[WARNING: The following chapters could be disturbing for some people, so read at your own risk. I don't know what I was thinking while writing this chapter.]
[EARTH]
[3rd POV]
The sudden attention from Andreas grew the tension in the air, which was already palpable.
Dr. Benjamin tried his best to keep a composed posture while hiding his trembling hands behind his back.
After a moment of silence, Andreas calmly sat in the seat while his arms rested on the window railing as he watched the monitor.
Dr. Benjamin calmly stood behind on the left side of the seat and tried distracting his thoughts by watching Cecil.
"Benjamin, why do you think I named the pair of siblings Michael and Alicia?" Andreas leaned back and slightly turned his head towards Benjamin as he questioned him.
"Umm…Sir, I don't know the reason, but I am curious about it." Benjamin answered politely as he scratched his grey hair with his hand.
"It's a fascinating story for me. Actually, Michael and Alicia are the names of my uncle and aunt who wanted to kill me at every step of my life for the wealth my grandfather left for me after my parent's death. After their death, I was left alone, but I thought I would rather live my life to the fullest instead of lamenting. But Alas, those worms tried to kill me again and again. I wanted to leave them alone because I felt guilty, but they kept poking their noses in the wrong place. I couldn't bear it anymore. Do you know what I did to them? On a fine, beautiful day, I invited them to my mansion. I was 15 years old at that time, and I had put up with their harassment for five years by then. I thought that if I talked to them once, maybe we could get past this sour relationship. But the moment I saw their faces, I was overcome by anger because they looked so similar to my mother. Well, obviously, they would look similar because they were siblings. But regardless of that reason, I was really furious after seeing my mother's reflection on their faces."
Andreas's eerily calm voice, which had been monotonous until now, gradually gained excitement as his expressionless face turned into a wide grin.
He foretold the events as if he were narrating a saga.
Benjamin was on the edge throughout this ordeal.
His head spun from the influx of information that Andreas had never mentioned.
He had met Andreas 20 years ago and started working for him.
But even in the 20 years he had worked for him, Andreas had never mentioned about his personal life himself.
Benjamin grew anxious and terrified as he watched the crazy grin on Andreas's face, and his body trembled.
But suddenly, Andreas's expression turned sad, the weak expression contrasting the crazy smile he had shown before sent goosebumps to Benjamin.
"Unfortunately, I couldn't control my rage when I saw them. I don't know what happened to me, but suddenly, I had this urge to do something. So, in my anger, I just pushed them both into the piranha pool before we could even have a conversation. I accidentally used the last resort I had planned if the talk didn't go well, but I used it before we could even talk. After I realized what I had done, I couldn't help it, so I did the best thing I could think of for my mistake. I pushed half the food on the table in the pool in the hope that we could have a last amicable meal, and I started eating my food as I watched them eat it in the pool. But regrettably, they died before I could finish my meal. I was devastated. I made the food myself that day, yet they couldn't join me for a meal. I had to eat my dinner alone and was despondent that day. But the piranhas didn't abandon my food. They greedily savored the food I poured into the pool. The blood probably gave the food more flavor, and they enthusiastically devoured everything without leaving anything."
Andreas spoke solemnly and sorrowfully towards the end of the story.
But he quickly regained his spirit after remembering the piranhas.
His joyful face as he described the piranhas devouring the flesh made Benjamin's skin crawl.
Benjamin froze in fear as he tried his best to keep his composure and control his agitated heart.
The series of events Andreas narrated left him shocked, but he was distressed because he was being told this story.
"Benjamin, you once questioned me why I love piranhas, right? I hope you got the answer." Andreas smiled as he stated the answer.
Dr. Benjamin trembled and subconsciously took a step back.
"Benjamin, have you ever questioned the meaning of life?"
Andreas ignored Dr. Benjamin's terrified reaction and reverted to his usual solemn atmosphere as he questioned.
Benjamin still stood frozen as he tried to process the whole situation.
Andreas took a deep breath and continued to express his thoughts.
"You know, In the realm of our existence, an ordinary world surrounds us, where uniformity prevails at every turn. Monotony reigns as ordinary individuals navigate their lives, boldly asserting themselves as the epitome of the most advanced generation.
Every day, we claim the top position in the food chain with our measly lives. Have you ever wondered what someone way above the worldly affairs observing us is thinking?
Despite being heralded as the most advanced generation, we find ourselves ensnared in the relentless grip of conflict.
Our technological prowess and intellectual achievements starkly contrast with the persistent reality of war that clings to our era.
They kill and kill for their interests, but the greed never stops.
Professing a purported reverence for life, they, paradoxically, swiftly discard those very lives if they fail to align with their own.
Their avowal to cherish life stands at odds with the swift abandonment of those lives that fall beyond the confines of their ownership.
We don't have power as an individual.
Countries develop nuclear bombs and weapons and use them as they see fit.
Entangled in purposeless strife, we forsake genuine wisdom.
I lost my parents when I was ten years old.
Before losing them, I was nothing different from those ordinary people.
The day I lost them, I was devastated. I didn't talk to anyone about my grief, loneliness, guilt, or fear that was consuming my heart and soul.
I silently sat in the corner of the room as I remembered their lifeless bodies lying in front of my eyes.
The red color of the plush carpet in my room reminded me of the blood that seeped out of the knife wounds on their bodies. In my seclusion and fear, I found solace in books as I tried to escape reality.
I secluded myself in the library and took out a few books. I went through many books, but the most fascinating book for me was the first fantasy book I encountered.
I don't remember much, but my mind was blown away. I was a mere 10-year-old boy fascinated by a world that never existed about superpowers and immortality. The existence of an almighty immortal being with omnipotent powers gave me a thrill I never encountered in my life.
But that book made me realize a truth that everyone took for granted. If they can imagine a world with such extraordinary elements, why can't they build it? I was obsessed with my childhood desire.
I was so obsessed that I dreamt of being the most potent immortal being in the whole world.
The world under my feet, and I am the only ruler. I know everything that exists in the world. Every living organism reverses my existence, and I own the whole world.
When we first met, I was 12 years old. After meeting you, I had envisioned my dream to become a reality. I thought I could achieve my dreams if I had your genius brain.
I constructed this facility, abducting these young kids for your experiments and bringing these talented researchers under your command.
I did this all for just you.
Only You."
Andreas stood up and gently poked his finger on Benjamin's forehead.
Dr. Benjamin said nothing as his eyes darted across the ground.
"But 20 years. Twenty fucking years and I don't have the results I wanted. The crude data isn't even worth the millions I spent on this research.
I gave you everything you wanted, and the only things you gave were false promises.
Truthfully, my hopes for you were shattered in the first five years.
You wanna know why?
Look.
Look Inside."
Andreas leisurely walked back to his seat and turned his attention to the monitor as he observed Cecil inside the experiment room.
Cecil silently sat inside the room with his head bowed down.
The unkempt, long black hairs cascaded down the chair, covering his face.
His blue hospital gown was tattered in places, and the dark molds covered the cloth in various places.
His overgrowing, black, sharp nails added a ghastly aura to his lifeless body.
The pale white skin that was visible in some parts of his body was filled with a mixture of black, purple, and red patches all over his body.
The word abomination couldn't even describe the disgusting appearance visible, even confusing the spectators of whether the entity inside the room was a human or a monster.
******
A/N: This chapter will be necessary for the whole story, so I hope you don't drop the Novel. After the following two chapters, there will be no flashbacks for quite some time. I hope you bear with it.
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