The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Answers

Ace replies with a curt nod before beginning to speak. "What do you want to know Little one?" His question was quite easy to answer. ''I wanna know why I keep hearing a voice in my head that's telling me everyone is dead." Cotton spoke with no regrets. "Because everyone is. Do you honestly believe everyone around you is alive?" Ace chuckles.

Cotton glares sending everyone into quiet mode. "Unfortunately for you I do." She snaps. Ace was sent aback. "Hmm well that's because it's untrue. You're blind Cotton, you're blind to what you should see but you don't.'' Ace spoke after a few minutes.

"I'm not blind, I can see clearly." Cotton protests. "No that's where your wrong. You can't see that they're ghosts." Ace stands up. Cotton didn't back down. "Ghosts or not they're my family and I'll be dammed if you take them away from me!" Cotton yells. Her fists were balled. Her anger was just as strong as Jake's was. Cotton walks over to Ace and pushes him back into the kitchen wall. Kaleb was about to grab Cotton but Ace stops him. "You maybe little but you sure have some strength to you." Ace speaks down at the ten year old. "What do you want?" Cotton snaps.

"Isn't obvious? I want you." Ace says with a sly smile. Cotton knew why. She had something no one else did, but Ace doesn't know that Axel has the same thing. Of course he wouldn't because Axel was hidden among the Angelos but Cotton wasn't. But this gave everyone an advantage. A secret weapon to be reckon with. Ace will die underneath their hands. And once he does everything will be over. Or not.

Cotton smiles. "You can't have me not yet anyway. We'll meet again and then you'll see what you've been so oblivious to." Ace looks at her. The devious look in her eyes meant something was coming for him. What is she planning? Ace thought before speaking. "The only way you could possibly defeat me is if you have a brother with the same specialty as you. And you don't." Ace growls. Cotton on reflex slaps him. "You never know what I have and haven't gotten. You will be sorry for that rude remark." Cotton snaps.

"I don't fear you or your people. Or did you forget I killed your parents?" Ace chuckles. "You may have killed my parents but you will fear me in time. Tell me is the baby human or a ghost?" Cotton's question was unexpected. He didn't know of a baby. "What baby?" Ace asks. Cotton smile reappears. "Jessica's baby."

Ace hadn't known of Jessica's baby. This is the first time he's heard of the baby. "Maybe a bit of both." Ace winged it. "Anyway do you have anymore questions?" Ace adds in.

"Yea I have one. Why do you want my Institute?" Cotton asks.

This never occurred to Ace. The Institute was vast and gorgeous. Every bit of it was special. The animals, the weaponry, the cures, all of it was special. Cotton is the key to getting it. But he didn't know the answer to this question. It was unexpected and it was hard to find the best words. Ace never was the biggest talker. "I'm waiting." Cotton presses. Ace just smiles. "It's so special. Just like you. The animals, the weaponry, the cures everything is so so special. It's all vast and beautiful. I want it to show our world that nothing is to hard to handle. I want people to become fearless just like you. The Institute and it's inhabitants are vaguely fearless. You're undeniably fearless. You benefit from something much greater than anyone could possibly image. If I had you by my side, I'd be able to rule a free world, just be a leader to the fearless. People would survive the most deadliest diseases, poisons, cancers and sicknesses alone, people wouldn't have HIV or stds. People would be so healthy and happy, nothing would cause them pain." Ace's answer was so intriguing and pretty well said. An offer like this she couldn't give up. If she took on what she knew she could, she'd be just as free as the people she saved. A hero to millions. Naturally, Cotton would deny anything and everything but this wasn't like anything she's ever heard. She took a minute to gather her thoughts before speaking.

"I will not give up my ownership but I'll make you a deal." Cotton says. Her plans set in motion, too bad Ace couldn't figure out what her deal is. "Go on." Ace presses. "I will tell you the rest when I come back. But the deal is if I let you in, you can't harm anyone that is in the future of my Institute. You can lead the world into a promise land instead of poverty and pain. But if you cross me in any way the deal is off the line. Understand?" Cotton spoke.

Ace smiles. "Deal."

Cotton walks back to her seat. There was one more question. "Why do you want to lead the people to a promise that may or may not suppress the pain of the world?"

Ace retakes a seat and speaks. "Because a promise like that needs to be fulfilled. Can you imagine a world that's beautiful instead of in poverty?"

Cotton smiles.

"I can but I will not be alive to see it."

Ace tilts his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" Cotton just looks away. "I have a life to give for two."

"You see and understand in the future. But I must go now." Cotton began to get up. Kaleb got up with her. "What?" She looks at him. "I uhh should walk you out." Kaleb didn't know why but he felt something for her. She nods and puts on her cheetah printed fuzzy jacket. It went with her pale skin and brunette locks. Kaleb had some admiration for her. "Son before you go may I have a word with you?" Ace asks. Kaleb looks to Cotton. "Just wait for me at the door. I'll be right back." Kaleb whispers to her. She nods and oddly enough obeyed him.

"Yes father?" Kaleb asks.

"Follow her." Ace replies.