The Shrink Program

Chapter 155

"SO IF I SEND OUT THE RESET COMMAND LIKE SO...." With a twirl of a finger, she hit the last button.
"THE CORE PROGRAMMED TO RECIEVE THE COMMAND WILL... "

What she had left to say way drowned beneath the sudden screeching.

A Bird.

Screaming in agony.

White as a sheet and rigid with terror, my gaze slowly turned.

To Jack.

Even as a crow, Jack had a way of going unnoticed, but there was no looking away as the blackbird began to writhe in agony.

As if trying to stop her, Jack flew at Cassandra, only travelling a small distance before crashing into the floor with another screech, convulsing where he lay.

Then the bones started to crack.

"THE SLOW CHANGE INSTEAD OF THE INSTANT BREAKDOWN AND REBUILD IS INTENTIONAL OF COURSE. I CHOSE IT AS A PRECAUTION." Cassandra elaborated in a mildly interested tone.

I want to make them watch.

No way.

Sick to the core, I spun away, covering my ears with a choked noise.

But I couldn't tune out her voice.

"THIS WAY, IF THE SIGNAL WERE TO MYSTERIOUSLY CUT OFF FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON."

Or the screams.

"THE SUBJECT WOULDNT BE CAUGHT IN A STATE WHERE THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN ENERGY. WITH THIS GRADUAL BREAKDOWN AND REMAKE OF INDIVIDUAL PARTS, THE MIND REMAINS INTACT THROUGH-OUT THE PROCESS."

I refused to make a sound. Even as I watched his shadow dance on the wall in a nightmare of inhumane form.

Whatever you do.

Don't. Pass. Out.

"THE BRAIN ITSELF IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST PART. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE OR ALTERATIONS, IT HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY READ AND RESCALED WITH THE CHANGE, USING A SECONDARY GROUP THAT WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON BRAIN MATTER."

A little bit longer.

"AS INTERESTING AS IT IS, I HAVE TO SEND AT LEAST SIX PRESET COMMANDS, UNIQUELY CODED TO PAIR WITH THE CORE I WISH TO INFLUENCE, ALL AT ONCE TO GET THE SIMILAR RESULT TO WHAT I COULD ACHIEVE WITH THE SATTELITE."

Just bear with it a moment longer.

"SINCE IT IS SO IMPRACTICAL, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS AND EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL, I HAVE CONDUCTED VERY LITTLE TESTING BEYOND ENSURING THAT IT ACTUALLY WORKS. SO COMPLICATIONS ARE TO BE EXPECTED. "

I couldn't move.

Couldn't do anything.

Until the screaming finally died down, leaving the room with only the sound of our ragged breathing.

"LOOK MADDISON."

Dizzy to the point I saw stars, I forced myself to stay silent.

"I MADE SOMETHING FOR YOU."

I'm sorry.

My eyes closed momentarily with defeat, hands falling gently from my ears as I turned to look over my shoulder.

He hadn't made it. Not all the way.

No longer a bird. Not quite human either.

Something new from in between.

Apparently, the signal had mysteriously cut off for some unexplained reason.

Or perhaps, in her madness, Cassandra had made him like this in the beginning.

The creature turned to lay on its side, exhausted breaths heaving a chest just bit too deep to be human.

Feathers took the place of black curls, painfully sprouting from the skin of the neck, shoulders and upper arms. Legs bent at the wrong angle, ending in claws instead of feet.

Huge, dark wings protruding from his back shimmering like flowing ink.

A sweat-covered face rose slightly, searching for me with pain-filled eyes.

One eye belonged to Jack the human, the other the bird. Both wide and hazed with pain.

"AN ANGEL."

Staring into Jack's eyes, all I could do was shake my head.

Seeing my expression, Jack smiled softly, letting his head rest on the floor with a thump.

"They feel the same, you know." He murmured softly, eyelids lowered tiredly.

"The pain I feel now and the memories of torture she gave me. Everything feels real, but not everything is. "

He laughed breathlessly. "Which makes reality a matter of perspective in the end. "

With a shift of dark feathers, Jack sat up, staring down at me with unblinking eyes.

"You shouldn't cry, Maddison. "

His smile widened into a soft grin.

"If nothing matters anyway, isn't it better to smile?"