Chapter 56: Got Her
"Goodnight," I offered with a small smile as she closed the door, a forced smile on her face, and waved. The door clicked shut, locking behind her.
Turning to face the dark staircase, my expression turned into a frown, the darkness of the corridor seeming to swallow me.
With two folded blankets tucked under my armpits, I approached the stairs, lost in thought.
After embracing Eden, I'd offered her the room to rest, recognizing the toll her rough day had taken on her. I brought some blankets and informed her we'd discuss our next steps tomorrow when my father left for school.
Thankfully, she didn't object and agreed. Truthfully, I wasn't sure I could spend another minute in that room with her without feeling awful about myself.
What I'd done left a sour taste in my mouth, despite initially convincing myself otherwise when devising this plan. To gain Eden's unwavering loyalty, I needed to erase every trace of her allegiance to the Company.
Otherwise, I'd always be watching my back around her, and that wouldn't bode well. Hence, the acting and subtle manipulation—twisting the narrative for my benefit.
Something I despised doing. It reminded me too much of my father, my previous one. And as terrible as it was, I didn't have many fond memories of him.
He was a narcissistic, manipulative control freak. A man who had essentially brainwashed my siblings and me into idolizing him, granting him total control over every aspect of our lives, no matter how trivial.
If there was one good quality he had, it was his belief that every child must surpass their parents someday. It was a mindset deeply ingrained in our family, passing from generation to generation.
Under his tutelage, he had taught us everything he knew, from politics, psychology, sociology, to business, and more.
He had taught us the art of deception, manipulation, and winning people over for our own gain—be it money, power, support, or even relationships.
...And we had used it, every step of the way. It was intoxicating, the feeling of treating people like puppets on a string, using them however we pleased without their awareness. It was challenging to let go of that power.
But eventually, I grew sick of it. Sick of his games, his schemes, his devious plots, his overwhelming power over me, and everything in between. I walked away to live my life out of his shadow.
I knew that I'd eventually become just like him or even worse if I stayed. I couldn't bear to let my mother witness that transformation, especially after all she had endured during their long marriage. It would break her heart.
But here I was, repeating the same manipulations. Using the very techniques he had taught me for my personal gain. If that old man were watching me now, I could almost picture the smug smirk on his face.
He'd whisper in my ear that 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', telling me, 'Like father, like son.'
Coming to a stop as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I tilted my head back and took a deep breath, clearing my mind of the negative emotions that had consumed me.
No, this was different. I wasn't doing it for amusement this time. It was all for a purpose, a noble one. Manipulating her to my side was the logical and best course of action.
There was no other right way to look at it. My survival depended on it. Lowering my gaze to eye level, I advanced to one of the long couches in the dimly lit living room.
Laying one of the blankets on it, I stretched out and wrapped the other one around me, adding an extra layer of warmth to fend off the cold. Drawing one of the small couch pillows beneath my head, I contemplated what lay ahead.
...Tomorrow, I'd sort everything out.
•••
"I'll see you later, bud," My dad chimed in, affectionately tousling my hair with his rough hands, a smile gracing his stern face. "Have fun and make sure you take your medicine."
"Yeah, yeah, go on. You'll be late," I retorted, playfully pushing his hand away from my head. "Enjoy your paperwork." I smirked as he exited the door, locking it behind him.
Glancing around to ensure everything was in order, I ascended the stairs to the second floor. The sound of my dad's car engine reverberated through the house as I approached my room's door. I knocked on it.
Footsteps quickly approached from inside, and the door clicked open. Eden stood behind it as it swung inward.
"Hi," I greeted with a smile, stepping into the room and heading towards my desk.
"Hey," She replied with a small smile, closing the door behind her as she moved to the bed.
"How was your night?" I inquired casually, adding just the right amount of care to my voice as I pulled the swivel chair away from the desk.
"It was okay," She replied calmly, taking a seat on the bed and crossing her legs. "A little chilly after my shower, but manageable."
Eden was wearing a black baggy tshirt and blue denim jeans, with her silky short black hair combed back. Unlike yesterday, she looked clean and fresh and her pale cheeks were a little.
Since her old clothes were somewhat soiled and laden with unpleasant memories, I had loaned her some of mine. They were oversized, probably my dad's.
It didn't quite suit her, but at least it was better than her previous attire when I brought her back and given circumstances, it was better than nothing.
"How was your night?"
"About the same, though I think my back is a bit homesick," I quipped with a smile as I settled into the chair, earning a small smile from her.
The conversation faded into an awkward silence, at least for me. I decided to break it before it grew uncomfortable.
"So... what are your plans now?" I asked.
She turned her gaze back to me, smiling wryly, her eyes dropping slightly.
"...Apart from contemplating hunting down Sylar and tearing him apart for what he did, I don't really know," She admitted calmly, sighing lightly. "I don't have friends or family to turn to, and it's not as if I can return to the Company after everything that's happened. So I suppose I'm in a bit of a bind."
"In any case," She continued, "I was hoping you might have something in mind. After all, you seem to possess knowledge about... well, quite a lot." She looked at me with meaningful eyes, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow quizzically. "You want me, a teenager, to give advice to an adult on what to do with her life? Isn't that a bit reckless? And what do you mean by 'I know a lot'?"
She shrugged, still smiling, and shook her head. "Not really. Last night, I had plenty of time to think, especially about you. I realized something."
"You always seem to know things, whether it's about the Company, Sylar, or even my death. It's like you've seen it all before. If I had to guess, I'd say you might be a precog, in addition to whatever power allowed you to infiltrate and escape the base and also fight Sylar.
"But I've met a precog before, and you don't quite give off that vibe. It's like there's something more to you."
She paused, her gaze fixed on me, her manner slightly puzzling. I shifted in my chair, uneasy with her scrutiny. She continued.
"Now that I look at you more closely, when you're calm and composed, it feels as if you're always prepared, as though you have everything under control. I'd like to be part of that."
"If I had listened to you back then, maybe I wouldn't have died, and by now, this world would be rid of one less monster. I won't make that same mistake again, not ever. Besides, you brought me back from the dead, so I guess I owe you a pretty big favor."
"A favor I'm not sure I can fully repay anytime soon. So, tell me, don't be shy. Share your thoughts because, in my opinion, you already know what's coming next."
"I'd like to be on your side when it does," she concluded seriously, her smile fading as she looked at me with eyes filled with respect, warmth, belief, and acceptance.
Her words caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless. I hadn't expected this, at least not so easily.
I had spent a quarter of the night formulating persuasive statements and speeches, aiming to win her full support or cooperation. As it turned out, I didn't need them.
My actions, both past and present, had already won her over. There was nothing more to be said. It was done.
I had got her...
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