, and Lucas’s face is a great outlet.

But William and Gianna are already all over that, and he doesn’t even have to waste the energy of getting upset.

Gianna is practically spitting at the boy as she snarls at him. “Dude? Remember who you are addressing mutt. He’s in charge, so we follow his rules; got it?”

“It doesn’t matter how long Li was gone for Lucas.” Will interrupts Lucas before he can start yelling at Gianna, who is smiling over his unease. “Besides, he is right about the smoke signal. All we need is for the cops to show up here with questions and guns.”

Williams admissions, calms the others at the table and Liam has a sense that things were run well in his absence. Of course, his father wouldn’t let it be anything but.

It is nice to know his friends have his back. And that means a lot to him as of late.

“Regardless, I want the bonfires to cease right away. That means the one this week is canceled. So I suggest that you all take point and spread the word around.”

They all grumble in acceptance, while Will and Gia just nod at him in approval. Knowing that they have some semblance of safety makes his feel a little better, and figures it’s probably best to keep this meeting minor.

“Alright guys, that’s it for now. Just remember that we’re the ones the others look up too; so please be on your best behavior. I’ll report back if we have any updates.”

There is more grumbling, and now the sound of chairs being pushed back across the hardwood floor overpowers them. He stays in his head chair, while the others quickly flee from the room and he wonders if he made the right choice is keeping them all in touch about things. After all they are just kids.