"Wait wait wait... did you just say... experiment?"
Stella found herself breathless as the man who cared for her said something preposterous.
"What do you mean-"
"You don't know about them... but this man... It looks like he's one of them."
Stepping forward, Shane spoke with a slight tinge of fear in his voice, yet even with this fear he spoke with bravery in his tone.
"I don't know what deranged person created them... but this man must be one of the seven experimental creatures that ended up destroying humanity."
Speaking while he grit his teeth, Shane looked to the man with anger in his expression.
"I don't know what they actually are... but you said that this was your dad, right?"
"Ah... well, he was actually my adopted father... but yes.", Stella replied.
Looking back to the girl with a serious expression, Shane spoke up in a fearless tone.
"The one thing I can tell you for certain... is that these things are anything but human."
As Shane said this, Stella felt her heart twist.
'What... what does he mean by that?'
However as doubts began to flood her mind, the man who wore a white suit began to speak.
[Hahaha... well said, boy. After all... why would I want to be a human?]
Flashing a toothy grin, the man walked over to the desk as he grabbed the corpse which sat in it's chair, throwing the man to the side before sitting down himself, crossing one leg over the other as he took an elite stance.
Pushing up his glasses, the figure smiled as he raised both eyebrows at the three.
[Humans have such irrational emotions which control them... and that is exactly why they are so easy to predict.]
----
'What...'
Stella had known this man for two years.
'What... is he?'
She had lived with him.
He had cared for her and provided for her.
Even as she pursued such frivolous things, driving herself to ruin - this man was there as if to ground her back to reality.
He had not done anything to stop her, but he merely spoke his own opinion as she drove herself deeper and deeper into a corner.
He had called her a fool.
An idiot.
Yet in all these things, he was correct.
Stella knew this, yet she ignored it as she continued to do what she wished, needlessly pursuing such unnecessary goals.
'How... could this man not be human?'
As strange as he was, never before had it even occurred to her that the man who was providing for her was never a man to begin with.
[Ah, you are now filled with doubt. If I had to guess, you are likely confused as to how I could possibly not be human. Let me inform you then.]
With a grin, the man thinned his eyes as he folded his hands on the desk.
[I killed the owner of this body and stole it from him.]
"Eh?"
Stella's eyes widened as the man made such a statement, and she stepped back in fear.
"You... what?"
[Ah, but do not fret. I killed this man before I met you. You see, he was a retired military Commander who ended up becoming a psychologist. After all… after reading the minds and strategies of so many on numerous battlefields… it makes sense that one would be able to read even the hearts of humans with ease.]
Spreading his hands as if to grasp the entire world within them, the man exerted an aura of gluttony unlike anything Stella had ever experienced.
[I decided that starting in such a position would be quite beneficial, and it would make my actions appear to be reasonable. It was all... calculated.]
With a grin, the man slicked back his hair with his hand as he continued.
[After all, what better position is there to study human behavior than that of a psychologist?]
"You... I... I knew that you were using me... but... to think...."
[Is there something that disturbs you? Perhaps you are appalled at the fact that I am not a human? But I never once tried to act the same as a human. Nor do I ever recall even so much as claiming to be human.]
"Claiming... to be human? What... What does that have to do with it? If you weren't human... then that's something you should've told me... right? You were in a human body, living in human society. What else would I think except that you were a human!?"
Stella shouted out at the man in retribution, however as the girl shouted at him the man merely laughed.
[Haha... so I was supposed to just tell you that I was not human? However, that would have been dangerous to myself. If you did not believe me, then you would think of me as a lunatic and likely either run off or involve some unnecessary human authorities. If you did believe me on the other hand, then what WOULD you have done?]
"I..."
Stella was frozen at the words of the creature.
What would she have done?
[Would you have left?]
"I..."
[Would you have gone back to your HUMAN family?]
"Stop..."
[Would you have returned to the humans simply because they were the same as you?]
"Stop..."
Tears came to the eyes of the girl, however the man soon stood up from the desk.
Then, Stella felt a hand on her shoulder.
[There is no need to think so hard. The humans who gave birth to you are the same ones who abandoned you. Then why would you care so much about abandoning humanity?]
"What are you saying!?"
As Stella looked up to the man who spoke with sincerity, Gordon shouted out as he interrupted the man's speech.
"Abandoning humanity... such a thing... What are you even talking about? Stella, it's true that there are many horrible people in this world. I... I know from personal experience that there are many people whose very existence disgusts me. But... I know more than anyone that even someone who is considered a monster can be an exceptional person."
The insane girl flashed in the mind of Gordon as he spoke, causing him to smile lightly as he recalled such a person.
Stepping forward with a smile, Gordon looked up to Number 2 with a confident grin.
"Just because you aren't a human doesn't mean that you're good or evil. But in the same way, just because you're a human doesn't mean that you are good or evil either. That all depends... on your actions."
As he was faced with the baseless confidence of the boy, Number Two turned to face him with a grand smile.
[Excellent, my boy. That is exactly correct. If only there were more humans... who understood this.]
Turning around with his hands folded, the man then walked towards the stairways, closing his eyes as he spoke.
[Yet there are not.]
Turning back to face the three, the man looked at them with an inquisitive expression.
[Are you not all coming? I wish to show you the hidden nature of humanity. If you wish to see the actions which were performed by a human, then follow me. If you wish to remain in your blissful ignorance.... then I suppose I have no use for you. Which will it be?]
At that moment, as the man said these words, a chill was sent through the room.
'I suppose I have no use for you.'
These words played themselves in the minds of the three, who froze on hearing them.
'He... does he mean what I think he does?'
Stepping forth, Shane found himself unable to reject the proposal.
'No... there is no point thinking about such a thing.'
'He is one of them.'
'Of course he does.'
[Come now, all three of you. If you do not wish to see the truth of this world, then I will slaughter all of you and find new subjects to observe.]
----
Marcus led Sylvia and Amy up that spiral staircase, exiting that place of torture with all haste.
As they ascended the staircase in silence, the two adults each held one hand of the girl, gripping her as if she would try and run off at any moment.
However as they ascended this staircase, they soon heard the footsteps of another party.
"Wait..."
Holding out his hand to stop the two, Marcus glared towards the top of the staircase as the footsteps grew louder.
And then, turning around the corner, a man appeared.
He carried himself with grace as he glided down the stairs, stopping before Marcus with a strangely satisfied expression.
He wore a pristine white suit with a purple tie, and his black hair was slicked back in a professional manner.
He wore glasses, which he fixed with the press of his middle finger as he faced Marcus.
[I see that you are doing reasonably well, Seven.]
'Eh?'
'What... did this man just say?'
Marcus was filled with confusion as the man referred to him as Seven.
Then, appearing from behind this man were the three other children.
Shane, Gordon, and Stella.
'Why is this man with these three?'
'Why does he know about Number Seven?'
Questions flowed through the mind of Marcus as he found himself facing such a man, yet it was at that moment that a mouth formed from the side of the neck of Marcus.
[Who are you?]
Speaking out with a suspicious tone, Number Seven took the initiative without so much as bothering to let Marcus take part.
The man thinned his eyes with a smug grin, holding out his hands as he chuckled.
[Heh.... who do you think I am, Seven?]
[You... ah... that tone... haha... you're Number Two, are you not?]
[It is I.]
[Hahaha!! To think I'd find you and One so quickly... This is going far better than anticipated. Ah, how is the progress with your host?]
As the two began to speak to one another, Marcus found himself unable to butt into the conversation.
For he held no place in it.
Despite the fact that they discussed matters which directly involved him, Marcus had been slain just moments before for interrupting one of these experiments.
'They... are beyond my control.'
'Anything which they do... I can only sit and watch.'
Marcus felt his heart wrench as his own powerlessness overwhelmed him, and it irritated him beyond belief to be forced into such a position.
'How many times... have I been unable to do anything but watch as those above me did as they pleased?'
[Oh... the progress with my host... eh? Seven, you should already know that I have no interest in playing with a host as you do.]
[What do you mean by that?]
As Number Two replied with a smirk, Number Seven spoke out with suspicion, however this was met with the grand expression of the one known as experiment Number Two.
[I have no intention to play with my host as you are. I killed this man as soon as I read his memories and took the body for myself. He was not someone who I had any intention... to mold. And yet… it would seem that I have become much more like him as a result of this. I suppose that is the benefit of not killing off your host… in that you are not forced to change yourself.]
[I see. Then do you plan on finding a permanent host, or will you keep your current one?]
[I see no reason to find another host.]
With this statement, the man then notioned to the children behind him.
[I was in the middle of teaching my daughter and these other children an important lesson. I presume you've taken care of the man already?]
[Oh! I did! I didn't let him die easily though. I tortured him until he slowly bled out.]
Forming on the cheek of Sylvia, a mouth with the cheerful voice of Number One spoke up, to which Number Two placed his hand on his chin with a nod.
[I see. Very good. Such a man who intended to perform such vile actions to my daughter should not be allowed to die in peace.]
[Wait just a minute, Number Two. Did you just say your daughter?]
Speaking up with continued suspicion, Number Seven questioned Number Two.
[Ah... I suppose I haven't introduced her. See now, while I was exploring the human world I decided to take in a girl in order to study human behavior. And by human standards, when a man is providing for a woman who is far younger than him, that is considered to be a father and daughter relationship.]
[Two... you didn't tell any of us about this? What is this all about?]
[Am I obligated to update you with every detail of my actions?]
Number Two and Number Seven seemed to face off with one another, and an icy atmosphere enveloped the stairway.
'What... is this?'
Marcus found himself overtaken by an aura of power, unable to even so much as move as the two seemed to clash momentarily.
[You seem to be awfully independant. Do you intend to betray me and disrupt my plan?]
[Seven, I hate that man as much as you do. Do you think I would do such a thing?]
Sparks flew, and every single person present in that hallway felt as if they were choking under the immense pressure which the two created.
Unable to even breathe, suffocation overcame them as they widened their eyes in fear towards the monsters who conversed with one another.
'What... are these things...', Stella wondered. 'How... can such power... exist?'
And then, glancing back to Stella, Number Two spoke with a grin.
[Ah... please calm down, humans. There is no need to worry. After all, unlike this one I have no hatred towards your entire race. Only those among you who are similar to that man.]
----
[Heh... you've softened from your time in the world. Have you become attached to a human?]
[In a sense, yes. However the human who I have become attached to is no saint. She is a fool, unreasonably jealous, and excessively competitive. Just seeing someone with more than she has is enough to drive her to extreme measures, therefore by no means is she a 'good human'.]
[You don't appear very attached to her. Why then, would you take on such HUMAN terms to describe your relationship?]
Number Seven spoke with disdain, as if the very concept of using human terms like father and daughter was disgusting.
[Oh... that much is simple. I found it... laughable.]
[Laughable?]
The strange mouth which Number Seven spoke from twisted with confusion as he was met with this response, however the man then continued to speak with pride.
[Yes. I found it laughable. After researching human society for as many years as I was in it, I found that parenthood is considered to be a sacred profession, to an extent. Being a mother or a father is considered to be some sort of wonderful occupation, and they are seen as figures of LOVE and COMPASSION. However, despite this, do you realize what I witnessed when I entered human society?]
[What did you witness?]
Motioning to the girl with his hand, Number 2's expression became grim as he spoke with a deep tone.
[Desolation and abandonment.]
Placing his hand on the head of the girl, the man spoke with a serious expression as he continued.
[Not only from the parents of this girl, but from parents all over the world I saw one thing. They were USING their children for their own personal benefit. And so I merely... copied them. The only difference was how upforth I was about such a thing.]
[I want my child to get into a good school and become successful so I can brag about him to others.]
[I want my child to become famous and popular so that I will be recognized as the one who made such a great person.]
[I want my child to follow in my own footsteps, and to achieve things that I was never able to achieve.]
As he spoke with a grim tone, a deadly expression overcame the face of the man as he looked forward with absolute disdain.
[While these things were never said... these were the EMOTIONS that I read from almost every parent I met.]
As if he was about to spit, the man seemed to look down with an unprecedented arrogance unlike anything Marcus had ever witnessed.
[And it disgusted me.]
Placing his hand to his face, Number 2's expression became tinted with madness as he smiled to himself, his arrogance soon turning to madness.
[Being able to sense such emotions from all those around me.... hahaha.... it was tormenting. Such high expectations... such judgemental nature... It reminded me all too much... of THAT MAN. And human society was FILLED with it.]
----