A Need Unknown
Chapter 10
Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm SO SORRY it's taken me forever to update this story – long story short, life happened. I went out of town, and then I was hand-making everyone's Christmas presents, and then all of a sudden I got pneumonia and had to be in the hospital for like a week. UGH. Needless to say, I've got some time back now and I can finally write again, so that's what I'm gonna do! I've gotten inspiration recently for this story through music, so don't be surprised if you happen to see some song lyrics pop up in the next few chapters, lol. If you're the type of person that doesn't like that stuff, then just skip em, you'll be able to notice them. Although the ones I've been inspired by seem to relate to this story pretty well, hehe.
Anyway, just a note for future chapters – I probably won't write out the full battle scenes between Cell and the Z Fighters/etc, but I'll skip through the parts that aren't really relevant and write about the parts that are. I'm sure at least most, if not all, of you have seen the Cell Games, so you already know what happens. I'll just be adding my take whenever it's important! This chapter is a little bit of filler during the last few days leading up to the tournament, but bear with me - there's still some more CellxSayah romance to come before the tournament actually begins (probably in the next chapter), so I hope you'll enjoy that!
Thank you all for sticking with this story during my random disappearance. My plan -crosses fingers- is to keep writing this story for another few chapters until it's complete, and I'm gonna try and do that over the next few weeks, so I'm gonna focus on getting updates more frequently, like I used to do. I always love to hear your thoughts and comments, so please, R&R! Much love!
Sayah's eyelids fluttered open slowly and she sat up, groggily. She looked to her balcony and saw Cell standing there, smiling a bit and realizing that that was probably his favorite spot in the house. She reached to pull the sheets off her but froze when she realized she wasn't wearing anything but her birthday suit, her eyes widening slightly and her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. Her mind raced to the memories of the day before, when her and Cell had shared some very passionate moments in the shower, and she closed her eyes with a smile, her blush deepening. She shook her head to snap out of it and grabbed the blanket on the bed, wrapping it around herself as she grabbed some clothes to wear and quickly changed into them. When she was done, she saw that Cell hadn't moved, his proud form statuesque as his eyes looked over the horizon. She placed the blanket back on her bed and let out a soft sigh, remembering the fleeting memory she'd seemed to unlock yesterday. She hesitated briefly before walking over to Cell, slowly and tentatively.
"You know, you're going to be very, very powerful and equally as intelligent when you're all grown up, and that means you have to take care of me. So, you better come find me once you are…I'll be waiting for you." She said quietly, seeing as he snapped his head to one side upon hearing her voice, and gradually turning around, his eyes wide.
Cell couldn't believe what he was hearing, knowing that he'd heard those exact words before, and they'd been engrained into his head since, never knowing exactly who had spoken them. He knew it hadn't had been 18, because the voice wasn't right, but when Sayah uttered those words perfectly as he'd heard them, even in the same tone, his body trembled slightly at the realization that he now knew who.
"So…that was you." He uttered, settling his cerise hues to stare right back at her emerald ones. "You're 16B."
Sayah smiled up at him, a hint of sadness in her face as her eyes tried to well up with tears, but she easily blinked them away. "That's me," She said softly, her voice breaking slightly as she sighed, looking aside. "When I was unconscious yesterday, I saw a memory. I was in Dr. Gero's lab, and I was wearing this white dress with a red ribbon tied around my waist. It had two big, white R's on it…" She trailed off, as if trying to remember their significance.
"The Red Ribbon Army," Cell stated, matter-of-fact, "Dr. Gero served it as the chief scientist until Goku took out the entire army by himself when he was a child."
Sayah's mouth opened slightly in amazement and she turned back to look at him. "That Goku guy is something else," She paused, seeing the look of disgust on Cell's face and sighing a bit, "He's that blonde man who showed up the day after you took me to your ring, isn't he? The one who stopped you from killing—" She hesitated, looking away from Cell as she remembered that day, and how close she'd felt she'd been at death's door.
Cell watched her face, as if searching for answers. He paused before thinking over his next words carefully and telling her the truth. "I wasn't going to kill you. I couldn't."
Sayah's head snapped back to look at Cell, astounded. "Why not?"
Cell crossed his arms in front of his chest and refused to meet her gaze, keeping his face stoic. "I have my reasons."
Sayah smiled, knowing deep down what he wanted to say, but knowing that his own pride kept him from doing so. He'd never cared about anyone else before, and he was so used to being alone, he couldn't bring himself to tell her how he really felt. She placed a hand on Cell's folded arms and watched as he turned back to look at her, feeling his intense gaze on her entire petite form.
"Nevertheless, I kept calling Dr. Gero father, and he told me that I was Android 16's sister. I was the only one awake at the time, so I asked him why 17 and 18 weren't awake, and he told me they were insubordinate children…" Her eyebrows furrowed, as if confused, before she continued on, "I asked him if they were my siblings, but he told me no, that only 16 was my brother…" She paused, her voice trailing off again as if lost.
Cell listened closely, curious, realizing that Dr. Gero must've wanted a daughter, and that is why Sayah must've been kidnapped. He chuckled, never once thinking that the doctor could actually have feelings and show affection, but he stopped when he recognized he'd thought that about himself as well. "Dr. Gero made Android 16 as a tribute to his fallen son, who died many years ago, and was a high-ranking officer in the Red Ribbon Army," He explained, watching as she nodded her understanding.
"I think I can get that. But what I don't get is what he needed me for," She responded, putting her hands on her hips. "Did he have a daughter and I just look like her or something?" She asked, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Cell unfolded his arms and looked at her closely, shaking his head. "Not to my knowledge. Although I may not be far off in saying that he could've wanted one…as far as I knew Dr. Gero was a cold, calculating man, who only used people for his own experiments," He paused, glancing away, "But he must've been able to feel affection if he modeled 16 after his own son. And if he wanted a daughter bad enough to…" He hesitated, looking back at her and not wanting to finish his sentence.
"…to kidnap me." Sayah finished, looking away and putting her hands on her arms, "I don't get it, though. How did he even find me? Out of all the people in this world I'm the one who wins Dr. Gero's make-your-own-daughter lottery," She added bitterly, sighing again before turning her gaze back to meet his. She saw the look of concern in his eyes, and she knew that he was apprehensive about the fact that he was one of Dr. Gero's creations as well, unsure of what she thought of him now that she knew the truth. She moved her arms back to rest at her sides and took a step towards him, never breaking their stare, "I guess if I have one thing to thank him for…" She reached up on her tiptoes and placed her hands on his chest, a smile tugging at her lips, "…it's that I met you."
Cell felt a wave of relief wash over him as she uttered that sentence, now knowing that she didn't care whether the same person who had taken her life away from her had created his. He leaned down over her and picked her up, feeling as she grazed her lips against his own and pressing her close against him, not wanting to let go. He felt her hands moving up his chest to his neck, and he deepened the kiss, tasting that sweet strawberry he now so badly craved. He felt her pull away slowly, gently, and he opened his eyes to stare deep into her emerald ones, trying hard not to kiss her fiercely again.
Sayah looked at him curiously before speaking up. "We only have today and tomorrow until your tournament," She uttered quietly, seeing as the look in his eyes changed from longing to pensive, "Do you need to go back to your arena?"
Cell took a deep breath, setting her down slowly and crossing his arms when she took a step back. "Possibly," He replied, wondering why she'd brought this up all of a sudden, especially during such an intimate moment.
"Can I come with you?" She asked, seeing the look of shock on his face, and she knew he was wondering why she wanted to go back there when she was here, safe and comfortable in her own home.
"You don't have to come," Cell replied, moving his arms back at his sides as he stared at her, incredulous.
Sayah smiled up at him, putting her hands on her hips again. "I know, but I want to. Maybe I want to be with you…keep you company," She winked, "Plus, don't you think it'll look suspicious to Mr. Goku if I'm not there when he shows up?"
Cell paused for a moment, remembering the deal he'd made with Goku and frowned. "I could care less what he thinks," he spat, crossing his arms and looking away, off into the distance.
Sayah tried to hold back a laugh at his antics, noticing how much he reminded her of a spoiled child. She reached up and placed her hand gently on the side of his face, watching as he turned back to look at her. "Wait here. I'll be right back."
Cell watched as she turned and walked over to a closet, pulling out a large duffel bag. He leaned back against the balcony's ledge, his arms still crossed as he looked off to the side, staring at the unending greenery before him. Deep down he knew he had to go through with the tournament and kill Goku, even if as a last act of thanks to Dr. Gero for creating him. He would fulfill his true purpose, and he would convince Sayah to come with him, eradicating planet Earth once they'd left. He knew she'd be upset with him for that, and probably for a long time, but he'd come to terms with the fact that he'd rather have her and have her angry at him, than not have her at all. She'd helped him discover feelings that he'd never even thought possible for someone like himself, who was made solely to kill and take pleasure in it. He still did, that much he knew, but in his perfected form he'd not needed to do so in order to survive, unlike in his imperfect stage. The strength he'd gained from absorbing androids 17 and 18 was insurmountable, and he had no qualms that he'd win. In fact, he knew it.
He'd been so deep in his thoughts that he barely registered Sayah returning, closing the balcony doors before dropping the duffel bag next to her feet. He looked back at her and saw the smile on her face, causing him to smile slightly in return and pick her up bridal style, feeling her arms wrap around his neck. He took off into the sky, feeling as she dug her face in his neck and he suddenly remembered the time he flew her to Ginger Town for supplies, recalling the way his fingers tingled as they'd touched her bare skin. "I guess my body knew before my mind did," He thought, reaching the arena not too long after and landing gracefully, feeling Sayah shift gently before he set her down.
Sayah placed her feet on the arena's marble surface, turning and looking all around her. She saw the bag out of the corner of her eye and walked over to it, picking it up without much effort despite everything inside. She set it down in the corner of the ring she used to use, and paused before looking up at the sky, shielding the sun from her eyes with her hand. "I forgot how hot it was out here," She mumbled, dropping her hand before walking back over to Cell, who'd been watching her.
"Are you sure you don't wish me to take you back home?" He asked, eyeing her movements closely and memorizing the way her body moved when she walked.
"Yes, I'm sure," She replied, reaching him and grinning, before she paused, "Your hearing is amazing."
Cell smirked, crossing his arms in his usual stance and giving her a self-satisfied look. "I have a lot of amazing abilities," He replied smugly, watching her roll her eyes and laugh, knowing he wanted to hear her do so more often. It caused a feeling in his chest he couldn't describe, and that he was unfamiliar with, but if he had to put a word to it, it would be…joy? Perhaps happiness? He was pulled out of his thoughts by Sayah, who heaved a sigh before speaking. "I wish I had abilities like yours…all I can do is ballet."
Cell grinned haughtily and studied her face before speaking up. "Yes, I've noticed."
Sayah glared playfully at him and smiled briefly before realization became apparent on her face. "Wait, what do you mean you've noticed? How would you know?"
Cell hesitated, remembering when he'd seen her doing the ballet moves while at the spring a few days back, and tried to think of something to explain himself before sighing and telling her the truth. "I watched you perform them when you first went to the hot spring you use to bathe."
Sayah's eyes widened and she walked up to him, poking him in the chest. "You watched me? Did you see me bathe, too? I would've never pinned you as a pervert."
Cell's eyes grew large as coins and he shook his head furiously, trying to defend himself. "I did no such thing. I just happened to turn around when I heard you talking to those animals," He responded, crossing his arms again and staring back at her, trying to show her that he wasn't lying.
Sayah stared into his eyes for a lingering moment before smiling, moving her hand back to rest at her side. "Fine. I believe you. Although I must've been crazy thinking those animals understood me." She quipped, pursing her lips to one side and furrowing her eyebrows, as if thinking.
Cell studied her face, suddenly remembering something. "Perhaps not…Android 16 is also very keen on nature. It makes sense, since you both were not designed for battle."
Sayah nodded, exhaling quietly. "Yes…you're probably right," she whispered, turning her gaze away before realizing something. "Cell…is Android 16 still alive?" She asked, looking back up at him and seeing him shift uncomfortably.
Cell froze under her gaze, remembering the last time he'd seen 16 and the bad shape he'd left him in. He cleared his throat quickly and looked away for a moment, wondering if he should tell her what he'd done. "He might be. He was in quite a rough shape the last time I saw him, however."
Sayah eyed him closely, something telling her that Cell had been the one to put 16 in said 'rough shape.' She put her hands on her hips, looking up into the sky as she remembered something that had happened before Cell had found her. "You know...before you found me, I can't recall exactly when, but I'd been at the office when I suddenly got these awful pains in my chest, like someone was punching me," She paused, looking back into Cell's eyes before continuing, "They lasted a while, and they were so painful I had to leave work. I could barely drive home, I almost crashed a time or two," She added, tilting her head to the side. "It was that feeling you get when someone you care about is hurt, and at first I thought it was Mira but when I called her, she said she was fine and working her shift at the hospital," she sighed, placing her hands on her arms and looking down at the marble floor, "But now I think…I think it may have been because of 16. Dr. Gero must've connected us more innately than I thought."
Cell stared at her, trying to ignore the guilt he felt for having indirectly caused her pain, yet also knowing the exact feeling she had described because he'd felt it as well, when she'd hurt herself the previous day. 16 had been a nuisance at the time, and he'd kept getting in the way of him achieving his perfect form, so he'd had to be taken care of. He didn't feel remorse for what he'd done to 16, but now he knew that he'd have to be more careful, and hoped that 16 wouldn't try anything foolish enough to get himself killed during the upcoming tournament – especially since Cell had a feeling he'd be there.
Sayah's gaze lingered a moment before looking up at Cell again, smiling. "You know, in my memory, Dr. Gero got really upset with me when I looked at his design for your perfect form and said that you looked handsome…" She placed her hands behind her back, interlacing her fingers and looking at him innocently, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
"Is that so?" Cell replied arrogantly, a smug look on his face. He really did enjoy hearing compliments about himself.
"Oh yes. In fact, he practically yelled at me and snatched your blueprint design out of my hands," she smiled impishly, turning her head to the side but still looking at him out of the corner of her eye, "He said something like, 'He is to be naught but your protector, and keep you safe. Nothing more!'" she continued, throwing her hands up and using her best Dr. Gero voice impression.
Cell tried keeping a straight face at her antics and choked back a laugh before shaking his head, looking at her – that sounded like Gero, alright. "I will protect you…but not for him." He said the last part darkly, almost as if harboring resentment for Dr. Gero. His mind began trailing off to other thoughts when Sayah's voice interrupted them and he looked at her, his eyes focused intently.
"The last thing he said about it was that you were going to be his ultimate creation…but that part of your purpose was to protect one of his most important ones," She added, looking up at the sky as if searching for something. "I wonder if he was talking about 16, or—" She paused and looked back at Cell, her eyes widening suddenly as she felt a searing pain in her chest. She placed a hand feebly over her heart and took a shaky step back before she fell to her knees, placing her hands in front of her for support and breathing heavily, shutting her eyes tight. "What the hell is happening to me?! This feels almost the same as last time…" She thought, referring to the almost-crashing incident she'd told Cell about only moments earlier.
Cell had been listening attentively to her, curious about what else Dr. Gero had said about him, until he saw the look on Sayah's face. He immediately expanded his ki for quick enemy detection and glanced around them to see if someone had managed to sneak up or hurt her from a distance, but dismissing the thought quickly, knowing that there wouldn't possibly be any way anyone could get close enough without him easily taking notice. He was perfect, after all. He swiftly rushed over to her, catching her just before she fell face-first to the ground. He turned her on her back so she was facing him and looked down at her, cradling her neck in his arm without even realizing concern was written all over his face. "Sayah, what is it?"
Sayah reached up and feebly placed a hand on his cheek, smiling up at him. "I'm okay. I just think…something might be happening…with sixt—" She was unable to finish, her last words quieting to a whisper before her hand dropped to her side and her body relaxed completely as she fell unconscious.
"Sayah. Sayah!" Cell shook her, trying to contain his anger at not being able to control or do anything about what was happening. He searched his mind's vast knowledge and remembered a technique that could be used to see if a human was still alive (which, of course, Dr. Gero had instilled in him to ensure a person was truly dead), and reached over and gently placed two fingers under the right side of her chin, feeling for her pulse. Once he could feel the artery pumping and beating against them, he released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding, unsure of what had just happened and why. He picked her up and carried her over to her items, using his ki to set out some blankets and laying her down gently on top of them, anger filling his body from not knowing what to do or what exactly was happening. He stood up and crossed his arms, staring down at her with a somber look on his face, keeping a careful eye on her breathing. "I think she was in the midst of saying 16…which must mean he is still online somewhere. Perhaps he's being repaired…but I don't see how that would cause this. Unless…perhaps someone is tampering with his internal circuitry or components and altering them somehow." He thought, a frown becoming apparent on his perfectly etched face, "Damn. If I could only find 16 and check for myself…but I can't leave Sayah here, and even if I was foolish enough to do so, there's no guarantee I'd find 16 since he has no ki either. My only option is to watch and wait," He sighed deeply, closing his eyes briefly before looking up at the sky, narrowing his eyes. "Patience has never been my strong suit…"
"There. That should do it!" The young woman beamed, finally taking a break from the furious typing she'd been doing the past few minutes.
"Sayah, are you really still working? It's the last day of the school year. Graduation's tomorrow!" A voice called to her, one that sounded so familiar yet whose owner she couldn't quite make out.
Sayah laughed, waving her hand dismissively at the person scolding her. "I know, I know…but I had to give it a try. I mean, what if he says yes? Can you imagine? I'd be his apprentice! Or intern…or whatever he'd appoint me, I could care less, as long as I get to study under him. I mean, his work is what I wrote my dissertation over. I'd happily do it all for free!" She exclaimed, pushing herself gently away from the desk as she spoke. She raised her arms to the ceiling and, at her last sentence, spun around in the chair she was sitting in, giggling like a child.
"Sayah, you really are crazy. You've gotten job offers from all the top tech and medical companies AND universities across the nation, yet you're willing to work for free?! You're about to be a Doctor yourself, why don't you just start up on your own?"
She stopped spinning, looking at the person straight in their eyes as she leaned forward slightly, gripping the edge of the chair sternly with her hands, still smiling. "Becaaaause I could learn so much from him…don't you get it? If I could learn just a fraction of what he knows…there is so much good I could do in the world. I could really help people – using technology to enhance and enrich, maybe even save lives! I don't want to work for some tech company making a microchip to put into people's brains to use as a cell phone. I want to make a difference."
The person had their arms folded, and Sayah could tell they were shaking their head gently at her. "You've always been such a dreamer…but still, good luck – if anyone can do this, it's definitely you. Although…no one's heard from, much less seen, Maki Gero since he supposedly holed himself up in his lab somewhere on the continent years ago. How did you get in contact with him, anyway?"
Sayah's eyes shone brightly as she looked at her best friend, a big smile on her face. "That's just it, Avelee! He got in touch with me. He must've found out I was researching him for my thesis or something and reached out. The man is a genius, you know."
Her friend gave her a small smile, letting her arms drop back to her sides as she headed for the door. "Well alright. Just don't hold out hope, and don't be sad if he says no. Oh, and don't forget your speech for graduation. I'll see you tomorrow!"
Sayah waved goodbye to her friend, who promptly exited the room and closed the door behind her. She sighed and slumped back in her chair, glancing around and seeing she was the only one left in the large graduate-student office. She was about to start packing her things when she heard a ding from her computer, signaling that she had a new email. She set her bookbag back down on the ground and clicked the New Message popup, which opened to reveal only a picture of a set of steel double-doors seemingly hidden away in some mountains, and nothing else. She frowned, staring at the picture for a moment before sighing, pursing her lips to the side. "He must be testing me to see if I can even find his lab…." She uttered quietly, printing the picture and grabbing the piece of paper from the tray when it was done. She pressed the Windows key + L to lock her computer, placing her bookbag over her shoulder and looking down at the picture with a smile. "...little does he know, I've got the strongest determination of anyone here. I didn't earn summa cum laude sitting on my butt in front of this computer!" She let out a proud laugh, folding the paper in half twice before sticking it into the back pocket of her jeans, "Game on, Dr. Gero. I'll promise to find you and your lab before the day's over!" She quipped, happiness radiating from her as she looked back at her desk one last time to ensure she hadn't forgotten anything, immediately seeing a picture of her and a man and a woman, all of their smiles beaming as she wore a burgundy and ivory cap and gown – from her undergrad graduation, of course. Although she couldn't make out their faces in the memory, she uttered something about needing to call her parents to tell them she wouldn't be able to stop by for dinner that night, because of her sudden plans. As she pulled out her cell phone to do so, she then turned and exited the room, making sure to close the door and lock it behind her.
Surely enough, it hadn't taken her too awfully long before she was able to find the metal doors nestled deep in the mountains, noting that she still had a couple hours of sunlight left. She grinned, trying hard to quell her delight as she pulled the picture out of her pocket and referred to it, just to be doubly sure. "Yep, this looks like it. I can't believe I'm going to be meeting the Dr. Gero face-to-face. I don't even know what I should say…what do you say to a genius?" She uttered nervously, setting the picture inside her car before pushing the capsule button on the side, pulling out her capsule holder to return it, immediately after said capsule had landed in the palm of her hand.
She put the case away in her back pocket, trying hard to stifle her excitement. "I can't seem too excited, or he'll think I'm just some idiot…" She took in a deep breath before literally trying to shake the nerves out, her long brown hair swaying wildly about as she shook her head. "Alright Sayah, get ahold of yourself, and get prepared to meet the man you've admired for so many years…here goes nothing." She sighed slowly before placing a gentle smile on her face, walking toward the metal doors, completely unaware that Dr. Gero had been watching her via his cameras and spy-flies for long before she'd even arrived there.
She walked up to the doors, and as she was getting ready to knock they suddenly whooshed open, stunning her. She froze for a minute before continuing in, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The lab was so much larger than she'd ever imagined, and when she saw large, capsule-like pods in the distance, she immediately knew she was in the right place. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her head, and her breath caught in her throat when the doors closed behind her. She fidgeted with her fingers as she slowed to a stop near one of the capsules which had a large '16' painted on it. "Hello? Dr. Gero, are you here?" She called out, hearing very faint footsteps before her eyes settled on the figure approaching her, her eyes widening when she saw him. She couldn't believe that she was face to with the famous Dr. Gero.
"Yes, I've been expecting you," He spoke quietly, his arms interlocked behind him as he studied her. "I wasn't sure you'd succeed in finding me."
Sayah smiled at this, letting out a nervous laugh, "I was pretty determined, and when I set my mind on something, I make it happen," She responded, feeling miniscule under his intense gaze.
Dr. Gero watched her for a few more seconds before a large smirk spread upon his thin lips. He now knew she was perfect for the purpose he had in mind for her. "So it seems…you've been doing some research on me, haven't you?"
Sayah tried to ignore the creepy, almost evil vibe she was getting, and tried to focus on the fact that she could learn a lot from him if he allowed her to. "Yes, sir. I did my dissertation and thesis on your work…well, the little I was able to find. I would love to learn more from you, if you'd let me. You don't have to pay me or anything like that, I just want to study under you and learn what I can so I can use this technology to help people. I'll be a good student, I promise – you can ask me anything!"
Dr. Gero tried to hide his disgust at her statement of helping people. Of course she'd be one of those altruistic types…but no matter, he would try to suppress that. He knew he couldn't add or remove anything from her personality (as he'd learned the hard way when he had to deactivate 17 and 18 for not listening to him), so she'd always be who she is now, but even if he couldn't suppress it, he'd use that trait to his advantage and have her help him instead of others. He lifted his head a bit and looked over at her, clearing his throat. "Sayah Mireya Sato, 22 years old, no siblings nor children. Earned a full academic scholarship as well as a professional ballet scholarship, but turned it down for an undergraduate, Masters and now a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Graduated early from all schools attended, summa cum laude for all degrees obtained," He paused, staring at her as if trying to bore a hole through her soul while waiting for her response.
Sayah's mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes wide. She'd thought she'd been the only one doing research, but obviously he'd conducted some of his own. She composed herself enough to gulp, and felt a cold shiver run down her spine from the look her gave her. Maybe coming here hadn't been such a good idea…
"I should definitely rethink this…" She thought, nodding inwardly and trying to figure out how to get out of the mess she'd just climbed into. Maybe she'd be able to get over Dr. Gero's creepiness someday, but right now, he was seriously and horribly freaking her out. She needed to go and get some air, reconsider, and decide whether she still wanted to study under him or not. She smiled awkwardly as she thought of the best way to tell him she wanted some more time to really think about being his pupil.
"Well, Dr. Gero, it was a pleasure meeting you…" She trailed off, clearing her throat, "But my parents are expecting me for dinner, so I should probably get going," she lied, knowing that she'd called her mother on the way there and told her not to wait for her, "but I'll definitely be waiting for your response regarding my tutelage once you decide." She faintly registered that she'd been backing away from him as he'd been approaching her, trying to look for the exit doors to run out and get the hell out of there.
"I look forward to hearing from you!" She barely managed to croak out before taking off into a full-fledged run towards what she thought were her doors to freedom, but skidded to a halt when Dr. Gero suddenly appeared before her, almost as if he'd just materialized out of nowhere. Her eyes widened, and she began to back away again, fear striking her deep in her heart all the way to the pit of her stomach, making her nauseous. Backed into a corner, she fought back tears as realization hit her that this was it, and it was her own damn fault that she'd gotten into this mess that she probably wouldn't get out of.
"Please, you can't do this."
She knew there was no way out.