Chapter 33: Retrieve Nothingness
My mind has been muddled with thoughts. I have two months to become stronger, to become 'empty' without risking the little things I currently have that still make me human. To surrender myself to nothingness, is that what Lana would have wanted? I don't know, but I know that's what Oblivion wants.
"Ray!"
Veronica practically jumped on me; I explained to her that everything was okay, my injuries had already healed, and they only took a lot longer than usual. She was still a bit worried; I had to hug her and reassure her. I asked for Emma, and she said Emma didn't suffer any injuries at all, and it was her who drove me to the hospital. It has been two days since then.
I eventually convinced Veronica to start the procedures to get me discharged, and she did. A few hours later, a doctor came to check me up, and he said everything seemed to be in order. His gaze looked suspicious.
"Boy, are you a mutant? It is impossible for injuries to close this fact after suturation," He said after taking some notes. If only he knew this would not be as fast as it could be.
I frowned, and so did Veronica, who looked at me, wondering what to say in this situation as a report would be made about this.
"I'll handle this, babe".
Emma entered the room just at the right moment. She stared at me for two seconds before focusing on the doctor and tilting her head just a little. The doctor entered a trance-like state before standing up and leaving the room like nothing had happened.
"Thanks, Emma".
"He's going to get you signed up to leave, are you sure you don't want to stay a few more days?" Emma sat on the opposite side of Veronica, held my cheeks, and kissed me rather forcefully.
"Emma, you could be a bit softer", Veronica scowled a bit, only for the blonde to roll her eyes.
"You're exaggerating," she dismissed Veronica and focused back on me. "Tell me what happened?"
"What happened about what? I killed all of them".
"Not that. Why wasn't your regeneration working properly?" Emma held both my cheeks, pinched, and pulled them angrily. "I'm anxious now. I thought I would never have to worry about your livelihood because of that power, but when I saw the amount of blood you were shedding and the fact that they weren't closing, I panicked."
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again".
"How can you be so certain? Mutations don't waver unless certain circumstances exist; what happened for your mutation to weaken suddenly...?" She insisted.
"I don't–"
"Now that I think about it, we have been sleeping in the same room for weeks, and you haven't touched me yet" She frowned while Veronica coughed awkwardly, realising what Emma's intentions were all along, wearing scanty clothes in their house.
"Wait, it is not what you think—" Ray tried to interject, but Emma pulled harder.
"Have you been sleeping around without me noticing? Some mutations weaken after malnutrition or a highly overloaded sexual activity. Ray, you..."
"Ray, don't tell me... with Jean–" Even Veronica gasped until Ray sighed and put both of Emma's hands down.
"You two, let me finish, will you? I haven't been sleeping around. There are other reasons that are harder to explain. You don't need to worry; I'll ensure it doesn't repeat. If that's all, let's go... I skipped class more than I wanted to"
"That better be it", Emma huffed.
She's so troublesome... I have been holding back from her, and she's misunderstood everything.
...
I dressed up and, in the process, caught up on a few text messages from Jean and Annie. They sent one each day asking if I was up. Emma told me that they visited at least once during my stay. I called them and explained that I was about to get discharged and see them at school next week.
"Could I go visit today?" Jean asked me.
I didn't know what to do. But I accepted it as that is what I wanted; I wanted to see her. Veronica went to the cafe to get me something to eat.
"A friend of mine is waiting outside. He wanted to come to visit since your case has been all over the TV due to the number of witnesses; I had to ask his help to clean the scene, too," Emma explained. The moment we left the room, I noticed him.
The man was massive, and he had at least five bodyguards standing in different tactical spots of the main hall, intimidating everyone with them, if not only his appearance.
"Look what we have here, the ghost Casper in person", He said, stretching his big hand forward for me to shake. I did, and he applied force, but... that force he applied was like a joke to me, and he noticed.
"Strong, just like the rumours. Although the rumours came from her, I was a bit sceptical. My name is Wilson Fisk, but she must have introduced me as Kingpin." The man laughed, and his voice sounded vicious.
This is the mafia lord, one of the hidden kings of Manhattan.
"Ray Stark, pleasure's mine. I apologise about the little incident," I said, referring to the failed bank robbery for them, not for me.
"What are you talking about, boy? begones be gone, everything's worth money in this world except lives, most ain't worth shit!" He said, hugging me like we were buddies, slapping my back and everything, laughing while everyone in the hall looked at him like he was a lunatic.
"Great to know, what is the motive of your visit?".
"Just thought we could meet formally since we will be working together in the same team, aren't we?" He winked towards Emma, who merely shrugged her shoulders.
"This is my business card; if you need anything, you know where to call... so long as you have the money to pay for it, of course~" He handed me over his 'business card' that obviously didn't mention any of the 'spicy' stuff.
"You wouldn't mind if I give you a few calls, too, right? There are some just that only you would be able to pull off, naturally... I'll pay you accordingly," He asked with hope, "You may even have to seduce some targets sometimes, you know, you got that in you too. I have this troublesome woman, Carter's wife, she may be hungry for some dick–".
"Fisk..." Emma growled.
"I'm joking, Emma... tch, leave your boyfriend alone; he can answer for himself, isn't it, Ray?"
"As long as you don't ask me to do some nasty work, Fisk," I said, seducing women... that's not my line of work.
"Nasty work or not, you can pull it off. You managed to seduce the most coveted princess in New York, Lady Madeline herself" He pulled me up and whispered, "Tell me, you gonna give Shaw some of it, right? Some of that brain-emptying thingy".
"Are you expectant?".
"I have money on that, Ray" His voice turned serious, "I'm very expectant on Shaw's fall, you think you can manage? You get the Hellfire Club and you get Lady Madeline... shouldn't be a bad trade".
I frowned and looked at Emma; her gaze stared at me with hope, too.
"I'll get it done soon; I have something important to do in two months".
"Two months?" Emma asked me.
"Yes, I may have to travel somewhere, so I'll tie all those loose ends by then. I'll call you soon, Fisk".
"Then we will talk, Ray. I'll be off".
Wilson Fisk left; I added his number to my contacts, ready to call him when the moment was nigh. He may have been just what I needed to move forward.
If I want to become nothing without losing those that are important to me, I can only think of one method. I realised this when I slaughtered those goons that night. No, slaughter is not the right word. I erased them completely.
I turned them into nothing, and they became a part of me.
This is the path forward
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