Artificial Mates - Chapter 36

We could hear the tap squeezed and the water ran down the drain on the other side of the door. Demos should be done by now. I nervously played with the sleeves of the pajamas with penguin pattern. My heart leaped with each little sound Demos made in the bathroom. I was alone in bed, correction on my mattress. Grant was in his pod, he said he had to run some tests. It was a bad idea to leave me alone. My sadistic mind kept making outrageous scenarios. End of the world types of scenarios. The door to the bathroom opened making me jump. Demos emerged fully dress in his strained t-shirt and black shorts. The one t-shirt he wore when Grant got hurt.

“He’s not done yet?” he asked which was a little unusual. Wasn’t they always connected or something? He came to join me on the mattress; it creaked as he settled in. I moved away giving him some room. He pulled his pillow and laid on his side, elbow bent and hand cupping his chin. I glued my back to the wall, knees pressing against my b.r.e.a.s.t. His intense gaze made me sweat like crazy.

“Nervous?” he snorted.

“A little and you?” I admitted before tossing the question back at him. Demos shrugged his shoulders at me. He appeared to relax, however, that was only on the surface. The door to the living opened grabbing our attention Grant paused in the doorway. He held a yellow plastic envelop with red letters printed over it.

“This is the syncing protocol,” he announced waving the envelope at us. Grant joined us on the mattress I shifted nervously. He tore it open and got out a thin card with instructions and codes. He sighed, put the envelope away and read it silently. Demos sat up with a jolt scaring me. My heart raced.

“What?” my eyes darted from Mr. serious face to Mr. relax. “Just, tell me already. The suspense is killing me… and freaking me out,” I was hyperventilating already. Did they want to kill me with worry?

“I’ll explain the preparations. The human host, you Liliane, should be relax. It is advised to be seated or lying down. Using the root command access to the brain wave connector, enter your ID code, and then enter the syncing protocols. You must read a sentence. We open our root command and enter the sync codes,” I grimaced at his explanation. That was very technical. I really thought the sync thing was going to be a s.e.x.u.a.l thing. I rolled my eyes at my ridiculous expectations.

“That’s all?” I frowned. They shared a knowing look the nodded at me. I sighed with relief; they really scared me for a moment. Now that he had explained it, it didn’t sound daunting at all.

“Our synthetic brains will sync with your organic one… creating a permanent link,” Grant said with one side of his lips curling up. I couldn’t help smiling back. A different kind of silence settled between us. A solemn one.

“Come closer,” I whispered to both of them. I kneeled in the middle of the mattress they both hugged me, holding me as if I was about to break.

“I love you,” whispered Grant. I closed my eyes savoring the intimacy. Demos brushed his nose against my neck. I leaned into him with a sigh.

“I love you, Liliane,” he lay a kiss on my collarbone. A m.o.a.n escaped my lips. When I opened my eyes, they both waited for my answer. I didn’t want to ruin everything with some cheesy declarations.

“Let sync, you’ll know my answer then,” Demos squeezed his arms around us. Grant smiled against my ear making me giggle. We reluctantly, slowly let go. I sat with my legs crossed, we made a circle, Grant placed the card in the middle.

“Let’s hold hands,” he grinned like a kid with eyes sparkling with mischief,” Demos extended his hand on my right while Grant did the same on the left. I giggled at how ceremonious it felt. Like we were doing some strange ritual.

“Ready?” asked Grant. I nodded at him. “I’ll guide you through the steps, ok,” I nodded again. I wasn’t scared at all, I couldn’t wait to be with them, to show them what they meant to me.

“Repeat after me; access BWC root command,” I did as he said. Instantly a round logo appeared before me. The word root command popped up. “Did the interface opened? Just nod if it did,” I shook my head once. “Good, now enter your ID code. Just swap your bracelet in front of your face. It should identify you as the user,” I did as he instructed and a question appeared, asking for my full name. I peeked at Grant for the next step.

“Now, it will ask for your vocal imprint,” he explained. I lightly squeezed his hand he answered by a slow smile.

“Liliane Kerry,” I spoke loud and clear. A list replaced the opening menu. I gave Demos a quick peek, he nodded at me then I turned back to Grant.

“Repeat after me; Syncing Protocols L0397 X3,” I shook my head at him then said his exact words. A loading logo appeared Demos’ head sprung in my direction.

“Acknowledge Liliane Kerry for sync,” he held my gaze while saying it. Grant did the same with a sweetest of smiles. A slow progress bar came in front of me. I let out a nervous giggle. Grant leaned closer and kissed my cheek.

“That’s it? It wasn’t so bad,” I laughed. Demos pulled my hand to his lips and kissed my fingertips. The progress bar reached completion. A text flashed announcing the sync was done.

“What now, do I get like superpowers?” I laughed and turned to Demos, he smiles dropped. Something was wrong. I blinked at his wobbling image. My heart raced my breath came out raspy. A low murmur buzzed around me then rose to an earsplitting commotion. I let go of their hands and screamed pressing my hands to my ears. My body convulsed and twisted. In the distance, a voice called me.

“Liliane, try to relax. Don’t fight it,” I held on the voice. However, everything around me was darkness. Was I dreaming? I was drowning with hands pulling at my ankles, dragging me in the abyss. I screamed letting the darkness seeped down my throat, choking me. Flashes of broken images hit me in the guts too rapid to recognize, made it difficult to distinguish the top from the bottom. I kicked and braced the heavy liquid with my arms.

“Help!” I cried, my tears mixing with the liquid around me.

“Grant! Demos!” I pleaded. Out of the gloom came a hand. Breaking the surface extending towards me. I fought against the waves desperately reaching with all my might. I couldn’t see to whom it was attached. Just that it glew with a soft light. I fingers brushed against his skin just when I thought I was safe the darkness tugged at me pulling me away out of its reach.

“No!” I screamed. The hand reached a pale glow against the roaring storm of black. Just when all hope faded, I was about to disappear, swallowed into the pit… it pulled me. It’s fingers wrapped around my wrist. The soft glow slowly enveloping me. I looked up at the being of living it hovered, a face so bright I couldn’t see the features. The light divided into two beings.

“Your mind is so loud and chaotic, I can barely keep up,” grimaced the one the right. I knew that voice…

“Demos?” whispers repeated his name. It echoed in infinity, distorting the words.

“I’m having multiple errors here,” added the second one. I turned to him and recognized Grant’s beautiful curls. I pulled closer to them. What’s going on? What is this place? Echoes and different voices talked at the same times making it confusing.

“Liliane, lower the settings!” shouted Grant over the continuous chatter. I was sure it was Grant yet he wasn’t as I remembered him. I frowned at his image. How the hell do I do that? This place was a mindless nightmare.

“Call the interface. BWC settings. Lower sync settings,” he shouted. Flashes of red rocked us from side to side like inside a washing machine.

“Quick! I won’t be able to withstand this any longer,” added Demos. I looked up at him in alert. He gritted his teeth, patches of black started to invade his body made of soft light.

“BWC settings, lower sync setting!” I yelled at the angry storm. Instantly my eyes opened and found myself lying face down on the mattress. I blinked at the raging headache at the back of my skull. A question blink before my eyes. I groaned as I pulled away from the mattress.

[Synchronized,

the setting, what percentage?]

“Guys?” I called. Demos was lying on his side facing away. Grant was half out of the mattress his eyes open wide fixing the ceiling. No! No! What the hell, happened?

“Put it below 10%,” said Grant between gritted teeth.

“Sync setting 5%!” I shouted. The interface closed. Grant gasped and Demos stirred. I rushed to their side. I helped Grant in a seated position. I couldn’t pull Demos up, he stared at me with panic.

“What the hell happened?” I screamed with tears streaming down my cheeks.

-The sync happened.

I looked up at Grant. His lips didn’t move yet I swear I heard his voice.

-You did hear him.

My head slowly turned to Demos as he pulled himself up against the wall. What the heck?

-Liliane, please don’t freak out.