juijeevanjagtap
|• Thank you for always reading •|

She held the railings of the balcony with her mighty grip, her raging temper boiling on the surface, Candace did not like to be told what to do.

A deep, raspy voice hauled her out of her swallowing wrath, "Candace, the board is right, you can't showcase this discovery. It'll create havoc between humans. Synapse modification will only make us more like robots, you need to understand." He paused, contemplating what to say, "You need to stop these psychotic ideas."

That's it! Candace thought.

"They aren't psychotic!" She roared, "I am trying to show you a way to stop human deaths caused by mere reflexes. Our reflex actions are slow. You know that. Your wife wouldn't have died, Preston, she would be here for Jude and Luke, if only her reflexes were fast. That car would have never ran over her." She sucked in a deep breath. She knew Preston would be hurt by her words, but he had to understand.

His grey eyes stared at her with curiosity, like he had just discovered a new Candace. Preston wondered what turned his friend into someone who only craved one thing; immortality. Could Candace not understand that it was impossible? What would it take to drill that through her head?

"She died because it was her time." It pained him to say the words, and it shocked him to hear his strong voice, "I've accepted it. So should you."

"You see who's psychotic? You accept her death? She loved you, more than she loved herself. You are a selfish man." Candace snarled at him in disgust, "You're the one who's not human. Lilith deserved better, she was your wife for god sake." She placed her trembling hands on Preston's shoulders, "Please Preston, this will give us the chance to save our children from accidents, you won't have to worry about them dying like Lilith."

"I..."

"Please." Begged Candace, "I'll never ask for anything from you again, I'll be indebted to you."

"I..." He began, unsure of what to say.

Her words burned him, yet he wanted to help her, he just did not know how to. He did not want to use synapse modification, "I know you mean no harm, Candace, but not everything in the world has to be perfect. Humans don't have to be perfect."

"But they can be. Don't you see?" You could almost read the belief in Candace's voice, you could hear the desire to be the perfect devil, "Humans are born to be perfect. They are meant to rule. Don't you see Preston?"

Preston hesitated, he did not see what Candace saw. If you were perfect, what made you different from a machine?

"I understand you." He lied, "But I won't go along with you. You carry on with whatever you want. I won't say a word to anyone, and I will not help you." The warning was clearly audible in his voice.

"That's all I ask." One would think that Candace's voice would hold gratefulness, but that was not the case — it held venomous pity and disgust.

Preston nodded, "I'll take my leave then." He spun around and grasped the balcony door handle. As he pulled the door open, he found another hand on his, halting him midway.

"Preston, these words can never come out. Unless you don't value the safety of your sons." A heinous sneer danced upon her blood-red lips as she threatened him.

Preston felt a mighty dagger dig deep within his heart, puncturing a wound that could not be healed, "You have my word." He croaked.

You better hope I do. Candace thought.

—

She prepared all the papers, a bundle of stacked sheer white cards each holding decades of her life's work, more important than her own life.

Footsteps approached her but she was concentrating too hard to notice.

"What are you doing, mum?" She found herself jump at the sound of a voice. She glanced behind herself to find her son.

Why else would someone call me mum? Candace thought.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?" Candace mentally slapped her forehead.

Rule number one for lying: NEVER say nowhere, nothing or everything.

"Mum, you sure?" Duncan asked dubiously.

"Yes, yes." She assured him a tad bit too eagerly, "I just have some important things to do, so I'd really appreciate it if you didn't disturb me today. I've already cooked you dinner, it's in the fridge. Feel free to eat without me!" She flashed him a calm smile.

"Okay, mum." Duncan smiled at his mother and began to walk out of the room, "And mum," He turned around and spoke, "if you're going on a date, just know I'm perfectly okay with it as long as he makes you happy."

Candace felt heat rise up to her cheeks while a scarlet shade tinted them.

"Duncan." She approached him slowly, "No man can ever replace your dad. No man ever will. And besides I'm too old to date anyone."

Duncan shook his head, "No you're not. You're like thirty." Candace laughed wholeheartedly at her son, it had been a long time since she had laughed like that.

"Now, it doesn't matter how old I am, I'm just not ready." She gave him a pat on the back, "Go do your homework or do whatever children do these days."

"Okay!"

Duncan left the quarters in a hurry.

Now I can't go through the front doors or my son will think: one, I'm a liar. And two, I'm going on a date.

"TPRP." She commanded her personal monitor.

The robotic voice answered back, "Which exit, Ms. Specimen?"

"Exit 4." She placed her hand on the scanner and watched the tile below the glass cabinet slide open, making the cabinet lift up.

Stealthily, Candace climbed down the ladder that reached the fourth basement, the basement no one knew existed except her and Clove Specimen, her brother. After all, it was Clove who built it.

"Lights." Luminous light sprouted out of the spheres hanging from the ceiling.

"Been a long time since I've been here." She whispered to herself and began trudging towards the fourth exit, which was at the end of the hallway of the fourth basement.

A vibration on her side made her pull out her portable device, an unknown number was calling. But to her it was not unknown.

"Is patient 1B ready." Her mechanical voice commanded, it was not a question, more like a demand.

"Yes Ms. Specimen."

Good. She thought, "I'll be there in ten minutes."

"And the parents?" Asked the male voice.

"Kill them."

—

Sorry for the late update, but I hope it was worth it. I was actually planning to introduce patients 1B but I guess I changed my mind (hehe).