Chapter Thirteen
The humming of the electrical room surrounds me, vibrating through my skin and drowning out the murmurs floating up from the floor below.
I crawl slowly to the edge of the shelf, peering around the corner. Summer is speaking in a hushed tone with a man in a crisp military uniform. Their voices are too low for me to make out anything said, but the furrow in Summer’s brow reveals her unease.
The soldier steps closer to Summer, looming over her body as tension radiates from his rigid posture. “Does your superior know what you’re doing down here?” he demands, voice rising.
Summer doesn’t flinch until a shrill beep splits the air and the lights flicker. “Damn thing’s on the fritz again,” she explains as she takes a step over to a large, bulky metal box.
The man doesn’t respond as she lifts a tool from her belt and uses some keys to open the panel. “I just need to reset this…” Her tool twists and the annoying tone cuts off abruptly.
Slamming the panel shut, Summer relocks the access door and lets out a huff. “I’ll need to come back to switch out a fuse because I don’t have one with me.” Taking the man’s arm, she propels him toward the exit. “Let me walk you out, sir.”
The soldier hesitates, then nods curtly. As they disappear down the corridor, I watch the man smile, placing his hand on her lower back.
Clever girl. She created a distraction to get him to leave without a fuss.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. What was that about? Curiosity wars with caution inside me.
I shouldn’t pry into Summer’s business, but I can’t deny she intrigues me, and I can’t look away from her as the man laughs, opening the door for her and following her out and up the stairs.
My stomach twists, and I bite back a snarl. And suddenly, I’m overwhelmed by a surge of envy. Anger even.
What would it be like to walk around with Summer like that? To laugh with her and touch her freely—anywhere.
Anytime.
I’ve never felt an emotion like this before. It’s powerful and all-consuming. Even though I know it’s jealousy, I’ve never experienced the sharp, decision-altering effect like that before.
As I watch the door close, my emotions intensify. A part of me entertains the idea of exposing myself and confronting the man. But I know it’s not the right course of action.
Not yet.
I need more information. I need to understand what’s going on here. And the only way to do that is to keep watching and keep learning.
Shaking my head, I turn away. I have more important matters at hand. The other prisoners are still in here, still captive. I need to focus on freeing them.
But even as I tell myself this, a new longing stirs within me.
I want to understand Summer. I’ve never felt such a compelling pull toward another person before.
Could this desire lead to something more?
I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. Technically, Summer is a distraction I can’t afford. My goal is too important.
Freedom.
Not just for me, but for everyone being tortured here.
But as I turn to settle back on the shelf, I catch a glimpse of Summer in my mind’s eye. The way her hair falls in soft red ringlets around her face. The curve of her smile, and the way her lips felt against mine...
I take one last look down the empty corridor, then turn and try to relax back on the shelf. My thoughts whirl with conflicting desires.
Part of me wants to forget about Summer, to focus solely on why I’m here. But another part of me, a deeper part, wants something more.
She”s an unexpected complication. For who knows how long, I”ve planned. Plotted and imagined exactly what I”d do if I ever got out of that cage.
But I want to know Summer. To understand her. To explore this new... complication of emotions and desires. And maybe, just maybe, find a connection I never thought possible.
As I relax and twine the wires around my wrists, I detect the weight of my changing nature since escaping. Everything is more. More colorful. And easy.
The abilities that were once a curse are now a gift, and I’m more determined than ever to use them for good.
Connecting to the power supply, I immerse myself in the information it accesses. I glide effortlessly through the digital world, my mind processes the complex information with ease. But even as I delve into the data, my thoughts keep drifting back to Summer. She’s different from anyone I’ve ever met, and I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something between us.
I contemplate my feelings for her, acknowledging my growing fondness despite the conflicting worlds we inhabit. She’s desirable, educated, and well-respected here in the military.
I’m just another experiment. Disposable. Uneducated and completely unknown.
I don’t remember anything from before the doctors. I don’t know how old I am or where I came from. In fact, I don’t even know my real name. The name Ray was given to me by Tyler before…
But I can’t help but feel drawn to Summer.
As the data flows through me, I realize I want to know more about human emotions and connections. I want to understand what it means to be human and to experience all the highs and lows that come with it.
So I start searching for more information about kissing and attraction on the internet, seeking to gain knowledge and insight into the intricacies of... romantic connections. It’s a strange and foreign concept to me, but I’m captivated by the possibilities it presents.
With Summer’s lips still lingering in my thoughts, I immerse myself in the data, determined to become better at kissing. And relationships.
I want to understand the potential progression of our friendship, to build a connection with her that goes beyond our shared experiences. Despite the risks and uncertainties, I’m determined to navigate this unknown territory of emotions and desires. For so long, all I’ve felt is anger and rage.
Betrayal.
But I’m willing to take the chance and see where this relationship with Summer leads. Even if it’s just a short time before I’m caught or killed. She’s… different.
Soft. Warm. And she smells divine.
As I continue my research, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. The thought of being close to Summer again, of feeling her lips on mine, fills me with a sense of longing.
At the same time, I know that my goal of freeing the others, everyone the doctors have caged and experimented on, must come first. It’s a difficult balance to maintain, but I’m determined.
Despite the logical part of my mind telling me getting to know Summer is a futile endeavor, I’m intrigued. Plus mystified by the way kissing felt when we shared that moment. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
I can’t help but want more. I know that there are risks involved in pursuing a relationship with her, but I’m willing to take them. I want to explore this unfamiliar territory of emotions and desires, to see where it might lead us.
As I lie here, surrounded by wires and data, I realize that my goal to be free and to protect others is still as strong as ever. But now, there’s something else driving me forward as well. The possibility of a connection with Summer. Friendship plus experiencing all the wonders and complexities of human emotion.
It’s a strange and unfamiliar concept to me, but I’m determined to learn all I can. And who knows?
I take a deep breath, focusing my thoughts. The logical next step is clear. I need to find the others to free them from the doctor’s clutches.
Plus, find the names and information on the others rescued with Summer. But the memory of her kiss lingers, making the electricity tingle as it flows through me and igniting a yearning for more.
I know so little of romance and of the intricacies between two people exploring a bond. If I’m to have any chance of understanding these new urges, of nurturing the spark between myself and Summer, then I must learn.
Closing my eyes, I focus and connect my consciousness to the external internet, immersing myself in the endless flow of data. It’s effortless to navigate through the digital streams, absorbing and processing vast amounts of information in mere moments.
I start simple. At the beginning. The basics of human attraction and courtship.
As the knowledge integrates, I dig deeper, fascinated by the complex emotional and physical dimensions of romantic relationships. Kissing is just the beginning, a prelude to even greater intimacy.
My research is dizzying, a little overwhelming, but also undeniably intriguing. I had no idea the depths and life long commitment two people could share. And the idea of one day exploring that with Summer... sets my mind spinning in new directions.
I know this detour into romance complicates my mission. But how could I ignore these astonishing new feelings?
I have to see where they lead and what wonders may unfold between us. The risks are great, but I’m willing to take them. There’s so much to process about the nature of relationships.
I know I shouldn’t pursue it. It could jeopardize everything. But I can’t let go of that dazzling moment we shared, and the sensation of her lips against mine.
I touch my mouth, remembering. How could something so brief leave me craving more? Why am I willing to risk it all for another taste? It’s exhilarating, somewhat terrifying, and totally irresistible.
My emotions war within me. Logic argues to focus on my goal and free the others before I’m discovered. But my heart tugs me down this alternative path, to see where it leads with Summer.
Can I have both? Could I possibly have a future?
I don’t know, but I have to try.
For the first time in my life, I want more than just survival and freedom.
I want connection, intimacy, romance...love? Do I dare hope for something so profound?
Would I even recognize it if it happened to me?