Error 451

Reborn (prologue)

"How is his condition?" A tall male with straight black hair and emerald green eyes walked in. He wore a an elegant white business suit and a red tie.

The doctor turned away from the unconscious patient to face the man. Despite being middle aged, the doctor looked fairly young. He had dirty blonde hair and eyes that resembled an ocean. He spoke to the other man.

"At this rate, it's better to just put him to sleep. He has no chance of survival, whatsoever. Nothing can save him, whether it's a miracle or the 2 million dollars you bribed me with."

The black haired man scrunched his brows and let out a distressed sigh, as he closed his eyes. "Do what you can to keep him alive, even if it is just a second longer..."

The doctor put a hand on his shoulder to comfort the other male. He sensed his distress even though the latter's face expression was void of any emotion.

" Mr. Aaron, I suggest that you shouldn't waste your money, he is hopeless and it isn't your fault."

This seemingly comforting remark angered the other man. He snapped his eyes open and glared at the doctor in disgust, swatting his hand away. "That's Mr. Smith to you!" He yelled.

"You are under my command and I'm telling you to lengthen his time." He stormed off, his previous emotionless face returned once again as he left the guest room of his house.

The doctor stood there, observing the patient. He was a frail young man with dark brown hair, fading into a lighter color. As he opened his pastel yellow eyes to gaze upon the doctor, the two shared a pitiful moment.

The brown haired male knew he had little time to live, yet he remained calm. Walter admired him for that. Never in his long carrier as a doctor had he met someone as calm and collected in their deathbed, as Eric.

"Mr. Smith was here a moment ago..." Eric sat up. "How is he, Walter?" The frail man looked up with a hopeful gaze. Dr. Walter hesitated for a moment. "Well...losing your best and only friend isn't exactly easy to go through...he has been more sensitive lately....which is understandable...as you are very dear to him.."

The latter let out a sigh, averting his eyes. "I'm worried for him..." Walter looked away to hide his emotional face. "So am I...the young master doesn't sleep the nights anymore."

Walter headed for the door, as he was walking out, he turned to Eric. "Don't hesitate to call me when you aren't feeling well." Eric flashed him a a weak smile, as he spoke. "Alright."

Hearing this, Walter muttered a 'good night' and went out of the room. Not even 2 minutes later, Aaron walked in gently, as he didn't want to startle his already weak friend.

"How are you doing?" He spoke, as he sat on the bed, looking at Eric. The frail man smiled brightly at the sight of his companion. "I'm doing a lot better after seeing you visit."

There was a peaceful moment of silence. Neither of the two wanted to break the moment, so no one dared to speak.

"I know you're angry. Stop pretending to be fine. We've been friends for so long, i can tell. Don't keep your feelings from me or I might just unplug the machines myself." Aaron spoke sternly. If Eric didn't know any better, he would've thought that the man was being serious about unaliving him, as he was quite good at acting. In all honesty, Eric found it funny that he was being scolded for keeping himself a secret, when his friend wasn't any better in that regard.

Aaron, however, never understood how Eric was so patient and calm. When they first met, it was obvious that he was gentle, optimistic, and positive. The total opposite of Aaron.

He found it almost uncanny how he had never heard Eric yell, or raise his voice even slightly since they met, which was well over 15 years ago. It almost made the short tempered male jealous.

Eric's face hardened. "Sure I am angry and I don't want to die yet...What he did is unforgivable. But I also don't want to spend the remainder of my life wallowing in self pity. I can't really do anything about my situation now, can I?" His melancholic words were followed by an expression of empty mirth. "However....If i could, i would extract revenge."
His face expression and words were laced with despair, finally showing his true emotions, which startled Aaron slightly. "I want revenge."

Aaron let out a soft sigh. His friend's state was truly pitiful, even if he wasn't on the brink of death yet. Having your rights taken from you, being forced to comply, your whole life long, must've been hard. Revenge is understandable, though at his poor condition, very unrealistic.

His goals were so close, yet still somehow out of reach. Living his life is like being stuck in a place with no exit, a maze with no prize.

"The only way to make life worth living, is to survive with delusions, to cover up the ugliness of the world with pathetic ambitions
and dreams. Creating ideals and morals to avoid losing yourself and succumbing to the darkness. You must live by these ideals, even if society disapproves, as this is your decision. Nobody can tell you what is right or wrong, trust your judgement. You'll regret not doing so and your death won't be peaceful. You'll trap your soul in this world. You won't be able to rest till you finish your business. Live now, so you can die later. Do what you feel is right, my son."

The vivid memory of Aaron's father loomed in his mind. He had always been a philosopher, something Aaron had found silly as a child. But now, faced with the realities of life, he found himself questioning the meaning of life and the secrets of the universe, wishing his father was around for another philosophical exchange. He wished for the guidance of his father, especially in moments like these, where precious objects or people were at stake. He thought back to the particular words of his father. 'Live now, so you can die later, do what you feel is right, my son.' Perhaps he should give his friend what he desired, even if it's wrong. After all, he deserved a peaceful death...right?

"There is a way to make you live beyond this life, to give you the chance for revenge." Eric looked up at his friend in hope. "It is your decision whether you want to go through with it, though I must warn you that the method is still being tested and the machine was developed as a last measure to keep you alive. I've been working on it for four months now."