“How the wretched vine produced a pious petal, one knows naught.

All you can do is observe its lifeless blossom, its sinister approach.

Coaxed or coerced one can’t say, yet hope still leads its way.” 

-from ‘Deceit’ by Princess Sibylla of Endro

“Director! They’ve returned with it!” 

A young apprentice hollered as he burst into the lab, the claim caused ripples of shock amongst the gathered scientists. By luck’s grace, their heads would not make for the next test subject tonight. 

Clara’s eyes narrowed at the notion however. 

That was…quick. 

She checked her watch for extra measure, making sure her ears did not deceive her. 

X0V escaped nine hours ago, but accounting for its capability and the distance to be covered, it’s still implausible for it to be caught so soon. 

She glanced at the Director whose eyes glistened with approval and doubt. 

So she thinks so too. 

Clara swallowed, her throat still like sandpaper after barely recovering from the incident prior. She quickly pinched her palm to halt her mind from spiralling endlessly. An alert to be present.

 Irrelevant. Think about what’s next, what’s happening NOW. 

The doors were thrown open once again, breaking her thoughts as she steeled herself for X0V’s arrival- anything could occur: black outs, a massacre, it screaming hell and back but none of them even believed the sight in front of them or considered it at all. 

It’s… completely broken!!

Gasps arose from the gathered crowd as the agents placed X0V on the metal lab bench. Its hair was frayed with blood staining just about every inch of its body, even obscuring the reflection of light on the metal, one eye was completely missing as the other remained closed and heavily swollen.

“You broke it?!” 

Clara blurted out incredulously as she whirled on the agents now standing far aside from the group. The two at the back began squirming whilst the man in front whom she supposed was the head of the dispatch responded evenly. 

“This was what we found in an alleyway near the Central Railway, we never engaged in combat, although we did sedate it further before transportation as a…precaution.” 

Sighs of relief emanated from the majority as Clara remained scandalised at their acceptance and the picture before her. 

How did it get caught so easily? 

In the silence, soft footsteps approached X0V as everyone parted  to permit the Director closer. After all, her word was the final say. 

She loomed over the subject, her face emotionless and traced the broken, blood-marred jaw before examining her fingers. 

“Clara?” she called. 

“Yes Director?’ 

Violet eyes pinned her in place as she questioned. 

“List X0V’s abilities.” 

Clara furrowed her brows, thinking back to the project overview sheet. 

“There was…voice mimicking, disruption of memories to an individual, an uncanny knack to infiltrate any software if it is in rage and…” 

Clara’s eyes widened as a possibility hit her. Please no. 

“...it could alter its appearance.” 

The last words were whispered as she gazed upon the body with newfound horror, similar to her peers. What was once relief now morphed into anxiousness. The Director smirked. 

“It would seem, you all have been splendidly duped.” 

She faced her palm to the crowd and not even the slightest shade of red was present. Her neutral mask returned once more, a constant even as she pulled a taser from her coat pocket and plunged it into X0V’s spine. 

It arched its back with eyes shooting wide open as the voltage increased, froth foaming at the mouth. Yet, the Director held strong. 

“Come on out…” 

Once more, this time on full capacity, she placed it under the cranium which elicited a revolting transformation. Glitches surrounded the figure as X0V’s appearance now appeared faded then solid like a hologram on loop.

 Slowly, the hologram shattered and now revealed a partly conscious red head man, with dark bruises blossoming underneath his torn clothes. His amber eyes circled the room.

“Where-Who-hi-I…”

 He giggled hysterically before falling limp once more. If this was not a sufficient cause for dread, none could gauge the Director’s expression. Her lips twitched rapidly, yet never reached into a smile or frown, eyes crinkling in pure disgust. 

“Get him first aid. NOW.” 

The agents bowed and sprinted off to carry the order, wheeling the man out of the laboratory, once again inviting silence. 

Without wasting time on dismissal, the Director strode out the room through the back doors, not even glancing back as she called Clara’s name.

“Follow.” 

Was all she uttered and was exactly what Clara did. 

“We went from travelling first class, to living in this?” 

Raymond groaned (not even glancing at Cy's 'Patience' Meter) at Francis’s comment but could find nothing to rebut, for their apparent living space was well and truly a dumpster. After their arrival in Endro’s Tellowania District, the drug that was luxury plagued them throughout the entire taxi ride as the siblings and Gran set their expectations to the sky. Although Ray did not share the same ideology he assumed Cy altered their bookings to match the initial level, though that was not the case. 

The carriage taxi had dropped them off in one of the most rundown areas of the district, with aging monochromatic buildings of little to no vary in colours as scraps of dried paint flew in the wind. There were almost no people on the cobblestone streets and alongside the gloomy outlook from the weather, it cemented this place as a prime ghost town. 

Is this seriously what Raymond booked?

Cy: Unfortunately yes. BEFORE you nag me about security etc, I did TRY to check the place during the train ride but there was nothing about it or any mentions online- and I scoured everything! So all I had was the name ‘Grand Lucky Luxuries’ from the bill- who would ever presume the only luxury was plastic bags at the door?! 

Ray sighed, feeling the pressure in his temples returning once more. Although, one part in what Cy mentioned peaked his interest. 

However, his first priority was to avoid suspicion. Hence, he attempted or rather barely managed to get the family inside the complex to Francis’s utter outrage. 

“It looks HIDEOUS.” 

“I’m aware.”

“It may break down at any moment!” 

“Pray the hospital is nicer then.” 

Gran weakly elbowed Ray at the crude comment while Minerva guided her on the stairs, slightly shaken. Although not voiced, the look of disdain in her eyes was enough to deduce the hateful sentiment was shared amongst the siblings. 

Never satisfied are they?

Cy: Sounds very famliar. 

Do shut up. 

“Come now, all of you. Even if it might look off on the outside, I’m sure the interior is quite comfortable.” Gran assured. 

As they made their way from the reception (with the bored receptionist sparingly glancing from his Intra-Memo’s screen to even accommodate them), in the lift Ray questioned Cy. 

If even we couldn’t find a single thing about this complex, how did Ray manage it? 

Cy: That’s a  valid question and all I can say is; no clue. Even his Intra-Memo only had the received confirmation of ‘duration of stay’, there was not one transaction history related to this place or any notable names.

Hm. So it can work in either our favour or ill will… 

Very well. Scan every device within maximum vicinity and keep me aware of hostiles, potential and approaching. We’re not taking any chances. 

Cy: Understood. 

However the Gracis family’s string of misfortune was not complete for Gran’s optimism was futile as the inside placed the outer decor in a higher position. 

The entire premise screamed ‘desolation’ with the green pain peeling of the walls, dust piles in almost every corner as well as multiple leaking pipes. It was a wonder it was marketed as functional in the first place! 

Gran didn’t seem to notice their displeasure, on the contrary she misunderstood their silence as awe. 

“See? What’d I tell you? Don't judge a book by its cover children!” 

The sibling trio glanced at one another, none of them daring to burst her joyful bubble yet desperate to preach the truth. 

“Yeah…” Francis murmured steadily after a while. “Let’s go with that Gran…” 

Cy: Wake me when you’re out of this hellhole. T_T

Cy!

[continued in Part Two]