Bittersweet Love

by Davids, Jesse

  Bittersweet Love

  A Novel by Jesse Davids & Lina El Araby

  Imprint

  Bittersweet Love

  By: Jesse Davids & Lina El Araby

  © Published in 2016, Jesse Davids.

  All rights reserved.

  Author(s): Jesse Davids & Lina El Araby

  Contact: jessedaviids@gmail.com / lina.elaraby@gmail.com

  Chapter 1

  -Beep-

  The sound of heels echoed through the halls. What is that annoying sound? He thought to himself, opening his eyes with blurry vision and finds himself in an empty white room that gave him the chills.

  He tries to move but winces in pain, he tries to speak but his throat is dry. The footsteps getting closer the more he tries to cry out for his parents.

  The door slams open and an older woman that he doesn’t recognize appears holding a yellow file.

  “Who are you?” His voice cracks. “Where’s my parents?” He asked as she frowns and sat next to him.

  “Do you remember anything?” She asked. He tries to think but his head feels heavy. “I remember being asleep in my bed not this weird place.” Daniel cried out.

  “Well, you have to get used to it because this is all you have from now on.” She replies irritated.

  “Why? You didn’t answer my question.” He stares in frustration. “You can’t keep me here, I want to go home!”

  “Shh, you shouldn’t be treating me like that if you expect me to take care of you, your parents are dead.” She states bluntly not considering the 10 year old boys feelings.

  “Dead? What do you mean dead? They were fine at home.” He sobs, trying to remember a place called home. The amnesia took affect, blocking his memory. A white paper filled with words soon enough became a blank paper, with no memories of his previous life, only a glimpse here and there, leaving him to build a puzzle he doesn't understand by himself.

  She opens the yellow file, taking out pictures and pinning them on the wall. She says in a loud tone. “I wasn’t the one who did this! This is what you’ve done! Look here, do you see these pictures? That’s what you’ve caused, all these pictures of the crash is because of you.”

  He looks around confused, scared, stunned as she continued.

  “You probably don’t remember this but you were there, you were the only one that survived. You were in a coma for three months. I saved you, now you have no one else but me. So get used to it, because you don’t have a choice.” She walks out leaving the pictures to hang being imprinted in his mind for the rest of his life.

  Two hours passed as he stares at the pictures trying to make sense of what’s happening. He spots the file on the couch and opens it, hoping to find something that would be of significance to him. His chest tightens when he sees a contract with his name on it, giving him to the EA instead of adoption.

  What’s EA. Everything is so blurry, how is it my fault, I don’t remember anything.

  He keeps reading only to find out that EA is an experimental association.

  No no no.

  His palms start sweating as fear overcame him drifting him off to where the comfort of his parents was still there. A loud noise flooded his head, making it hard for him to understand anything.

  Daniel jolts up from the same nightmare that has been haunting him for the past 11 years. “Yo man you really have to get that shit checked out. It has been waking me up for years now, drink this happy pill and hope it doesn’t come back.” Will appears next to Daniel in seconds with the pill in hand. “How do you think I feel you idiot? At least you’re not the one getting them.” He grabs the pill and some water gulping it down. “Thanks bro.”

  Checking the time Daniel went up to the roof to smoke a cigarette, enjoying the view of the sunrise and the quiet peace, while the cool air brushes over his pale face, refreshing his mind from the vivid pictures before his day starts and gets ruined by his boss, Melissa. After a matter of seconds Will starts yelling. “Dan come on were going to be late again!” He hurries back inside and gets ready.

  Half an hour later they’re dressed going downstairs to the lab. “Well, look who decided to join us on time today.” Melissa rudely remarks. “Are you kidding? We love this place.” Daniel sarcastically replies as Will snorts from behind. “I’m glad because I have an interesting experiment I want to try, I think you boys will rather enjoy this one.” Melissa winks in an evil manner. “You know, everyday I think about why I sold my soul to the devil, just can’t wrap my head around that one.” Daniel looks over to Will. “Don't you think about it too bro?” “Well, as a matter of fact I do Daniel. Melissa can I ask you a question?” Will looks over to Melissa with big eyes. “Only if its short and sweet.” Melissa sways to her co-worker and whispers. “Can you please hurry up with the room; I’m getting tired standing here!” She turns back and waits for Will’s question. “What’s hell like?” Before Melissa could respond the power cut out.

  “What is this shit man?” Daniel laughs uncontrollably. “I don’t know but it’s some strong shit dude.” Will looks at Daniel with bloodshot eyes. Melissa talks through the intercom, her voice echoing through the room. “Its subject M, if you guys lived a normal life you would’ve known what it is by now.”

  “What the fuck!” Will and Daniel look around frantically. “Where is she?” Daniel asked as he gulped.

  “I’m in the other room you idiots, I’m talking through a microphone.” She said.

  “Well, why don’t you join us? This shit is amazing.” Daniel replies raising his eyebrow. “Why would you let us try this if you can enjoy it yourself?” He smirks at the glass wall looking straight at her.

  They both start coughing unconditionally not being able to stop. “The least you could’ve done is give us some water you know.” Will croaked. “Is this stuff even legal?” He looks incredulously.

  Daniels eyes widen in anticipation. “I bet it isn’t.”

  “I bet you stole this shit didn’t you!” Will remarks cracking up while Daniel chokes on his own breath trying to laugh. “Yo you hungry? Because I am.” Will nods. “So badly man.”

  A man appears by the door wearing a yellow suit with a huge mask covering his face holding a plate full of brownies and a glass of milk.

  “What the fuck is that?” Will panics and hides behind Daniel. “Why does he have to wear that around us?” Will spoke while crouching down on his knees.

  “Shh man don’t panic he’s just a minion.” Daniel comforts him,

  The speaker goes on again. “Guys this is phase 2 from the experiment, enjoy.”

  “To be honest you’ve always sounded like a robot to me, always trying to kill us.” Will starts laughing with his eyes wide open. “You’re too loud as well.” Will states matter-of-factly. As they’re sitting there they notice the plate of brownies and their mouth starts watering automatically. “How is this an experiment it smells so good?” Daniel remarks taking a whole piece in his mouth. Mmmm oh my god this tastes so good right now.

  While they’re eating Daniel suddenly sees a bright white light coming from a distance. “bro do you see that?” He points at the glass where Melissa is with his eyes squinting. “Yeah I see an evil cow, why?” Will snorts. “No man that light. It's really bright.” Daniel covers his eyes with his fingers but slowly he starts losing the feeling in his hands. “I can’t move!” He starts to panic. “Jesus is that you? I’m too young to die, I didn’t even start living yet. Please!” He yells frantically while Will stands up quickly. “Yo you got to calm down, nothings there.” He turns to Melissa angrily. “ What’s happening to him!” Will yells while his arms are flaunting like a bird.

  “Nothing’s happening, both of you just sit down and shut the fuck up
!” Melissa yells as Will goes back to his seat and sits quietly. Blah blah blah Shut up you bitch, I hope I didn’t say that out loud. God all we need is some peace and quiet. “My head hurts.” Will winces and holds his head.

  “Hey man can you give me that glass of milk?” Daniel asks. “Sure let me just drink some first.” Will gulps loudly half the glass and gives it. “My head feels weird.” Daniel says quizzically feeling nauseous. Oh my, I feel like puking. He covers his mouth looking for a trash can frantically. “Man. I think I’m gonna-” He starts puking on the floor while Will looks in horror at the sudden outburst. I think I ate too much.

  “Melissa we’re going to need 2 wheelchairs here because we can’t fucking move.” Will barks.

  “Okay that’s it for today, and don’t forget who I am and what I can do, this isn’t a way to speak to me.” Melissa rolls her eyes.

  Two men came with wheelchairs picking them up and taking them to their room while they’re mumbling incoherently, touching their minion like suits.

  In their dark room they’re laying down. “Man the other room was too bright.” Will states while wearing sunglasses. “I wish I had these babies with me.”

  Daniel nods. “Have you ever thought of how your life would’ve been like? If we weren’t stuck here? I mean were both 21 and look at us, we have no life. Aren’t we supposed to be seeing the world and all kinds of things 21 year olds do? Instead we are lab rats, nothing more and nothing less.” Will stares bewildered at his sudden change of mood.

  “Well, you’re right, I don’t know why they need us here anyway, all we do every day is try some new shit that doesn’t even make sense, won’t benefit anyone. Its like selling your soul to the devil, the devil being Melissa of course. I do think about how life would’ve been like if my parents were around, but I don’t know what to believe, because like Melissa said, they abandoned me and don’t want anything to do with me.” Will states softly and shrugs. “I just don’t care anymore man, at least yours didn’t have a choice, they didn’t just abandon you on purpose, it was their time to pass.” Will stares at Daniel with tearful eyes. “I guess you’re right, but at least I have you here, you’re literally everything I’ve got bro.”

  Daniel stands up and hugs Will. “Besides when we leave, you’re coming with me, don’t think we will just go on our own, you’re stuck with me.” Daniel grins and offers him a cigarette.

  “Ugh.” Daniel groans as he moves around trying to block his eyes from the sunlight that’s leaking in the room. What time is it He looks around to check his phone, 17:50, and he finds a message from Melissa saying she wants to see him in her office. “Shit! What happened?” He states frustrated pulling at his hair.

  “SHHH.” Will groans from across the room. “can you please close the blinds, I'm sleeping, Its like I’m burning like a fucking vampire!”

  Daniel gets up and closes the blinds but just enough so that a little sun shine is beaming on Will’s face. He snickers and walks out. Ahhh a nice hot shower would do the trick. Daniel grabs the towel and heads out to the bathroom; while he takes his clothes off he notices there’s precipitation on the basin mirror and finds a big W written on it. Fucking Will he keeps doing this. “Ay, Will you better stop it! I’m serious this time.” Daniels yells, while he wipes it off with his towel.

  After 20 minutes he’s on his way down stairs to Melissa’s office, Daniel knocks on her door and peeks inside. “You wanted to see me?” He asks rolling his eyes. “Oh Daniel, yes I did please take a seat.” He sits quietly. “As you probably know I asked to see you to explain what you took yesterday, as well as assign you to a new long term experiment.” “Wait, wait, wait, I think I have an idea don’t tell me, umm was it Mary Jay?” He interrupts. “How did you know?” “I’ve seen it in a lot of movies.” He shrugs. “Yes, well we were just trying to find out if it still has its psychotic behavioral side effects, which apparently it still does.” She smiles, Daniel bursts out laughing. “What do you mean psychotic? It was the best experience so far.” “Well, wait till you hear about your next experiment.” “Lay it on meh.” Melissa hands Daniel a yellow file giving him a flash back of 11 years ago. She snaps her fingers in front of him as he appears to be flustered from the memory. “Oh yeah, sorry about that.” He grabs it quietly. As he reads through the lines his heart beat starts to increase thinking he’s finally getting out of here.

  Contract:

  Experiment 143

  Subject: Athena White

  The subject is attending the faculty of arts at NYU. You will be enrolled in the same courses as her, as well as become her friend making her fall for you for as long as one year. You will act as her lover then after the time period is done you will disappear from her life. We will observe how this would affect her, making sure her friends are in on it too, acting like you never existed either. Will is going to accompany you throughout this experiment. If you successfully fulfill your duty both of you will be granted freedom from EA. You will get a salary increase of 30% each month till the end of this experiment. Once upon agreeing to this contract we will give you further information of the subject. If you are Applicable and accept this agreement please sign below.

  That’s fucked up. He stares blankly at the paper. Will is going to love this! I mean it shouldn’t be that hard. “Why her if I may ask?” “That is not your concern, so just focus on the matter at hand. I will let you speak to Will about it and you can give me your decision by the end of the day, if you do proceed with it you will have a week off to get your shit together and go buy college clothes and all that.” She states and he nods while walking out with the file.

  Daniel rushes upstairs to go tell Will the news, but what he doesn’t expect is finding him staring out the window butt naked. “Yo man what the fuck!” Daniel yells frantically trying to cover his eyes. “Shit bro I didn’t think you would be back that quick, I think I’m still under the influence man.” He grins and covers himself with a towel. “You can open your eyes now, sorry for scarring you for life.” Will chuckles and sits down. “You better be sorry cause I got some good news for you.”

  He raises his eyebrow “Good news? From Melissa? Are you sure you aren’t still under the influence as well?”

  Daniel glares at him. “I’m being serious man, look.” He throws the file on the bed and sits down next to him. “Read it, Its kind of fucked up but hey it’s a ticket out.” He shrugs while Will grabs the file and opens it.

  He reads it and then stares at Daniel with a poker face. “You aren’t seriously thinking about doing this are you?”

  “Man I don’t know I mean what’s the harm.” Daniel points out. “What the fuck man? Are you really going to play with the girls feelings then just disappear and everyone around her has to act like you never existed, that’s low. Too low if you ask me. I mean she would go insane.” Will stares in disbelief.

  “I know and I already thought about it, I mean what if we can fool Melissa into thinking were actually doing it, then in like half a year we call it off and runaway or some shit. Think about it, we won’t be stuck in this hell hole, not having a way out. We would be free!” He states getting irritated, I hope he actually thinks about it and doesn’t blow it for the both of us. He’s my best friend, my brother actually but I hate to say that if he doesn’t agree I’m going to have to do it without him.

  Will coughs to get his attention. “Okay that sounds like a good idea, if we can’t do it then were going to have to go with it anyway, I just hope you don’t fall for that chick because you would not have a choice but to crash and burn in the process.” Daniel nods. “I know don’t worry, but hey dude get ready were going to have a whole week off for ourselves!” He excitedly gets up and opens the blinds and points at the street. “Out there! No, Melissa, no one, just me and you doing whatever men do, and guess what? We will get a college degree in the meantime! Come on bro its NYU you saw how awesome it looks on TV.”

  They both look at each other with a knowing grin. “11 years man,
it took us 11 years for this opportunity let’s not blow it.” They both nod and gave each other a fist pump. “Let the show begin.” Will remarks sarcastically, Daniel stood at their window. “No more of this shitty view bro, did you ever think this would happen?” Will stood next to him. “Honestly? No, because I lost hope a long time ago, I guess patience played a huge role in it.” Will sadly remarks. “Well, I guess everything really does happen for a reason, so let’s not waste this opportunity that we have right now. We don't know when it might come around again.” As soon as Will wanted to respond Daniel rushed off to the bathroom leaving Will hanging. “You can’t just say that inspirational shit and then go take a crap you know. That’s not how it works! Movies man, movies!” Will closes the window hesitantly and checks in his closet for travel cases. “Use air freshener when you’re done, you got me nervous! Nervous shits are about to come! And I’m taking the red bag!” Will continued to talk shit throughout the night. “Its 11pm man can you please shut up now?” Daniel pleaded Will, till they both fell asleep with ear buds in their ears.

  “Are you ready? We’re going to miss the flight!” Daniel yelled as he waited for Will in the cab. “Hold your horses the flight isn’t for 2 hours man, we have to make sure we took everything you know.” Will rolled his eyes in exasperation.

  “Just get in the cab.” Daniel glared God does he has to be such a girl sometimes. Will gets in the cab and the driver speeds his way to the airport.

  “We’re going to New York! I still can’t believe it.” Will claps excitedly. “I mean we’ve been isolated from the outside world for too long, Alaska isn’t the brightest place to be.” “I know right, I can’t wait to start university either!” Daniel smiles in response.

  “You sound like such a nerd man. Forget about university this week is all about partying and getting laid.” Will remarked. “Yeah-yeah yeah, speaks the man whore." Daniel rolls his eyes and goes back to listening to music.