Someone Else (Part 2)

…

For me, it was an average Friday afternoon. My job was working at the front desk of a popular aquarium called, The Subterranean Soirée. It was a popular concert hall, with a theme of staging aquatic performances for audiences. Each of these productions were performed in a huge tank of water in the center, so audiences could appreciate the intricacies of each performance.

What made us so popular was our success in finding fresh new talent. This meant that many of those in the aquatic species saw our aquarium as a chance towards fame and fortune. Much of that success was thanks to the director's son, Terry Invertebrax.

“Two tickets, right? That will be $199.99.” I told the two customers in front of me. They seem to be a couple.

“Isn’t that a bit much?” she asked him with reluctance.

“Don’t worry about it, I saved up enough for today. It’s your birthday after all.” he responds back with confidence, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

After he places the cash on the counter, I take it and give them their tickets. It’s common to see couples here for special occasions like that, because each performance is considered an experience in itself.

A couple hours pass and the lobby is clear. I can hear the sounds of today’s performance behind me from down the hall. During this time, I would normally relax for the time being until the next round of customers come around to buy tickets. This is also the time I usually get a visit from a certain someone.

“Spencer, what’s up my man?! How’s sales going?” shouts a tall blonde haired man, as he enters through the front entrance.

“Eh, can’t complain. Sales are higher than usual today though, it must be because of that new girl you found last week.”

“I told you people would love her, I knew it when I first saw her!” he says, leaning his arm against the desk.

“Your old man must be loving all of the new business you’ve been bringing in.”

“That old geezer is never grateful, he’s always going on about the ‘heart and soul’ of aquatic arts. Who cares about that anyways? Audiences want extravagance, not tradition.” he said with a bitter tone.

This man is Terry, and it’s thanks to him that our popularity has skyrocketed. He’s part of the aquatic species himself, and is specifically a jellyfish. Though like most of the citizens in Humanity, he’s able to assimilate a humanoid shape.

When I started working here two years ago, this place was struggling to keep up. The director, Terry’s father, has been working in show business for decades, but was unable to adapt to the times.

“Well your hunch was right, I mean look at this place now. It’s more popular than it’s ever been.”

“Now, Now, enough with the congratulations. You wouldn't want me to get a big head now would you. Oh, I almost forgot, I brought a few more with me today.” He said with a snap of his fingers.

A group of children slowly walked up to the front desk at the front entrance. There were at least a dozen of them, which was a lot more than usual. They all stood there quietly as if instructed to do so.

“Wow, we never seem to run out of new applicants.” I hesitate to say, noticing their somber expressions.

“That’s what I said, isn’t this great?”

“What happened to the six from yesterday?”

Terry sighs in disappointment, “Ah, yea they just didn’t make the cut, so another recruiter took them off our hands.”

He never mentioned who this “recruiter” was and I never had a reason to ask.

“Must be a tough audition, I hope you kids have done well to prepare yourselves!” I said to them with a smile, hoping to brighten the stony expressions on their faces. You would expect them to be jumping for joy, when given the rare opportunity to audition here. Of course, that would only happen under “normal” circumstances…

“Hey come on kids, cheer up. Mr.Cross is wishing you luck, so why not show him some respect!” Terry shouted, causing their shoulders to flinch. While some of them did attempt to crack a smile, they did it out of fear. Their somber expressions showed that, just like all the children that were brought there before.

“You can do better than that, especially you.” Terry shouted before grabbing the little girl's face, “You'd look so pretty if you just smiled a little bit. You think so too, right Spencer?”

Their faces were a few inches apart, causing her to tremble in fear. Tears were beginning to roll down her face, while the other kids watched on in silence. From the look on her face, she wanted to cry for help, but there wasn’t any in sight. She was scared and alone in an unfamiliar place, but I had convinced myself that wasn’t the case.

“Yup, I bet she’ll win anyone over with a great big smile.” I responded with what I believed to be a convincing grin. I’d realized long ago that I had crossed the point of no return, so I acted in ignorance.

“Still no smile, huh?” Terry grumbled before letting go of her face, “And here I thought that I’d struck new potential. It’s a shame, a pretty face like yours could go a long way. Though I’m sure someone else will have a use for you.”

I didn’t know what he meant by that, but it gave me an uncomfortable feeling. Just like when he spoke of the unknown recruiters, it sounded as if they had different interests. Interests that involved him being the middleman in exchange for new talent. Given that some of the children that he brought here ended up actually performing on stage, I convinced myself that his methods were legit. However, I still had questions like where did these children come from and who did they end up with?

“Spencer, you alright buddy?” Terry asked with a tap on the desk, breaking my train of thought.

“Huh, Yeah I’m fine.” I quickly respond.

The glare he gave me that moment was fierce, but it’s intent rang clear. Thinking back, we met for only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. He knew what I was thinking, but it was an unspoken rule between us to not ask questions. A rule that I was willing to abide by.

Terry smiled. “Make sure to get some sleep when you get home, you’re probably tired. It’s been a long day for you.”

“Yeah, we do have a full house tonight.”

“By the way, before you go home, I need you to look over these forms. Don’t worry, It’s just like the others, so all I need is your signature.”

The sheets of paper he placed on the desk were the sign up forms for auditions. Each of them had a different name and handwriting, so at some point he’d gotten them to sign them. Whether or not it was their choice, isn’t something I enjoyed thinking about. However, for each of these forms to be considered official, I needed to sign the form on the top.

Since I was working at the front desk, many of my responsibilities crossed into others. If someone needed to speak with the director, I forwarded that call. If our computer systems needed immediate maintenance, I was tasked too analyze and troubleshoot issues. If we were running behind schedule when setting up for the next show, I had to assist the stage crew. I knew I was playing errand boy, but the pay was decent and I took pride in the fact that my colleagues depended on me. However, I never gained any of that when working with Terry.

Signing this form meant that I had already assessed the legitimacy of not only the details written, but the likelihood that the applicant is a good fit for an audition. This was one of the many tasks the director trusted me with, given the lack of manpower we once had. Which is why it’s such a shame that I had broken it.

The feeling of guilt started to surface, and so my hands began to tremble. It began to surface like a rising tide. Come on, you've been doing this for months. Just sign it like you always do, is what I told myself.

Terry placed his hand on my shoulder, but when he was reaching, his hand transformed. His blood vessels can be seen through the translucent silhouette that’s now his skin. Such a gesture was odd, but judging by his annoyed expression, it was clearly a warning. And a deliberate one at that.

“Pen ran out of ink or something?” Terry asked, while he gripped my shoulder.

“Are you sure they're ready for an audition?” I said to him, in hopes that he wouldn’t realize my hesitation. Little did I know, he’d already had me figured out.

“Look, I don’t want any problems Spencer. You know as well I do what it means when my hands look like this, but maybe you forgot. Maybe you need a reminder.” he said while getting closer to my face.

While wincing in pain due to his grip on my collarbone, I noticed something strange. Their veins were protruding along the surface of their neck like a series of creeping branches. Noticing how they were pulsating ever so slightly, I understood what was happening. Jellyfish-men are known for the poisons and neurotoxins they produce, and they can administer it through physical contact. It all made sense.

“That’s how you found them…” I muttered.

None of the children that he brought there spoke or expressed much emotion. I believed that they were just stricken with fear, but it turned out that the situation was much more dire.

“Well it’s not entirely my doing. I have a curator that scouts them, and he even gets them to sign these applications. Which takes a load off my back.” he said with a smug grin.

The fact that he can talk about this so casually was frightening. Even a guilty man wouldn’t have admitted to such crimes, but he knew he had the upper hand. Even if I did confess to the authorities about the situation, I still would be in a world of trouble. Then there was the matter of who he could have been working with. They could easily come after my close friends and family, or even me. Perhaps even the director himself knew.

These were the things I thought about after the encounter we had that day, as it became obvious that I was involved in something I couldn’t get out of. When I signed that form again that day, I was fully aware that I was signing away their freedom. The freedom to live out their childhood in blissful ignorance, but I also lost something as well.

When he took those kids into the elevator, I saw the look of hopelessness on their faces. They were confused, like any other child would be. Some even started to cry, but the sounds of their sadness were stiffened under the weight of Terry’s control. It was then that I lost the control I had over my actions. While I was never bewitched by his power, I was still under Terry’s control.

And it was then, that I wished for the day that someone else would save not only those children, but me as well.

…

“I see your employer wasn’t wrong about you. She’s already taken a liking towards you, hasn’t she?” Ms.Oppix says with a clap of her hands.

“Is that so? Well that makes my job a whole lot easier, doesn’t it?” I say while holding on to Valerie's trembling hand. After showing her the slightest bit of decency, I can tell that she already feels safe around me. I'm glad that’s the case, but I can’t help but wonder what would cause her to act that way.

When considering what happened in the past, I’m starting to notice a lot of the same signs. And just like before, I have been put into the position of the middleman. If this was Jonathons intention, then that could only mean…

“Well since that’s been settled, come now Mr.Clover. We must get you situated into your dormitory, as well as discuss further details.”

“Roger that!” I quickly say before kneeling to Valerie's eye level. “Next time we see each other we’ll play together, okay?”

I give her a soft pat on the head as she nods meekly in response. I wouldn’t usually make such a bold promise, but I have to. I can see that she isn't used to kindness around here. After I stand up and follow behind Ms.Oppix, I notice Valerie’s stare as I walk towards the door. I can only imagine what she’s been through, but I’ll make sure she doesn’t have to live here in fear ever again.

It’s been two months since then, and luckily I haven’t broken it. I wasn’t planning to either, it’s just that Ms.Oppix herself hasn't made that possible. When she told me the full details of my assignment, she gave me full-time supervision over Valerie’s well being. That includes monitoring both her physical and mental health for signs of some sort of “awakening”. I didn't understand, but I’ve come to learn that many of the things she says are never followed by a clear explanation. It comes with the territory I guess.

My job is to report my findings on a daily basis, so it’s easy enough. I’ve even managed to narrow it down to a few simple categories, including the level of contact between the two of us, changes in her actions, and her willingness to speak. Hell, if she speaks at all it would be a breakthrough, so progress has been slow.

I knock on the door. “It’s me Alan, I’m coming in.”

With a breakfast tray in my hand, I open the door. Valerie is sitting at the edge of her bed staring at the small window.

“How are you feeling this morning? Did you have a good sleep?” I ask, sitting down at the edge of the bed next to her.

She looks at me and nods. The look on her face is emotionless, but that’s her usual resting face. It’s something I want to change, but I’m realizing that it’ll take a great deal of time. I still can't figure out what’s on her mind.

Placing the tray on my lap, I take a spoonful from the bowl of cereal and bring it towards her. Since it’s her favorite, she eats it up rather quickly. After giving her another, I notice that she’s chewing rather fast. And sure enough, she starts coughing.

“Haha, I know it’s your favorite but you should really slow down.”

She grabs the cup of orange juice from my hand and takes a few gulps. It’s a bad habit of hers, but it’s nothing too troublesome. My main concern is making sure she’s comfortable. I take a look at the watch on my wrist. Her vitals are steady, and her emotions seem to be on the lower end. From what Ms.Oppix explained, anything within this range means the patient is calm. That’s a good thing right?

Outside the room, I can hear the clicking of heels against the metallic floors of the halls, before a subsequent knock on the door.

“You may enter!” I shout to our visitor.

The door slides open, “I hate to bother you Alan, but I need you for a moment.”

As I suspected, it’s Arisa. The sound of her walking in those heels is something I’ve learned to recognize over time. It’s a good indicator that I’m about to get dragged into her antics, so I made sure to prepare myself before she walked in. However, judging by the look on her face, it doesn’t seem like she’s in the mood to pester me.

“It’s no problem, just give me a moment.” I say with a nod, placing the tray on the bed next to Valerie.

“Alright, Val. I’ll be back in a bit, so be a good girl, okay?”

She nods, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes. Since I promised her that we would play today, I should get this over with. As I’m heading towards the door, I check the watch. Everything looks to be in the same range, so that’s reassuring at least.

“What is it that you needed to speak about?” I ask, walking alongside her through the hall.

“There’s some boxes that need to be put into storage and I thought you could help me out.” she says, looking at me expectantly.

“Sure, that shouldn’t take too long.” I agree with a shrug, thinking that it’s just a simple task.

“Then there’s the lab in sector five that needs cleaning.” she says with a tilt of her head, as if thinking up more tasks.

“Uh, well that’ll take a bit of time don’t you think?”

“Oh, and then there’s the paperwork Ms.Oppix wants filled out by tomorrow. It’s a whole stack too, but with you helping, we should be done before then.”

Listening to her list off all of these tasks, I start to regret my decision. It was foolish for me to think that she’d change her act for even a second.

I take a deep breath. “Arisa, are you just trying to throw all of your assignments on to me?”

“No, not at all. I just thought that you might want a break from monitoring Valerie.” she explains in an almost sincere tone, but at the same time avoiding eye contact.

“Your idea of taking a break is even more strenuous labor? I find that hard to believe.”

“Sure it is! It’s like that one saying, ‘A body at work, stays at work’.” she says as if she came up with that saying.

“Sorry, but the only people I’ve heard say that have difficulties moving in their fifties.” I snap back at her, crossing my arms.

“Huh, sounds like a human problem.” I overhear her mumble to herself.

“Besides, don’t you see that I have responsibilities of my own at the moment?”

“Oh, it won’t hurt to spend at least one day away from her. You've been tending to her everyday since you started.”

While I do believe her concern is dishonest, she does have a point. I’ve been getting up each morning just to keep Valerie company, since no one else wants to. Ms.Oppix only checks up on her just to confirm my analysis, and she does that on a weekly basis. While I can’t make up for lost time, I will make this facility feel more like home to her.

“And I’ll continue to do so, until she feels comfortable opening up.” I state with confidence.

“Wow, you’re really taking this job seriously aren’t you?” she says, with her eyes widened in shock.

“Certainly more serious than you’re taking your own.”

“Haha, you really are a weirdo, but in a good way. I know someone that would have said that same thing. He’s real smart and a hard worker too.” Arisa says proudly. He must be someone she really looks up to.

“Sounds like you’re complimenting me.”

“Hey, I only give compliments to those that deserve them. Don’t let it get to your head, ya hear?” She says with an aggressive poke at my chest.

“Yeah, Whatever you say, your majesty.”

While I did appreciate her praise, I couldn’t help but tease her. She must not be used to showing her appreciation, especially towards the person she’s always making fun of. Now that I think about it, this is the most normal conversation we’ve had.

“What's your job anyway’s Arisa?” I ask out of curiosity. As much as I’ve seen her around the facility, I’ve never seen her doing anything intensive. Maybe she shoves all of her work on someone else.

“I’m Ms.Oppix’s apprentice! I’ve been in her care for sometime now.” she responds with a weird excitement.

“Well, how long has she been teaching you?”

She pauses. “I don’t remember how long, but I have learned a lot so far.”

“Well she certainly has a lot on her hands that’s for sure.” I say with a chuckle.

As we’re both sharing a good laugh, Arisa suddenly leans against the wall. She stops laughing and starts gripping her forehead. Before she has a chance to fall, I grab onto her shoulder.

“Arisa, what’s wrong!? Do you need me to get help?” I shout. In a matter of a few seconds, her skin has gone pale.

She opens her eyes and looks up at me.

“You're being too loud. I’m fine.”

Using my shoulder to lift herself up, she manages to stand up.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” I ask her, noticing the flushness in her cheeks.

“Yeah I’ll be fine, I just need some rest that’s all.”

“Is this why you’re asking me to help? If that’s the case, I’ll just ask Ms.Oppix to give you the day off.”

I lift up my arm to contact Ms.Oppix on my watch, but she grabs it.

She shakes her head. “Geez, you’re too much of a worrywart. With an attitude like that, it’s no wonder Valerie warmed up to you.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask her, surprised again by her sudden praises.

“When Ms.Oppix and I tried to get closer to her, she’d always run away. She wouldn’t even eat if we were in the same room as her. That was until you came along, then all of that changed. She even plays with you, we never thought that was possible.”

I’m a bit speechless. Even though that was my intention, I didnt think my efforts would have such an impact so soon. It’sbeen two months after all.

“It wasn’t that difficult, I was just being myself.”

“And it seems to be working out beautifully. When I see you two together, It's almost hard to believe that she’s the same girl we found all those months ago.” Arisa says before continuing through the hall.

“Wait, you found her? Where?” I ask, shocked by how candidly she said it. I mean, who would abandon a girl that young?

YOU DID...

“I don’t have all of the details, but our scavengers found her near an old battlefield. It was the place where the entire android race was slaughtered in their final battle. We were investigating why they lost, it should have been an easy battle after all.” She explains, with a shake of her head.

I did hear about that, but I don’t know much about it. Is it really that much of a mystery?

She continues. “Well anyway, we just so happened to stumble upon a pod in the forest nearby.”

“How long do you think she’s always been alone?”

Arisa thinks for a second. “We don't know how long, but from what we could tell, she was in a sort of hibernation state. That’s why we need her to open up more, so we can figure out more.”
Again, with that scientific mindset. Don’t they realize that she’s just a child for goodness sake. If she does have memories of the past, they’re of a world that no longer exists. A world she expected to see once again.

“What if she doesn't know anything? What’ll happen then?” I ask fearfully, thinking of the worse possibility.

“I’m not sure. Ms.Oppix has never entertained the idea of failure. And with the amount of progress you’ve made, I’d assume our odds are even greater.”

“Sounds like she’ll be thrown away…”

Arisa looks at me. “Maybe You’re not that weird after all.”

“What was that?” I ask.

She leans her face against her palm, “Now that I think about it, I wonder if Valerie has ever seen the outside world.”

“I’m sure she remembers what it looked like before she went to sleep.” I say to her as she paces to my side.

“Wasn’t that during a time of war? Things are much better now.”

“Yeah, your point being?”

“Think about it. Everything else must be wildly different from what she remembers. There’s no more fighting, killing or struggles for power. Just the whole world following one leader's idea of peace.”

“Yeah of course, but the only place she’s seen so far is…”

Realizing what she’s getting at, I take a pause. From the moment I was told to take care of Valerie, my goal has been to give her a better life. To give her a few moments of happiness in a place she doesn’t know. In a facility, that’s robbing her of her childhood. Is that really any better?

I’m on a mission after all, so when I leave she’ll be left alone again. And with how secure this place is, I doubt anyone else will be able to help her. I could take her with me, but I still haven’t found out who my target is.

Perhaps the target is Valerie. The notion comes to mind like an answer to a difficult math problem. Thinking about my journey so far, it immediately led me to her. It still could be someone else in this facility, but the fact that my ID card led me here can’t just be a coincidence. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced.

I look at Arisa and she looks at me with a sly grin, akin to her usual demeanor. She’s for sure planning something and I’m on board. I can’t depend on someone else to fix this situation. She will not share the same fate as those children.