Betrayal

~ επιστήμη & στοιχεία ~

Epistími and Stoicheía were twins. They had grown up in the orphanage—after their 'family' had abandoned them, for they were "too abnormal" apparently.

So, of course, their research had begun with that 'family'.

Their 'parents' suddenly claimed them after they were insanely successful in the field of Science in the Human World—for they were earning in millions.

"Oh, my children," the 'mother' exclaimed, rushing to hug them. "You missed me, right? It must have been so scary when you got separated from us when you were only three! Your father searched day and night for the two of you!"

Everyone expressed their 'concerns' for the twins.

"Are you both alright?"

"It must have been difficult for you in the orphanage!"

"We searched for days, but we couldn't find the two of you. We're really sorry!"

"Poor children. They must have felt so lonely, lost and abandoned."

"Just when they were three?"

Epistími and Stoicheía smiled at each other. This was exactly what they had wanted.

"Mom," the younger twin, Stoicheía, said after a few days of their 'reunion'. "Mom, me and big brother have an experiment to do, but we need your help!"

***

"Mom... mom..." Stoicheía sobbed in front of the coffin, while Epistími patted her on the back, looking as if he were unable to even show his grief. "Mom... why did you leave?"

"If our experiment would have been completed," Epistími said lifelessly, "then she would have never died."

With trembling hands, the two left bouquets of white lilies upon the coffin.

The news reporters were immensely touched by Epistími and Stoicheía's 'sorrow'. Their feelings were mutual for their 'mother'—a 'selfless mother' who helped her children out in their experiments until her last day.

Secretly, Epistími and Stoicheía shared a twisted smile.

***

"We have discovered," Epistími announced, "a strange force within the Human body. For example, it can increase our lifespan by taking our illness out! This force is the real reason we get sick, we get hurt, and we die. It is the closest Humanity can get to immortality."

In the World of Nature, it was called Black Magic.

"From today to the first day of the next month," Stoicheía continued, "we will be conducting this test, guaranteed to be 'safe', on whoever visits us for the same."

It wasn't a surprise to see thousand and thousands of those Humans flocked together in the waiting room.

Stoicheía took her chance and allowed a few to serve as proof that the experiment was 'foolproof' and 'safe'. Epistími and Stoicheía, who were cursed Immortals, fooled the mortals by conducting the experiments on themselves.

The Black Magic was removed from whoever wanted it to be.

All was... "fine", "perfect" and "great"—"totally recommended" and given a "five-star rating".

After that month was over, they allotted a few people ranks in their laboratory, and took a 'vacation'... back to their home, to the Mirror Earth, World of Nature.

And then the death rate suddenly increased by a manifold.

Because—those—Humans—who—had—been—experimented—on—died.

Naturally, the blame went on the ones working there. Epistími and Stoicheía couldn't be held responsible—such a thing had never happened when they were the ones conducting the experiments.

Of course, Mankind didn't know that they both had just delayed everything for that month.

It went without saying that Epistími and Stoicheía were never found again.

~~***~~

Mortals are so foolish.

This force is the real reason they get sick, they get hurt, and they die.

What did they think that Black Magic was?

The answer is:

Their souls, of course!

~~***~~