by CS Patra
Perfect Human
(Book One: Project 99)
CS Patra
Other Books by CS Patra
The Portman Creamery Mysteries
Wrapped in Death and Chocolate
Four of the Usual Suspects
The Dangers of Art
The Sugar Mountain Murders
The Patterns & Parallels Saga
Hearts Under Ice
Paper Hearts
Heart of Metalia
The Reaper’s Apprentices
Awakened
The Contracts
In the Blood
~ ~ ~
The Roses Were Red
The Roses Were White
Lilacs and Vanilla
Taming the Thief
Book cover by Amygdala Art
Editing by TCB Editing
Formatting by serhio_goncharo
For two people; my husband who is here with me at home and someone else who is waiting for me somewhere out there… I hope
“You always dread the unfamiliar...We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against.”
-Ray Bradbury Farenheit 451
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Crystal
Chapter 2 – Ash
Chapter 3 – Jackie
Chapter 4 – Misty
Chapter 5 – Ash
Chapter 6- Nikhil
Chapter 7 – Ren
Chapter 8 – Pam
Chapter 9 – Doug
Chapter 10 – Misty
Chapter 11 – Jackie
Chapter 12 – Doug
Chapter 13 – Pam
Chapter 14 – Crystal
Chapter 15- Ren
Chapter 16 – Nikhil
Chapter 17 – Misty
Chapter 18 – Doug
Chapter 19 – Ash
Chapter 20 – Pam
Chapter 21 – Ren
Chapter 22 – Jackie
Chapter 23 – Nikhil
Chapter 24 – Crystal
Chapter 1 – Crystal
Crystal Garrison stretched out in her seat and stared up at the ceiling of the subway car. She had only gotten on it two minutes ago, but it felt like she was on it for days. She had just been through a long day at school. Her teachers were giving pop quizzes and assigning papers that were all due next week. She had a few days to work on them and do her research, but she also had to start studying for her first few tests that were coming up. She was definitely going to be up all night..
Oh well. She thought as she straightened up in her seat. I went to college to get this degree. If this is what it takes, I will do whatever I can.
A few people had asked her to come to some parties or go to the bar, but she had to decline. It would have been nice to go out, but she had also been working at her work study job after class. She had no desire to do anything tonight but go home. There was nothing exciting going on in the city. There was no reason to stay out. On top of that, she felt weak and tired as it was. Sitting on the subway train was just boring. Only a few more stops and then she would be closer to home.
These were the nights that she craved the most. They were quiet nights, she could do whatever she wanted. No one was around to tell her what she could eat or where to go or how to feel. She was just free to do anything and everything. A part of her wanted to see her family again. She missed her home and her parents. She missed having her own warm bed and going around the block to familiar places. She missed driving around in her car. Going everywhere by subway or walking around just got tiring from time to time.
School was going fine, as expected. She had switched her major from art history to psychology, because she found something interesting in it. She was curious as to how the human mind worked. People told her that a BA in psychology was not going to help her make good money. If she wanted to earn a living, she needed to go to graduate school. That was her plan after she got her degree. She would continue her education as long as she had the money to do so. In the meantime, she would get a small job to pay for her apartment and her bills. These days, she didn't really have time for friends; work, school, and a little bit of free time was all she had.
Right now, she was trying to get some sleep on the train. Her stop was at the very end, she was able to rest for a while before she had to get off. She had a couple of chapters to read tonight. If she had time, she could start on that paper she had been putting off. It was due next week, but she hadn't written a single thing yet. She didn't even know what her topic was going to be about. She had several books and articles she had checked out from the library, but she hadn't narrowed a thing down. Somehow, she needed to get ten to twelve pages done by Tuesday.
She sighed and looked out the window. There was nothing to see except for the walls and the writing on them. She closed her eyes as the train came to a stop and people starting to come in and go out. Typical Wednesday night. This was rush hour and people were getting ready to go home.
"Crystal, come home." Her mother would tell her. "You've been away for so long and you don't call anymore. Everyone misses you."
"I'm just so busy." Crystal would reply. "I have like three papers due next week and I've barely started any of them. I can't really get my head into this."
"Well, you have to try," her father said. "We know you can do it. Just take your time, do your research, and write the best that you can. You'll get your inspiration for it soon enough."
"Thanks for having the confidence in me. I wish I had some for myself."
"You'll get it back. Once these papers are done with and if you've got some time, drop by and see us. We want to hear about what's going on with you."
"I'll try to do that. No guarantees, but I’ll at least try to call or Skype or something."
"That's all we're asking for," her mother said. "Now go make us proud."
That was their 'go-to' sentence whenever Crystal was feeling down. They always wanted her to make them proud. So far, she had done well. She had ended up on the Dean's List a few times and changing her major was the best thing she could’ve done. She felt much more comfortable studying psychology than she did studying art history. On the side, she decided to keep art history as a minor. She was close to finishing that minor out as well. A few more classes, she would soon have her degree. Then came the hard part of finding a good job. People were right; most didn’t look at anyone who had a BA in psychology. Right now, she was doing some work study for the communications department. It wasn't anything big; just some mild office work. She worked there for five hours a day, three days a week. The money wasn't a lot, but it was something. It was paying for school. On the days she wasn't working, she was helping one of her professor's out with her research.
As she walked down the streets, she tried to take in the air around her. It was such a beautiful night, she wished that she could stay out just a little longer. The wind blew through her blond curls as she walked down the sidewalk. It was also very empty tonight as well.
I can’t wait to get home. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her bed was calling her, she wanted to lay down in it. She wanted to sleep and forget about all her worries until tomorrow morning. If she was lucky, she could get up early and get a head start on schoolwork.
She was lost in her thoughts, she didn't pay any attention to everything else that was happening around her. She had no idea what was planned in between. As she stepped over a crack on the sidewalk, she heard someone scream "Look out!" from behind her. She turned around to
see who it was.
That was when the man landed on the pavement behind her. She had no idea where he had come from, but he had fallen and his body broke against the concrete. She gasped and covered up her eyes, even though that would do no good. She could hear the sickening cracks of his bones breaking and people running around her. She wasn't the only witness to this, but no one seemed to notice her. They went passed her like she didn't exist. She looked down at the body and felt sick inside. Her stomach was churning as she had never seen a dead body before. Ducking out of the way and trying to find a corner, Crystal kneeled over and threw up behind a garbage can. It was just too much for her. She could still smell everything. It was such a rancid smell, it was making her sick.
"Oh God, oh God." She murmured, wiping her mouth. She needed to take a couple of deep breaths before she made her next step. Was she supposed to call the police? If so, what was she supposed to tell them? The man was already dead. No one out there was going to help him now. She just wanted someone to talk to right now. Finding her phone, she tried to dial her mother's number.
"Don't do that." Someone from behind warned her. "Your family will not be able to help you."
Shuddering, she turned around to find a young woman who wasn't much older than her. Her dark hair was a mess and it looked like she hadn't slept in days. Crystal didn't know why, but she had the weirdest urge to trust her.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I know what you saw. Everyone saw that. You are not at fault, but people will ask you questions. There are a few things you need to know. They are coming for you. Everything is a lie. Protect your family at all costs."
Crystal blinked. "Protect my family? My family's not even here."
"Not that family. Your real family." The woman went on. "You are all here and you need to come together. You must find each other before one of you ends up on the concrete."
"Are you saying I'm in danger? From what?"
"There is an evil out there, Crystal Garrison. That evil will come for you. You must learn the truth about yourself before they get to you."
"How do you know my name? What is this evil?"
“You will learn soon enough.”
“Wait! Wait!” Crystal tried calling after her as she ran off. “I don’t even know who you are! How do you know me?! What are you talking about?!”
She had gotten no answer as the girl disappeared into the crowd. Her mind was filled with all kinds of thoughts as people gathered around her. The police had finally shown up, but she wanted to get out. She wanted to leave as she couldn’t stand to be around here any longer. There was a dead body in the area and she didn’t want to be questioned. All she wanted to do was get out of there.
I did nothing wrong. She told herself, finding herself disappearing from the crowd. The woman had given her some strange information, but she wanted to know more.
She had to know just what it was that she had witnessed.
Chapter 2 – Ash
"All right, Ashton. You can be excused."
Vivienne Blackwell nodded at her son once he brought his empty plate over. Judging from the look on his face, he was getting tired of the people that were in the room. He was dying to leave and she decided she would let him loose now. She had seen him squirming around in his chair, looking bored as everyone spoke about things he didn't care for.
"Thanks, Mom." Ash said, rinsing his plate out in the sink. There were servants that could do that, but he did these little things here and there. "I'm dying to take off my shoes."
"I'll let your father know that you are upstairs and doing your homework," she said. "I will expect you to come down when the guests start to leave. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mother." He nodded, leaving before she changed her mind. That happened a little too much these days. He was pleasant with the other guests as he disappeared upstairs to relax in his room for a little bit. The homework part was just an excuse. He had already done that homework ten minutes before the party actually started. All he wanted to do was leave.
It wasn't easy hanging around so many rich people. Most of them didn't bring their children with them so Ash was always alone. He was forced to hang around these people and just talk to them like he cared about what they did. He probably wouldn't have anything to do with them if they didn't have any money. Not that he cared much about because they had money. They were just people his parents hung out with. Not him.
A lot of these feelings came from being so young and so smart at the same time. For Ash, sixteen was a pretty difficult age. Because he had graduated high school early and was taught by tutors at home, he never got the chance to make friends. Being wealthy had advantages, but no one stayed with him for long. No one was really worthy of his time. As a result, Ash grew used to the fact that he was going to be lonely for the rest of his life. He was never going to find anyone on the same level as he was.
Ash took a good look at himself in the mirror. No doubt about it that he was a good looking guy for his age. His dark hair was cut nicely, not too long and not too short. He could brush it back with no problem and none of it was falling out. His eyes were bright blue and framed by those big lashes. His skin was the same as Grecian God’s, no bumps or scars or blemishes of any kind. He managed to get through the teen years without puberty fucking him over too much. He was clean-shaven, his face chiseled to perfection, and he was the right height for his age. Maybe he didn’t always dress like a teen, but his clothes weren’t dirty or had any tears in them.
Tonight was like any other night at their house. His parents had people over to discuss business deals. They were doctors by day and they also sold wine from the family owned business by night. Since Ash was still underage, he was not allowed to deal with the wine business right now. Despite that, he still had to mingle with all these random friends and business partners of his parents. He had no idea how doctors could find the time to make friends with their busy schedules. There were plenty of nights when Ash was left alone, because both of them were on-call at the hospital. When they had a free moment, they spent that on the wine. They had a lot of people who worked for them on that so the business could stay booming.
He tried to be polite to everyone who came to his house. He would fake his smiles and ask them how they were doing. It wasn't that he cared how they were. He was just doing it because his parents had asked him to. Besides, these people had never done anything wrong to him. They were here today and gone tomorrow. There was no need to be hostile towards them. His parents were the ones that made him boil inside. Anytime he saw them, he kept wondering how the hell they could all be related to each other. There were moments where he was convinced that he had been adopted. Then he would look at himself in the mirror and realize that he was the perfect mix of both of them. These two were his family no matter how he tried to work around it.
His eyes went to the family picture on his dresser. They looked like the aristocrats that they were, smug and swimming in money. Everyone was dressed so nicely and barely smiling at the camera. To most people, they looked like a perfect family on the outside. Ash was probably only thirteen when that picture was taken. Even though he was a child, he was filled with so much angst and baggage. He was an adult living in a child's body. It was the worst feeling in the world and no one was there to help him out. His parents barely batted an eye in his direction, they only noticed him when he wasn't behaving properly.
It wasn't like any of them cared about him when he was younger. Back then, he had an older brother. Harrison was worthy of keeping their father's name. He was their pride and joy. Harrison always got what he wanted. For his birthday, their parents went all out for it. They took him to Disney World and gave him all the presents that he wanted. He got to spend time with all the characters and ride every ride at least twice. For Ash's birthday, they failed to invite anyone over and only got him some cupcakes from the grocery store. He was amazed they even remembered when it was. Harrison had all the friends who came
over all the time.
Of course, the good days didn't last very long. Harrison wasn't meant to live long and his parents had a hard time coming to terms with that. Their perfect child was gone. Rather than trying to focus on their living son, they became more detached from him. No matter what Ash did, he wasn't going to replace Harrison and he knew that. He didn't want to replace his brother either. What he wanted was to stand on his own and be his own person. He didn't want to be a doctor just because someone else wanted him to do it.
"Think of all the lives you could save." His father would tell him. "You would be well-respected."
"I could help others out with inventions too." Ash pointed out. "It would make people’s lives a lot easier."
"We are not discussing this again, Ashton. Medicine is the way to go and you are going to med school. It's either that or you cannot stay here."
Ash held his tongue, desperately wishing that he could tell his father off. That threat never failed. They always threatened to send him away to his grandparents or another relative if he didn't follow their rules. He wanted to tell them that he would rather live somewhere else, because at least he would be free. No one would pressure him to go into anything that he didn’t want to. However, he found himself silent at those moments and just took their words in stride. It was terrible, but it was all he could do.
