In My Hands, Know Suffering

40: Crushing Hopes, Crushing Happiness

Coffee on a rainy afternoon was the perfect partner for when anyone read a novel, or just to warm up for the cold weather. The aroma wafted throughout the shop, a luxury that wasn't always present in the institution, ever the kind of drugs that woke people up and got them moving. There wasn't that kind of drug in Sievetech, and it was, perhaps, a loss, aside from the sedatives often injected to their subjects.

Yustaine held a cup of brewed coffee, sinking in the scent and the ambiance of the shop converted with a rustic interior. He had a clear view of the university's facade and the students roaming about in the grounds of the campus. He could never miss the small frame of this tortured individual, she was waiting for someone, standing by the entrance of one of the buildings.

Then, Castellone arrived, immediately draping an arm over Abrielle's shoulder, kissing the side of her head, she smiled up at him and held his hand. They both went their merry way, under the umbrella, as if there wasn't anything wrong in the circle of their own world, two carefree spirits bouncing their way to the music of their hearts. Yustaine watched.

Abrielle had bloomed into a fine lady, a side effect of 'falling in love' like what people say. Yustaine could have almost laughed. Abrielle in love? She was delusional. She had no right to be. She had no right to be smiling brightly like she had no work to accomplish, she had no right to blush in the midst of an outsider like her 'boyfriend,' she had no right to be so casual about the outside environment like she's been there all this time. She had absolutely no right to be happy.

Yustaine wanted to crush the cup he was holding, but he thought, if he destroyed the cup, then he won't be able to enjoy the rest of his coffee. It would be a waste, but it wouldn't be so much of a waste if he could slam it against Abrielle's happiness.

He thought about it again. Weeks ago, there was one night where she hadn't come back to her room. He would know because he had another person's eye to keep watch whenever she went out and inside the ladies' dormitory. There would always be the slightest chance that she'd already lost it. His face brightened at the possible news. The Director would love this.

If he reported it back, he hoped the Director would show less mercy on her. Yustaine was eager to be the main witness. She was going to suffer horribly, and what if they let Castellone watch it? That would be the heat of the box office once the tape started rolling.

He sighed, took a sip, and left the table after finishing the drink. There was still so much work to do and he couldn't afford his little subject to waltz around wasting time while he suffered a greater loss in the hands of Sievetech's head director. If he had no right to be happy, so should Abrielle. An eye for an eye. It was as simple as that.

As for Castellone, he could see the shadow. It followed him in the depths of his existence. It was the kind of force no one, but him, could see. It was vague, but Yustaine knew it was there. He couldn't discern what kind of psychic ability it was, unless, it was something that wasn't really a part of this world. Someone must've cursed him. A demon was looming over the poor guy's vessel.

Yustaine vaguely remembered the Signos back when they worked in Sievetech. It had been years ago and he was only a stupid and absent-minded kid during that time when Sievetech took him and his parents in. But he did remember Evony Signo, the father, the one who was obsessed in searching for the most unique ability out of all the subjects. Unfortunately, the man never found it.

There was so much to do, Yustaine couldn't wait to get his hands dirty again. He needed to punish the little girl he once knew and make her suffer once more. He had to send the update of her negligence, hoping this time, she'd think for the last time and act before it got messier. But who was he kidding, the messier, the better.