amelie lacroix {d2 - fin - cbd #2}

I used to be afraid of spiders.

Back when Amelie was alive, she was the epitome of "normal." Peacekeeper brother, loving parents, career lifestyle. I'm sure she was happy while it lasted, but she didn't know that every type of bliss has an ending. Hers ended in a kidnapping. A vengeful gang didn't appreciate her brother foiling their plans, so she became their weapon.

I remember everything in flashes. A rag in my mouth, suffocating my lungs, drowning, ice against my forehead like dripping spider's venom, a needle in my neck, burning from head to toe, body seizing, agony, agony, agony. They killed Amelie and suppressed whatever was left of her remains. Her empty shell was reborn with new memories.

That's me.

I know they used tracker venom to manipulate me, but I don't care enough to explore the truth behind what I feel are real memories. The worthlessness of my family, the great empire my gang could create. Why would I seek out the truth? I have everything I want already. They trained me to kill like a black widow, because spiders don't feel nothing. The moment of the kill, they never feel more alive. I feared them no more.

When I was ready, they returned me to my brother, and I smiled as if I were Amelie.

I slit his throat in his sleep.

Peacekeepers arrested me, of course. I was a despicable girl. Escape was supposed to be an option, but the ones who raised me had abandoned me. I found it interesting that they would train something up to be so valuable, then toss it away at an inconvenience.

As if I were a pest.

Somebody offered to break my chains. An agent who worked with my brother. I wanted to refuse, because I could not work for him. They stood for everything I didn't.

But he was my freedom.

So I said yes.

For now.

[ firestorm ]