Seri frowned. “Just because something may alter DNA, doesn’t mean it will ultimately turn someone into something they are not. That would take a lot more drastic experimental intervention.”
“I know that… I know that what I created wouldn’t be able to do that, but what I don’t know is what everyone else is up to, and I feel like I’m being…” Emmet trailed off, sagging a bit.
“What, Emmet? What is it?”
“Like I’m being watched and followed when I leave the facility. But it’s more than that…I’ve been getting sick. I did some tests on myself and everything came out normal, but I think they were tampered with. Hell, my white blood count wasn't even elevated to suggest I had been sick, or that I am sick, butsomethingis wrong.” Emmet rubbed his face, and let out a shaky laugh. “I’m probably just being paranoid. I haven’t…beensleeping well. I feel like that’s when they…they do whatever they are doing.”
That told him that either they had access to him at night, or Emmet believed they did. “You are staying in housing they supplied?” he asked, for clarity’s sake.
“Yes, the facility has dorms.”
The man looked exhausted, but sleep deprived or not, Seri didn’t think he would exaggerate or…
As far as he knew, Emmet was not someone with paranoid tendencies. The man could be overly logical to a fault. So, if the human thought they were experimenting on him, Seri believed him.
“Is there anything back at the dorm that you can’t live without?”
Emmet’s mouth twisted into a confused frown. “No?”
“Then let me make some calls, and get you to a safe location.”
The human’s eyes widened. “I-I don’t… I mean, that’s not necessary. I just—I’m sure I am just being paranoid.” The man took a calming breath, running his hand over his chest. “I didn’t come here for you to, uh...do anything. I just needed someone to talk to, and couldn’t do it over the phone.”
“Emmet, I may be a lot more paranoid now than I was when we first met, but even before everything I went through, I would say, feeling like you are being followed, and believing that they are experimenting on you in your sleep, are major warning signs that you should get the hell out of there while you still can. Because sure, you could be wrong, but what if you aren’t?”
Emmet swallowed hard, staring silently for a moment. He could see the worry and doubt in the human’s eyes, but also the rational mind trying to shove it all away as nonsense, and sadly, he knew when the man’s expression became stern that the latter part had won out.
“No. No, I’m fine. I haven’t been sleeping well, and obviously, that is making me paranoid. Paranoia is a common symptom of sleep deprivation. And like I said before, I just needed someone to talk about it to… So, thank you for listening, Seri.”
Seri sighed. “Okay, but I want you to tell me where the hell this place is, and text me or call me if you find you need more than just someone to listen,” he said, before blurting, “If you think you are in danger, and you need me to send people to come get you, send me a text saying ‘the birds are chirping’. It sounds stupid, but it is something you would never send me and that's the point.”
Emmet just pulled out a small pocket notebook—something the man had always carried with him since he’d known him, despite most people never having paper anything anymore—and started writing on it. The fact that the human didn’t argue, told him deep down how worried he really was. As Emmet tore the sheet off and handed it over, Seri frowned on seeing the address.
“You’re local? Why didn’t you mention it, we could have met up sooner?”
“I…” Emmet’s pale cheeks flushed as he pocketed his notebook again, his hands once again twisting nervously. “I know how busy you are, and I…didn’t want to bother you.”
Despite his worries about the human’s situation, Seri smiled. How hadn’t he realized that Emmet was as socially awkward as him? “You aren’t a bother, Emmet, you’re my friend. You calling to meet up, even if it's just to eat, wouldn’t be an inconvenience to me.”
“I-I am?” the human sputtered, his face reddening further, before blurting, “I mean…I’d like that.”
Him calling the man his friend was stretching it a bit, considering how little they talked, but he decided that it was now something he was going to make an effort with, as it seemed like Emmet could use a friend. Goddess knows he could usea few more. Not too many more…but a few. Crowds were just not things he liked, even if he liked all of the people there. He wouldn’t want to deal with everyone at once.
“I’d like it too. Now, back to the possible illegal experiments…please, text me as soon as it gets too much. Even if that happens to be minutes after you leave here.”
Emmet took a deep breath. “I promise.”
Here was hoping, by then, it wouldn’t be too late…
Trying his best to ignore the people in the dining room who were blatantly staring at him and Cyrus, Killian’s gaze trailed over the chicken knicknacks in the white display cabinet on the wall. There were a few dishes that were also chicken themed, but it was mostly filled with what looked to be chicken figurines made of various materials.
With a few empty seats on either side of him and Cyrus, who was sitting to his left, there were five other people around the long, oval wooden table that appeared to fit sixteen.
Killian’s jaw clenched in irritation out of habit. Okay, so his attempts to ignore the stares weren't going great, and in fact, he was becoming increasingly pissed off. At least, the dining room was ‘cute’, even if not exactly his style, with its blue flowerywallpaper, wooden floors, and old-fashioned oval wooden table and chairs. It did have flat walls, so it got points for that.
After about a minute longer of silence, and even more staring, as they awkwardly sat there waiting for what he assumed was either Ender or the food he could smell cooking, he decided…fuck it.
“Didn’t think I’d ever meet Cryptid Means’ inner circle so casually or in person. Well, you’re all here, aside from two missing Manticores and your branch manager, Raynir Arken. But let’s see if I’m remembering you all correctly, since all you’ve done is a whole lot of staring over proper introductions.”
