26

We finished our breakfast in complete silence.

Ryan's confession, which we had been beating out of him for so long, scared us.

Even I, no matter how much I loved Ryan, I was kind of a little scared.

Although I don't understand the seriousness of what is happening, I can see how scary everything is, according to Cornelius.

Ryan's eyes, bright cornflower blue in those moments when he is worried, were watching us.

— Hey, why is there such a ruckus?—he asked, covering his ears with his hands.

I know Ryan does this to break the ice. He's worried...

— Sorry, Ryan. I shouldn't have reacted like that, none of us should react like that, but when the truth falls on its head...—Cornelius sighed.

He was the first one of us to talk to Ryan.

— Yes, Ryan. It turned out to be very strange...—I said.— And it's kind of unpleasant... I didn't want to look at you as a monster.—

— It's nothing. You know, when I lived on our planet, I had a son and a sister. I didn't have a wife, I had a girlfriend once, but she left, leaving Connor for me. I'm not really

I loved her, love couldn't be possible between us at all... But I still love Connor. Although I don't know if he's even alive...—A tear rolled down her eyelashes.

Ryan rubbed his eyes.

I really wanted to go over and hug him, but Ryan doesn't like hugs...

— Ryan, we're not afraid of you...— I couldn't stand it and went over and scooped him up in my arms. Strangely, I was still able to wrap my arms around those huge shoulders.

Our foster father sighs loudly.

***

We're going down to the club.

— If you want, try to work as a security guard today. I don't have many, but if this job doesn't suit you, you can always be replaced...— Cornelius turned on the switch on the switchboard.

We don't turn on the stage during the day, we work in bar mode.

Kirby jumped back and stumbled on the slippery floor.

I almost fell over myself.

It's a good thing we didn't open the door.

The whole hall was flooded... I do not know what to call it. It was blood mixed with liquid from replicants.

Ryan squeezed his eyes shut, turning away.

None of us wanted to watch it.

Cornelius' replicant, chained to a lamp, hung from the ceiling with his throat and veins open, and several murdered waiters lay on the floor.

Lukasz came out of his room, stared in fright and crossed himself.

— What the hell?— we heard a voice - Darek froze in the doorway.

***

— And what was it?—Dariusz asked, sitting at the counter with a mug.

— I can't imagine what kind of horror it is...—Cornelius buried his fingers in his hair.—Did you see anyone when you came here?—

— No, I'm not. The door was locked. I've been struggling with the map for a very long time, and if someone was nearby, I would definitely see it.—

— Did I blame you, Dariusz?—Cornelius said.

— He wants to scare you. Or them. Or it is...—Ryan was looking at my favorite toy, the yellow rabbit. I usually pick it up when I'm scared. That's probably why Ryan picked it up, too.— It's definitely a scare...—

— But who needs it now? Mariusz is not here... I don't believe that anyone could survive in my antimatter, I don't believe it!— Cornelius knocked on the bar and did not even immediately realize that he had broken a glass.

Dark red blood mixed with black splashes remained on the bar.

I came closer and hugged Cornelius. His hair smells so good...

— Let me help you remove the glass from your hand, and then we'll examine the bodies. Maybe there will be prints or something else...— I looked into the eyes, which are the eyes that I have loved with all my heart for so many years.

— Darek, close the service entrance and check the rest.— Cornelius calmed down.— We don't need anyone to look in here inadvertently...—

***

— How can this be?—Cornelius went to the bar and poured himself a drink.— There is a corpse, not even one corpse... But not only are there no prints, there is not even a hint of what kind of weapon they were killed with... How can this be?—

— It reminds me of something, but this man... This... He is not against us, but on the contrary. He used to say that you could always call him and ask for help. What if...—Darek jumps up.— Corey, what if I call him?—

Cornelius nodded, thoughtfully examining a huge stack of posters slightly larger than an album sheet.

— I'm coming now! I have his number in my locket, it won't take long!—

He ran away.

— Look.—Cornelius handed me one of the posters.

The first thing that caught my eye was the very bright inscription "Prior A".

Under the caption was a fuzzy photo of a young man a little older than me, and maybe the same age as me. His short black hair was unkempt, his clothes looked cheap, and he had three or five days of stubble on his face.

He didn't look like those identical "American idols" that I couldn't tell apart.

I don't want to offend the US pop scene with this, it's just that the cream of high society is almost indifferent to me.

And here was something unusual, something attractive, not dressed up in expensive clothes, but in an ordinary leather jacket, black T-shirt and jeans.

He had the plague doctor's helmet in his hands.

— Not bad. If we find his songs, I wouldn't mind listening. What genre does he sing in?—I asked, looking at the poster.

— It's not specified here. It may turn out that he sings in several genres. Do you think we should call him?—Cornelius asked.

— I think it would be very nice. The guy is very handsome, which, I think, is very good for us if he agrees to perform with us...—I chuckled.— We just need to find out if his voice is beautiful?—I looked at the poster again.

— There is a result!—Darek waved the device as he left.—But you won't like him very much...—

Cornelius looked at what Darek had written on a piece of paper. His eyes brightened, rolled back...

I realized what was going to happen, and immediately stood behind him.

Although the fall of Cornelius surprised all of us.

I didn't think he even knew what fainting was...

***

We almost fell off the seats, fast, sharp turns, jumps, all this almost turns the car over.

— We have to find this place...—Cornelius said softly.

With the noise of the engine, it's hard to hear the conversation, but I can hear Cornelius.

— If he's alive...—I replied to him.

— There's no way he's alive!—Cornelius shouted.

The black fog thickens around him and spoils the interior of the car.

Turning sharply, the car stopped at the edge of a huge sinkhole.

— Mariusz, are you here??—Cornelius shouted.

He seemed to want to use up all his voice...

Darek saw the footprints and wanted to discreetly show me behind Cornelius's back, but our beloved and overly observant Neil B. saw it.

— He's alive...— he only whispered softly.