The Ties That Bleeds

of thick, leather-bound books and neatly labeled files. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only noise breaking the silence. Dr. Kessler, a w

ical but not unkind, "you've grown

oming, but the weight of it pressed down on him more than he'd anticipat

vision. Dr. Elias's vision, to be exact. He wanted to create extraordinary beings-individuals capable of reshaping the future. Intellect, str

They had been failures, according to the project. Yet, in some ways, they h

roject is on the horizon. Dr. Elias might even return to oversee it. Th

ghtened. "So, it'

bly. This time, though, the a

And what about me? Why haven't you put me to any real

be extraordinary on your own terms. Look at you-completing

k in his chair. "Then why work so hard to

things, Adrian. Do you know how many people in the world could say they were designed to be perfect?" She leaned forward, her gaz

uestion "The geniuses who have been kille

extraordinary. The geniuses being killed? That's tragic, y

ng to the floor. The air between t

children playing in the courtyard filled the air, cutting through the heaviness that had settled

ng them, running and carefree before the weight of the proj

, pulling him ou

answered, his

g about your schedule today.

he replied. "But I'm fre

Thought maybe we could ha

you know if I can squeeze som

Don't f

k toward the building, his mind

m. Her gloved hands dropped small bits of something into the water, her posture relaxed ye

s later, one of the children approached the tank, excited to see the fish. Instead, the

in place. Ezra was waiting for her, leaning against t

e asked sharply, his voi

ing past and heading t

lued to his phone. He barely acknowledged her

his leg to get him t

for her. "Always so bossy," he mutter

them onto the coffee table. "He's in hi

ctly something we're proud of." His voice was quieter, tinged with something more th

nd, her gaze dri

locked on her. "Why did you go to see

ck into the couch. "I'm

Kai's phone. "What

her girl," he said, wiggl

h a playboy, Kai, just d

however, didn't look amused. His sharp gaze l

th their interactions. For now, they were content to play their roles, each one hiding their own motiv