Black Eyes

Chapter 17

An icy silence reigned in the room. Only the air conditioner allowed itself to hum quietly, making the air even colder. The tension between the four was so much that it could have been cut with a knife. Ideas and theories began to form in Nakir's mind about how a nineteen-year-old boy without even a degree in biotechnology could create a thinking android like Eva.

Julia remained near the hole in the ceiling. Her arms dangling along her body as she tried to get as flat against the wall as possible. She had seen Nakir's black oil eyes and knew that he was a demon. She was afraid of him. She had heard the worst stories about demons when she still lived in the Northern area of the Below. She had been warned above all by Tasha to never get close to one of them and, despite the distance between the two, he was an imminent danger for Julia.

However he didn't even seem to care about her presence and remained with his mouth half open at what Eva had just said. He expected an answer from Dominik, or Ethan, as Eva had just called him, but the boy's eyes were wide open as he remained silent. He didn't think he had to face the harsh truth right in his hidden laboratory, the place he considered the safest in the world.

"Yes" he finally murmured. The voice faint like a breath of wind "But how did you..."

Eva interrupted him.

"There aren't many nineteen-years-old biotechnology geniuses in Zraegan" then she looked for a second at Nakir who was listening dumbfounded "If you know where to find them, it's easy to get informations"

"Did you go to the East?" moaned Dominik who had just become Ethan "I thought no one would go that far to look for answers about me"

"How long have you been hiding down here?" Eva narrowed her eyes "It's much less than what you told us..." she continued, determined not to let go.

Nakir felt uncomfortable seeing the boy pressured like that, but he also wondered why he had lied about his role in Project-Eva.

"It's really nine years. I only went out three times..." murmured the boy who seemed even smaller and increasingly pressed against the wall to avoid physical contact with Eva.

"And how long ago was the last time you went out?" Eva asked again in a harsh tone.

"Eight months ago..." the words died in his throat.

"Exactly when Project-Eva started" she confirmed.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Nakir who already sensed what the answer would be.

Eva looked away from Dominik-Ethan who started breathing again and turning towards Nakir she answered him.

"This one worked for the Kwer. Perhaps he's still in their service"

"No!" Ethan interrupted her, putting his palms forward "I'm done with the Kwer. I took refuge here never to be found again. That's why I need to come with you"

"Well, you just lost the last ticket" Eva growled at the boy.

"I had no other choice..." the boy murmured "The reward was high..."

"Okay, enough" Nakir interrupted him "Either you tell us the whole story or you're left out. We'll find another way to escape without you"

Eva gave a small nod. Julia pressed herself even tighter to the wall. Her still soaked hair was freezing in that cold room, but she didn't dare complain and thinned her lips, listening.

Ethan moved sinuously to avoid Eva's figure and headed towards the armchair, massaging his temples. He moved a few curls from his eyes and tried to remember as best as he could how things had gone. He absolutely had to regain the trust of the two or he would never have escaped that concrete tomb. There was no point in lying, the story was sincere when he began to tell it. Eva stood with her arms crossed while Nakir sat on the stool and moved slightly closer to Ethan, almost to comfort him, if comfort was what he really needed most at that moment.