Steady breaths left her as she slept in his bed. Calm finally overcoming her just for exhaustion to overwhelm her and crash before they even made it into the building. He hoped he had done the right thing, keeping her from everyone and monitoring her health and arm. Not that he didn't understand it. Looking down to his own, he watched as the mechanical fingers moved, still shocked how advances in knowledge and science have come from his days in the wars.
Shaking his head, he made his way to the office, knowing Lutz would have a fit if he didn't explain himself entirely. It was coming, had been for a while, but he wasn't sure where to begin. Once within the room, he looked up to only be surprised. Lutz wasn't there, but within the chair was Luciano, glaring at him as the knife weaved between his fingers.
"Talk." was all he spoke.
Well, there wasn't any time like the present. He pulled the lounge chair to the desk and sat before the Italian, ready to have the famed knives fly at his head, "Where do you want me to start?"
"Why not start with the reason being in Haven?" he gritted out, "Besides thrusting your dick in things-"
"Never." he growled at him, "I haven't touched her in that way."
Luciano sat back, eyes narrow at him while the tip of the knife was aimed straight for his head. He had to talk, there was no backing out now. In doing that, he would risk more than just what Laine escaped.
"I know where Roland is."
"Che cosa?!"
"That's why I was going over." Gillen stated, relaxing his shoulders as he told him everything, "I stumbled upon drug smugglers, delivering within Haven and what was dealt and given. When they were speaking of a person, that person sounded quite like Roland. So I ventured in, and sure enough, after scouring house after house, I found out where he was being held. Day in and day out, I went within and dug out as much information as possible. Unfortunately, what I thought was Roland was just his DNA and samples for Haven and the people within. They were attempting to replicate his blood and muscle mass, yet failed miserably. But even with that bit, I know the building he's in."
"Have we been to it?"
"Now that's the fun, it's across Macbeth."
Luciano's gaze turned into puzzlement, "Across the waters into the dead island?"
"That's where they were going." Gillen explained, "I lost track after the home I originally found it from ended up bare of life as if no one ever lived there."
"The people up and vanished?"
"The best way to put it, all of them including servants. But if it wasn't the fact that blood has a lovely smell and the use of heavy cleaners filled the air, I think we know what really happened."
Luciano nodded, "Wiped out. Seems not all is pleasant within the walls."
"I can speak from experience within. I've seen more torture there of people below the status of title than all of us combined in our own play. I would almost say they're as deranged as the people outside."
It was pure truth, everything within screamed a nightmare cloaked in a white mask. People blind to what was happening, including Laine. He tried to make heads or tails of it but the more he lingered, his sanity slipped.
"Do you think you could find him again?"
"Possibly. I'd have to retrace some steps and search in familiar homes. Certain names seemed to have a high affiliation with AlphaCom, including hers."
"What were the names?"
Gillen sighed, "Her's was Willingham, the other two were Kingsley and Covington. Those stick out the most."
"Covington?" Luciano questioned, "You wouldn't mean the heir of Covington Tower for the banking?"
"The very one."
"How is that? He was found dead."
"He was married, guessing his widow took over."
"No heirs?"
Gillen shook his head, "Last article I read within that home was he was impotent and she wasn't able to conceive. But both were attempting to correct it."
"And when you say correct you mean force-"
"Yes, upon the servants of the home." his hand shook.
"I'm guessing she was in the same thing?"
Gillen thought of her Master, how he planned for her to bear children yet attempted to kill her. He knew the man would attempt the act to others within the home, so he made sure it would never happen again.
"What did you do that could tie outside sources?" Luciano questioned.
He shook his head, "They were outside the wall. Can pin the 9th Street Rapist on him."
"Oh, so you castrated him. Makes it a little easier on us."
"I try."
Luciano stood up, grabbing his jacket and hat, "Well, with all of that, why don't you and I go and pay a visit."
"You will leave-"
"Not her." Luciano glared at him, "Lutz already told me she's like Heather and Flavio backed his story. No, we're venturing to the hospital."
Gillen stared at him, "What for?"
"To see what her Master can help us with."
The white halls gave a sick chill down his spine and twisted his stomach. He hated hospitals. Understood their formality and reasoning but seeing what some did to people and how they view the human body and mind, well, he wasn't very fond.
"Keep up, he's in this hall."
He followed Luciano within the building, listening to the man shmooze over all the folks within, charming them into an unknown plot that cooked in his mind. He would give him credit, the man could talk his way out of the death penalty and anything else. But now he was curious about what he was planning.
Suddenly, Luciano was before him, his finger jabbed into his chest, "Follow as I say and don't let your second head get to the best of you because of her. You are my bodyguard and are watching the door. Do not show him your face nor speak. Got it?"
Since when did he play bodyguard to him? Gillen sighed, nodding to the strange plan that he had. Luciano straightened himself up quickly and disappeared behind the door, chatting to the nurse within. Doing as told, he leaned against the frame and kept his eyes the other way, half-listening as the woman's giggles caught him. The woman beamed brightly as she left, giving him a small smile as he heard Luciano speak lightly to the man. Gillen kept his thoughts to himself, letting whatever it was, roll by. Doctors and nurses walked by, glaring at him while they spoke about patients, some even speaking of the damage he did to the men outside the wall. At least he knew most of them were dead.
"So, tell me, what can I offer you?" Luciano spoke smoothly.
"Protection." was the reply.
"Granted. Your state proves it. I truly apologize for your incident, I cannot imagine the nightmare you lived."
"Be glad it isn't you. I'm just thankful to be alive. Although with protection, I would like to have that bastard delivered to me, so I could repeat the same to him. No man should have to suffer like I am due to a jealous fuck that had no idea what was really happening. I told my wife that little bitch was doing wrong. Albino abomination."
His blood boiled as the vibrations in his chest screamed at him to end the worthless dog on the bed, but he knew Luciano would stick a knife in him before he had the chance to even touch him. He waited, wondering what else he would say to him.
"I will do the best that I can to bring him to you. I already have the police sketches and reports. My boys and I will find this man. But please, tell me what on earth you were doing outside the walls?" Luciano crooned, egging all that he could, "I know it's very rare to find you all outside except for business and such."
Her Master scoffed, "The girl. It was because of her. In Haven, the servants are to have the new drugs, the ones that you guys are making, so many people that have issues or are impotent, can be fixed or give their family name a new lineage. But, my wife didn't. She took it herself and had that girl give it to her. I knew. I knew for a while what was happening, I just ignored it. I wanted to see if any of them would say anything but not one spoke. Finally, I had enough. I told her that she would be taking the drugs or I would use her for bearing. A child from someone like her would be interesting, to say the least. Wasn't like she was top-notch anymore."
"Guessing whoever has the best 'prize' is the winner of the area?"
"Pretty much." he spoke, "She fanned over Laine constantly. And I'll admit, she was very attractive. Wishing now I took advantage when I had the chance in her rooms those nights I walked in to see her sleep. It would've been easy enough."
It took all he had not to come off the frame and choke the life out of him. The sick bastard was watching her sleep and god knows what else and then he was going to have her while she wasn't even conscious. The old versus ran though his head, the priests and bishops words ringing louder and louder, while the image of her being violated and raped claimed him.
"So even with all that, what was the biggest thing in question? Besides bearing children?"
Silence loomed over the room until he sighed, "Ever hear of the perfect human being?"
"There have been speculations of so, why?"
"That was the goal. To create the perfect person. One that could heal within minutes and be faster, stronger, and smarter than anything on earth. That was the biggest goal. And by damn, we were close."
"How, if you don't mind me asking? It helps my boys pinpoint things if this person was not only gaining her but sabotaging what you were after." Luciano played him like a card.
"We only saw him for a brief moment, all the houses of stature. He was lean, muscular, intelligent, and pretty much had God touch him the day he was born and say, 'yes, you shall be the perfect human'. He truly was."
"So you saw someone that would be considered perfect?"
"Exactly."
"Where?"
"They moved him last I knew. He was in the Davenport Facilities across Macbeth River, but that was a while ago. Only other place that may have him is Chrystia Chamberlain Laboratories. They were the ones doing the bigger works to figure out how he was what he was."
There it was, the last place of Roland's whereabouts, and it wasn't even an hour away from them. He heard Luciano speak with him, telling him how he'd get to work on finding the man that destroyed him and how he would send in protection. Yet Gillan was far from that thought, Roland wasn't far and they still were keeping him alive. Not that much would kill him, being a personification like himself, but he would be alive when they got to him. A tap to his shoulder was proof that Luciano was done and ready to leave. Following the man out of the building, he was a ball of renewed energy in finding Roland and now having Laine safe at his home, he was ready to go back to taking care of AlphaCom.
"Well, now we know where he is at. Just have to formulate a plan to get him out. Chrystia. Why didn't we think of there?" Luciano stated.
"Who knows, but let's get this going before it's too-"
"No." Luciano cut him off, "We are not jumping in right off. If he is speaking like he is then AlphaCom will have an idea that he talked to someone. Let's wait a few days, if he's still alive by then, then we will jump into it. If not, then we'll be back to square one."
He didn't think of that. Luciano was right, AlphaCom always made sure whoever talked too much would never talk again. Pausing, he let the Italian ponder over all they learned, "They are attempting to make Perfection. End of it. We knew that beforehand but now we have the basic idea of how."
"They make the basic drugs here and see what kills off the weaker lab rats and smuggle whatever else they can within Haven and then filter it out to people that pay for it to create the perfect person, but having Roland as a blueprint, they are trying to find it faster." Gillen added.
"Precisely."
"Well, then we give it a few days and see what happens. Because I know many of the attempts to even match Roland, people ended up dead in violent ways."
Luciano nodded at him, "Then we better hope for his case and hers that nothing bad happens to him, for Haven will be up our asses for them."
She felt woozy, yet comfortable. Her body seemed light and numb while her head raced with thoughts and knowledge she had gained. Laine blearily opened her eyes, wondering how long she was asleep as the room came to view. She sat up, working past the spinning of her head, taking in what was before her. Four grey walls surrounded her as the bed seemed to engulf her with its massive size. The soft, warm sheets and blankets nearly cocooned her to it. The small desk to her right had books galore upon it as a bookcase stood proud against the other side. Yet what caught her was the items adorning the far wall. A large shield of white, bearing a red cross as it seemed while a cloak hung on a hook and a flag covered the rest of the space. It was interesting as she took it in, moving out of the confinements of the bed.
A sudden ache claimed her right arm, reminding her of what she no longer had, "Oh, how silly of me to forget. Now I have to relearn everything again."
Laine walked to the wall, touching the pieces, feeling the different materials against her hand. Historical came to her mind, yet she wasn't sure where. She knew she had seen it before, but the knowledge of it was what failed her. Something good caught her nose as she moved to the door. Opening the piece, she looked out, wondering what strange person she would run into this time. Quietly, she moved towards the scent, letting the delicious aroma take her in as it lead her downstairs. Pots and pans rattled as the smell got stronger, and with it, a voice humming a tune.
Poking her head around the corner, she found the kitchen with a man within it. Fair blond hair covered his head as his eyes seemed glued to what he was working on, mixing and setting out things while humming away. Brawny and tall, his shirt stuck to him and his pants hung onto him in a low manner. Nothing like Gillen, yet something about him seemed similar to him. Inching closer to the food, her stomach let out a small growl of protest as her arm thrummed in an ever-growing pain.
Before she could do anymore, the man saw her, letting out a small yelp as the whisk left his hand, "Mein Gott!"
Laine backpedaled away, moving behind the frame as he muttered to himself. It was too close, she knew better than that but curiosity got the better of her, along with her stomach.
"Laine? Laine, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." he called to her.
Peeking around the corner, she saw him give a small smile, pointing to the food, "Sorry, I was lost in thought and you startled me."
Quietly and cautiously, she entered the kitchen once more, keeping her eyes on him as he set plates around the table. The meal set out seemed more out of place than herself within the room, more of an eye teaser instead of a meal. Yet the scent was pulling her closer to it.
"I wasn't sure what you ate, so I just did a usual for Gillen and I."
"You know Gillen?" she squeaked out.
"Ah, ja, he's my brother." the man said, holding his hand out, "I'm Lutz. I was the one that picked you up and brought you to the main building when...well, let's not go there. Go ahead and sit down, I promise I won't bite."
Sitting at the table, Laine examined all that was before her, "What is it all?"
"Sauerbraten, Gurkensalat, Himmel und Erde, und, Kartoffelbrot."
Laine glanced at him, trying to figure out what was before her as the rich language rolled from his tongue, "I'm sorry to have you repeat yourself, but what is all of this? I did not understand what you said."
Lutz stared at her, "Do you always talk that way?"
"Why do so many of your colleagues or friends ask such a strange question to me. Yes, this is how I always talk. There is nothing wrong with how I speak or that you do not understand what I am stating before you."
"Oh, nein, I didn't mean that. It's just, nobody out here speaks that way. You're the only one." he replied, "And to answer you, it's pot roast, cucumber salad, mashed potatoes and apples, and potato bread."
Well, at least she understood that half. She nibbled at what he had aside for her, taking in the fact that it was all easy for her to use and gather with her left hand, "It is quite divine. You are a good cook."
"Danke." he replied, "And I wasn't being stingy or picking on you when I cut it up."
"I guessed that you did it for me, thank you." she nodded to him as more came to her mind, "Where am I?"
"Wouldn't that have been the first thing you asked me when you saw me?"
He wasn't wrong there but something about him gave her the moment to stay and trust him, "I felt ok with you. No fear or worry, just a small calm that is almost like Gillen's yet is not like his own. Alike yet different."
Lutz gave a small chuckle, "You are very interesting, you know that? And to answer you, mine and his place. It's not far from where you first woke."
She nodded, taking in the strange hominess it gave as she continued her meal, "Where's Gillen?"
"Out with Luciano." Lutz replied as another door came open.
"Lutzy!" the man from the building beamed in, "And Laine! Ciao darling, how are you fairing with the Germanics?"
Ah, now she remembered, Flavio was his name as he came up to her, "Eating the heavy way."
"Heavy?"
"It's because there's so much." Lutz replied, "Italians are lighter in food than us."
"Just by somethings. Luci and I prefer a full Italian meal, with all the works. Speaking of, what wines do you fools have?"
"Nein, bier."
Flavio scoffed, "No fun, even with her here. You are to wine and dine."
Lutz shook his head as she watched them banter back and forth, "No alcohol for her. Meds, remember."
"What medication?" she finally spoke up.
She watched as Lutz went to answer only to pause and look at the clock, "Sheiße. Hold on."
He disappeared for a moment, only to reappear with a syringe in hand. She eyed the needle, watching him read something as he came towards her. She cringed away, afraid of what was within and not fully knowing what would happen to her if she was stuck.
"It's alright, I promise. It's for your arm." he explained, "Xiao mixed it up so you could take the painkiller and antibiotics together. It won't harm you."
Carefully, she lifted her arm to him, waiting for the sting as he removed the bandaged. She saw the tapes and stitches, as Heather told her, the sting claimed her heart once more. It rattled her that her own world would turn on her like so.
"There, that should do it and you need to keep it in a sling as well." he told her, placing a strange thing around her as he rested her arm within it, "If you still feel pain, we can place a cold pack in it to ease it until the drugs work."
"I'm fine, thank you though for all you have done." she said, glancing at the men, "Both of you."
"Prego." Flavio beamed, "So, what do you think of this side so far? No more being a servant to the house, free to do as you please."
She paused, the words ringing in her head as the two men spoke to one another about her. Free. She was free. There were no calls to the Mistress or Master, no more waiting on people or caring for the rest within. No home to cater and clean or commands to take. The world she knew so much of was gone. Everything she had of them was removed as she sat within that kitchen. All except one thing.
"Flavio?"
"Yes?"
"You said I'm free. That the home no longer has a tie with me, correct?"
He nodded along with Lutz, "That's what I said."
"Can you do something for me?"
"Sure, whatever clothes you need or anything-"
"No, not clothes, but can you do hair?"
He grinned, "But of course, I can do anything you want with your hair. Any style or color, name it-"
"Cut it." foreign whats came to her as she stared at him, "I want you to cut my hair. I want it all gone."
"You're serious?" he asked while Lutz protested the act, stating Gillen would be furious, "Once gone, it'll take a while to grow back."
She thought of how the Mistress demanded her to comb and clean her hair, how it was valuable and inspiring for people of her long tresses. It flowed past her bottom when all was let go, yet it was something the woman valued. And if she didn't want her anymore, then she was removing the one thing she loved most about her and severing the last tie she had with Haven and the people within it.
"Cut it all off."