Chapter 126 - Black Identity

Section Five

Ghoul Investigator Headquarters (GIH) 

Steve whistles in a tone as he strolled along the wide hall, he checks through his transparent iPad, it was Lorna's body analysis, she has been asleep for days with no sign of waking up but he knew soon she will but he can't help but think maybe Ghost overdid it, there were other ways to revive her memory, he shouldn't have resorted to his eyes, his eyes were scared and not something a normal human could withstand.

The doors slide open as Steve walks in, but he gasps startled as his eyes widen.

"You showed no signs of waking up," Steve said stunned.

Riley was seated on the bed, wearing hospital clothes, which was a white short gown, her dark hair now back length had hints of red. Both her hands placed on either side of her said on the bed edge, she tilts her head to the side.

"Hello Steve," she said sternly with a wide range of killing intent.

"Now now Riley, we haven't seen each other for years, being asleep for so long must have gotten you rusty," he said amused.

She growled about sitting up but stumble back as her body trembles, she stared at her hand with shaky eyes.

"What's wrong with me?" she said in a shaky breath as she faced Steve with furious eyes.

"I don't feel my Claw anymore" she hissed.

Steve sighs adjusting his glasses.

"There was a condition" he began taking a seat on the bed in front of her but kept a safer distance, their history 2 years ago wasn't a pleasant one, he knew she hated him with everything she had, Riley was a wild one.

"Barbra left no room for mistakes, I had to erase your ghoul genes," he said with sad eyes.

Riley gulps relieving the memory of that hell hole.

"So you made me human" she began in a voice that held no humor.

Her green eyes drift to the table grabbing a small slender sharp object.

"That's doesn't stop me you know" she faced him.

"I would save Liam the stress by killing you, trust me I cut deeper," she said darkly. 

Steve gulps at her words, knowing she was damn serious, he wouldn't blame her because for two and a half years she had been trapped in her own body over a false identity of an agent and he was the very reason for it, he specially remade her to be the perfect puppet.

"Still" she began once more, her fingers rotating the sharp object.

"I have a feeling that despite you following orders, anything still worked out for you" she adds.

Steve smirks.

"The meds, you told me to stop, to skip a day, it was the meds wasn't it, the meds were hiding my scent from Liam"

"Smart as always Riley, even when remaking you to be the perfect pawn, there will be flaws, I can't entirely change who you are, so I designed the drug" he shrugs.

"Hmm drug, a mastermind like you are can still be capable of making a drug from the body of a Claw, G-st" she states.

"It's her isn't it, Barbra is the drug king" she adds darkly.

"Yes," he said in amusement.

"That cunning bitch" she spats in distaste.

"You have to save Liam, Riley" Steve began. 

Her emotionless eyes land on him.

"I don't need to be told what I have to do, especially from you," she said sternly.

"You used me to the point that I had to put the man I love behind bars".

"I remade you, Barbra was the one pulling the strings, I must agree she's cunning," Steve said.

"I know how you feel, I know you feel like you can bring down the agency all by yourself, but you have to play it smart, both of you have to play it smart".

Riley gave him a puzzled look. 

"You may not believe anything I have to say but there's a reason I had to do this"

A huff escapes her lips.

"Enough reason you killed your own son's unborn child?".

Steve's eyes darkened at her words as the memories flood in.

Riley placed a hand on her flat stomach, her body suddenly cold.

"Riley you took a bullet to the heart and yet still survived, I did everything I could... I had no control over the fetus" he said gulping hard.

"I never told him," Riley said on the verge of tears.

"I never told him I was pregnant" she adds facing him as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Because I didn't want him to suffer the loss of both me and our baby" she adds through gritted teeth.

"I understand how you feel Riley, what I did can never be forgiven, but I did it because I have a purpose to fulfill," he said with sad eyes.

They will never forgive him for the sin, he created. But the same sin he creates he will create the power to get rid of it.

"Everything will fall into place very soon, but first you must save Liam and be by his side, that's the only way you can awaken," he said sternly.

Riley gave him a skeptical look.

"It's the only way both of you awaken" he adds and then sighs.

"I don't expect you to understand," he said rising to his feet turning to leave.

"A boy or a girl"

Her words stop him right in his tracks.

"Was it a boy or girl?" she asks once more as the tears fell. 

"A boy," Steve said with shaky eyes as guilt washed upon him like a wave.

Riley's fist tightens on her stomach as the tears fell silently. She took a sharp breath as she rose to her feet.

"You're gonna do one thing for me" Riley began.

Steve turns to her.

"I'm sure you have your connections, I'm sure you even know where it is".

Steve gave her a puzzled look.

"I want the location of the Silver-lining organization".