Ingenium

The next day a loud knock is heard on Grace's door, but no one answers. The knock is heard again and there still is no answer. After two minutes, the door is smashed open and two large heavily built men walk in, followed by a familiar tall man with short black hair. He looks around the entrance and tells the two strong men to wait outside. They both nod and leave.

  ''So this is the place I've been looking for.''

  He picks out a photo from his jacket pocket and looks at the picture. It's a picture of Grace smiling, with her long ginger hair flowing from her head.

  ''Where are you, little firefly?'' He walks into the living room/kitchen and stops. The room is still furnished, but some open spaces make it look as though things are missing, like picture frames and random objects. The tall man stands next to the living room table, where only a laptop with a black-metal box connected into it lies, with the screen facing in his direction. The tall man stares at the laptop screen and a picture of himself stares back.

  ''Bill Hooch, I presume,'' Ace's voice speaks.

  Bill, the tall man with the short black hair, tenses his muscles and his face tightens. ''And who am I speaking to?''

  ''What you're looking for,'' Ace replies, his voice slightly rougher than normal.

  ''Ingenium? I didn't expect to find you like this?'' Bill loosens his tense stance and relaxes.

  ''But here I am.''

  ''How's that lovely long ginger haired girl you've been working for? Can I expect her soon?'' Bill almost licks his lips with the anticipation.

  ''No, she won't be coming, and no, you won't be expecting her. You'll never find her, Billy.''

  ''Well she's not important, what is important, is what's lying in front of me, you, Ingenium. We're going to reunite you with your long-lost inventor, Dr Paul Kaypek. Now won't that be nice?'' Bill sounds smug, and he takes out his mobile to inform the men outside.

  ''Now here's a fun twist in the story, for you, Hooch,'' Ace says. ''You're no longer the man with the power. The roles have rather fittingly been reversed. I just thought it would be interesting to have a chat, for my curiosity's sake.''

  However, Bill doesn't believe a word and continues pressing buttons on his mobile. ''The scientists sure have created a genius out of you, Ingenium. You've even convinced me that I'm talking to a real human. Now, let's get you home.'' The two bulky men walk in and hand Bill a metal briefcase. He kneels next to the table and lays out the briefcase beside the laptop. He begins to open it.

  ''I'm afraid, that for you, Bill, this is where your mission to find Ingenium, ends.''

  The screen goes blank and the laptop and its device start hissing. Smoke billows out of both their fan slots. Bill takes a step back, as united, they both make a loud bang and blow up together. The laptop is left blackened; part of the casing popped open, as it lies there with Bill staring at its broken screen. His eyes roll over to the device; the metal edges have cracked and through one of the top cracks, a gentle, single tear of blood blobs out and smears itself upon the table. Matching that of Bill's face.

  *