Helena and Lisa walked alongside Lucas through the metallic hallways of the evaluation center, but the atmosphere had changed.
Helena was silent. A rarity. Her gaze was fixed on the back of Lucas's neck as if she expected him, at any moment, to spin his head 180 degrees and whisper in a demonic voice: "Mommy…"
Lisa, meanwhile, walked as if each step was a punch to the ground. She didn't look at her brother. She didn't say anything. Just huffed. A lot.
Lucas, of course, was as calm as ever. He whistled a tune that didn't even exist, hands in his pockets and a carefree gait, as if returning from a stroll in the park — and not from having fried three combat robots like bargain toasters.
"Lucas," Helena finally spoke, her voice low and measured, "… what was that?"
"'That' is a broad concept. Could you be more specific?"
She stopped. He stopped too, smirking slightly. Lisa didn't stop. She walked right past them, but her steps grew louder. More irritated.
"That," Helena repeated, stepping closer, her tone now sharper. "That smile. That look… You… you'd never shown that before."
Lucas tilted his head, thoughtful.
"And you've never shown such poorly disguised jealousy, but here we are."
She bit her lower lip. Not because of the provocation — she was used to his ways — but because, for a second, she feared he might be right. And that fear… tasted bitter.
"You're not just a normal boy, are you?" she murmured.
"Normality is a social construct, my sensual gothic lady. And you should know that better than anyone."
Before she could reply — or slap him — an electronic voice echoed above them.
"Lucas Gracefall. Please proceed to the psychological evaluation room. Companions must wait outside the sector."
Lucas took two steps back, spread his arms in a theatrical gesture, and said:
"Well, ladies, the time has come. If I don't come out in an hour, call reinforcements. Or bring cookies. Chocolate ones."
Lisa finally looked at him. And it was quick, straight into his eyes, like someone trying to pierce his soul.
"If you flirt with the psychologist, I'll castrate you."
"Weren't you the one who said I was useless with women?"
"I CHANGED MY MIND, OKAY?!"
Helena, now more composed, crossed her arms.
"Just don't flirt with the evaluator. They can read your mind, remember?"
"And that's why flirting is essential. If I'm going to be read, let it be in style."
He spun on his heels, whistling again. And walked in.
The corridor sealed behind him with a pneumatic hiss. Helena and Lisa remained outside, side by side, in silence. For a moment, almost complicit in their concern.
"Lisa," Helena murmured, without looking at the girl. "You saw it too, didn't you?"
"That look… that wasn't Lucas."
---
The room was too clean, too white. It smelled of disinfectant and boredom. Lucas sat in the padded chair, crossing his legs as if about to be interviewed on a talk show, not for an evaluation that could determine his future.
In front of him, Sophie. Black hair tied in an impeccable bun, thin glasses that seemed more aesthetic than medical, fitted formal wear — elegant but tight. She didn't look human. She looked… like the kind of woman who could make a monk break his vow of chastity with a simple raise of an eyebrow.
"Lucas Gracefall." Her voice was as smooth as a freshly sharpened razor. "Do you know why you're here?"
"So you can mess with my head, of course. I hope you use mental protection."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. Just started taking notes.
Lucas smiled, but inside his mind…
'Weird, right? The guy's talking to you all polite while his mind is here, like… wondering how you look without that tight blazer.'
Sophie stared at him for three silent seconds. Then took a deep breath.
"First question: what would you do if an enemy killed your best friend?"
"I'd cry. Bury them. Then kill the guy. Maybe in reverse order, depending on the mood."
'Or maybe fake sadness, depending on the audience. Crying is performative. People believe tears, even if your heart's bone-dry.'
She took notes, eyes fixed on him, but Lucas was sure it wasn't the paper that really mattered.
"Do you believe human life has absolute value?"
"Of course. Mine is so precious it should come with an alarm for unwanted touches."
'Except for the neighbor who plays loud music at 3 AM. I'd trade his life for a pack of cookies.'
Sophie pursed her lips, unimpressed. Great. That made her more interesting.
"And what do you see when you look in the mirror?"
"A man too handsome to be real. Sometimes I scare myself."
'But between us, I see a monster trapped in a theater of flesh. And honestly, Sophie… you've got excellent taste in clothes. I just keep imagining how you'd look with a more honest smile… and less clothing.'
Sophie crossed her legs. A gesture that could be defense or provocation. Maybe both. Her smile was subtle, but it was there.
"You know you can't lie in here, right?"
"Lie? Me? I'm being completely transparent. Like glass. Or like your blouse would be if it got a little wet."
'Just kidding… or not. You're enjoying this as much as I am, aren't you?'
Sophie looked away for a second. A pause too short to be considered weakness, but long enough for Lucas to notice.
"Let's continue," she said, adjusting her glasses like a shield. "Suppose you're forced to choose between saving a hundred people or saving your sister. What would you do?"
"I'd save my sister. Then hate myself for the rest of my life."
'Lie. I'd smile for the camera and say the world needs heroism. But between us, Lisa is my world. Screw the rest.'
"Interesting," Sophie murmured, not saying whether she was judging or just recording.
She seemed more focused, but not on the papers. Her eyes now scanned Lucas differently — trying to find cracks, perhaps. The problem was: Lucas was all cracks.
"What's your biggest fear?"
"Fear? Oh, that changes. Sometimes it's losing those I love. Sometimes it's waking up and realizing I'm getting too bored with everything. But the worst would be living a life without someone who makes me question who I am."
'Someone like you. The kind of woman I'd love to hate… if I weren't so curious to know what makes you moan someone's name.'
Sophie gripped the pen tighter. For a moment, she seemed about to say something. But didn't.
"Lucas… do you consider yourself a good person?"
He laughed. Not forced, but genuinely.
"No. But I'm not bad either. I'm… functional. I do what needs to be done. With charm, if possible."
'And you? Do you consider yourself good, Sophie? Or are you just pretending to be impartial to hide how tired you are of being touched only by other people's minds?'
She remained silent. A heavy silence. And Lucas knew that, inside, her wall had begun to crack.
"Last question," she said, her voice slightly huskier. "Do you believe in love?"
Lucas tilted his head, as if considering something deeply important.
"I believe. In love, in lust, in obsession, in desire… It's all just a dance with different names."
'But with you, I think it'd be a slow dance. The kind that starts at a distance… and ends with muffled sighs and fingernails digging into backs.'
Sophie closed the notebook harder than necessary. At last, she stood up.
"The evaluation is complete. You may go."
Lucas stood slowly, his eyes still on her.
"So… did I do well?"
"Enough to get in."
'But not enough to get into your heart, right?'
She didn't reply. Just watched as he walked to the door. He opened it, but stopped at the threshold, glancing sideways.
"Until next time, Sophie."
Sophie said nothing. But after he left, she remained there. The room still white, still clean. But now… it smelled of something different. Something like curiosity.
But one question lingered in the air:
"I didn't say my name… so how does he know!?"
---
As he left the evaluation room, Lucas felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders—after all, if he'd stayed any longer, his murderous thoughts might have been read.
It wasn't that he wanted to kill her, it was just what his instincts told him. Just the thought of being seen from the inside, of having his thoughts searched, brought a sense of crisis to Lucas.
If it weren't for his excellent control over his own mind, maybe Sophie would've noticed something wrong.
Lucas let out a sigh of relief as he said:
"Heh… Looks like I won't be exposed today."
The pneumatic door hissed shut behind him, and almost immediately he felt two bodies press against him from each side. One warmer, taller, smelling of vanilla and leather. The other colder, smaller, and trembling with restrained anger.
"You took too long," Lisa said, arms crossed and forehead wrinkled. "I was ready to break in with an axe."
"An axe, my dear portable tsundere? I thought you preferred something more subtle. Like poison in tea."
"If you call me portable again, I swear I'll drive my knee into your kidney."
"Ah, sibling love… so full of unresolved violence."
On the other side, Helena took a deep breath, glancing at him sideways.
"You flirted with her, didn't you?"
"I flirt with life, Helena. With danger. With the concept of ambiguous morality. The psychologist was just another innocent victim."
Lisa spun around instantly, eyes sparking.
"If you got her number, I'll rip out your liver."
"Relax, relax." Lucas raised his hands. "She was just… professional. Very serious. A real block of ice."
'That wanted to melt,' Lucas thought to himself.
Helena narrowed her eyes, but there was a glint of amusement there.
"A block of ice you probably tried to warm up with cheap charm, huh?"
"Cheap? I'm a rare wine, my gothic brunette. My charm is aged in sarcasm and boldness. A true vintage from 200 lives ago."
Lisa rolled her eyes so hard she almost tripped.
"That didn't even make sense. Are you this dumb naturally or do you try?"
"That depends… do you prefer dumb or mysteriously seductive?"
She opened her mouth, then closed it. And snorted.
"Screw you."
"That's her way of saying 'welcome back'," Helena said, smiling lightly.
"Exactly." Lucas looked at them both. "Now, who's the next victim of the system?"
As if waiting for Lucas to ask, an electronic voice answered for him:
"Lisa Gracefall. Please proceed to the psychological evaluation room. Companions must wait outside the sector."
Lisa froze. Then snorted even harder, like a pressure cooker about to explode.
"Hah… the time has come." Lucas placed a hand on his chest, faking emotion. "Just don't fall for the examiner, okay? What if she has black hair and eyes that see your soul?"
Lisa slowly turned to him, eyes narrowed.
"I. Will. Kill. You."
"Ah, so it's genetic. All the Gracefalls love death threats."
She stepped toward the room, but before entering, looked over her shoulder.
"If I hear you flirted with someone else before I get back, I'll replace your underwear with nails."
"And if you flirt in there, I'll tell Helena," Lucas smiled.
Lisa hesitated. Helena raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You wouldn't dare…"
"I'm the big brother, it's my job."
Lisa grumbled something inaudible and vanished down the hall. The door closed.
Helena sighed.
"You're a demon, you know that?"
"Only if I'm a handsome demon." Lucas snapped his fingers, pretending a sparkle in his eyes. "And irresistible."
Helena gave a short laugh but didn't reply. Instead, she stared at the door Lisa had entered through, her smile slowly fading.
Lucas watched her from the corner of his eye.
"Worried about her?"
"Always," Helena replied, with rare honesty. "But… today's different. There's something in her. Something strange."
Helena says in her mind: 'actually, you're both strange.'
Lucas nodded but said nothing.
Deep down, he knew. The darkness didn't just live in him. And the more time passed, the more it began to bare its fangs… in the people around him.
---
End of chapter.