Tempest (#1)

Chapter Twenty-Five: Chaos

"Well done, Tempest. I knew you wouldn't disappoint."

It was like I had food poisoning because the second I heard Chaos's voice, I wanted to hurl. Her tone, while seemingly pleasant, was laced with malice and cruelty.

"Although, I must admit, it did take you a little longer than I thought to figure it out." She shrugged as she looked up towards the darkening sky. "I nearly thought I had to intervene."

I turned towards Chaos and was surprised to recognize her face.

Colin had drawn her.

The drawing was unfinished, at the time, but it was very distinctive. Chaos had a short black pixie cut, and her eyes were the color of molten lava. They even swirled about like lava resting at the top of a volcano. Along her left eye was a long scar, but you really had to focus to see it because the black eye makeup she wore was forcing you to stare into her unsettling yet hypnotic eyes.

Chaos wore a black and purple corset with black skinnies that were ripped all the way from her thighs to where her lacy combat boots took over under her knees. She was also much smaller than I imagined her to be. If I was Penn, I'd say she'd only be an inch taller than me. But despite her diminutive size, she exuded a fierceness that rivaled the Hulk on his worst day.

"Chaos," I sneered. "I see you're not hiding behind your shadows anymore."

Her smile was crooked as she responded to me. "There's no need for charades now."

She took a step closer, which made me feel the need to take a step back.

Chaos released a short giggle at my response. "That skittish around me, are you? Don't worry, Tempest. You won't feel that way for long."

"And how the hell would you know?" I eyed her up and down.

She shrugged as she looked only at me. "Just a feeling..." Chaos glanced at the pile of papers that was Miasma before redirecting her stare at me. "Do you remember what I told you, Tempest?"

Of course...

"Not even a little." I challenged her.

She seemed amused by my answer as she took another step closer. This time, I refused the urge to move back. I wanted to show her that I wasn't afraid of her. That I wouldn't back down and would never give into whatever sick game she was playing.

Before I could blink, Chaos was suddenly in front of me and whispering in my ear. "I said... I need you alive. Remember now?"

I tried not to gulp loudly as I replied. "Vaguely."

"Fine, if you want it bluntly," she started moving her head away from my ear as she looked me up and down. "I want you to join me."

Her words managed to snap me out of my chicken shit ways. I revved up my stubbornness, pushing her away from me with as much force as I could. She didn't move farther than a few inches away, but for some reason, that succeeded in getting her to grin wickedly at me.

"Somehow, I suspected you'd do that." She chuckled.

"I would never join you!" I yelled at her. "You are probably evil incarnate. So, no thanks, Cruella, I'm good."

"Oh, come now, Penn..." I heard in my head.

I glared at Chaos angrily. "You stay out of my head! I won't ever help you! Ever!"

"We could be an amazing team." She spoke slowly, seductively, as she tried to toy with me just like she did with Colin.

Before I could think of anything better to do, I decked her in the jaw.