Testing. Ow!

“So… how exactly are we testing this out?…” I asked nervously.

Kenzie winced and sucked air through her teeth. “Well, Michael… come on now, I’m sure you can infer, yes?”

I could, in fact, infer. Shit. This wasn’t going to be fun.

Ava went to the room with her alias on it. After a moment, she reappeared with a large bag of chips. She began munching them down casually as she took a seat on a couch that was laid out near the screen. I remembered her mentioning that her own matter was used to heal others. I guessed that’s why she was so skinny, and why she was eating; to heal me after whatever they do to me.

“Michael, before we begin… you do trust us, yes? I want you to feel safe here.” Kenzie asked over her shoulder as she went to her own room.

“Uh… yeah. I trust you guys. Doesn’t make me any less nervous.” I admitted.

Kenzie reappeared with a huge fucking knife.

“And that really doesn’t help.” I gulped (yes, gulped).

Kenzie laughed. “Hey, your ability should make this harmless, yes? Don’t worry, I will be trying to keep this as painless as possible.”

I knew deep down that I’d be fine, but I could feel my skin crawling already.

Kenzie barked orders to us to have me ready to be tested on. She asked me to take my shirt off. Sara led me to a chair. Kate began tying me to it, tightly binding me in place. I asked why I was being tied up, and Kenzie pointed out that it was safer for me if I didn’t move when she’s doing these tests. Ava crunched on chips as she watched.

Images of pin cushions filled my mind.

“Not how I’d imagined the first time I’d have you tied up, but there’s always later, eh?” Kenzie chuckled as she stood over me with the knife. I saw Kate’s face redden a hue.

As much as I’d love to pop a chub over the bdsm-themed flirtation, my libido was dampened by the blade dancing in front of me as Kenzie twirled her knife in her hand.

“Alright… ready?” Kenzie asked, pressing the blade softly to my arm.

I took a breath and nodded, tensing up in anticipation.

“Here we go.” Kenzie pushed the blade into me. Well, tried to. I could feel her pushing the knife, but my skin stayed strong.

Kenzie pulled the blade away and I let out a sigh of relief.

“Interesting.” is all she said.

I was almost back to my normal heart rate when she looked at Kate and said, “Grab my pistol.”

My eyes must have shown my panic, because Kenzie was quick to reassure me. “I promise, I’m a good shot. I’ll be shooting you in a place where, if it penetrates, it won’t be life-threatening.”

It didn’t make me feel too much better, but what was I going to say? We needed to figure me out.

Kate came out of Kenzie’s room with a small pistol. It was nice that it was smaller than that robbers, but it was still a _pistol _that was going to shoot me.

“Ready? It’ll be near your shoulder.” She took aim.

I nodded and steeled myself.

My eyes were closed, but I heard a loud bang. Sara gasped. I opened my eyes to see a crushed bullet pressed against my skin.

I’d blocked another shot. Wow. So pistols weren’t my kryptonite!

“Wow. You’re really something, Michael. I’d like to try one more time, if that’s okay with you.”

I felt good. It was still nerve-wracking, but I’d proven myself now.

Kenzie took aim at my shoulder again. I took another breath and closed my eyes before tensing again, prepared for another shot in the shoulder.

I heard a bang. This time, I heard everyone gasp.

I opened my eyes to see my leg gushing blood.

“What the fuck, Kenzie?!” Someone yelled. I think it was me, but I was kind of out-of-body at the moment. A gush of blood soared particularly high in the air before hitting the floor in a puddle. I was going to be sick.

Ava quickly jumped to action, chips scattered on the ground. She ran over, yelling an assortment of swears at Kenzie. Ava closed her eyes for a moment, and when they re-opened they seemed to be a pure-white light that glowed softly. She pressed her hands to my leg and winced. A white light began shooting out of the hole in my leg, and then the bleeding stopped. So did the pain. I began to process my surroundings more clearly as I lost the feeling of creeping ****.

“You okay, Michael?” Sara asked.

“I mean… all things considered, yeah.” It was strange. The pain was gone, and I felt healthy, but the mental image of blood sloshing everywhere just moments before made me feel like something was still wrong.

While everyone else had somewhat human reactions to a tied-up man being shot, Kenzie had a grin on her face.

“I’ve figured you out!” She bragged.

“I’m happy to hear, but I’d also really like to be untied. And maybe put the weapons away?” I asked tentatively. I took Kenzie’s word and hoped we didn’t have to hurt me any more.

Sara untied me and I was saddened to realize my pants were all kinds of fucked now. I felt like I was throwing away a lot of clothes because of blood lately.

I threw my shirt back on because I’m self-conscious as Kenzie put away her **** devices/ testing tools. When she returned, she explained her finding.

“So first, I attempted to stab you, yes? Then, I tried shooting you. How come on the third shot it worked?” She asked.

I shrugged. “I only have so much durability?”

Kenzie shook her head. “No, that can’t be it. You took way more shots from the lunatic robber than I shot. You were able to withstand anything you saw coming. I warned you about the first two, which let you prepare for the attacks. Then, once I got you where you weren’t prepared, you didn’t defend against it.”

That… made sense. I thought back to the robbery; only when I relaxed did the shot go through. Same here; I wasn’t tensing my legs, just my shoulders.

We understood how my power worked. I was kind of becoming something now, wasn’t I? If only my parents could see me now.

-

Hey guys, quick note: I have opted out of all the AI stuff I could in the settings. I’m under the impression that that should block any ads concerning AI from you guys. I, personally, am very against AI (especially when it comes to art forms such as writing or drawing), so I’d like to keep it away from here if possible. Not really an important note, but felt worth saying.

On a more personal note, I’m still sick. I’m better-ish, and have been trying to write enough to feel ahead. Will update once that stage arrives.