VIII - Answer

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Earl POV


When I woke up, I was alone in my room. I wondered how did I finish on my bed. Then I remembered last night. I was crying like a baby on Kane's chest.

What an embarrassment!

I couldn't believe that I, the next successor of the mafia had been crying like a baby. When I would see Kane, I would make him, no, I would order him to keep what happened last night a secret. No matter what. I also owed a small apology to Heather and Ashley since they were only partially at fault. Maybe I would wait a while before saying that I forgave them. Yeah, if I was too gentle where my credibility and authority would go?

Anyways, for now, I needed a shower. I went into the bathroom and stripped before taking a hot shower. I was kind of hoping that I could wash all yesterday drama and responsibility away. I should not jump to conclusions, I would have to wait for Shelby's call to know what really happened. But one thing was certain, I needed to go back home as soon as possible.



Kane POV



I watched my fists connect with the sandbag. Since I regularly took my baths, my physical capabilities had been perfectly maintained. Though, I wanted something a little more exciting to punch at. Always punching a bag became boring.

I would have never believed that I would be awakened. Years ago, I thought it would be the last time I would ever see this world again. But it didn't matter, no matter how long we waited, we would never die of old age. Death, what would it feel like? With my regenerative and other enhanced capabilities, there were things that I didn't need to do. For example, sleeping and eating were only optional, a luxury. I could survive in the middle of the Sahara desert without having a sunburn or even need to drink. Emotions were things I never experienced. We could easily fake it without even feeling it. I could seduce any type of women since I didn't have my own personality. The only thing I needed was a thorough background check and her taste.

The only thing we cared about was executing the orders we were given. Since it was the way we were created.

I stopped punching the sandbag and went to take another one. As I walked toward the storage room, I heard a ripping sound, it broke... It took me 73 hits for it to break. I guessed it was okay since it took me 84 for the last sandbag.

I grinned to myself, it was made from a pretty good material. Human bodies never lasted that long.

"What happened for you to grin like that?" asked the man beside me.

I looked down a little and saw Earl, "Nothing," I answered as my grin disappeared.

"Anyways, you tell no one about yesterday, understood?" he crossed his arms as he glared at me. It was kind of... cute?

"About your brother?" I answered as I put the new sandbag on.

I heard him huff, "What happened after."

"You nearly killing your subordinates?"

He grumbled, "Are you doing it on purpose?" I turned to look at him. "About... My moment of... Weakness." he admitted.

"It is a normal and humane reaction to cry when you're grieving and suffering," I stated as a matter of fact.

"Still, a grown up man crying..."

"What about a woman crying?" I asked as I turned to observe him. "A man or a woman, it makes no difference. In the end, it is a natural reaction."

He didn't say anything, but only looked at me in my eyes as of searching for something, "And how about you? Do you cry?"

It was my turn to stare at the man in front of me. "We are not the same. We can't compare each other." Not wanting to continue the conversation further I walked away and took my daggers and the bottle of water on a chair. "It's late, let's eat."

Listening and observing Ashley and Heather trying to avoid, but still trying to get back in Earl's favor was interesting. It didn't look like Earl was ready to forgive them. And because of that, their productivity suffered. As usual, I didn't help except the few unsatisfactory answers. It was an order after all.

Earl's phone rang through their conversation. He excused himself and walked a few meters away. Normally, a normal human wouldn't be able to hear him talk, but I could. Having enhanced senses really was useful.

"Earl King... Shelby, fill me with the details... He went on vacation?... A woman? Who was she working for?... You're not serious... Fuck! Okay, thanks... Yeah... Don't worry... I'll be back soon... No... Yeah, I promise. Okay, bye."

Why couldn't I stop focusing on him? Why was he more interesting than all the other men and women that I worked for?

What was this feeling?

Maybe it was a side effect of not sleeping in the pool for a few days. Tonight, I would sleep there. Even if it wasn't that comfortable. It felt as if my mind and thoughts were completely washed away. Each time, I got out, I would feel as if I forgot something. But, it was a necessity to keep me alive, so I couldn't... Wouldn't complain.

"What are you even here for?" asked Ashley with her hands on her hips. "It must be nice to be as lazy as you are every day."

"I'm doing my job, without me you won't be able to have any real and concise results for your research," I stated in a matter of fact. "Since I am the main subject."

How was she going to react? Will she explode like always? I wondered what did I do to make her act like this?

She huffed and was about to say something, but in the end, she didn't say anything that I didn't expect, "Then why are you not cooperating?"

"Ashley! I need help," called Heather from the other side of the room.

In the end, she hesitantly walked away from the table I was sitting at and at the same time, Earl came back from his phone call. From what I heard, it seemed like his father got assassinated while on vacation. Well, I was bored anyways, so why not?

"Earl, who killed your father?"

He looked at me wide-eyed as if he didn't believe I just asked that. A second later, he regained his composure and glared at me. "Why do you want to know that?"

He was on his guard and very tense. I supposed that his father meant a lot to him... And so was his brother. I could use that information, "Is Shelby in danger too?" His body tensed again and he clenched his hands so much that it became white. "I guess he is, but with you here, how are you going to avenge your father and even protect your brother?"

"What is your point?" he said through his clenched teeth. He knew that I was right and that he couldn't do anything being stuck here. Show me, show me what you're going to do. Which path you were going to choose.

"Are you going back? Or are you going to stay here?"

I waited for his answer, but it didn't seem to anytime soon, "When you decided come see me," I answered as I sat back down on the same chair minutes earlier.

"Why do you care so much?" he asked never breaking our eye contact.

"Why you ask?" He was right, why did I care about that so much? Is it because I was bored out of my mind and wanted something more than a sandbag to punch at? "I don't know," Earl looked at me with a disbelief look written all over his face. "I never felt like this before, it is an interesting feeling."

"You're really weird."

"Just give me an answer tonight."

The rest of the day was an uneventful, maybe except for when they finally made a list composed of one hundred family name that could know about us. Now, they had to carefully and thoroughly. Even though it was a research project, only a few people knew about it. The money came from Earl with his pharmaceutical company. Of course, it was only a disguise for his true business. And as suspected Heather and Ashley also worked for Earl. Everything was well covered for the mafia. Even if he wanted to, Earl would never be able to live a normal life, he could only simulate it and never escape from the world he was born in.

I was in the same situation, but I could even not try to escape reality. I was bound and chained to those who did this to me. Maybe that was why I tried to help Earl? How could I call this feeling? The feeling of wanting to help, to save and protect someone? That was not all, what was the other thing I wanted from that man? I didn't know how to describe it, but my mind and body were working weirdly.

After supper, we all went our separate ways. Since I was sleeping in the pool, I directly went there. I did notice that someone was following me, but I didn't mind. No one here could do real damage once I was near the pool. The regenerative speed of that solution was powerful, powerful enough to regenerate an amputated limb in more or less two or three days. It must be Earl, but I wasn't 100% certain. Once there, the person behind still hadn't said a word, so I turned to see who it was. As presumed, it was Earl. I relaxed a little and started to take my shirt off. If he wasn't ready to answer me, I wouldn't wait all night for it.

I could feel his stare on me and I finally heard him talk, "What are you going to do depending on my answer?"

"Didn't I already told you, your will, my hand?" I took off my shirt and tossed it on a chair nearby, "Plus, you're not the only one who's living in that kind of world."

I heard him sigh, "I think I'll stay here for a few more days and then head back," he paused, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay here with Heather and Ashley."

"You don't seem to understand, so I will bluntly say it. Use me, Earl. I'm a weapon and you have the authority, so why aren't you using me?"

"Using you? What are you talking about?" he honestly asked making me wonder how clueless he really was.

"Use me to avenge your father, you only have to tell me their name and I if you wish, I'll eliminate them for you. I'll secure your path and make sure no one ever bothers you again."

"You may have a set of daggers and an incredible body, but that doesn't say anything about your skills. And these days, everyone uses guns, you'll get shot and die in no time."

I walked toward him until our chest almost touched, "Then let me prove it to you, who killed your father?"

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