—I told you, she's crazy! Mental!— said Jayden in an exalted voice. He really hated talking with strangers and Oliver used to do it quite often, what bothered him a lot.

—Jay, don't be rude with the lady, let her explain herself— said Oliver pretty confused by the information that he just recieved. He already had a mother: Christina Doom— and she was nothing like the girl who was in front of him, who was roughly four or five years older than him. «Even if I were an orphan, which I'm not, she's too young to be anything but my sister» he thought. 

—Sorry, Miss, but I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I can't be your son, I'm already the son of someone else.

He heard Jayden whispering «I can't believe you just said that» and rolled his eyes. His friend loved to make fun of him so much— he often thought the black haired boy really hated him. But considering Jay never tried to kill him (and he have had plenty opportunities to do it) he denied that option as soon as he thought it. They were just very different from each other—and that was all. 

They heard the mysterious lady sigh.

—They told me it was going to be difficult, but I wasn't expecting this... I thought you would be informed...!— she said— My name's Emily Charlet, and if you let me I'll tell you the whole story. But first of all, I was told to say something to you— she pointed at Oliver with her head. 

«Told by whom?» thought the boy, clearly disconcerted, but he said no more.

—I don't know what it means, but it seems to have some sort of meaning to you, or that was what they told me: apoptosis.

The girl's words gave Oliver a chill. That word... «That's the word» he said to himself. He knew that word— he actually knew it but not it's exact meaning. 

—Doom, do you know what she's talking about?— Jayden looked even more confused than before— What's an apop- whatever?

—I...— Oliver didn't want to recognize his weakness in front of Jay. He truly didn't, but he felt as if he had no choice right now— I don't know, actually. But it was the first word I learned to say, and I always liked it, but I don't have a clue of why. No one ever said it in front of me ever. 

Jay looked at him suspiciously. Then, he looked at Emily, and then at Oliver again. Finally, he decided to talk.

—I have a feeling...— whispered— I wanna hear what she has to say. 

—Okay— said Emily in a middle voice— I'll tell you, but you have to promise you'll hear until the end without interrupting me.