[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, 2017]
[3rd POV]
The fact that Cecil didn't follow the orders to kill Amelia again was the final nail in the coffin.
Andreas and Dr. Benjamin exchanged no words after the failure of the experiment.
"Benjamin, can you guess what I am thinking?" Andreas asked Benjamin in an indifferent tone.
Dr. Benjamin had already concluded that since he had invested a considerable amount of time, the fact that he could be discarded at this point would be detrimental.
After calming his agitated mind and organizing his thoughts, he promptly replied to Andreas.
"The fact that emotions overridden the kill command you executed means that Cecil isn't completely following your orders. In conclusion, the experiment failed again." Benjamin answered calmly.
"Is that so? Do you think I was thinking about that?" Andreas questioned in an indifferent tone.
Before Dr. Benjamin could respond, Andreas continued picking up a file on the table.
"Do you think Kaizer and Alicia will show the same results?" Andreas continued his questions in a calm demeanor.
"They are five years old, which isn't much different from the situation of Cecil and Amelia. They will show similar results because the results you are searching for can only be seen in a monster. Creating a monster in human skin is impossible." Benjamin replied promptly.
"Is that what you make out after studying human emotions? You mean to say that if such an existence existed, it would not be a human but a monster." Andreas closed his eyes as he contemplated Benjamin's stance.
"Yes, Sir. No such monster can exist in this world. I would have been dead long ago if such a monster existed." Benjamin joked in order to ease the tense atmosphere.
"You would have died if such a thing existed, huh?" Andreas opened his eyes and briskly stood up.
The calm demeanor he adorned throughout the exchanges with Dr. Benjamin was nowhere to be found.
His previous expressionless face was etched with a crazy grin as he walked towards Dr. Benjamin.
Dr. Benjamin stood frozen after witnessing the crazy smile but heard a rather peculiar noise before he could contemplate the situation.
Splash...Drip…Drip…Drip
"The human body is really fragile, but my emotions are in disarray, so I hope you understand why this happened. No hard feelings, though." Andreas took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand carefully.
Benjamin stood still in confusion until he lowered his gaze towards the source of the sound.
His left shoulder.
There was nothing in the place where his left arm should be.
"Arghhh!" As he realized the situation, his face went paler, and an abrupt scream escaped his mouth.
He clenched his left side in horror as he looked back at Andreas.
Andreas just looked at him with a slight smile as if the crazy grin was just a moment of hallucination.
Benjamin's knees buckled, and he fell towards his side.
"Why?" He questioned in despair as he weakly raised his head.
"Don't you understand the reason for your death? I can't overlook your words. You said you would already be dead if such a monster existed, right?" Andreas calmly replied with a faint slime as he crouched before Benjamin.
He grabbed Benjamin's gray hairs with his left hand and raised his face towards himself.
Andreas looked at Benjamin's pale face with a crazed grin again and continued his words.
"You know, the reason for your death isn't the failures you accumulated but the fact that you called me a monster. Don't start with the, 'Oh…I didn't call you a monster', I know, silly, but I already know I am a monster. Remember I mentioned that after my parent's death, my grandfather left me the will? Well, I never mentioned who killed my parents. It was a somber day, and I still feel guilty about it. But I will stab that knife over and over again. Your expression is rather funny…haha…Yes, I killed them." Andreas mentioned the truth as his expression changed through various emotions.
Dr. Benjamin just stared at his dead eyes as he realized the gravity of the situation.
"But I have worked 20 years for you... Please save me." He pleaded in an earnest voice, but to his demise, the grin on Andreas's face just widened.
"Hahahahahahaha... Do you think that mere 20 years matter to me?... I have killed someone far close to me. Like I told you, I am the monster. I wanted to create someone just like me." Andreas retorted as his laughter filled the room.
"You fiend!!!... I have done so much for you!" Benjamin screamed in despair as he clutched his bleeding shoulder tightly.
"Fiend? Do you think there exists a difference between us when what we have done has already crossed all lines? And you were not even a pawn on my board, so don't think too highly of your work." Andreas replied bluntly as he let go of Benjamin's hair.
"Not even a pawn? Don't joke around!" Benjamin replied weakly as he crawled towards the wall.
"No, I am dead serious. The real pawns are the materials we are raising. Have you never wondered why the pawn can never advance to a king? Don't tell me that there can only be one king. I know, silly. Just think of a situation where you are the king, and your pawns can advance to become the king's pawns. They can act as a king for you. Isn't that amazing? I don't think you will understand something this complex. The future kings will only be serving the real king. Just think of a situation where you have many lives. Get the gist?" Andreas briskly replied as he turned his back to Benjamin.
"I have given my all for this research, all those years of struggle, you monster!" Benjamin screamed in despair as he struggled to maintain his consciousness.
"Given your everything? Oh! Yes, I heard you have two grandchildren. You haven't given them to me yet, and how can I forget your beautiful daughter and the mother of those kids? Let's have a good time tonight, shall we?" Andreas maintained a wide grin as he replied to Benjamin.
"No, No! Leave them alone! Please…Please…I beg you…" Benjamin lost consciousness amidst his screams of despair.
Andreas calmly turned his back and pressed the mic to call Carlos.
"Carlos, Clear the body." His voice was full of composure and calmness, contrary to his previous emotions.
"Yes, Sir," Carlos replied politely, quickly clearing the body.
After the body was removed, Andreas stood still for a brief period of silence.
"What do you think, Dr. Kyro?" Andreas's voice echoed inside the room as he returned his attention to Cecil, who was sitting inside the experiment room.
The question lingered inside the observation room for a moment.
"Hehehe…It was a hilarious show for an old man like me. Will I be discarded as well if I disappoint you...Hehehe." A creepy laugh broke the silence as an old man with a hunched back stepped forward slowly.
His face was marred with wrinkles and scars, and his bones creaked with every step he took.
"Do you think I won't do it?" Andreas addressed Dr. Kyro as he turned towards him.
"Hehehe…I am terrified…Would you like to see some results in a year?" Dr. Kyro sarcastically retorted as he leisurely walked towards Andreas.
They stood beside each other as they looked at Cecil through the window.
"Hehehe…He looks like an interesting specimen. I might be able to break him in a year. Or two? Who knows? I have a question: if a fantasy novel so appealed to you…Hehehe…sorry, I still can't take that seriously…Like I said, if you were so attracted by the idea of an immortal and powerful man, why don't we open a gate to another world? It sounds so funny, but I want to do it…Hehehehehehe." Dr. Kyro laughed as his bones creaked and his back shook. The room was filled with his laughter, full of madness.
"Do it," Andreas replied with a faint smile as the future he thought was bright and beautiful.
******
[Five years later]
[Nexus Entity, Earth, 2022]
[3rd POV]
"Huff…huff," a tired, gruff voice echoed inside the dimly lit room.
A young boy, seemingly of age 10, sat chained to a chair with his head bowed.
The chains constricted his body thoroughly so that even a tiny movement seemed impossible.
The hospital gown he wore was drenched in cold water, and his shoulder-long black hair covered most of his scarred face.
"hehehe…Kaizer? Kaizerrrrrr…Are you Awake? Don't you dare sleep on me…You know, I get furious when someone doesn't reply to me…Hello???... Oh, he is back!!!...hehe. Hi! I am everyone's favorite, Doctor Kyro!" Dr. Kyro paced in front of Kaizer as he announced.
Kaizer weakly raised his head in reply to the words.
Dr. Kyro's eyes gleamed as he looked at Kaizer's hazy eyes.
He realized that a little push would be enough to achieve the results with this specimen.
"Kaizer, why don't you watch this video? You see, that guy over there is Cecil, and the girl he is killing right now is or was his lover…Hehehe. Can you hear Amelia's screams? Let me increase the volume…that's too loud…hehe…this is perfect…Can you hear Amelia's scream better?" Dr. Kyro whispered in Kaizer's ear as he took hold of his hair.
"You know, you have lived with Alicia for just five years. Why not just follow the orders and kill her? Do you want to see her suffering the same fate? If you don't kill her, she will be tortured to my heart's content, so I am so waiting to hear Alicia's screams…hehe…will they both be on the same wavelength? Hehe...Kaizer? Hello? Uh…he lost consciousness again…Where's the cold water at?... Noooo!!!" Dr. Kyro screamed as he realized that the water bucket was empty.
"I will be back…hehe. Don't miss me too much." His words echoed inside the room as he leisurely walked towards the door.