I finally got the chance to learn a little more about Cecilia from my father that night.
As dad explained, what Cecilia had said was true - she had some kind of chip implanted into her brain that modulated the activities of the prefrontal cortex and some other regions, making it very hard for her to lie, among other things. It was not without side-effects; it also affected her critical thinking and decision-making, but according to dad, it was a good trade-off. I didn't understand how crippling someone's thinking capabilities could ever be a good trade-off; I was just glad that they didn't try it on people or myself yet.
"Was it really necessary?" I pondered.
"It was. We don't need another Mewtwo."
"Then why are we creating hybrids again?" He or mom never told me what the project was really about. I felt like I deserved to know now.
"Think of it as an attempt to bridge the gap between humans and Pokemon, son. Isn't that just wonderful?" Dad exclaimed with glee. It sure would have been wonderful had Cecilia not been sick as a result, but I nodded in agreement anyway.
"It is, dad. Is that all there is to it?" Why did we need to bridge the gap? Did Arceus not create us as separate species?
"Well, there's also the potential for business. Silph could be turning in billions each year if this project turns out to be successful." Dad finished his words with a sigh, "We haven't been really lucky in that regard so far."
I could see why.
"Cecilia seemed to be pretty sick. She had a bad coughing fit today. I also saw medical equipment in her room." I left the exact details out. I didn't know who ordered her to watch over me. Was it mom or dad? Probably both of them, but it'd be best to act unaware.
"Oh, so you noticed?" Dad lowered his glasses to take a closer look at me. "It's nothing too serious. Just congestive heart failure and bronchospasms. We can keep it in check with regular treatment."
Those were new terms. I ought to ask my biology professor about them or look them up on the network.
"So, she'll be fine?" I eagerly asked. She was annoying, sure, but I'd hate to see her die of health complications right under my nose.
"Probably. Most of her siblings died within six months. She was one of the few to live for over a year. We can expect her to live for a good while, now that she's made it past the benchmark." The way dad maintained his casual tone throughout such a serious conversation managed to unnerve me, to say the least.
"Glad to know, dad. You guys can do it!" I faked enthusiasm. I was glad Cecilia wasn't going to drop dead one day, but what was the point of creating life when you knew they would suffer? Dad was right, science comes at a steep price. But was it really worth it?
"Thanks, son." He smiled back, "But are you two getting along?"
"Well, kind of, she can be pretty annoying. But I think she'll turn out fine."
"Good, very good. We want to see her kind integrate into the society and get along with people."
"Wait, is that why she was brought in here? As part of some kind of experiment?" I struggled to maintain my facade.
"Yes, we do need to see if she can co-exist with humans."
I really hated the implications. When she was first introduced, I was nervous, but glad that there was a new family member. Then it turned out she was tasked to spy on me. And not too long after, it also turns out I'm a part of the experiment as well. After all, Mr. Ross and I were the only humans she'd have for company most of the time, and Mr. Ross wasn't very talkative to begin with. Then it meant I was supposed to be her company. I hid a sigh. Why couldn't I just have a normal life?
Despite my troubled thoughts, I continued to chat with dad about various things. I was sure he didn't mean any harm. If it was dangerous, I wouldn't be a part of it. I was their only direct heir, after all.
I got the letter back from Cecilia the next day, but it was crumpled and covered in dirt. I guess she actually went to the trouble of burying it in the garden. I can't give it to the girl, Sophia, like this. I'd just have to salvage the text and write a new copy. However, what bothered me was the fact that her name had been completely gouged out from the letter using something sharp, most likely Cecilia's claws. What was her problem? This seemed utterly disrespectful.
"Look, I'm grateful that you didn't snitch on me, but would you kindly explain the gaping hole in this letter, Cecilia?" I demanded to know.
"I made it myself." She admitted, just like that.
"And why did you do that?"
"I told you, Master, I felt envious." She stared at the ground, slowly flicking her tail from side to side. I wasn't amused.
"I think the correct word here is 'jealousy'. And how is scratching her name out going to help you with that? Do you get off from tormenting me or something?" The chip affected her rational thinking, alright. It was becoming evident now. Maybe they could re-program it or something?
"Of course not, Master!" She seemed hurt by my words, tears welling up in her eyes. I wasn't buying it. She couldn't lie, sure, but that didn't mean she couldn't fake emotions.
"Then please stop vandalizing my property. Do you want to investigate my room again today?" I sarcastically offered. I have stored my remaining objects elsewhere, she wasn't going to find anything unusual even if she turned the room upside down.
"I'd rather investigate this lady called Sophia, but it isn't possible, is it?"
Her speech was so to-the-point and blunt that it almost felt amusing. But her sudden obsession with Sophia was anything but.
"No, it isn't possible. You aren't allowed to leave the house, are you?" I pointed out. That was what Mr. Ross had told me, anyway.
"That is correct." She sighed. "I'll be taking my leave, then." She turned around and left my room.
"Mind your health." I shouted at her when she was almost out of my sight. She turned around, gave me a meek smile, and went on her way again.
I didn't know what to feel about her anymore. She was definitely a nuisance. I wanted to shout at her, tell her to leave me alone, but I also felt pity for her. She was created in a lab to be marketed as some sort of commodity. On top of that, she was more or less brainwashed. Could I really blame her for being the way she was? But more importantly, she knew about my secrets. What if I got rid of the evidence? Then I could make her look like a liar and get her off my back.
I crumbled the letter and cut it into many pieces with a scissor before dumping them into the waste bin. I'll just meet Sophia face-to-face and ask her out directly. Letters be damned.
That was one evidence gone. Now I just had to dig out the other two from the garden and then Cecilia wouldn't have any leverage over me. I laughed, feeling on top of the world for finding a way to gain the upper hand.
Weekend rolled around two days later. Normally, I hated weekends. It was a nice break from the busy life at school, but being at home wasn't all that fun. Since my parents would be home, too, I was expected to spend time with them. Turning them down really wasn't a good idea.
But this weekend, things went down the drain even faster than usual.
Last night, mom and dad turned Cecilia's room into a medical bay - not that it already didn't resemble one. They brought in some more tools in a black box, which was rather ominous.
At the breakfast table, mom said that she and dad had some work to do, so I could be in my room.
"What're you working on today, mom? Isn't this our day off?" I tried to get some insight into the matter.
"Something simple, dear, we just need to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from Cecilia." She said with a smile.
"A sample of what?" That kind of fluid didn't ring a bell.
"Slacking off with your studies, are you?" Dad gave me an annoyed look. "The fluid that protects the spinal cord."
"Oh, okay." I simply said, not really understanding. How were they going to do it? I knew what the spinal cord was; getting samples taken from there must be painful. I hadn't seen Cecilia since last evening, I hoped she would be alright.
I went back into my room, hoping to utilize the time to actually enjoy the weekend and to distract my mind from the medical procedure that is supposed to take place downstairs. Why couldn't they just send her back to the lab if she needed to be operated on?
I booted up my handheld gaming console, hoping to sink a few hours into the new game I bought. I haven't really had a chance to play it with my busy schedule and Cecilia lurking near my room every afternoon. This morning might be the perfect time.
No sooner than a few minutes had passed when I heard a sharp screech from downstairs. It definitely sounded like Cecilia.
I almost jumped out of my bed from the completely unexpected occurrence. What the hell were they doing down there? Weren't medical procedures mostly painless these days?
I desperately wished to go downstairs and see for myself, to see if everything was okay, but I knew very well that it wouldn't be a good idea. I didn't really know anything about biology, let alone medical procedures. And my parents wouldn't be too happy to be interrupted during such precise work. Worst of all, my disruption could end up harming Cecilia. I didn't really like her, but I couldn't bring myself to cause any harm to her, direct or indirect. We were just extensions of this household. We needed to stick together.
It seemed like an eternity until I could hear my parents in the living room again, talking among themselves and laughing. I looked at the clock. It had been only forty minutes or so. Were they done? I really hoped they were; there were a couple of more painful yells during those forty minutes, each frightening me a little more than the last. With trembling feet, I finally braved up enough to go downstairs.
"How did it go, mom?" I forced a smile before asking her.
"It was troublesome, to be honest. We missed the mark a few times. You need to insert a needle into the spinal column at just the right angle, or it wouldn't work." She explained. She had her whitecoat and gloves on, as did dad. I could see a tiny, sealed vial on the desk, secured inside a plastic case. I assumed that was the thing they were collecting.
"I, err, I thought I heard some fuss." I blabbered.
"The local anesthetic didn't work as expected." Dad shrugged, "Her body has a resistance to both human and Pokemon medicine."
I guess it meant she had to face the full brunt of the pain herself. I cringed trying to imagine how it might feel like. Poor Cecilia.
"She's okay, right?" I frightfully asked, "When can I see her?"
"After a few hours. Let her rest for now, okay?" Mom smiled.
"Okay, mom." I smiled back before heading back to my room again. This place was horrible. All this money and they couldn't even find an anesthetic that worked. What was even the point?
[LB]
I retired to my room again after lunch. Mom and dad went out to eat, I was asked to come along, but I declined by feigning a headache, completing the act by swallowing two painkillers. They seemed disappointed, but they let me stay in.
The painkillers didn't make me relaxed like the morphine that Cecilia stole. I hoped she'd drink some of it herself if she was still in pain. I wanted to see her, but I didn't want to barge into her room in case she needed rest.
Instead, she barged into mine after some indeterminate time.
"I hate you all!" She yelled in her high-pitched voice before lurching towards my bed, not giving me any time to react. Normally she'd knock before entering my room, but whatever happened to her today must've shaken her real badly. Now I was forcibly pinned down by her, for no fault of my own.
I had never inspected her from up close, but she actually looked scary with her crimson eyes, blonde-and-black locks of hair covering the sides of her face, and not to mention, fangs. She really was a freak. I couldn't help but feel terrified.
"Cecilia, calm down -" I tried to get her off me.
"I hate you all." She repeated, "I hate you. I -"
Her repeating words morphed into sobs. She planted her face on my chest, staining my shirt with tears.
"Please calm down, okay? It's over now -" I tried to comfort her by running my fingers through her mane.
"No, Master." She lifted her face up again, "It is not. Ever had something burrow into your body?"
Poor girl. Whatever they did to her must've hurt like hell, but how was it my fault?
"No Cecilia, but -" I didn't know what to tell her. She was staring at me, visibly agitated, inhaling deep breaths that reverberated throughout her chest and produced a guttural sound. I felt a creeping sense of dread.
Then she sank her fangs into my shoulder.