Without waiting for my response, she stood up, her chair scraping hard against the floor.
"Wait, I already spoke to the doctor….He said it might just be… me losing hope."
Her fingers paused just inches from the doorknob, trembling slightly before curling into a loose fist.
"No, Zane…"
She stepped away from the door and returned to my bedside, sitting slowly into the chair.
"Don't say that." her lips quivered, and I saw the first tear slip down her cheek. "Your father and I will be heartbroken."
I watched in silence as her shoulders trembled, her breath hitching in quiet sobs. She clutched the fabric of her sleeves, fingers tightening like she was trying to squeeze the emotion back inside.
It didn't look fake. Not even a little. But then again, the best liars always mix truth with performance.
"I know you're tired. I know this year has been… hard," she went on. "But there's still hope. There is. You just don't know everything yet."
I just stared at her, letting my gaze carry all the weight of sorrow and helplessness I could fake. The hollow stare of someone barely holding on to life.
She covered her mouth, and started sobbing.
Little did she know, while she was feeling sorry for me, I was already searching for gaps in her emotions.
"I… it's okay, Aunt Ellie. You don't have to give me hope. A life like this… it's just not worth living."
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she clutched my hand tighter, like holding on to it might stop me from slipping away completely.
"Just… wait a little longer, okay?. There's a rumor. About a Red Gate that showed up a year ago. Inside… they say there's a relic. A flower that can cure any disease."
I kept my expression passive, but my mind lit up with a dozen possibilities.
"And Father?…Does he believe it?"
She nodded slowly.
"He's offering a one-billion-credit bounty. Anyone who brings it back gets the full amount. That's how much he wants you healed."
"I just… I needed you to know there's still a chance…So please. Don't give up. "
Damn, I feel like a total asshole right now. She was being so sweet, and genuinely caring.
But even that heartwarming personality wasn't enough to sell me on the idea of banking my future on a magical flower that might not even exist.
My fate wasn't going to hang on a petal. I needed something more guaranteed.
"Aunt Ellie… I'm thirsty" I whispered, adding a layer of vulnerability each word. "Could you… feed me?"
Her eyes flickered. Subtle glow.
"Of course,"
She picked up the cup and gently brought the straw to my lips.
"Sorry," I muttered. "My head… Could you maybe… rub my forehead a little?"
Again, no hesitation. She put down the spoon and gently brushed her fingers against my skin, massaging slow, comforting circles over my temples.
The glow returned, slightly brighter this time.
This was another test. I wasn't just asking for comfort—I was stacking effects. Layering commands. Watching if the influence deepened with repeated exposure.
And so far? It was working.
She didn't ask any questions, since every request was normal.
Tricking her into kissing me would have to wait. Unlike Claire, I couldn't afford to make a mistake with my stepmom.
"Thank you," I said, voice hoarse. "Could you… hold my hand for a bit? It helps. Makes me feel safe."
There it was—again. Her pupils shimmered.
My hypothesis was proving true: repetition mattered. Emotional context helped. And guilt… well, guilt was the best tool in the shed.
She squeezed it gently. I couldn't really feel her touch, but just having her this close—those soft lips, that tight blouse, the way her ample chest subtly moved with each breath, was more than enough to enjoy.
While she sat there in silence, her phone rang. She answered it with her free hand, never once letting go of mine.
I couldn't make out the voice on the other end, but as the call went on, something in her face changed. Her eyes lost focus, her lips pressed into a thin line.
By the time she hung up, the warmth she been showing had faded.
"Zane, I'm sorry… but I have to go. Something important came up."
"Can you stay a little longer?" I asked, adding my ability into every word.
"I…" She hesitated this time, her eyes turning to her phone before she shook her head.
"I'm sorry,"
It failed. That meant she was under enough stress to break free from my ability.
"Aunt Ellie, please visit me every day from now on."
This time, her eyes lit up, and a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Of course. I'll come. Every single day, Zane. I promise."
Before she left, I ordered her to bring me a mirror so I could see my face.
I still had Zane's memories of what he looked like, but I wanted to see for myself what my current condition was.
What greeted me in the mirror was a thin young man with brown hair and green eyes. My face wasn't particularly handsome, but it wasn't ugly either. Just perfectly average.
Considering my last body barely scraped a 4 out of 10, this was a definite upgrade.
The next day, I waited.
I told her to come back at a specific time as a test. If there was a time limit to my control, this would reveal it.
The door opened, almost right on time, and she stepped in with another girl following behind her.
"Zane," Ellie gently brushed her hair behind her ear "This is Samantha. She'll be coming by now and then to help out. You'll be seeing her quite a bit."
The girl peeked out from behind Ellie, then stepped forward.
She wore a typical school uniform. A white blouse, a navy blazer, and a black skirt that stopped above her knees.
"Why did you bring a girl with you?"
Ellie sat down beside my bed.
"Well, you see… I told your father I'd be visiting every day since you might be feeling lonely. So he suggested hiring someone your age to keep you company."
That sorry excuse for a father. First, he didn't even bother to visit his own son. And now, he was actually getting in my way.
Maybe he got worried that I would steal her. Well… that was the plan.
But the least he could do was not see his vegetable son as a threat until it was too late.
"No, I don't want that! I want you, Aunt Ellie! You promised me!. Why are you doing this to me? You lied!"
I let the hysteria show, just enough to twist the guilt in her chest.
Her eyes glowed again as she gently touched my forehead.
"Alright… I'll come, everyday… no matter what happen."