Chapter 31
Lily honestly couldn't stand loyalists. They were worthless, mindlessly obedient men who would soon take a bullet for the one in charge than participate for the greater good. Men who never thought of the benefits of serving another cause in their lifetime. They could loiter and fool around when the authority wasn't present and the second they were you'd never see such organized and in shape men. Even so, they were loyal to one person and that one person alone. They didn't glance, speak, or think of serving anyone else. And unfortunately for her, those were exactly the kind of men sitting before her.
These men were unchangingly loyal and unbreakable in that resolve. They couldn't be bribed or bargained with, blackmailed or intimidated into doing her will. She could use all her charisma and her charms. She could flaunt and flirt and pry into their minds: but they wouldn't change or break or budge.
For that, she hated them with a seething burning. A hate that was slow and grew in intensity. These men were all the same and as much into their inflexibility as Ted was. Ironically, the same man they were being undyingly loyal to.
She was sick of hearing their reasons. The same repetitive mission that came from all of them. Of course she wouldn't mind the men if they were loyal to her, but such a wish was a dream. They preferred Ted like everyone else preferred Ted. Even if she hated to admit it, a part of her really liked and cared for Ted. He was a man you couldn't help but like. It escaped Lily why she herself was so fond of him, but she was and it couldn't be helped either way. Maybe it was his caring nature even if it did exasperate her most times. He had a way of separating work from his personal life in a way she never could.
She respected him for that, however not so much right now as Ted and his loyal followers were being a royal pain in the ass and an even bigger hinderance to her plans.
It was then that Lily took notice of an annoying tapping sound that was irritating her further. She was about to break the silence by yelling at the men to stop the insistent sounds. Yet just as she was about to she realized the sound was being made by her own hands. She was tapping the end of her pen on her desk in her impatience. She stopped immediately of course, deeming her action unprofessional and likewise disadvantageous.
Lily rose from her seat to stand over the men. It was to her fancy to tower over others, making people feel small and virtually insignificant. Just one of the many reasons she wore so many heels. Setting the pen down she sauntered across her office hitting the brewing button on her coffeemaker. This was going to be a long night after all.
"This won't do you know," Lily began. She forced a coolness into her voice that was smooth and quite calm yet recognizably threatening. "I need that serum to be completed so it may be used in a very important study." Lily checked the cleanliness of her coffee mug. She knew they'd be squirming in their seats in discomfort. She could even hear them. However, their comfort wasn't her concern, all she cared about was getting access to the files Ted had oh-so thoughtfully locked her out of. Of course they'd offer the same reasons as the last group of men.
"We apologize Lily," One of the men began. His voice was abnormally high for a male but he sat in the farthest right chair by her desk. "But study or not, Ted has given us firm orders. He told us exactly not to have anything to do with that serum unless the order was given by Mr. VY2 himself. Since Mr. Kasane highly doubts such an order will be given he has labeled all areas regarding info or containing materials to complete that serum off limits. They've been restricted to all employees except Ted and of course Mr. VY2," the man finished firmly with conviction. He possessed the same confidence and vigor as many men before him had.
"You are aware this project is more important and possesses more value than all of you combined?" Lily stated clearly. A chair behind her screeched and she shot a poisonous look behind her. Needless to say, it didn't happen again.
Lily knew she wouldn't last much longer without snapping. She'd gone all day through countless employees to get where she was now and she still had nothing to show for it. Absolutely nothing! Setting her mug down on the small granite counter of her bar she set her hands on the cool surface and took a deep breath. She couldn't afford to snap on them, not after she'd kept her cool all day.
"Look, I understand what Ted said but surely you'd be willing to participate for the sake of science," Lily said smiling brightly.
"Science or not, Ted's orders are absolute. If you want to continue whatever project you have going on you'll need consent from him to continue," the man with the high voice stated. "You're his assistant and you have a much higher position than us so why do you need our help anyway Lily?"
The question caused Lily to wince. Nobody had been smart enough to catch onto that before. Of course she could've told them the truth. The truth that she in no way was going to compromise her job and position in Yuma's good books for something that possibly wouldn't even go over all too well. She needed someone else to do this portion of dirty work, else she wouldn't be putting herself through this insanity. There was also the fact that she was somehow reluctant to do what she was doing. But what she had planned was for the greater good, Dolls were capable of being uncontrolled monsters after all. After what Rin had done escaping the agency Lily wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. If the employees wouldn't betray Ted she'd have to do it. And unfortunately for her, the man was one of the few in the male population who wasn't an idiot. He'd immediately suspect her.
Her coffeemaker went off then, sending small beeps echoing through the room. Lily poured herself a cup not bothering with cream or sugar. She took a sip before speaking.
"I have my reasons, and if you know what's good for you then you already know the position you're in. I do have a higher position than you so you will do what I order you to," she spat, the men didn't even flinch. That's when the most silent man spoke, the one who'd been sitting left to the two others, closest to her.
"Yeah, and Ted has a higher position than you. So we take orders from him and not you."
"I could raise your position if you chose to participate." The same scientist snorted a laugh.
"Why? So I have no more authority than you do?"
That was Lily's snapping point.
"Do you not understand how important this serum is? I need it to be completed and all three of you are going to help me!"
"Further completion of that serum is restricted," declared the man with the high voice.
"I don't care if it's restricted you're gonna find a way to have it completed because I need it done! If you possess any wits at all you'll find a way around the barriers unless you're completely useless. I'd like it done and so you're all going to do it! This century preferably!"
"But Lily Ted said-"
"Ted said?" Lily repeated, venom in her voice. She stepped forward, her heels the only sound in the room. "Ted said!" she screamed. "I don't care what Ted said! Right now you take orders from me, not Ted!" In her rage she whipped her coffee mug at the men. It splashed hot and steamy against their lab coats however they didn't dare move. The cup shattered on her floor with a sickening and abnormally loud crunch.
"You worthless freaking imbeciles! All of you! Ted this, Ted that, Ted said, Ted ordered, Ted's words are Law! Don't you have any dignity? Integrity? Self reliance? No,right? Because I bet you wouldn't wipe your own ass if Ted didn't tell you to!" With a sweep of Lily's arm everything went flying off her desk. "You will do what I say and finish that serum! And so help me Lord if you breathe a word to Ted or even say his name again don't be surprised if you wake up with missing limbs! Now get out of my office!"
With that the men left. Not one dared even grumble as they did. They left swiftly and just as silently. As soon as they were gone Lily dropped into her leather chair, slumping as she sat. If she kept stressing herself out and constantly yelling like this she'd get wrinkles and grey hair. That definitely wouldn't be attractive and it would spoil all the efforts of her adolescence. She'd worked hard for her beauty and she'd be dammed if she let a bunch of men ruin it. Her head was throbbing...it was high time she had some water instead of accursed caffeine. Unfortunately she practically lived on the stuff working here.
She glanced around her office, appalled at the papers strewn everywhere. The remains of her spilled coffee was leaking onto her hardwood floor from her desk. She sighed heavily, dreading the thought of having to clean it up. Her office really wasn't as fine or as big as Ted's. It really was unfair that he always got the better of any deal regarding her. Bigger office, more authority, greater levels of respect, he was much closer to Yuma than she was. He had people to care for him and appreciate his birthday. He was always wished well around the agency, bringing people up when their spirits were down. He never gave anyone a harder time than they were already having.
She'd tried that strategy once but to no avail. Ted was already renowned. Yuma might be the top but Ted was the center. He was the heart in some ways. Without him the agency wouldn't run nearly as smoothly as it did. Because of that she couldn't kill him and a part of her didn't truly want to. Even if so many years ago he had pushed her out a window. However fair was fair . . . fair would always be fair. She'd thrown the first hit and enticed him after all.
Back then she'd been exceedingly hot headed. Incredibly vile and violent. Just a teen who could only take her anger out on an unfair world. A world that had betrayed her a long time ago. Her world had stripped her of everything pure. Lily couldn't help but pull her legs in, mimicking a sort of fetal position. Her arms were sealed firmly around her legs.
She couldn't understand why so many people detested the agency and Yuma. He could be cruel, yes and very much merciless. He was glacial and unfeeling as well. Yet no one really understood him just like Lily didn't understand herself at times. When he'd offered her a chance to escape her own reality, he'd done her a service. Thanks to him she'd been able to leave that hell called "Cal's Fosters for the Troubled and Misguided." Even if Yuma was indifferent at times he wasn't a monster, not like Cal. Cal who was the lowest, most worthless form of human trash to ever breathe.
Lily fought down a shiver and drew her legs closer. She pressed them tightly against each other welcoming the painful flex from her calves to her thighs. She'd been more than down on her luck back then. She'd spent everyday of her life dreading to go 'home.' So she'd loved school. Her logic had been when she was at school she wasn't back at Cal's so it was fine by her. She'd loved school and most of all art. Course she'd never had any real talent for drawing besides stick figures and suns in the corner of a page.
So she'd expressed her love of art in another form: her body. It was her canvas. She'd gotten into cosmetics and had gotten good enough to catch part time at a mall. Manicures, pedicures, facials, eyelashes, waxing, hair, personal training, fragrances, skin conditioning, tanning. She'd dabbled in it all, assisted in it all, and excelled in it all. Her one talent back then in her luckier times. Many men had called her gorgeous even if she had an attitude. Several had fawned over her, many had developed obsessions. Obsessions like Cal's. She hadn't found out until too late though, on her sixteenth birthday Cal that spineless defiler had taken everything from her.
He'd switched her work schedules so she worked the next day instead of on her birthday, it resulted in her losing her job. All the other girls had been out promising to be back later. She'd been home by herself and her curiosity had gotten the better of her. She'd found Cal's collection, pictures of her...hundreds and hundreds of pictures of her. Pictures of her doing various simple things and then even some of her more private moments: changing, bathing. Her fear had paralyzed her in place even when her mind had screamed at her. As bad luck and fortune had it for her, he'd found her while intoxicated to high hell.
He'd done things, horrible things that were the most horrendous memories to recall. So Lily tried not to. Yet, like bad memories had a habit of doing they burned further and deeper into her mind than the good ones. Cal had shattered her hopes and dreams. He'd taken something precious from her. Something irreplaceable.
She'd lived in righteous fear of returning 'home' after that. Clung to every reason she could think of to never go back. Of course Cal would always sit in his car just waiting for her after school. She never went though, even when the head office paged her to leave early and meet him in the office. She'd always taken it as a chance for a head start and fortunately in those games she'd always won. She knew what he'd be waiting for, but since that day she'd promised herself she'd never be the victim again. The only way to ensure that, was to push someone else forward. She put herself before others because she was worth more than that.
So she snuck into bars and clubs just so she would never have to go back. She'd crashed at various places, stolen, and camped out in alleys. She'd split from school and found the right people. She'd had her last name dropped for various reasons and changed her first to Lily. Not a big change but enough to be lost to her past. She had always hated her name before anyway.
She'd been on the run for the most part and never would she forget chilly streets, cold nights spent shivering, bitter rain that drenched her clothes and made them heavy, and even colder people. Once she'd gotten a barely steady money source she'd managed to hustle her way into the more failure accepting school of Vocalo High in a completely different city. She'd never dared stand out more than necessary but she'd achieved much on the low.
It was too late when she'd figured out she'd been ratted out by someone along the way. By some cruel unholy force Cal had found her and notified her by cell. Never so fast had she thrown something away in her life. She'd all but whipped her phone into the gushing fountain of water regardless of future consequences.
Hard times had fallen again after that. More righteous fear and anger. So much to the point she'd been blinded and paralyzed by it. She didn't sleep at all that night and remembered leaving her apartment to roam the streets. Every second and step had been a heart racing, terrifying moment. Each corner, every dark shadow was Cal. The fear had escalated to the point where she'd quit her dead-end job petrified to see Cal anywhere.
She'd lived in constant paranoia. Every noise, shadow, and person on the street was him. He was everywhere, watching her, listening to her, judging her, devouring her with his eyes, plotting, planning. The world had been against her and because of that she'd eaten very little. If she needed to leave for restocking she wore a sort of disguise: hood low, in casual wear. Nothing excessively suspicious for the area. It was during one of those runs she'd received a letter.
She'd never forgotten how her hands had clammed up, frozen, fear gripping her. Fear that threatened to drown her, consume her into the deep endless void. She'd been tempted to change everything about herself, destroy everything that made her attractive. Maybe then, she'd told herself. Maybe then Cal would forget about her. Forget about her and everything there ever was about her. She was willing to do anything: cut off her hair, go without sleep for weeks, lose weight, gain weight. Even go as far as mutilate herself.
Cal had broken her. Tore her sanity to pieces and shredded her soul even further. He'd tossed her somewhere where being abandoned in a trench would've been the kindness mercy. She'd been willing. Willing to free herself in another matter, just to be free of Cal. His voice haunted her, tore at her and called in ways she'd never known you could call a person. She'd cut herself off from the world in a hope to be freed from her curse: her torment. One after noon she'd been down by the ocean just ready. Ready to throw herself into the merciless waves and pray for the darkness to take her away. To gasp for air that wouldn't be there and let the sea consume her and all she was.
She'd taken a few seconds with shaky fingers to rip open the envelope she'd received then. Read every line carefully and was surprised when tears came to her eyes. The offer was too good to be true. Even if she'd wanted to take it, she had nothing to offer really for what she was getting in exchange. She'd made her choice right there, to trust her desolation and jump anyway. There would be nothing for her here if she got turned down and Cal . . . so she'd let herself fall.
The air had rushed by unbelievably quickly: she'd been weightless. Then she'd hit the water and she'd sunk. Feeling finally free, but not at peace. So much regret had surged through her, had jabbed at her stomach. She'd realized then that she was becoming another victim. She'd breathed in the deep blue darkness and it had been wrong because she'd wanted to live. If she had anything to live for, she'd just have to find it by having the courage to go on. She'd kicked frantically with her legs against all the weight of the water that held her down. Forcing her way back up with burning lungs to the surface. But she'd known she wasn't going to make it and yet she'd still reached, reached out for something, someone.
A hand had grasped hers and pulled her out straight into strong arms. Arms she'd prayed with all her heart weren't Cal's. For the first time in her life, fortune had blessed her because they had been someone else's: Yuma's. She'd been employed and with a new sense for her life. With new purpose, she'd lived on. Striving never to be a victim again, her attitude had been repaired. Everything she'd felt she'd lost in a way had been returned to her: Yuma had made her a sort of invincible she'd never had.
Feeling a smile grace her face, Lily set her feet down. Then just like the letter had promised Cal had been dealt with, by her orders. Revenge was sweet, but power was sweeter: and Lily had gotten both thanks to Yuma. When she'd gone to deal with Cal she hadn't shed his blood, no that would've been too easy: the simplest escape route. So instead, Lily had ordered a watch on Cal. Anyone who ever got close to him, anyone who came to love him or like him would meet their death, but only if they were of vital importance. Lily knew, she was harming innocents but life was full of victims. She in no way was planning to be one again.
Never again.
"Um, Lily...?" A voice broke into her thoughts instantly directing Lily's eyes to her office door. It was one of the men that had been in her office earlier. She forced back a grimace, her head throbbed in pain. He might have information to give her. Under any and all circumstances she couldn't screw this up.
"Yes?" She replied politely.
"Uh...well, regarding the serum and the terminals Ted locked you out of-"
"The locks can't be picked."
"I know, but Ted has the key."
"I know he has the key you imbecile!" Lily shouted, her earlier anger resurfacing. The man flinched. "What about it?"
"W-Well the word is something unfortunate happened to Ted's sister. His guard should be off so it might be possible for you to s-steal the key." Lily couldn't help raising an eyebrow, she hadn't heard anything about Ted's sister.
"Oh, really...?"
"I-I mean you might be able to see him just because you're his assistant. Otherwise the guards have strict orders not to let anyone into the infirmary without his permission." Rising to her feet Lily shot a warm smile towards the snitching scientist.
"Thank you very much, I'll make sure to effectively use that information." The skittish man nodded in an unsteady way before he left. Lily wasn't exactly sure where he'd be going, possibly to his quarters for the night.
Herself on the other hand, well...she was going to pay Kasane a very late visit. Purely by coincidence in some of her more . . . appealing clothing. Of course she knew Ted wasn't in any way a weak man. He thought he was, that was for sure. Truthfully, he was one of the more brave males Lily had the pleasure of knowing. She wasn't exactly thrilled to be well, betraying him of a sort. Lord knew the man already had enough on his shoulders. However, it wasn't entirely her fault. Nobody had gone and forced him to lock her out of the system when she should have the same level of authority as him. He'd merely brought more trouble on himself than if he'd simply complied.
Honestly, Lily didn't care much for Teto or anything that happened to Ted's little sister but she knew she'd have to seem sincere or he'd see right through her. For all the seemingly senseless kind things he'd done regardless of his own safety he wasn't an idiot. The only thing that seemed to keep him going was Teto. Lily couldn't help but assume that his sister was the only thing that kept Ted here and working. There was no other way to ensure his sisters safety. Yet, if that was so...why did he take so many risks?
Strutting out of her office Lily left for her quarters. She made sure to lock her office securely before she left, just in case anyone decided to trespass while she wasn't in. She'd spotted the coffee soaked papers and the puddle drying the floor when she was closing her doors. Shrugging, she figured she'd clean it up later and continued on her way to the elevator. It was difficult to think up a way to weaken Ted enough to shake his guard. She definitely couldn't exploit his sister, which seemed to be the mans only weakness. She had to think. Even fragile as he was, if she was a threat she knew Ted would deal with her. So how could she get the key? Would it be in his pockets? Hidden in his desk? What if they were locked in his office or in a safe?
Could it be possible that Ted was simply impervious to blackmail at her command? He was always so professional so it seemed so. How was it that she could crack him or at the very least get the keys? What was it that made him fawn over any woman? Far as she knew Ted had never checked out any female employees even if the situation in reverse wasn't the same. Lily wouldn't even bother to think too much about all the female employees that had taken more than a platonic interest in Ted. That's when Lily stopped straight in her tracks.
Ted . . . wasn't...he couldn't be well...Lily shook her head frantically. That couldn't be a possibility, Ted definitely wasn't gay. At least she didn't think so. He just had more to think about than having that particular need filled. Yet, they'd been working here for years. Surely he'd at least . . . at least once. Lily cringed at the idea of going unrelieved for that long a period of time. She got in the elevator and went up several floors pondering the topic.
When the doors opened Lily stepped out and headed down the corridor making a right and continuing to her room. Only three people lived on this floor; Ted and his sister, then Lily herself. The question still bugging her, Lily decided sometime when Ted let his guard down she'd pry and see if he had done anything with any other employee. She was sure he hadn't though, he was too into his professionalism to let loose. There was also the possibility he was a chaste man.
Upon unlocking her door Lily pushed it open and walked inside. Truly, she loved her room. Just coming back here and passing out or unwinding everyday when her time allowed it. The room she'd received made her feel that she'd been more privileged. Her queen-sized bed sat in the center of the room against the far wall. A large rectangular beige rug was set beneath it set diagonally. The rug itself was simple but it had little bristles that tickled her feet when she was barefoot. Two hardwood bedside dressers sat on each side with their glass handles. The entire left wall was composed of floor to ceiling windows and only broke when a glass door slider broke it. Course all the glass in the agency wasn't completely glass it was made of many more durable materials. Materials that stopped bullets and explosions as well. They must be expensive because there were strict orders not to break them under any circumstances: even in extreme emergencies.
Staring at them now, Lily deemed them more trouble to break than simply using a door.
Left of the windows on the same wall as her door was a simple glass desk. It was tucked snuggly into the corner with its yellow leather recliner. Lily's bathroom was on her immediate right the door a bright yellow beacon against her walls. The walls in Lily's room were only drywall on the bottom about midway, the rest of it was a series of large leather cushions. It formed a perfect wall, with its squares and flawless stitching. The leather bulged out effortlessly and it was firm against Lily's fingers. Her walls were a sleek and thick black from wall to cushion. Which made any color in her room explode with importance. Her walk in closet was the next door to her bathroom.
To others sure her room wouldn't be much, however it meant a lot to her. She'd never quite had such a luxurious room or such a sweet set of furniture in any of the places she'd lived before. The fact that she had her own hot tub and steam room attached to her bathroom made it all the better. She could've gotten a fireplace and couches and all that but the hot tub and the sauna had been enough. She was sure there were many others in the agency who had much larger rooms than hers but Lily was content with it. She wanted her room to sincerely feel like a bedroom and felt couches and anything else would've taken away from that factor.
Striding in Lily flung her bag onto her bed heading straight for her closet. She knew what she'd need to wear, but had no clue how to allure Ted with it. She definitely couldn't treat him like other men, that was for sure. He'd rejected all her romantic advances before after all. Claiming that she was Yuma's mistress. Yet, if she was she wouldn't be in this situation now would she? Maybe it was for that reason he wouldn't give in to her advances. Lily felt her face grow warm. It had been once and only once that she'd been able to press her own lips against Yuma's. She'd always wanted him, always would.
A few days after Ted had been recruited she'd gotten away with the kiss. It had been slightly one-sided though as Yuma had only kissed her back for a second before turning and leaving. Maybe more out of reflex than actual desire. He'd still been married to his accursed spouse at the time but Lily hadn't cared much. She wanted what she wanted and she would have it. And she had for a few brief seconds. She'd had it all . . . all of it before he'd turned and left and his wife had taken everything from her.
Maybe it was because Ted thought she belonged to Yuma why he wasn't interested. He'd stated something of that nature before hadn't he? If that was true, Lily could use it to her advantage. If that was the only reason...she had more of an upper hand than even she'd originally thought.
Pushing past into her walk in closet Lily stripped down. She hung her lab coat up neatly and set all of her other clothes aside. But what could she wear now that wouldn't overwhelm Ted, be modern, alluring and yet classy. That's when a completely different idea hit Lily. Maybe...just maybe she didn't have to do anything special to trick Ted. He wasn't like other men after all. As long as it seemed she whole heartedly cared for his sisters wellbeing it wouldn't truly matter what she wore.
With this new knowledge she grabbed a bright cheeky pair of cut off denim shorts and a thin black sweater. She tossed on a light brown pair of heeled leather boots before brushing out the kinks in her hair, applying gloss to her lips, and sliding on a shiny black headband to hold any stragglers in place. She then as usual tossed on her lab coat to finish the look.
It didn't take very long to leave her room and head towards the infirmary. Out of all the places in the agency Lily hated the hospice floor the most. It was creepy and caused her every step to sound louder and more prominent than they truly were. Nobody wore heels down here. Hell, no females in the agency bothered to wear heels most of the time. Lily had always adored them and being too close to the floor made her feel strange. So she'd devoted most of her life to wearing heels no matter what the condition. She was even proud to announce that she out of very few in the female population could run in them.
Other than hating this floor for its quiet nature, it was also noticeably darker on this particular floor. Even if there were no deaths this side of the agency still reeked of it. How that could be was beyond Lily, but nothing truly made sense here. The agency flowed and worked around Yuma's will, nothing else. The walls were a sickly green, trying to shed color on grimmer situations. Because while the mark of Vocal Corp kept you from dying and from getting sick, if you were already terminally ill that sad fate didn't change. It only places one into a purgatory of a sort.
There were guards stationed outside one of the infirm rooms. It was most likely the room containing Ted. Why the man would need guards, Lily didn't know that either. One could not die here unless Yuma or one of the Dolls saw fit. Since a Doll would rather give their life for Ted than take it, she didn't see a point. They'd do a poor job at keeping Yuma out as well.
"I'm afraid you can't go in there Lily," One of the guards called to her. "Urgent or not, Ted has ordered we don't allow anyone inside." Sighing, Lily crossed her arms. She wasn't all too thrilled to shout at some more men...such stress would give her unnecessary wrinkles and grey hair.
"I can see that," Lily stated calmly. "However, you'll have to make an exception for me because Ted and I have things to discuss." The guard only firmly shook his head.
"No exceptions, unless Yuma himself is before us we cannot let anyone into this room. Ted's orders were absolute." Lily couldn't help but chuckling, another bunch of half brains.
"If Yuma has to be bothered to come down here to issue orders for a single door to be opened for me neither of you are going to like it. Such petty feuds are a waste of time for him, wouldn't you agree? Would you truly care to lose whatever is important to you so carelessly by waking up the boss at this ungodly hour for something so trivial as a door?"
The two men before her seemed to quake as if going into depth about just how furious a sleep deprived Yuma could be. They stepped aside, tacitly complying to Lily's orders. "Wise decision."
Lily took hold of the knob and turned it, moving into the infirm room. The color of the room was just as she remembered, a sick vibrant green that she couldn't stand. The color did have its advantages in the light though, earlier times more so than later. The room still reeked of cleaning products and cleanliness as well as bounce detergent and fresh linens. The bed sat in the center of the room all sorts of machines Lily had never cared to learn about hooked up to it. The one thing she knew was the heartbeat monitor which sat close to the bed, giving a slow but steady rhythm. Lily saw Teto, Ted's little sister in her fragile state sleeping in the bed.
Her face was pale, ghostly even. Her arm was bandaged too, a thin tube of what might be morphine feeding into it. From what Lily could tell from so many experiments Teto had lost a good sum of blood. She seemed her most fragile just laying there. Teto, who had always been a feisty one whenever Lily had seen her. The same Teto who'd always been looking forward to seeing Ted again with vigorous energy.
"They never listen to me. I told them not to let anyone in here," Ted complained. His face drained further when his eyes met Lily's. "Lily, I don't want any visits from anyone. Just...just go...please. Whatever you want it'll have to wait." Lily only shook her head.
"I'm just here to check on both of you Ted. I only heard Teto had gotten hurt," Lily said, covering for herself. She walked with a steady pace over to Ted and his sister. Somehow she managed to make it to his side. She prepared herself for and act so amazing she could win an award.
"How did they say she was going to be?" Lily asked. "Did they manage to stop the bleeding?" Ted was silent and seemed to waver on answering.
"Yeah...," he began "Nothing that shouldn't heal with time." Lily set a hand on his shoulder and was surprised when he let her. She felt him shaking, whether holding back tears or anger Lily wasn't sure. She could've pried into his mind then, but there was something lingering in the atmosphere that told her not to do so.
"I'm assuming somebody higher up did this? Else she wouldn't have lost so much blood," Lily said, hoping the question wasn't too direct. She knew she'd come in here to get the terminal key but that didn't mean she had to act totally insensitive. Somehow, there was a part of her that was truly concerned about Ted's well being.
"Yuma..." Ted choked out. Lily felt his muscles tense again under her slender fingers. "Really...it's all my fault though. If I'd just put in a little more effort, kept her closer."
"It's not your fault Ted," Lily protested. "Yuma purposely works you to the bone so you won't be able to see your sister."
"I could've tried!" Ted shouted suddenly, dropping into and armchair. "I . . . I could've tried...more coffee or something."
"Ted, you can't blame yourself because there was honestly nothing you could do. Teto just wanted to reverse things for you. It was her decision and these are her consequences"
"She didn't know Lily...," Ted choked out. His voice sounded weak and quite pitiful. Lily wasn't used to this tone in Ted's voice. Ted who was always proud. She hardened her heart, attempting not to let it get to her. But his voice and the way he was slouching now as he stood just relayed: tiredness and pain. Like he was on the verge of tears. "She's just a child."
"If you really believe that, after all this...you don't deserve to be head scientist Ted Kasane. Nobody is a child here at the agency, everyone no matter what age is an adult. An adult in an adult world."
Suddenly Ted tugged off his lab coat and whipped it at the wall. The action was so sudden Lily stumbled backwards to avoid being knocked down.
"You think I want to be head scientist?" Ted asked. "You think I want to be here!" He said, raising his voice to a shout. "I'd give you this job Lily, you could have it if you want. No, I know you want my position and me gone-"
"That's not true Ted. I don't exactly want you gone. This agency wouldn't work without you." Ted scoffed before laughing soundlessly without humor.
"Of course it wouldn't work without me!" He yelled. "I've made it so it can't work without me! That's what Teto didn't understand. He'll never let me go Lily, I'm worth too much and I know even more. He owns me, that'll never change and I've already accepted it . . . sad isn't it?"
After that, the room was silent for a portion. Ted didn't say anything further and Lily stood in his silence, not sure what she could say to convince Ted otherwise. What could she say? If Ted so strongly believed he was doomed then he'd already weighed all the pros and cons: he had always been a man of that nature. He acted and thought at the same time allowing neither to ever delay the other.
"So, are you just gonna sit by and allow this to continue?" Lily asked finally breaking the silence. Ted fell back into his chair dropping his head in his hands.
"I'm going to get Teto out of here. That's what I'm gonna do."
"What?"
"Even if it's the last thing I do . . . just Teto alone," Ted whispered. "I won't allow her to stay here and be doomed to the same fate. It's not gonna happen. I won't let it happen."
"She'll just come back if you're here Ted," Lily pointed out with rather sound logic. However Ted didn't answer, didn't even look at her. "Did you hear me Ted? You won't be helping anyone if she just comes back here."
"I heard...," Ted affirmed. "Teto deserves more than all this." Ted made a dramatic gesture as to mean the entire agency. "She deserves to be happy and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure of that. She will not repeat my fate."
What Ted was saying...Lily couldn't understand. She grasped the concept of it but overall she was confused. How was he planning to get Teto out? Nobody could leave the agency unless you were a Doll or had special permission to leave. Even if you were out, Yuma had more eyes out there in the world than the government did. You couldn't escape him, couldn't run either. Or rather, run very far if you did manage.
"Ted, you're not making any sense. Even if Teto escapes from here Yuma will always be capable of finding her. I highly doubt you'll be able to kill him if that's what you're planning. Nobody to tell the truth really knows how to kill him, else he'd be dead already. Besides, if you're here Teto won't go anywhere. You are herhappiness Ted just in case you managed to lose that message in her actions."
"I won't be here," Ted said sadly his face grim.
"What? Where the hell are you planning to go then!" Lily shouted, demanding to know. Why was it that everyone was finding a way to break the agency rules except her?
"She told you a long time ago Lily."
"She did...? Ted, who the hell are you talking about?"
"The woman you hated with every fibre of your body. She told you a while back exactly what would happen the very same night you tried to kill her."
"That...that...,"
"I'm not doing anything fate hasn't already decided. Now I appreciate the visit, but if you don't mind now Lily...I'd like to be alone with the only family I have left." Ted fell silent then, not saying anything more. Lily stood there for a few minutes, wavering on whether to truly go or not. She was just waiting, seeing if he might be up to saying anything else, no matter how trivial.
When he didn't, she concluded he really was done speaking. There was something about Ted's silence though that made Lily want to stay and comfort him. Something in his silence that told her things he wasn't saying. Those unsaid things were deep words. Words she was trying her best not to let get to her. If she let them reach her core, she'd break and leave herself open. Open to be another victim, she'd leave a gap that allowed her plans to fall through.
She had to remember what she'd come here for originally and yet the importance of that slipped from her hands as she thought about Ted. Seemed virtually unimportant in his presence. A sharp pain started in Lily's chest as she stared at Ted. Ted Kasane, one of the strongest men she knew just sitting there no more full of life than an abandoned child's toy. She knew she should look for the key, should worry about accessing the terminals, but she couldn't . . .
Lily found herself pulling up a chair next to Ted. She sat next to him, just in his presence and set a hand over his. It was only a few seconds after when Ted locked his fingers firmly with hers, his eyes still set on his sister. Ted's other hand was holding Teto's firmly but lovingly. Lily leaned on him and Ted allowed that too. The room was silent, and still felt barren but next to Ted...just a little less empty. Being in Ted's company, Lily finally really just for once grasped why so many people...were quite so fond of Ted Kasane.
"You do a lot for your sister Ted," Lily said speaking softly. "But why is that?" Ted just smiled. A smile so warm and full of emotion that Lily was stunned. Ted's gaze alone contained so many things the agency lacked.
"Because I love her, and she's all I have left."
As Lily snuggled in closer to Ted, she couldn't help feeling even just a little bit . . . envious.