Chapter 24

Cress and Marshall discus his roll with Anifa

Marshall stood in the laboratory, his arm cinched at the bicep and a syringe plunged into his vein. As I stepped into the lab, he pulled the needle from his arm, throwing it down on his desk next to several other serum-filed veils. He swept his hand through his hair, straightening it a bit, and with a smile, said to me, 

“You’re a bit early this morning, Cress.” He walked around this desk, his lab coat still hanging on its hook near the stairs. “Ironically,” he continued, before I could say anything, “it seems as though my lab was ransacked last night, my favorite microscope lenses, smashed.” He leaned on the corner of his desk, but I stood my ground at the foot of the stairs. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” his head tilted and his eyes squinted slightly. 

“You lied to me.” I croaked. Marshall straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Yes, I did.” He began, “No point in lying about it now I suppose. You see, I knew you wouldn’t help unless it was for a good cause.” He smiled, “I thought I’d have to do some more persuading, but ironically for someone who spent there whole life wrapped up in a lie, you were easily manipulated. As far as the serum goes, your naive mentality was your own shortcoming.” He glanced up the stairs for a moment, and closed his eyes with a smile. “Looks like Olivas has done her job at keeping your boyfriend predisposed.” 

“You sent them.” 

“Of course I did, how else was I going to get you here alone. Anifa, even with all of its faults, has some usefulness.” he stood and took several paces forward, “You’re a beautiful, smart, and strong women. Anifa knew that when they picked you for the newest installment of Project R a hundred and fifty years ago.” he took another stride in my direction.

“How do you know so much, I thought you were just a bounty collector.” 

“Well you see, I collect more on bounties then just money.” 

“And what else is it that you collect?”

“Information. Secrets.” He paused, “You didn’t really believe that I had only found out about you because of a picture, did you?” I remained silent. “Oh Cress, you and I could work so well together.”

“You have your serum, you don’t need me anymore.” 

“Yes, you’re right, I do have the serum.” He said, “but you see, it still needs a few adjustments. It isn’t perfect.” Suddenly he was inches from me and before I could react, his hand was around my neck. My head went flying into the nearby wall, my feet now off the floor as his hand was gripped so tightly around my throat my vision began to spot. “But as you can clearly see, it does the job.” With one swift motion he threw me to the side, my back slammed into the edge of the stairs and I let out a whimper in pain. I could feel the rage in my chest, as I pulled myself from the floor, my back and head quickly healing. I bolted for Marshall, my shoulder landing in his rib cage, but instead of moaning in pain, he began to laugh. He slammed his elbow into my back, I could feel the bones break under the pressure. I fell to my hands and knees, but he quickly kicked me in the ribs breaking them and throwing me onto my back. I gasped for air, as he reached down and picked me up by my throat.

I could feel the bones realigning in my spine and chest, and with all I could muster I slammed my fist into his cheek sending him back as he released his grip on me. Stumbling slightly I regained my composure.

“No one else will ever be forced to endure this torture as long as I am around.” I ran for the desk and grabbed up one of the veils, but before I could break it, Marshall was right behind me. He yanked my hair back and the veil went flying across the room.  

“As long as you keep looking at this gift as torture that is all it will ever be. Do you really believe that your mother would be happy with the way you are choosing to use this gift?” Fury swelled up in my chest at the words. 

“Don’t you dare talk about my mother. You have no idea what she would have wanted for me.” I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my dagger, lunging for him. With a swift jab the blade pierced his hand, but without flinching he knocked it from my grasp. His fist collided with my cheek and sent me back several feet onto the floor. 

“I may not know what she would have wanted for you.” He looked down to his bloody hand, it wasn’t healing very quickly. “But I do know what happened to her. Don’t you want to know why her voice came through the radio on the jeep?”