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How could I not have seen through him?

He turned his head toward me.

My heart skipped a beat.

“I didn't give you this internship so you could stare into space,” he sighed and put the tubes back into the holder without giving me another glance.

I didn't miss David's sidelong glance, which was clearly directed at me.

Quentin was an asshole.

How did this aloof, unfriendly cheater and the empathetic Erik from our chat fit together?

Not at all. Absolutely not. So get Erik out of your head and move on with your life, Julie.

This time it was pain that fought its way up my throat.

It felt like betrayal to know that this beautiful person, who had felt so real, who had made me feel like I was more than just a useful body to a society, someone who had a soul that was able to fit together with another like a puzzle, able to intertwine with another... wasn't real.

Once again, reality had taught me better.

I was a useful body. A resource. For everything and everyone.

Breaking down over it wouldn't do me any good. The old Julie would, but not the new one. The new Julie would learn to survive in this cold world by being more destructive than her surroundings.

Suspenseful Investigation Piano

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“Both of you, please come to me. David, close the door.”

I watched the two men and wondered why Quentin wanted us to close the door.

Weren't we being monitored anyway?

I straightened my shoulders, pushed the chaos of thoughts aside for the moment, and reluctantly walked over to Quentin who was circling the round table with the large hologram, fortunately putting enough distance between us.

A little later, David appeared at my side and kept a comfortable distance.

Did he believe in the prophecy? Did I need to be wary of him too? Miles had only mentioned Adrian...

“What precisely is our research topic?” David asked the question that had been on my mind for weeks.

We had received no instructions, nothing to prepare. This unprofessionalism did not fit the man standing before us. So there had to be something else behind his secrecy.

What was he doing up here? Would he perhaps turn us into his lab rats after all? All with the approval of the DUIO, which monitored this lab?

“Before I can tell you anything, you must sign a confidentiality agreement.” He pulled two sheets of paper from the table next to him and slid them across the round table toward us. “You will not discuss what happens in this lab with anyone.”

While David caught his sheet of paper with elegance, mine almost slipped through my fingers.

We both read the confidentiality agreement, but it did not contain any specific topics, only said we would not discuss the things that happened at the DLSC.

I wanted to ask questions, lots of questions, but I didn't dare, still paralyzed by the hard facts about the man in front of me. So, I did as David did and signed.

Of course, an immortal DeLoughrey had no reason to be paranoid. Especially not when his family was supervising Quentin's experiments.

“Why all the secrecy?” David asked Quentin, his voice flat and his expression scrutinizing.