Akina's Reflection

XX

I gulped as we stopped in front of a door, with a sign in front of it that read, 'Dr. Don Farsdale'. Xela kept her cold eyes on me as Alex knocked on the door politely.

"Come in." A familiar voice says behind the door. Alex pulled the door open, allowing me inside. The door closed behind me, Alex and Xela no longer followed me.

Unlike the other halls and rooms in the underground facility, with their blank white walls, cold lights and windows displaying labs and live experiments, Dr. Farsdale's office had wood panels on the walls, and an almost warm glow, if not for the bitterness I have for the rest of the building. There were two comfy looking chairs facing each other in one corner, with a coffee table between them. A desk was on the far side of the room, a nice wooden one matching the wood bookshelves and leather chair.

Dr. Farsdale was waiting for me, sitting on one of the chairs facing the coffee table.

He turned his head as he looked at me.

"Akina." He said, cooly. "A pleasure to see you finally here, you were late by around, three days, when Alex and Xela failed to collect you."

I knitted my eyebrows.

"Dr. Farsdale, um, but, I never wanted to be-"

"Why don't you sit down? You can have some toffee, if you like."

He reached into a bowl on the coffee table, taking out a wrapped candy.

I glared at him, then sat down, not accepting his toffee. I pulled my knees up to my chest, and pouted while glaring at him.

"I don't want to be here." I repeated, this time not being interrupted.

Farsdale sighed.

"Do you know why you are here, Sayoki?" He asked, calmly.

"No."

Farsdale sighed again, placing the toffee that was meant for me back into the candy dish.

"Then I would have to inform you, hmm?"

"Are you really related to Xela and Alex?" I asked, planning to stall the conversation. Though trying to sound casual, my heart was thumping. Why was I here? Where did I fit in this, experiment? To be honest, I thought it was best to be left untold.

"Alex is my nephew, Xela my niece. My brother had kids when I was young. The Farsdale family is a strange one, you might think, and it is." He replied, not bothered at all by the stall, so it seems. I pouted some more.

"Of course, you might not. You're family is quite strange too."

I paused, stiffening a little of the mention of my family. He should know nothing of them, they are far away from here.

"But let's get back on track. I would usually not give as much as a glance at a young person like you. However, you are quite special... very special..."

He got up, and began pacing. I stared at him.

"Akina, what gender are you?" He asked, giving me direct eye contact.

My eyes widened. Why does he ask for my gender, of all things? I was too shocked to answer, and just stared at him, as if he just grew another head.

"Well?" He asked, smirking knowledgeably. His smirk was nasty, like Xela's.

My lip quivered. How do I answer?

There was a sudden knock on the door. I released my breath in relief as his attention was off of me.

Dr. Farsdale walked up to the door, calling as he walked,

"I'm busy at the moment, can you come later?"

Another voice growled from across the door.

"Don... Don, you let me in right this instant.... I know you're hiding back there... And I know you can't run..."

Farsdale paused, almost touching the doorknob, as if he were about to open the door. Instead, he lowered his hand, towards the lock.

I was listening intently. Why does the voice behind the door sound so... familiar? Like I have heard it before, but I can't quite place it.

"I am busy." Don said sternly. "Now be a grown man and operate on someone, like a surgeon should."

I guessed that Dr. Farsdale must be rather familiar with the rouge behind the door, if he knew what job he does. I just assumed this because I saw a lot of doctors and scientists here.

"No Don... Not running... Let my son go, don't touch my only child!" The man now sounded frantic, and was shouting at the door. I was surprised to see Farsdale jump back from the door, but the man on the other side was making a lot of noise behind there.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

He was trying to break the door down, I think, though I doubt he'd actually make it, doctors are usually kinda weak looking, except Paul's dentist, he's scary.

Thump. Thump. Bang.

"Stop." Farsdale growled. He walked to his desk, and opened the drawer. He walked slowly back to the door, carrying a large, filled syringe.

"Bastard," Dr. Farsdale muttered, under his breath.

"He's fine until someone even touches his boy, then he goes ape shit."

"...Um... What's in that needle..?" I asked, carefully.

Farsdale glanced at me, and smiled.

"Just a little complication, Akina. Don't worry, this should end it if he gets in."

"But what is it?"

Farsdale didn't answer, he was calling on the phone on his desk.

"...Yes, bring reinforcements, he's not going easy on you."

Farsdale hung up, and faced me.

"This would be rather dangerous, Akina, behind my desk, unless you want this doctor after you."

I shot another glare at Farsdale, but obediently went behind his desk and sat down underneath it.

I was no longer able to see so I listened carefully to the sounds around me.

"FARSDALE! FARSDALE YOU-"

The loud footsteps on the tiles marked the arrival of Farsdale's reinforcements. I hoped they would not be too rough on this doctor, he had a point but... I swear I remember his voice... where is it from?

There was a lot of noise now. Slamming against the door, a couple punches flew, and some shouts, a lot of shouts, and then silence, if not for someone's single, heavy breathing.

I carefully stood up, peeking over the desk. Don walked over to the door, hesitated, and opened it.

I was awed, and shocked.

Farsdale smiled, and adjusted his glasses.

"Charles..." He said to the panting father. "Look at your mess, murderer."