Seanday Off: Take, take, take

I read the text and threw the mobile across the room. "Damn-it."

A quiet life, that's all I wanted, but everywhere I stopped people took it away.

It had been three months, long enough that I thought I'd be safe. But the text had told me that they were on the way. Someone had tipped them off, and I had a good idea who was responsible.

I'd been on the run; across the country. Each time I'd tried to make a home I'd get the call, giving me minutes to escape and run--again.

Even if I kept to myself, people would rat me out call the AGENCY. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, was it my colour? The way I dressed--I plucked at the yellow shirt I was wearing. Maybe they were just plain scared of me--I wasn't small, I looked after myself.

The mobile bleated again, and I retrieved it from the floor. "Fuck." I'd only had it for a few weeks, and now it was worthless. Whatever text came through was unreadable on the cracked screen.
Who, who rang the AGENCY? It didn't take long to figure it out. That jerk across the corridor in 304 had his thumb stuck up his ass so far he walked with a limp--DICK! Fucker!

I had no idea how much longer I had before they'd be bursting through the door. I shuddered, remembering the cold white rooms and the sterile smell of the labs. Flinching at the memory--what was left of it--I felt a pain etch it way through my mind. They'd ripped the memories from my mind *to protect me* they told me. They had made me like this; a super soldier with a gift for espionage. I went AWOL after my last mission swearing that I wouldn't use the gifted power again.

Running, I was so tired of running, it was time for a change.

I left the apartment and crossed corridor--to 304--and knocked on the door. I was going to waste this guy, make him sweat in his own skin.

As the door opened, I tensed, ready to take him down. But it wasn't who I was expecting. Instead, it was a smartly dressed teenager. He looked nervous as his eyes slowly looked up to my face. "Is your dad in?" I asked quietly.

He nodded, and as he turned to call out, so I grabbed him. Spinning him around and placed my hand on his mouth and an arm around his torso. "Keep quiet, and relax. I'm not here to hurt you."

He nodded slowly. I could feel him shaking in my arms, and I tried to calm him down. "You're dressed up nice, what's the occasion."

I loosened my grip on his mouth. "It's my birthday," he stammered. "I'm eighteen."

"Let go of my son," a voice growled. It was the jerk that called the AGENCY.

"You called them, admit it."

"I admit nothing, we don't want your kind around here." I tightened my grip on the kid--just enough for him to squirm. "Ok, yes I called them. Leave my boy, just don't hurt him. I'll tell them you left--this morning."

"I have no intention of hurting him--for the moment," I told him, that was not who I was now--I'd long since put that kind of work behind me. "You've taken away the one thing I want the most--

I swallowed hard. "I just want to be left alone, I want a peaceful life." I looked at the teenager in my arms. "Don't be scared," I whispered in his ear. "I promise I won't ever hurt you, no matter what you hear me say."

"Let him go," the jerk cried, taking a step towards me. "He's all I've got left."

"BACK AWAY!

"This may pinch a little," I whispered into the kid's ear. Once again, I called upon my training from years past--something I swore I'd never do again--but I was tired, oh so tired of running.

My body started to shift; twist and bend. My broad shoulders narrowed, my thick biceps withered. My whole physique was changing, as my height reduced I watched the father's eyes widen as I transformed into a body double of his son--barring my bronzed skin.

Now a perfect replica of the kid, I pushed forward into his body--he let out a little whimper. I forced my way in, filling his entire frame. I felt his slight frame convulse as it relinquished control. I gulped for air as his memories washed over me--Kyle's memories.

I heard voices, distant. "Kyle, Kyle, are you OK?"

Steadying my breathing, I looked up at his father from under hooded eyes. "You forced my hand," I told Kyle's father and pushed him away. "Your son is asleep," I lied, "I'm in control of his mind and body now."

"Please stop, take me instead."

There was a knock at the door. "It's the AGENCY, play it, cool dad. Don't try and tell them what just happened--otherwise you'll regret it."

I let Kyle's persona envelop me, and my demeanour instantly softened. "I'll be in the kitchen when you're done talking with them--dad."

In the kitchen, I looked at myself, eighteen again. Slight, but good looking. I peered into the mirrors reflection. "I have no intention of harming you, I just need somewhere to hide. You're shy, I know that. I'll help you, make you stronger for when I leave," I told Kyle's reflection, and opened the back door.

A few minutes later Kyle's father walked in. "They're gone. I told them I saw you leave this morning. Now please release my son." He looked over at the back door swinging slowly in the wind.

I looked up at him, and slowly patted myself down. "He's gone dad, I saw he leave."

Relieved he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. "Oh, I thought he was going to hurt you."

"I'm OK dad, he said he didn't want to hurt me," I told him, he hugged me tighter. "Just forget about him." I Pulled myself from his grasp and smiled. "It's my birthday today, I want to have some fun."

He looked relieved and left the room. "Yeah, this is going to work," I told myself and snapped a picture in the mirror. "You and me Kyle, we're going rock this world--together."