Abel barely reaches the tram, slipping through the already closing doors. He scans the ticket and sits down to the nearest free seat. After catching his breath he digs out his pocket mirror from his bag and checks if his hair is in order and if his face is clean. He wipes some sweat off his face with handkerchief and ruffles his hair before putting the mirror into his chest pocket. A little girl who's sitting next to him and whom he only now notices stares at him in awe.
"Is there something on my face or something, kiddo?", he asks as he reaches into his bag, reaching for his notebook. The girl startles.
"Uh, no, mister. Sorry for staring". Abel smiles at the girl, grabs the small pen attached to his notebook and starts drawing.
"It's-it's just that you look like a soldier, mister. A good, beautiful soldier that helps people", she blurts, still staring but turning her eyes away every time he glances at her.
After a couple of minutes of silence Abel rips the page he was drawing on from his notebook, handing it to the girl. Her eyes start glimmering as she sees what's on it - a detailed yet clearly hastily drawn picture of a hummingbird.
"That's not a soldier you're describing, kid, that's a knight. And on the paper there, that's a hummingbird and he's yours. Take care of him". The girl looks to him, then to the paper, to him again and her face lights up. She gives him the biggest smile she possibly can before hugging the paper tightly.
"Oh, look at that, it's my stop already", he mentions, standing up from his seat. As he steps out of the tram the girl shouts: "Thanks, mister knight!", and in response he raises his index and middle finger to his forehead, almost like a soldier greets his superiors, and turns his hand towards her, hearing a joyous giggle in response.
As the tram continues its run Abel glances at his wrist watch. 'Crap, I'm late', he thinks to himself, 'it's already four-fifty'. He holds his bag to his chest, takes deep breath and begins running as fast he can.
The clock strikes five as he reaches the coffee shop. At one of the tables in the window sits Kato, looking like he's been there for at least ten minutes. He looks through the window, seemingly daydreaming, and flashes a big smile as soon as he notices Abel who stands outside, trying to hide the signs of running most of the way there.
Once Abel's near enough to the door Kato gets up and runs to hug him as if he hadn't seen him in years. The white of his cheerful smile creates a stark contrast to his dark skin.
"I hope you don't mind but I already ordered some tea for us. This is for you, catch!", he tells, throwing an unopened can of energy drink towards him. Abel twitches but manages to grab the can.
"Green tea flavor, huh", he responds as he checks the label. "Thanks".
"No problem, amigo".
Kato pulls a thin folder from the bag sitting on the floor next to his chair and hands it to Abel.
"I'm really glad you're helping me out with these. Since you're leading the project you're the only person besides me to be allowed to see them", he explains, seemingly relieved as Abel goes through the files.
"It's fine. Besides, it's better for me to be up-to-date with your branch", Abel replies and nods to the waiter as she brings them tea. He takes a sip, fills it up with some energy drink and drinks some more.
After Kato takes his first gulp he grabs the can and pours some for himself.
"Damn, that's hot. Good, though, but hot", he announces, and takes another gulp. "You can really taste the green tea in this. A weird combination, but I guess it works". Abel chuckles.
"So then, let's get to work".
keskiviikko 30. joulukuuta 2015
sunnuntai 20. joulukuuta 2015
Chapter 4
>>Kato? ... You there?>>
Cassandra listens intently to Abel talking on his phone, trying to catch as much of it as she can. She hates not knowing what he does, where he goes and whom he's with. She shudders as the traumatic memories of childhood abuse flood her mind as soon as Abel stops talking.
>>...Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Still up for tonight? ... Great! Great. I'm glad.>>
Cassandra frowns as she sees Abel blushing. She fears that she might have to be by herself all night. The loss of control, the unpredictability of dreams and being the only one to face it is too much for her to face alone.
>>The cinema, six-thirty, I'll get the tickets but the dinner's on you. Deal? ... You already got the tickets? Dinner's apparently on me, then.>>
After hearing his plans Cassandra feels slightly relieved. She goes through them in her head, filling in the blanks the best she can. Still quite stressed, she grabs the pack of cigarettes and skull-patterned flip lighter from her back pockets and lights one after putting it on her lips. She knows Abel hates cigarette smoke but it's the only way for her to feel better at the moment.
>>Oh, no need for that. Just bring them with you and I'll help. Mike's Coffee Shop, five o'clock? ... Hey, no sweat. I'd be glad to do it. ... Wait just a second, I can smell something burning.>>
Abel puts his phone down on a cupboard and turns his face to Cassandra. As he sees her smoking indoors his expression changes rapidly, from a blissful smile to a cold, disapproving glare.
"Cass, why are you smoking inside? I thought I told you to quit smoking, or at least do it outside".
Cassandra looks back to him with no sign of remorse,
"Your fault for stressing me out like that you old bastard. I thought you'll be out all night".
Abel sighs. "You're right. But you shouldn't eavesdrop on others' phone calls like that. If I promise to come home by midnight, will you please go outside?".
"Fine", Cassandra replies. She grabs her bag and rushes out of the main entrance.
Abel looks at what she does for a while before he realizes he's still on the line.
>>God, sorry, I almost forgot. I'm still here. ... Please don't call me old. You're not exactly a teenager yourself. ... Heh, I know. Anyways, if you don't mind I have some papers to fill. I'll see you later.>>
He taps the End-button on his phone, tucks it in his breast pocket and breathes out deeply. He's angry and frustrated at himself for not being able to tell Kato how he feels, even after knowing him for over three years. He turns his gaze to the computer screen which shows video feed from every room in the testing area. The test subjects, the twins, are in the play room at the moment, reading the note he'd hid for them earlier. He wonders if he's doing the right thing but tries to stand behind what he put in motion.
When the hands of the clock on the wall reach four-thirty Abel starts packing his things. He suggests that Cassandra should stop working for the day too and head home. He smiles as she nods reluctantly, and starts heading home.
Once he gets there he throws his bag on his bed and checks if he looks all right from the mirror before hurrying to the front door again. As soon as he gets the door open he realizes he's still wearing his lab coat, with a comical t-shirt and cargo shorts under it. He takes them off hastily and leaves them all over the floor, then grabs the casual suit he put neatly on his night stand the night before. He then grabs his trusty, black leather jacket from the closet, wraps a red knit scarf around his neck, hangs his bag over his shoulder and runs out of the door, desperately trying to make it to the next tram.
Cassandra listens intently to Abel talking on his phone, trying to catch as much of it as she can. She hates not knowing what he does, where he goes and whom he's with. She shudders as the traumatic memories of childhood abuse flood her mind as soon as Abel stops talking.
>>...Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Still up for tonight? ... Great! Great. I'm glad.>>
Cassandra frowns as she sees Abel blushing. She fears that she might have to be by herself all night. The loss of control, the unpredictability of dreams and being the only one to face it is too much for her to face alone.
>>The cinema, six-thirty, I'll get the tickets but the dinner's on you. Deal? ... You already got the tickets? Dinner's apparently on me, then.>>
After hearing his plans Cassandra feels slightly relieved. She goes through them in her head, filling in the blanks the best she can. Still quite stressed, she grabs the pack of cigarettes and skull-patterned flip lighter from her back pockets and lights one after putting it on her lips. She knows Abel hates cigarette smoke but it's the only way for her to feel better at the moment.
>>Oh, no need for that. Just bring them with you and I'll help. Mike's Coffee Shop, five o'clock? ... Hey, no sweat. I'd be glad to do it. ... Wait just a second, I can smell something burning.>>
Abel puts his phone down on a cupboard and turns his face to Cassandra. As he sees her smoking indoors his expression changes rapidly, from a blissful smile to a cold, disapproving glare.
"Cass, why are you smoking inside? I thought I told you to quit smoking, or at least do it outside".
Cassandra looks back to him with no sign of remorse,
"Your fault for stressing me out like that you old bastard. I thought you'll be out all night".
Abel sighs. "You're right. But you shouldn't eavesdrop on others' phone calls like that. If I promise to come home by midnight, will you please go outside?".
"Fine", Cassandra replies. She grabs her bag and rushes out of the main entrance.
Abel looks at what she does for a while before he realizes he's still on the line.
>>God, sorry, I almost forgot. I'm still here. ... Please don't call me old. You're not exactly a teenager yourself. ... Heh, I know. Anyways, if you don't mind I have some papers to fill. I'll see you later.>>
He taps the End-button on his phone, tucks it in his breast pocket and breathes out deeply. He's angry and frustrated at himself for not being able to tell Kato how he feels, even after knowing him for over three years. He turns his gaze to the computer screen which shows video feed from every room in the testing area. The test subjects, the twins, are in the play room at the moment, reading the note he'd hid for them earlier. He wonders if he's doing the right thing but tries to stand behind what he put in motion.
When the hands of the clock on the wall reach four-thirty Abel starts packing his things. He suggests that Cassandra should stop working for the day too and head home. He smiles as she nods reluctantly, and starts heading home.
Once he gets there he throws his bag on his bed and checks if he looks all right from the mirror before hurrying to the front door again. As soon as he gets the door open he realizes he's still wearing his lab coat, with a comical t-shirt and cargo shorts under it. He takes them off hastily and leaves them all over the floor, then grabs the casual suit he put neatly on his night stand the night before. He then grabs his trusty, black leather jacket from the closet, wraps a red knit scarf around his neck, hangs his bag over his shoulder and runs out of the door, desperately trying to make it to the next tram.
lauantai 12. joulukuuta 2015
Chapter 3
As Abel hurries outside of his house he notices the tram leaving the stop. He starts running as fast as he can and manages to catch the last cart on the next stop. His face twists into a slight grimace as in his calves begins an intense burn from running too long and too fast. He sits down in a free seat after scanning his ticket and tries to ease the pain by rubbing the muscles where it's the most intense.
He grabs a small notebook sealed in a plastic box from his purse as soon as the pain begins to fade. 'I know you don't know me, but there's something you need to know. It isn't safe in there. Your lives aren't yours', he writes in it. 'You need to get out of there. I've prepared an escape route. Tonight at 11pm, get to the Eastern door. Behind it, there's a hallway that leads to the fire exit. I've put two sets of new clothes and tram tickets in there. Get to the King's Town Station. I'll be there, wearing a black leather jacket and a red scarf. Trust no one else. I'll explain everything once we're in the clear. This note is water-soluble'.
"I hope this works", Abel thinks to himself. He's been the Head Scientist in the Genetics department of what's officially known as Medical Research Labs for ten years, ever since the previous Head Scientist retired. "I can't bring Cass into this. I've been working on this by myself for too long. She'd be in serious danger if either one of us was found out".
He's so deep in his thoughts and worries he almost misses his stop. He manages to jump off as the trams speeds up. As soon as he realizes Cassandra is waiting for him in front of the lab he hides the note in his pocket and hopes she didn't notice it. Fortunately for him, she's too concentrated on the portable game console she brought with her to see anything else.
"What are you doing here, Cass? Shouldn't you be inside?", he asks, and tries his best to look puzzled.
"Don't judge me, Abs. I don't want to be around those obnoxious people any longer than I have to", Cassandra snaps back as she quits the game and puts it in her pocket.
"Abs, huh".
"Yeah, so? Let's just get in there before we're late". She grabs Abel's arm and practically pulls him with her through the door, even though he's much larger than she is. "It's eight already? Shoot, the twins must be up already. Get the damn breakfast ready for them, I'll turn the cameras on".
Abel never liked prying into someone else's personal life, let alone monitoring them around the clock. But after doing it to the same people for seventeen years, even since they were born, made it somehow easier for him. Until recently he'd considered it part of the job.
He sets his bag down on a table next to him, opens the fridge and pulls two plates of food out of it. He removes the plastic wrapping and puts them both in a grand microwave to heat them up. He isn't sure what each of them contains, all he knows for sure is that it's supposed to have as little effect on their research as possible.
Once the microwave starts beeping as a sign that it's done heating the food, he sets the plates on a tray, slips the note he'd put in his pocket under one of them and grabs two sets of cutlery from a cupboard.
"Cass, mind opening the door?", he asks, and gets a slight nod as a response. He steps through a sliding door into what looks like a dining room and puts down each of the meals nicely in front of two lone chairs. He hears laughter from behind the locked door farthest from him. He stares at it for a moment, sighs and prays he's doing the right thing before going back the way he came to the research area.
He grabs a small notebook sealed in a plastic box from his purse as soon as the pain begins to fade. 'I know you don't know me, but there's something you need to know. It isn't safe in there. Your lives aren't yours', he writes in it. 'You need to get out of there. I've prepared an escape route. Tonight at 11pm, get to the Eastern door. Behind it, there's a hallway that leads to the fire exit. I've put two sets of new clothes and tram tickets in there. Get to the King's Town Station. I'll be there, wearing a black leather jacket and a red scarf. Trust no one else. I'll explain everything once we're in the clear. This note is water-soluble'.
"I hope this works", Abel thinks to himself. He's been the Head Scientist in the Genetics department of what's officially known as Medical Research Labs for ten years, ever since the previous Head Scientist retired. "I can't bring Cass into this. I've been working on this by myself for too long. She'd be in serious danger if either one of us was found out".
He's so deep in his thoughts and worries he almost misses his stop. He manages to jump off as the trams speeds up. As soon as he realizes Cassandra is waiting for him in front of the lab he hides the note in his pocket and hopes she didn't notice it. Fortunately for him, she's too concentrated on the portable game console she brought with her to see anything else.
"What are you doing here, Cass? Shouldn't you be inside?", he asks, and tries his best to look puzzled.
"Don't judge me, Abs. I don't want to be around those obnoxious people any longer than I have to", Cassandra snaps back as she quits the game and puts it in her pocket.
"Abs, huh".
"Yeah, so? Let's just get in there before we're late". She grabs Abel's arm and practically pulls him with her through the door, even though he's much larger than she is. "It's eight already? Shoot, the twins must be up already. Get the damn breakfast ready for them, I'll turn the cameras on".
Abel never liked prying into someone else's personal life, let alone monitoring them around the clock. But after doing it to the same people for seventeen years, even since they were born, made it somehow easier for him. Until recently he'd considered it part of the job.
He sets his bag down on a table next to him, opens the fridge and pulls two plates of food out of it. He removes the plastic wrapping and puts them both in a grand microwave to heat them up. He isn't sure what each of them contains, all he knows for sure is that it's supposed to have as little effect on their research as possible.
Once the microwave starts beeping as a sign that it's done heating the food, he sets the plates on a tray, slips the note he'd put in his pocket under one of them and grabs two sets of cutlery from a cupboard.
"Cass, mind opening the door?", he asks, and gets a slight nod as a response. He steps through a sliding door into what looks like a dining room and puts down each of the meals nicely in front of two lone chairs. He hears laughter from behind the locked door farthest from him. He stares at it for a moment, sighs and prays he's doing the right thing before going back the way he came to the research area.
tiistai 8. joulukuuta 2015
Chapter 2
Cassandra wakes up as the smell of fresh-brewed coffee wafts through the air. She realizes that Abel is no longer in the bed with her, gets lazily out of the bed and shambles into the kitchen. As she sees Abel sitting at the table, his back towards her and preoccupied with today's newspaper, she frowns.
"The coffee's burning", she murmurs as she reaches in a cupboard to get herself a coffee cup.
Abel turns the page and takes a sip from his own cup which contains a mix of green tea and cheap energy drink. "Hmh"
"You don't care at all, do you? You coffee-hater".
"True".
Cassandra picks up Abel's cup and takes a gulp. "Tastes like pisswater", she states as she puts it back down.
Abel chuckles. "Hah, if only. We have to be in the lab in an hour so drink it up and get dressed".
Cassandra sits down at the table next to Abel and tries to glance at the newspaper in his hands. Every time she gets a little bit closer he pulls the paper closer to his face so she can only see the front page. She sees a major article about the president's daughter's birthday party and decides that she's read enough news for the day. After finishing her coffee she stands up, sets the cup down in the sink and raises her arm as a sign of leaving the room, calling out: "Thanks for the coffee, Abby, dinner's on me".
"Ugh, Cass, stop calling me that", Abel groans. Cassandra responds by sticking her tongue out at him.
"Admit it. You like it, don't you?".
"Even if I did it wouldn't matter. Come up with another nickname if you have to but Abby is off limits", Abel denounces, and sighs. He sets the newspaper aside and leans his forehead to his hands. His mind fills with worries and regrets and he's barely able to stop them from interfering with his plans for the day. He reminds himself of where he should be and when, of the location of his keys and passcodes and the people he's supposed to meet.
Once he's sure he's ready, he hits the table with both of his hands and hurries to the bathroom where Cassandra is taking a shower.
"Sheesh, learn to knock", she snaps. Abel pulls out his razor from under the sink and starts shaving the beard he's grown in mere days. Cassandra steps out of the shower and after wrapping a towel around herself and her hair she grabs a pair of hair scissors from a nearby stand
"At least you're not going bald", she reminds him as she begins cutting his hair to an 'acceptable' length, as he tends to say.
After they're done Abel takes a quick shower and Cassandra puts on the clothes she had set for herself by the bathroom door.
"I'll go now and get things ready, hurry up", she tells Abel as she runs out of the door. Abel nods, and after washing himself thoroughly he dries himself with a towel, suits up, grabs his man-purse and hurries to the front door.
"The coffee's burning", she murmurs as she reaches in a cupboard to get herself a coffee cup.
Abel turns the page and takes a sip from his own cup which contains a mix of green tea and cheap energy drink. "Hmh"
"You don't care at all, do you? You coffee-hater".
"True".
Cassandra picks up Abel's cup and takes a gulp. "Tastes like pisswater", she states as she puts it back down.
Abel chuckles. "Hah, if only. We have to be in the lab in an hour so drink it up and get dressed".
Cassandra sits down at the table next to Abel and tries to glance at the newspaper in his hands. Every time she gets a little bit closer he pulls the paper closer to his face so she can only see the front page. She sees a major article about the president's daughter's birthday party and decides that she's read enough news for the day. After finishing her coffee she stands up, sets the cup down in the sink and raises her arm as a sign of leaving the room, calling out: "Thanks for the coffee, Abby, dinner's on me".
"Ugh, Cass, stop calling me that", Abel groans. Cassandra responds by sticking her tongue out at him.
"Admit it. You like it, don't you?".
"Even if I did it wouldn't matter. Come up with another nickname if you have to but Abby is off limits", Abel denounces, and sighs. He sets the newspaper aside and leans his forehead to his hands. His mind fills with worries and regrets and he's barely able to stop them from interfering with his plans for the day. He reminds himself of where he should be and when, of the location of his keys and passcodes and the people he's supposed to meet.
Once he's sure he's ready, he hits the table with both of his hands and hurries to the bathroom where Cassandra is taking a shower.
"Sheesh, learn to knock", she snaps. Abel pulls out his razor from under the sink and starts shaving the beard he's grown in mere days. Cassandra steps out of the shower and after wrapping a towel around herself and her hair she grabs a pair of hair scissors from a nearby stand
"At least you're not going bald", she reminds him as she begins cutting his hair to an 'acceptable' length, as he tends to say.
After they're done Abel takes a quick shower and Cassandra puts on the clothes she had set for herself by the bathroom door.
"I'll go now and get things ready, hurry up", she tells Abel as she runs out of the door. Abel nods, and after washing himself thoroughly he dries himself with a towel, suits up, grabs his man-purse and hurries to the front door.
maanantai 7. joulukuuta 2015
Chapter 1
Abel sits on the edge of his bed, his laptop on top of his legs, eyes fixed to the screen that glows in the darkness. Determined to perfect his monthly report to his superior officer, he refuses to fall asleep. He continues staring into the light despite the sudden push to his upper back as Cassandra lazily drops herself on him.
"Abel, please, come to sleep... It's already three in the morning...", she pleads. Nothing.
"I can't sleep if you aren't there with me..."
Cassandra leans forward, slowly but surely, eventually making Abel's forehead touch the screen. Still no reaction. She gets increasingly frustrated for the lack of attention that he's giving her. She squeezes around his shoulders as roughly as she can.
"You old bastard, stop ruining my sleep cycle and come to sleep already...", she insists and grabs Abel's shoulders. She attempts pulling him back and after only succeeding in getting him only a few degrees farther away from the screen she hits his back with her fists and crawls closer to the wall, waiting for Abel to finally go to sleep with her.
"... Ouch, that hurt. Cass, was that really necessary?", Abel whines after a couple of minutes of silence, "I really had to finish that paper, you know".
"Your fault for not paying attention to me. Come here right now and let me sleep", Cassandra demands. She tries to sound as convincing as she can despite barely being able to keep her eyes open.
Abel lets out a deep sigh. He brushes back the stray locks of hair that got loose from his ponytail and sets his laptop aside. He takes off his sweater and jeans and crawls under the sheets. As Cassandra climbs on top of him he groans: "Quit jabbing me with your elbow! It stings!".
"Stop whining, grandpa. I want to sleep", Cassandra hisses as she sets herself comfortably on top of Abel's chest.
"Psh. Grandpa, me? I'm only 42 you know.", Abel remarks. "I almost wish you were a guy, Cass. Perhaps then I'd go to bed earlier".
Cassandra frowns. "If I were a guy I'd still be into women. Now, sleep, or I'll cut your damn tongue off".
"Abel, please, come to sleep... It's already three in the morning...", she pleads. Nothing.
"I can't sleep if you aren't there with me..."
Cassandra leans forward, slowly but surely, eventually making Abel's forehead touch the screen. Still no reaction. She gets increasingly frustrated for the lack of attention that he's giving her. She squeezes around his shoulders as roughly as she can.
"You old bastard, stop ruining my sleep cycle and come to sleep already...", she insists and grabs Abel's shoulders. She attempts pulling him back and after only succeeding in getting him only a few degrees farther away from the screen she hits his back with her fists and crawls closer to the wall, waiting for Abel to finally go to sleep with her.
"... Ouch, that hurt. Cass, was that really necessary?", Abel whines after a couple of minutes of silence, "I really had to finish that paper, you know".
"Your fault for not paying attention to me. Come here right now and let me sleep", Cassandra demands. She tries to sound as convincing as she can despite barely being able to keep her eyes open.
Abel lets out a deep sigh. He brushes back the stray locks of hair that got loose from his ponytail and sets his laptop aside. He takes off his sweater and jeans and crawls under the sheets. As Cassandra climbs on top of him he groans: "Quit jabbing me with your elbow! It stings!".
"Stop whining, grandpa. I want to sleep", Cassandra hisses as she sets herself comfortably on top of Abel's chest.
"Psh. Grandpa, me? I'm only 42 you know.", Abel remarks. "I almost wish you were a guy, Cass. Perhaps then I'd go to bed earlier".
Cassandra frowns. "If I were a guy I'd still be into women. Now, sleep, or I'll cut your damn tongue off".
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