S-2878 • L2 Ritluna • D09 Tecesi
"Ritluna sets the sky's rhythm in a continuous thread. Tecesi kindles gesture and direction. Gaia weaves the tide in a living rhythm. The story carries steadily on, in full radiance."
Maia left the apartment that night.
I sat on the sofa and stared at the floor. Thoughts tangled. My focus scattered. All the new emotions overwhelmed me. Unable to deal with them, I pushed my feelings into a drawer.
I went on with my days. Returned to the hospital.
I stepped into the building. Vital was waiting at reception. The blood bank's head nurse. "Good morning. How are you? Dr. Daren would like to see you. Shall we go to him?"
Anxiety overflowed from the man. He had completely ignored my request to wait. Unbelievable.
Slowly, I dragged my enormous scowl into his presence. It was only eight in the morning. I would make my bad mood known.
We reached the hospital's quietest department. Already full of people: research participants, donors, and recipients.
I opened Daren's office door. The doctor's friendly smile awaited me. He had come from Kinshasa, the Eighth City.
"Good morning. It's good to see you." He gestured toward the chair. "Sorry to bother you, you know…"
He ignored my unfriendly expression. I sat, determined to keep the conversation brief. "She agreed to donate blood samples, but don't expect her to come here."
Daren's eyes shone with hope. "Would she agree if we paid her?"
"Believe me, she's… different." I smiled soberly. Different, and yet familiar. But who she really was… a mystery.
He rested a hand on his chin, thoughtful. "All right. We'll work with that. Would periodic samples be possible? They would be sufficient for the research I'm conducting."
"I suppose so." I shrugged.
"Where can we find her? I can send an android to collect them." His gaze betrayed his anticipation.
"That's unnecessary. She'll agree if I collect them."
Daren pressed his lips together in displeasure. "Will that be an inconvenience for you?"
I shook my head.
"All right."
"When do you need the first sample?" The conversation was stretching beyond what I wanted.
"This lunation, if possible. You can collect it during the selunas." He smiled with a certain charm. Trying to sound friendly.
"I'll check. You'll be notified." I stood and left.
Behind me, murmurs of his thanks.
I sent Maia a message. We arranged to meet beneath the waxing gibbous moon.
The lunation passed peacefully. Except for the anxiety and unsettling excitement taking hold of me.
Especially at the thought of seeing her so soon.
I wanted so much to meet her.
S-2878 • L2 Ritluna • D10 Unabe
"Ritluna sustains the rhythm on high. Unabe kindles an axis in waxing light. The air sings clear in the world's canopy. The narrative weaves step and presence."
My insides lit up at the thought of our meeting. My mood, excellent. Until Takashi brought the news: "A volunteer has died. Complete neuronal failure in the cerebral cortex."
A knot formed in my heart. I felt the flow of my blood intensify, pouring down forcefully. I opened the research insurance policy. Volunteers received a daily amount in the event of severe harm or even death. The payout went to them or their designated beneficiary. An amount that, according to Josivaldo, was a ticket to Zenith.
"Hmm, all right…" I tried to contain the tension. "Serious as it is, this was expected."
Takashi remained impassive.
I cleared my throat. It felt tight. "Notify UNITED Insurance. Contact the designated beneficiary. She's the first volunteer we've lost. I hope she'll be the last." My voice came out low. Heavy.
I sent the insurance certificate.
Finally, time to meet Maia. I gathered the blood collection equipment. Headed to Centrália.
I waited on the sidewalk. Sunlight warmed my face. I closed my eyes. A shadow fell over me. I opened them. Maia stood before me. Close. Too close. I let out a strangled cry.
She chuckled. "Did I scare you? I had something else in mind. Been waiting long?"
"No." The anxiety in my stomach worsened.
"All right. Shall we go in?"
A familiar place. Was it that hotel/café from the night I blacked out?
Everyone looked at us. Then returned to what they were doing.
We headed to the room.
Maia wore a jacket. Despite the almost summery weather.
"Are you cold in this heat?" I made conversation.
She opened the door. "Doesn't matter."
I tried to stay calm in the face of her curt reply.
The enormous window illuminated the reddish interior. Less nauseating than before.
Maia took off her jacket. Beneath it, a black T-shirt.
I saw the scars on her arms and the back of her neck. Was that why she wore the jacket?
She sat on the sofa. I stood before her. We stared at each other.
"C'mere. I only bite a little, y'know?" Maia patted the sofa.
I concealed my reaction with a shy smile. Sat beside her.
"Unless you ask for more," she whispered. So close to my ear. Her breath on my neck.
I shivered and turned my attention away from what I had heard, though my cheeks had warmed.
I took out the blood collection device. Asked for her arm.
Normally, Rhea androids collected the samples. Located the blood flow with precision.
I searched for a suitable vein. The only option was in her hand. "Wow. Your blood flow seems blocked. You need to drink more water."
I received only silence, as always. Her feral eyes followed every movement. She seemed tense. I would recognize that expression from miles away. Afraid of needles?
I cleaned the area. Ready to begin.
She signaled for me to stop. "One moment." Her eyes followed the needle.
Despite my restraint, I burst out laughing.
She grimaced. "Hey!"
"You get beaten up, have several broken bones, and you're afraid of a simple needle?"
"That's different." She closed her eyes. Let out a long sigh. "Go ahead."
I chuckled.
The needle went in. She shuddered. I applied the bandage.
"Done." I stored the sample in the transparent container.
Maia stared at it. "Wow, that's my blo—" Her blood pressure dropped. She blacked out for a few moments. Woke soon after. Looked around. "W-what?"
I shook my head, laughing. "Unbelievable."
"Is that it?" She returned to her usual coldness.
Glimpses of vulnerability. They slipped through. Lasted seconds. Then, the mask of indifference.
"That's it. The researcher wants selunal samples. Any problem?"
"No. Not at all. Message me…" Maia moved closer. I could see every freckle on her face. "I'll make time for you."
I stood abruptly. My heart racing. "All right. See you nex—"
"Hey, hey. What's the rush? There's a floor here with big windows. You can see a really beautiful sunset. If you wanna come…" Her voice grew almost inaudible as the words emerged. Maia watched me. Waited.
I sighed. Agreed. I was free anyway.
We reached the 165th floor.
Concrete. Vast windows. Empty. The smell of paint lingered in the air, as though the place had just been built.
I approached the glass. Focused on the view. Maia wrapped her arms around my shoulders. Caught me off guard.
An immensity of buildings covered the horizon. The sunset peeked between the metal structures pointing toward the polluted sky. But all my attention shifted to her hands. Resting on my right shoulder. A subtle touch, yet to my heightened perception, it weighed heavily.
Her chest moved rhythmically.
Details. Details. How long did she intend to stay like this?
That was it. Period. I was inescapably aware of Maia.
"I-it's beautiful," I commented hesitantly.
She sighed. Her warm breath caressed the back of my neck.
Oh, heavens. I held my breath.
"The view from your home's prettier, but I like it," she whispered in my ear.
Her husky voice passed through me like a flash of lightning hidden among clouds. The cramps intensified, blood flowed down forcefully. I felt like prey beneath a predator's watchful gaze. One who enjoyed the game.
Maia straightened.
I felt her watching me. Unable to hold her gaze, I concentrated on the sunset. Tried to lose myself in the orange tones. Gray. Fading on the horizon.
We stayed silent. For a long time.
Night fell softly over us.
"Shall we get going?" She held me a little tighter.
Shook every foundation within me. Why was my heart beating like mad?
"Let's go."
Maia stood motionless at the entrance, as though waiting for something undefined. Who knew what, but she was waiting. "Are… are you gonna wait for the bus?"
"Oh, of course." I emerged from my reverie. Opened the bioscreen. "Right. It'll arrive in ten minutes." I shifted subtly on my heels.
"Mm-hmm."
I looked everywhere. Except at her. Was Maia going to say goodbye? This was when she said see you, right? My thoughts bubbled.
The notification that the bus was approaching beeped. I walked toward the stop.
Maia gently held my arm. "Gonna say goodbye?"
Goodbye? Huh? "Y-yes, of course. See you." I spoke too quickly. Tried to hide my embarrassment.
She released my arm. Smiled tenderly. "See you."
Her gaze weighed on my back until I stepped onto the bus.
I looked through the window. She had already disappeared.