DNA

Epilogue-Lilium's POV

August 15th, 2080
It had been two weeks since the Veta family moved into their new flat. Everything was coming together perfectly. Lilium was only a week away from going to a better school than the last she had gone to, and the kids who had shown her and Kiki around seemed very nice. Nobody teased Lilium. Sure, they didn't know her at all, but at least she'd be left alone with a chance to meet friends.

The new school was an outside school. The "hallways" were outside and the classrooms were like small apartments that connected to each other. There was an indoor cafe for lunch and an outdoor courtyard with tables and benches. There was an umbrella on each table to block out the sun.

Back at home, things were just as nice. Lilium and Kiki's room was open and had a natural brick wall. The fresh gray paint looked clean and simple. Their beds were pushed close so they could have "sleepovers" and talk about stuff. They had a new puppy, a husky, whom they decided to call Elie (E-Lie) and a small, gray kitten they went by Zylith. Lilium felt like a normal teenager and could finally have pets like other people. After all those years in the lab, this new life seemed promising. Life could never have been better.

The End
    ***

Lilium's POV

"Lilium! Stop typing and come downstairs already! It's time to eat your birthday cake!" Kiki called for me, running to grab my arm.

"I'm coming! I had to finish the last part!" I said as I closed my laptop, jumping up to tie back my hair. I really missed the purple, so I dyed the tips back to my favorite color. With a quick smile, I whispered, "you're doing okay," and ran to join my family.

Downstairs, there was a big birthday cake with violet and white decorations everywhere. Elie barked and jumped up on the bench to the table, staring at my cake. Zylith just sat on the floor with big kitten eyes, confused. Lifting up my kitten, I held her close and smiled as my family gathered and sang "Happy Birthday."

Melancholy filled my brain and my heart melted at once. The fact that I was finally free and I finally had a family was more than I could take. I wasn't supposed to ever be happy, but Veta, my father, gave me more than I could have ever wished for. I bent over the cake to the blow out the candles but instead my tears put them out. Covering my face, I stood back and smiled into my hands.

"Why are you crying? What's wrong?" My father asked me with confused eyes. Akira moved her hands from Kiki's shoulder so she could run over to me and give me a hug.

"It's nothing bad," I said, wiping my eyes on my sleeve. "I just never thought that my life would ever amount to what it is now. All those years in a dark room left me hopeless and I only ever looked forward to seeing you for my monthly checkups. Without you life would have been unbearable, father. Thank you for everything you've done."

"Without your bravery and tolerance, I couldn't have done a single thing," he told me, grabbing my hands. I saw a sort of resemblance of myself in him in that moment. It might not have all been physical, but our traits were uncanny.

"What do you mean? Where could I have even begun to get here of all places?" The answer wasn't clear to me in any way. What steps did I take? It was all because of him, not me. I didn't do anything.

"The first step was coming out of that room on that day," he smiled grimly. I remembered loosing Aluca. That day was both the worst and best day I had in those years.

"You still haven't gotten me that book."

There was a noise from the door. I jumped and my father ran to open it with me following close behind. When he opened it, there was a familiar looking man. It wasn't Lox, thank God, but it was someone from the lab, I know that much.

"Professor Paladin? What..." my dad trailed off.

"It's Lox, and he's getting worse. How do I get my daughter and myself away from him?"

I looked up at my father and he smiled down at me. I moved closer to the door and shook the man's hand. "Professor Paladin, I may be able to help you out. For me to leave and help, though, I need a favor."

"Of course, anything, Lilium!" He still remembered working on my blood and stitching me up.

"I need a new book."