At the entrance, the interior design was entirely white and smooth. By the door, a square service bot with wheels and a LED screen made way for us.
"Greetings and welcome to Core…"
"Stop," Father said.
"I'm the Doorbot and I'll be your guide today…"
"I said stop."
My insides twitched. I knew that tone too well. He was getting pissed.
"Here at Core, we work to improve humankind…"
"Shut up!"
The machine was interrupted abruptly by Father's stern voice that echoed throughout the sterile room.
Involuntarily, I shrank, pulling my hand back.
"What are you doing?" He looked down at me immediately after I let go of his hand.
"I'm sorry, I just…" I felt the tears wetting my eyes already.
"Stop crying!" He lowered his head in disbelief. "I can't believe this… You are really the weakest thing I have ever seen. Weeping for no reason, like a scared lab rat."
No matter how fast I scraped the tears off my face, they kept coming. I was so pathetic. He didn't do anything to me, so why was I panicking like that? I was ruining the trip.
"We can't go in with you acting like a baby. You're 8 years old—it's past time for you to become a man."
"I'm sorry…" I didn't know what else to say while I tried to stop the tears.
Eventually, disappointed with my pitiful behavior, Father looked away—but not before grabbing my hand again.
"Take me to the Director."
"Follow me, sir."
The white bot turned away, heading to a corridor behind a long front desk. With large steps, Father followed it, pulling me with him.
As I struggled to keep up while we walked the sterile corridors, I managed to control my emotions and stop crying. I couldn't meet any of Father's friends with that pathetic baby face. I would just embarrass him.
The ding of the elevator announced our arrival at the last floor.
Once open, the door revealed a transparent office. Every piece of furniture was see-through, letting the sunlight flood the large room.
Standing at the balcony, with eyes closed, was a bald man wearing dark clothes. As Father's steps knocked against the clear marble floor, the man turned to us.
"What an honor to receive you." he said with open arms and a salesman's smile.
"The robot at the front door is stupid. Get it replaced." Father said, heading to the casual chairs away from the office desk.
"Of course, sir." The man kept the smile and nodded.
Scanning him closer, he was funny for a director. His clothes were flowing with the wind, like dark smoke against the white decoration. He also looked way too extroverted for a scientist.
"Now sit." Father said, signaling to the chair in front of him as he sat down.
All along, he never let go of my hand. Since there was nowhere to sit near him, I stood by his side, hoping he wouldn't mind my humid hand.
Walking towards us, the Director watched me, and I saw his pupils move as if zooming in. He smiled sympathetically before taking his seat across from us.
"How may I be of service?"
"I came to return this."
I felt the absence of his touch as he let go of my hand. The wind sent a chill down my arm as it hit the warm spot where his hand was holding mine.
With a light push, Father guided me towards the Director.
"Is there a problem?"
"Do you think I would've wasted my time coming here if everything was okay?"
"No, sir." The bald man's smile disappeared.
"This one came out wrong. I'm wasting my time trying to teach it."
Right in the center of my body, so deep inside me, I felt a piercing pain. Instinctively, I closed my hands into fists, tightening them with all the strength I had.
I would not cry. Tears are for the weak.
"You need to come up with another solution."
"Do you have anything in mind, sir?"
Unconsciously, I knew they were talking but I wasn't processing the words—it sounded like a foreign language. Turning back, Father's expression was the same as always—cold.
"Do I have to do your job for you? You are the one supposed to help me, but here I am, returning yet another failure."
I tried to think if I was supposed to bring something with me, or if Father had handed me anything and I simply lost it on the way. I just didn't know what they were talking about.
Afraid I was in the way, I stepped back to join Father again.
"No," he said bluntly, and I froze in place. "Stand over there."
My vision began to get blurry, I glanced at the direction Father was pointing—near the Director. Looking back at him, my legs moved on their own and I took a step in his direction.
"I said…" Gelid crimson eyes found me, sending a chill down my stomach. "Over there." He looked at the empty space by the Director's side.
"I'm sorry Father, but I don't have it…"
I couldn't believe I had forgotten the thing. No matter how hard I tried to remember him giving me anything, I just couldn't.
"You see?!" Father took his eyes off me and turned to the Director. "This one is even more stupid than the last. You are wasting my time—find me a more accurate solution. Fast."
In my ears, my heartbeat was so loud I even missed a few of his words.
Freezing time, Father stood up.
"Yes, sir." The Director also raised himself. His expression was much more humble than when we arrived.
I heard Father's steps walking away and immediately took off after him.
The whiteness of the room was enhanced by the strong noon sun. The brightness made the water in my eyes almost blind me.
An unknown feeling of desperation was lurking behind my ears until I bumped hard into Father.
"Director, please restrain it."
Drying my tears on my shirt, I stepped back trying to compose myself.
"I'm sorry, sir…"
As I heard the weird man walking over, I lifted my head to Father.
He seemed invincible more than ever from that distance.
Unexpectedly, I was grabbed from behind. Instinctively, I began to fight against it but he had taken me off the ground and locked my arms under his grip.
"I'll discard it and start working on a new project ASAP."
What was that thing they were talking about? And why wouldn't that man let me go?
"Father, help me!" I cried out loud, after realizing I wouldn't get away on my own.
He didn't stop.
The distance between us was infinite—just like the hole that had been growing inside me ever since their conversation started.
"FATHER!" I saw him enter the elevator, then turn in my direction. Hopefully he would see me and call me to join him—I waited for his eyes to meet mine.
His expression was blank, his gaze firmly fixed on the horizon while I begged with mine.
"Father, please…" I had given up fighting—I wouldn't win unless he helped me. "Take me with you. I will be a better son."
I was afraid of blinking, so I kept my eyes wide open, even though the burning began to flood my vision with tears. I resisted the urge to give up.
"Please!"
The elevator dinged and the doors began to close.
Father's gaze was indifferently resting on the empty space in front of him.
"I will be better!" I cried out loud, screaming from the top of my lungs as every fiber in my body exploded and I pushed the Director.
Running toward him, I thought I could get in before it was too late. Maybe that was what he wanted—for me to prove I was capable of escaping alone.
Every step I took, I did it to the top of my abilities, aiming further, faster.
Despite the burning in my eyes, I refused to close them. All I needed was one look. If he saw my effort, he would forgive me for being a disappointment.
One step away, at the last second for his crimson glare to find me—the door closed.
I crashed against the METAL, my eyes finally closed—but his image didn't go away. It remained vivid in the emptiness inside me.