Okay, so as a peace offering for procrastinating my way out of posting a chapter yesterday, I've come with not one, but two chapters for you, so prepare for a long read (The story is also below the link btw). I would greatly appreciate opinions and criticism as well! Sorry in advance if there's any grammar mistakes or anything like that! (Also chapter 1 has a short cameo of @tea-cuz-why-not's Kore! I hope within that small section I was able to characterize them right!)
AO3 link (need to be registered for this one):
https://archiveofourown.org/works/89289781/chapters/237094586
Genevieve’s POV (Before S1)
Today marked a week before the group of four would escape the vicious jaws of Gunntech. The time was 10:30, an hour after Genevieve had left the dining hall to head back to her dorm room. In that time, she had taken a shower, having her usual staring contest with the black veins that went all the way from her collarbone and down, fading near the end of each limb. These veins were running through every one of her limbs due to the chest implant she had grown distasteful towards over the years.
She put her short, straight black hair—that was just above her shoulders—in a small ponytail, preparing for her spar with Gregory soon. She honestly didn't even know why she bothered to shower for that fact, and that fact alone. She swapped out her green hoodie for a red sports zip-up and her plaid pajama pants for gray sweatpants. She walked back into the bathroom, giving herself one last look, her blue eyes staring right back at her.
She nodded approvingly, a grin appeared on her face. “Looking good like always,” she stretched, pushing her arms skyward. After leaving the bathroom and then the room entirely, she walked out into the hallway and headed toward the practice center.
When she arrived, she opened the door gently (as one does to enter a room). In the middle of all the practice mats sat Gregory Gunn. Gregory was a tall blonde guy who was not much younger than Genevieve, well built, and had bright green eyes that gave you radiation just from looking at the cheerful gleam within them. No matter how hard she tried, Genevieve could find no qualities she could hate him for and it would actually be justified. The only reason she could think of was the fact he shared the same surname and blood as her biggest enemy, Grayson Gunn. Other than that, she had nothing, but how could she blame him? He couldn't control who he was and wasn't related to. He was just too likeable and that made her resent him more.
Another reason that she disliked him (which he also couldn't control) was the fact that his personality reminded her of another person she hated. Emily Rivera. Just thinking about that boot licker enraged her. Anytime she saw her face, Genevieve wanted to shove her foot so far up her—
I need to calm down. She told herself. Save that anger and energy for the spar.
When Gregory saw her, he waved her over. She was about a few feet away from him when he
tossed a water bottle at her with more force than he probably intended.
“Stay hydrated!” Gregory exclaimed with a cheerful expression on his face.
Genevieve caught the bottle but the force of the throw caused it to slam into her chest implant, making her let out a suppressed grunt. “Thanks…”
Gregory thankfully didn't seem to notice as he stood from the spot he sat, reminding Genevieve just how tall the guy was as he stood to be about a head taller than her. He did a quick stretch routine as she approached him. Genevieve saw many Gunntech faces that she knew. Sure, there were a lot of people at Gunntech, but after basically being raised there and training with pretty much every branch of lab rat that Gunntech made, she had somehow managed to remember basically everyone she'd met.
“Are you ready?” He asked as he strapped on his fist guards and went into a fighting stance.
“Yeah. Let me just—” Genevieve put the water bottle off to the side and pulled out her own fist guards from her pockets. She quickly slipped them on, following Gregory into a fighting stance.
“Are you gonna take off your zip-up or are you going to risk overheating?” Gregory inquired in a tone between smug and teasing. Both him and Genevieve began to walk in a wide circle around the mat, waiting and calculating for the first strike.
Genevieve felt her face scrunch up. If there was one thing about Genevieve, it was the fact that she never showed her bare limbs. She hated the idea of having to explain the veins that ran from every single one of her limbs. The other reason was because it allowed her some sort of surprise against opponents since there's no clue towards what her implant provided for her power-wise. “Meh.” She shrugged her shoulders as she finally got the words out, efficiently evading a proper answer.
Gregory looked at her skeptically, an eyebrow raised. He may be innocent, but he for sure wasn't dumb.
To stop him from thinking too hard about it, Genevieve came in with a quick swing of her leg,
aiming for Gregory's stomach. He easily caught it with his hand, his grip strong. Using this to
her advantage, Genevieve jumped up and pushed her weight forward, knocking Gregory back and forcing him to release her leg. She landed on her rear but quickly recovered. Gregory was bigger than her—height wise at least, they weren't too different in body type—so she was already at a disadvantage. The other problem was his reaction time, which was likely something he inherited from his implant.
When Gregory approached once more, he struck first, throwing a punch at Genevieve. When she went to stop it with her hand, Gregory stopped his punch right in front of her hand and quickly grabbed her wrist. Everything around her was flipped upside down, literally. As soon as Gregory had grabbed Genevieve, he judo flipped her onto the mat, hard, knocking the wind out from her lungs.
“Touché.” Genevieve forced the words out her mouth as she gasped for air.
“Oh sorry—Did I—? I didn't mean to use so much force.” Gregory stammered over his words as they stumbled out his mouth, making Genevieve laugh out loud.
“All is forgiven.” Genevieve sucked in another deep breath of air, still lying on the floor, trying to catch her breath. “Though, help would be nice.”
“Right, I got you.” Gregory put out his hand firmly for Genevieve to grab onto.
Just as she grabbed his hand and was firmly pulled up, Genevieve heard the door to the practice center open, followed by a voice she hated to hear.
Genevieve didn't even have to look to know who was coming over. She felt arms wrap around her as she finally looked in the direction of Emily Rivera. Emily quickly went over to the taller Gregory and gave him a warm hug as well.
Emily was taller than Genevieve by an inch, which for no reason at all, angered Genevieve. Genevieve hated everything about Emily with every single cell in her body. That included how her perfectly maintained long, wavy brunette hair—that normally went all the way down her back—was currently held in a neat high ponytail.
“Em, hey, how are you?” Gregory had a beaming smile on his face, like the one minimum wage workers were always forced to practice, except in his case, it was genuine.
Emily's annoying smile somehow managed to widen even more than before. “Good and you?”
“I'm doing great!” He responded as the two finally pulled away from the hug.
Emily turned to Genevieve and Genevieve immediately knew what she was about to ask. “Genevieve, how are you doing?”
Genevieve folded her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes, “Just peachy.”
Emily's smile faltered for a moment before returning back to its original state. “Ahem, um, do you guys mind if I—”
“Knock yourself out.” Genevieve tossed her fist guards at Emily, which she easily caught in her hands.
Gregory stepped in between Emily and Genevieve like a fight was about to break out. “Hey, Gen, it's—”
“Genevieve.” The words came out as a low hiss as they left Genevieve’s mouth.
Gregory put his hands up in a placating gesture. “Right, sorry. Genevieve, you don't have to leave, we can take turns.”
Genevieve shrugged casually, “Nah, I'm good. Plus, I need to uh…go somewhere.”
“Genevieve…” Emily began as her shoulders slowly slumped in defeat.
Genevieve disregarded Emily's words completely as she spun around, retreating for the door. “If
anyone needs me, I might be in my dorm room.”
Just as she had done in the morning, Genevieve returned to her dorm room and took a shower.
Again. She changed her outfit to one that consisted of black jeans that flared outward, a gray turtleneck, and a brown zip-up with a fur hood as well as graphics she found cool. Genevieve took her hair out of its ponytail and left it as is.
She put on her black leather watch and looked at the time. 11:30. She was to meet Gemma at 12:00 to go pick up the twins—Jaison and William—so they could go to the park and further discuss how they were going to leave the hellhole that is Gunntech, maybe even lead normal lives as best they could.
“Great, an extra thirty minutes to do nothing.” She muttered to herself as she went over to her bed and retrieved the Nintendo switch that she always kept under her pillow for no particular reason. Genevieve casually slid on the bed, legs crossed, and opened a random game to pass the time.
About fifteen minutes had passed when she heard a knock on her door. Genevieve wasn't expecting anyone, but she still reluctantly answered since there was a possibility it was Gemma. “Come in, the door's unlocked.” As the words left her mouth, Genevieve began to wonder why she had left it open today. The door gently opened without a single creak, and entered Emily Rivera.
Her steps were cautious as she entered the room which reminded Genevieve of how someone would walk through an active minefield. “Hey…I came to return the fist guards.”
Genevieve turned off her Nintendo and slid it under her pillow once more. “Thanks.” Her tone remained blunt as she spoke.
Emily's face shifted to one of frustration, “Why do you continue to treat me like a stranger? Are you still mad about—about that?”
Genevieve scoffed, her tone becoming venomous. “What do you think?”
“You want to know what I think?” Emily threw the fist guards at Genevieve as she also threw her
hands up in exasperation, “I think you need to just admit you're wrong! Mr. Gunn and Gunntech were trying to help you and they still are! They're not your enemy!”
Genevieve caught the fist guards and put them on her bed. She stomped over to Emily and encroached on her. “You can believe that shit if you'd like, but I'm not going to let you try to infect my mind as well.”
“It’s not infecting your mind, it's the truth!” Emily retorted.
Genevieve bit her tongue. She knew if she let the next words she was thinking fly out her mouth, she might regret it. She also had to hold down her current urge of punching Emily. Instead of doing either of those options, Genevieve looked down at her watch. The time now read 11:49, which meant it was just about time for Genevieve to get going.
She quickly pivoted to the door and exited the room, attempting to close the door behind her. Emily moved with a similar haste and caught the closing door just in time.
“Why do you always do this? Is running all you know?” Emily's tone changed from one of frustration to one of pitiful pleading.
Genevieve closed the door behind Emily and locked it before continuing down the hall. In that very moment as the two sped walked down the hall, Genevieve spotted a familiar figure, Kore Faulkner.
“Kore!” Genevieve made sure her tone was as sweet as she could force at that moment of time. “Emily's been looking all over for you! She said she needed to talk to you!”
Kore stopped in their tracks and turned to the two, “Really..? I haven't really been anywhere I wouldn't be.”
Emily put her hand up, “Actually I—”
This made Genevieve smirk for a moment before masking the expression. “Since you're so good with shiny things, Emily was wondering if you could give her tips and tricks on how to make sure you're getting jewelry at an appropriate price!”
Kore’s pupils dilated, her eyes glinting with excitement. “Say less,” Kore looped her arm with
Emily's as the two began to walk away, “I'm the best guide for anything and all things shiny
Genevieve removed her cloak of a smile, replacing it with a smirk of amusement at her success. Now that she had gotten that situation out the way, she really had to get going. She had fellow future fugitives to meet up with.
“Are you sure this is going to work? I mean, yeah, we've been planning this for a month now, but are we sure it's even possible?” Gemma's voice remained tense as she spoke in a hushed tone whilst they walked through the clean, Gunntech issued dormitory halls. They had gotten too far for their escape plan to be foiled by someone—even the cameras—overhearing their conversation.
Genevieve tightened her folded arms around herself, her voice also a whisper. “Luna and Nori were able to do it, why can't we? Plus, as you said yourself, we've been planning this. It's not something that we're doing off of impulse.”
Gemma groaned out of frustration at the taller girl, “Genevieve, you know those are only rumors! They haven't even been gone for that long! They could return at any moment and you know that.”
“Oh please, they've been gone for nine days and they haven't come back to do the mandatory one week check in. But fine, let's say they will return,” Genevieve looked at Gemma, a smirk forming on her face, “we could be the first to do it.”
Gemma couldn't help but laugh at the comment. Somehow with that and that alone, any tension there previously was, had just dissipated. The backward jerk of her head as she laughed caused her black Yankees cap to fly off. Her neck length emerald green afro puffed out from under her hat, exposed to the artificial lights. By the time it landed in front of her face, it had grown an inch. “Ugh! I hate this accelerated hair-plant thingy they've done to me!”
Gemma stopped walking to grab her hat but Genevieve beat her to it and put it back on Gemma's head with a hard pat.
“Ow!” Gemma cried out, her hands going to head.
Genevieve laughed gently, “You’re gonna need to do a better job managing your stuff if this is to actually work.”
Gemma playfully rolled her eyes, “Or maybe you need to stop being so funny.”
Genevieve let out an amused chuckle, “Sorry, no can do. It runs in the family, you'll have to take it up with my genes and my ancestors.”
Gemma returned the chuckle as she spoke. “Sure, what's their number?”
This earned a hard laugh from Genevieve that contagiously infected Gemma, causing her to burst out laughing as well just as they reached a corner. Their laughter still very strong, they turn the approaching corner, leading them to the exact hallway they needed to be. They passed a few doors before they finally saw it. They stopped in front of the tall brown door they'd stood at once before. Genevieve put her fist up and rapped her knuckles on the wooden door. Moments later, the door was opened. Not fully, more like it was simply ajar. A head poked out with a face and hazel eyes that Gemma easily recognized. It was Jaison, the more mature one out of the twins, his short, curly black hair kept neatly as it always was.
“Hey,” his tone was casual yet controlled, which Gemma always thought was odd to hear from a boy of his age. “Will is almost ready, he should be out any minute.”
“Cute satchel.” Genevieve’s eyes remained on the navy blue bag as she spoke, a grin playing on her lips.
A similar smile stretched onto Jaison’s caramel face, “Thanks, nice jacket, it suits you.”
Genevieve waved her hand dismissively, “Aw, you're too kind.”
When Will appeared, he pushed his brother out of the way of the door, a devious grin on his face, his eyebrow raised as he leaned on the doorframe. “What's good party people?”
Will looked just like his brother in every way. Height similar, face shape, eyes, smile, all the same. The only difference was that Will's personality was the complete opposite of Jaison's. Instead of neatly kept hair such as his brother's, Will’s curly black hair was long and hung loosely in front of his face. The same could be used to describe their separate styles of dressing. Jaison was dressed in a more uptight, academic uniform style whilst Will wore a more casual outfit, like one you'd see in a public school.
“Are we ready to go now?” Gemma crossed her arms over her chest, a smirk forming on her face.
Will returned her smirk as he mimicked her pose, “I believe we are.”
When they make it to the front door, they make a stop at the front desk. The lady that was sat there quickly looked up and over at the group.
“How may I help you?” The smile on the lady’s face appeared to be forced and practiced.
It was Genevieve who stepped up to be their spokesperson, “We’d like to sign out to leave.”
The lady began to type on the computer in front of her. “Where to and how long?”
“The park for two hours.” Genevieve paused before adding, “Please.”
The lady grabbed the phone to her right and punched in a number. She held it to her ear for a few seconds before speaking, “Mr. Gunn, I have four Gunntech representatives requesting to go to the park for two hours.” The lady nodded her head as Gunn spoke on the other side. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she looked back at the group. “IDs please.”
Gemma took out her own from her pocket and handed it to Genevieve with the twins following suit. Genevieve took the Gunntech issued cards and placed them on the desk. The lady slid the cards into her hands and held them up as she read the names on them.
“Genevieve Faber, Gemma Eze, and Jaison and William Rios.” She would recite to the phone. There was a pause before the lady finally put the phone down and fully turned her attention back to the group. “Access granted. Just one last thing for confirmation. Please list the implant power that is on your IDs.”
Genevieve answered first, “Mimicry.”
Next was Gemma, “Plant manipulation.”
Will spoke for both him and his brother, “We both have water manipulation.”
The lady nodded and scanned their IDs into the database. “You're all set, have a good day.”
Gemma nodded before turning to leave, “You too.”
As soon as they got outside, Will gave out a loud and dramatic sigh. “Man, I hate that system.”
Jaison shrugged his shoulders, “Could be worse.”
“Hey!” Genevieve began, “C’mon, game faces everyone. I want some happy campers.”
Gemma rolled her eyes, “Yeah…that doesn't compute. We are neither happy nor campers.”
With that, they all did become happy campers (still aren't campers though), even if it was only for a second. Their laughter cut through even the tiniest bit of tension that had presented itself earlier. The humor of their laugh would continue to hang through the air all the way to the park. Upon arrival, they position themselves behind a group of trees to decrease the chances of their conversation being exposed by Gunntech surveillance overhearing them or reading their lips (paranoia comes with the future fugitive package).
Once they all sat down on the green grass, Jaison was the first to speak, “So, any updates?”
Genevieve was the one to answer, “I checked in with my father yesterday. Everything is still going according to plan and the library is pretty much ready for operation and occupation.”
Gemma raised an eyebrow, “You said there's a secret basement and that's where we're staying?”
Genevieve nodded, “That would be right.”
Will was on the verge of laughing for no reason apparent to Gemma. “So we're gonna be like those guys who live in their mom's basement?” After Will spoke, he began to laugh wildly.
Jaison was holding in laughter of his own. “I could see that as a career choice for you.”
“Excuse you!” His brother exclaimed, “You're the nerd here!”
Jaison gasped, his face scrunching in offense, “You take that back! What correlation does that even have!?”
“Guys,” Genevieve held her hand up, silencing the two and reminding Gemma that she was the oldest of the group by a bit and was the most experienced of them all. “focus.”
Both twins began mumbling incoherent sentences to themselves under their breath before stopping completely and giving Genevieve their full attention.
“There will be no do-overs, there will be no second chances.” Genevieve began, a deep tone of warning in her voice. “It's either we get out or we get caught trying.”
“Well obviously.” Will grumbled.
“Will you stop that?” His brother scolded.
Gemma cleared her throat, “Please, let's go over the plan one last time. I know we have a week, but this is one of if not the last time that we'll be able to go over this together.”
Genevieve nodded, “Exactly, we don't have time for last minute changes anymore. We leave Saturday morning and that's final.”
“Are you sure we can't change the time?” Will asked, shaking his clasped hands in a pleading gesture.
“We can't,” his brother quickly responded, “It'll be the only time where looping the cameras will be simple and at the same time cover us long enough. No one is on the roads at 2:00 in the morning and plus, the darkness of night will give us an extra cloak.”
“Right. Now for the plan.” Genevieve paused, her eyes quickly surveillancing the group before her. “Friday is when it officially starts. We'll go to our rooms early that evening, find an excuse if you must. While in your room, gather everything you will be taking because we won't be coming back. My dad will start to loop the cameras at 1:50 am, that should be enough time for us to meet. We should be out of the building and heading towards the library by 2:00.”
Gemma raised an eyebrow, a thought still nagging her. “What about the receptionist? Wouldn't they still be there?”
“We'll deal with that.” Right as Jaison finished his sentence, him and his brother high-fived each other.
Another question shot into Gemma's brain, “And if we run into someone on the way either inside or outside the building?”
“Improvise, only use force or anything of the sort if you must.” Gemma could see the mental calculations being made through Genevieve's eyes, “My dad and Mr. Rivera are risking too much for this to fail.”
Gemma nodded in agreement, “We all are. I mean my aunt is to help us get out of here when the search for us dies down, and that could cost her life.”
Will shook his head, “They could target our vovó…” He trailed off.
Jaison finished the thought, “We told her it would be best to leave for the time being, she's back
in Brazil with our other relatives. That's also not even accounting our parents, they could lose
their jobs within Gunntech, or worse.”
Genevieve gave a half smile to the group. “I'm glad we can all agree that we're serious about this since we're putting everything on the line.” There was something else hidden under Genevieve's tone, but Gemma couldn't exactly decipher it nor did she want to pry.
“Alright then,” Gemma began, gaining everyone's eyes, “if we're going to be at the park, we might as well enjoy it, hm?”
“Most definitely.” Will agreed before pausing. “Oh my gosh! We should do one of those send offs sports teams do.”
Jaison raised an amused eyebrow, “You mean the one where they all put their hands in the middle?”
“Yes!” He confirmed cheerfully, “It makes sense as well. We're basically a team by now.”
Gemma put her hand in the middle first. “Go team on three?”
Everyone readied their hands, stacking them on top one another when the count off began.
Gemma cleared her throat, “One, two, three!”
“Go team!” They all yelled in unison. Pure joy and bliss filled the air as they all laughed together.
For once in a long time, Gemma actually felt like for once, this group of hers was able to act their age and just enjoy themselves in the moment. Soon, it won't be only for a moment. When they finally make it out of the grasp of Gunntech, they could truly be happy and live how they were meant to, free. Free from Grayson Gunn, free from the pressures of Gunntech, free from everything. That most definitely was the kind of future Gemma awaited the most.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it and don't worry, angst will be coming soon enough! Before I go, I do have a question for you guys. After my last post regarding the Rios twins, (what comes next is @adrian-alvro's fault/j) I was thinking about the other things they could manipulate and also what could be the cause of my four escapee's becoming bigger threats to GunnTech then they already are (around Luna and Nori levels if not higher). So this is what I have so far (though the context might change later on). The twins get separated from Genevieve and Gemma and end up cornered by a guard or more. Jaison gets tranquilized and Will begins to panic as he basically is now trying to get both himself and his unconscious brother to safety. In this fit of panic, Will basically blood bends by accident, but I can't decide on what I want the end result to be.
So, Does Will:
A) End up killing the guard(s) (More angsty)
Or B) Only Heavily injures the guard(s) (less angsty)
Voting ended onJul 29
