The Phoenix Project

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

March 24th 2017 – Five years before the Fall

Samantha

            “It has been three weeks, Zero. These past twenty-one days have been so very enlightening to me, and it’s all thanks to you. You and your sudden Rebirth.”  Samantha’s voice carried through the air to the still form within the containment bubble. “Has anyone ever…told you that you’re special?” She asked, crossing her legs at the ankle.

            Penelope remained silent within her prison, a limp form whose heart still beat. She was alive, not for lack of trying to obtain death. In the past weeks she’d done everything from hang herself to gouge her throat out and other such unsavory things to no avail. Her newest form of rebellion was simply…unresponsiveness.

            “Of course, this is purely a personal question. Off the record, not that this matters much to you—  but it does hold some…it holds a certain weight in my eyes to know. I was told I was special by two individuals myself, my dear Zero; One being my mother, the other being my boss.” Her voice carried a certain tone that seemed to contradict her initial statement and demand an answer. “And to put it bluntly, the first didn’t matter to me until the latter occurred.”

            Penelope sighed and sat up slowly, her body behaving as if she were a marionette being controlled by Samantha’s voice. She turned mechanically, one leg at a time then with a twist of her body, lastly turning her head to look out at Samantha with hollow eyes.

            “Yes.” She said dryly. “M-My mother did. I think a-all mothers t-tell their children that they’re s-special.” Her voice trailed off and her gaze traveled with it, going into a long stare into an empty room, a wistful smile perching itself on her lips. Samantha’s own smile was predatorial in nature.

            “…That’s good. Very…very…good. I’m glad you look at things in a similar fashion to me—in this regard, at the very least. Since I’m the one who gave you this new life, this…Rebirth…then in a way I am your new mother. I am the one who cares for you, makes sure you stay alive. I’m the one who tells you what’s wrong and makes the pain go away…” the doctor intoned with a chuckle. “So…I think it’s apt if you start calling me ‘Mother’, Zero.”

            This statement seemed to pull Penelope back into the present, her gaze sliding from the far wall to Samantha as her face shifted into an incredulous stare. Samantha’s cool gaze and grin met Penelope’s disbelieving counterparts. They stared at each other for a moment before Penelope turned away, wrapping her arms about herself as she shied from Samantha’s gaze.

            “N-No…y-you’re not my m-mother…” she said quietly.

            “Oh, but I am. I’m the one who made your Rebirth possible. I’m the one who keeps you alive. I’m the one who provides for your well being!” She said, rising up from her chair and stepping towards the electrified bubble as her voice rose up into a shout. “I’m the one who cares about you! I’m the one who tries to keep you safe!” Penelope visibly flinched as Samantha started shouting and gave an angry, nearly defiant, glare back to Samantha.

            “You torture me! You cut me, hit me, shoot me, electrify me, and put me through hell!” She yelled back—which only warranted laughter from Samantha

            “Now you sound like every female teenager does when speaking of their mother, it makes me so happy that we can have a normal relationship, Zero.”…Her voice a dark tone, as she lowered her head—her glasses falling down her nose, as always—and gave Penelope a piercing stare. “…I am your mother now, dear, and I expect you to address me as such. Is...That...Clear?”