Lies #5: Sanders

Chapter 13

Roman:

Waking up for what he knew would be the final time was slightly saddening. Although all the tests had been slightly frightening- or extremely terrifying- in their own ways, Roman felt as if they could be made to be quite interesting. They were almost like VR video games- not that he'd ever played one of those himself. Although I hate to admit it, J. S.'s- er, Janus's- tests worked. We've all come out better and less broken. Slowly, Roman's eyes adjusted and his mind reoriented. That glitching, though... I don't think the Mind Palace likes switching hosts like that.

Roman nearly jumped in his seat when he realized there was someone standing in front of them, their hands clasped behind their back regally. They wore long black pants, black shoes, and a black cape. Their shirt was a deep, faint purple and a yellow tie dangled down from their neck. A bowler hat was perched on top of their head, casting a shadow of their face. But Roman could not mistake it; there was the yellow eye that was unique to the man known as Dr. Picani. Is that even his real name?

"Wait a second..." Virgil groggily narrowed his eyes. "You're that therapist guy, whatever the fuck your name was. You got the yellow eye and everything." He put a hand against his forehead. "I'm so fucking confused."

Wait, did Virgil have Dr. Picani as a therapist, too? Before anyone else could ask any questions, Remus leapt up and crushed J. S. in a hug. "I hate you, but thank you. You didn't have to give me a test. You could've let me be your minion forever. Why didn't you? Why didn't you keep manipulating me? I thought I was supposed to be your all-powerful weapon."

J. S. didn't respond for a moment before he let out a small, light laugh. "You really don't know? I thought you would've understood by now. In fact, none of you seem to understand. I told you everything earlier when you first arrived. This is an experiment that, now that it has proven REMI works perfectly, will change the fate of the world." He hummed in thought before continuing. "Perhaps it would be better if I told you everything in a little more detail. But first, I should properly introduce myself. I am Janus Sanders- J. S.- and Dr. Emile Picani. I am the greatest neurosurgeon and psychologist to ever be. REMI is an experiment that will help people with mental disorders and trauma of all kinds. Take a seat, Remus. This may be a long story."

***

Janus:

A long time before Janus hosted his final experiment, before he convinced Remus to work with him, he was a very respected neuroscientist. Out of the entire field of doctors in the world, he was the 35-year-old genius who was more knowledgeable in all things about the brain than anyone else. The others revered him, but he was aware there were those who were jealous of his great intellect. There was no one he could rely on but himself. On the Thursday that everything changed, Janus was hunched over his desk reading through files with a drifting mind.

These were the days that Janus wished he could be doing more. There were better things he could be doing rather than just surgeries, right? Yes, sometimes those were necessary, but there were times when he felt there could be a better way to help people. He shook himself and forced himself to stare intently at the paper in his hands. Focus. But his eyes kept reading the same paragraph over and over again. Godforsaken eye. He tapped his foot idly, subconsciously reaching for his tie to wring it with a hand. How many people had stopped in their tracks upon seeing his golden eye? Too many. There were always too many. They didn't even know the half of it. He couldn't have just been born with Heterochromia, but also with Horner's Syndrome. Well, Horner's Syndrome had caused his Heterochromia, so perhaps the 'also' belonged to his different-colored eyes. The entire left side of his face had never been able to sweat; his left eyelid was always droopy; his pupil was insanely small. It was the whole reason why he'd become a neuroscientist: to find how to treat people like him. Unfortunately, there had been no success as of yet, and he was stuck with people staring at him for the foreseeable future.