All of the Stars Have Fallen Out of Line

Chapter 3: Contract

Robert sat in the passenger seat awkwardly, since he had know clue how to comfort me, let alone see me cry. I'd never cried in front of him, and he kept reaching over to pat my shoulder but then he'd return to fiddling his thumbs.

"Fuck Robert, could you cut that out?" I said after roughly wiping at my cheek.

He nodded quickly "Of course of course. So... what do we do now?"

I sighed back into my seat cushion. I never expected breaking in to my dad's lab was going to be as easy as it was, nor as traumatic.

We were able to enter the building, and thankfully I knew exactly where I was going within the sixteen floors. A couple of his coworkers recognized me and asked me if I needed directions to the food court, and I happily accepted the directions to make sure they didn't think I was heading to his lab.

When I got down there, there was less foot traffic. His lab was on the very bottom floor before the basement, and only him and his assistants have access. This was the part I was nervous about, and the part I didn't know how I was going to be able to enter.

To my shitty luck, an assistant that had never met me was working down there and had questioned me about who I was and so on. I thought he was going to make a huge fuss but thankfully after a bagillion questions he finally ID'd me and let me in. I told him this sob story about how I want to grow up to be just like my dad, and he was letting me get files for him as he waited in the car with a cold. I had stolen his lab key so that was enough proof for the assistant, and I was in and out. Although I didn't know what I was looking for, the lab was extremely well organized, so I was able to head over to the file cabinets after eyeing several of the steamy granulated cylinders full of colored liquids. I actually stopped and got close to one, right before the assistant yelled NO and rushed over to me.

"One foot distance!" He said exasperated "Didn't your father teach you?! This substance is EXTREMELY active and will react if change in temperature aka your hot breath." His eyes narrowed at me. It was obvious he hated I was let in here.

I felt my eyebrows scrunch together "hot breath?"

"It's a scientific fact." He said with his back to me. He turned around dramatically " That liquid is a key ingredient for the euthanasia mist we're producing. I suggest we give it to the children since they don't contribute to society." He said while eyeing me up and down.

The man was giving me rude and sassy vibes so I didn't respond to him and I turned to the files. Fifteen minutes later of skimming through data transcripts and lab equipment purchase receipts I found the clue I didn't know I was looking for.

I decided to take it with me to read thoroughly in the car, and I left the lab before grabbing Robert from the food court.

When we got to the car, Robert and I read the document at least five times over and it still didn't make sense. I was so angry and confused I wanted to rip it up at first but then Robert had taken it from me saying "You're going to need it for proof later."

"He sold my mom for science." I said still in shock. "He sold my fucking mom for science."

Robert didn't have to say anything, his eyes told me he wanted me to calm down.

"I- I mean he was trying to find a vaccine Blue." He said in a meek voice knowing I will snap at him.

"Are you seriously sticking up for that bastard right now?!" I said through gritted teeth.

"My own FUCKING FATHER sold my mom to some corporation so they could take her BLOOD and make some freakish serum out of her!!" Hot tears started to slide down my cheeks.