Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

alien, even to my own ears. "I admit I have been getting stronger. I can hear things clearer and from far away. I didn't mean to hide I could do it." Dr. Mercier didn't respond right away so I raised my face from my arms and spared her a glance. She was looking at me thoughtfully, almost kindly.
    "We could risk showing you. But it will likely frighten you."
    I took a deep breath. I saw my future as two choices. One, I wait to see what happened. Wait to see if I achieved what they wanted without knowing what it was, and risk disappearing into the night like I never existed. Or two, learn what I was meant to do and try to achieve it. It was an easy choice.
    I shook off what was left of my fear and stood up. Dr. Mercier looked at me like she knew what I was going to say. I nodded. "Show me."
    ****
    When Lukas arrived an hour later from his outdoor training, a team of medical staff was waiting for him. His smile and pleasantry from being outside the facility quickly faded when he saw them. "Today?" he scoffed and walked ahead of the medical staff to the main medical room where I was waiting.
    Lukas stepped in and took off his sweaty clothes without hesitation and without looking at his surroundings. He grabbed the pair of shorts one of the staff handed to him and just when he was about to put them on, he turned and finally noticed me. His eyes went wide with surprise. "Gabriel," his voice stammered and he rushed to put on the shorts. "What are you-" He turned to one of staff, "What is he doing here?"
    "Dr. Mercier ordered him to be here."
    "No." Lukas shook his head. "That is not a good idea."
    His refusal only made me more intent to discover this secret. "I want to be here." I raised my voice so it could reach over the discussion Lukas was having with the staff.
    Lukas' blue eyes met mine and I tried to smile, reassuring him that I was fine. He shook his head, "Gabe." The shorten version of my name rarely left his lips, but it warmed me every time I heard it.
    "I want to know what I am supposed to do." I closed the ten steps separating me from Lukas. The staff went to the other side to the room to prepare. "I will be ok."
    "What if you aren't?" Concern infiltrated his voice. "It's not pretty, nor pleasant."
    "I don't know what it even is."
    Lukas seemed to think over his options. "I don't know if it is better to explain it to you or just show you," he whispered, wary of our audience.
    I didn't know how to answer that, and I didn't have to because one of the staff took my arm and pulled me away to stand by a corner. The rest of the staff surrounded Lukas, attaching padded circles and wires to his skin. Dr. Mercier walked inside the room when they were almost finished and pressed the code that would lock the door.
    Lukas turned to his mother and his mouth opened, but before he could protest she raised a finger to quiet him. Lukas kept silent and Dr. Mercier reached my side. "Let's begin," she ordered. The staff nodded. The two men went one each to Luka's sides. One of the women stayed by the devices ready to record whatever information came out of them, and the other grabbed a vile of red liquid and handed it to Lukas.
    "Male. Thirty seven years of age. Subject NB1. Test number 71."
    Lukas grimaced slightly as he took the vial in his hand. Each of the men held his upper arms securely, and without hesitation, Lukas downed the liquid completely.
    The woman grabbed the vial back from his hand and quickly walked back to her position next to the other female. I watched this entire process in silence, trying to decipher what each little thing meant. Why was it relevant? I couldn't think of anything.
    Lukas kept his eyes shut tightly, his breath becoming heavier by the second. He shook suddenly, his body seemed to convulse, and the men held him tighter.
    "Lukas!" The cry left my throat unbidden. Dr. Mercier was next to me in a heartbeat and held me back by my shoulders.
    "This is normal," she said reassuringly. I wanted to believe her – more than I ever remember wanting anything - but Lukas's face twisted in such pain that it took every inch of me not to run to him. I stared wide eyed and in shock as Luka's face, his shoulders, almost every inch of him rippled unnaturally as he held back the urge to scream. I thought this horror show was never going to stop, but it eventually did. What was most shocking of it all was that at the end, Lukas was no longer there. In his place stood a man that looked older, with broader shoulders