SHE IS ALIVE: THE ALTER EGO

PART 1

THE CITY THAT IS TURNING BLACK

CHAPTER 1

“ If you only have one day Jesse, How will  you cherish it? “ asks Harry while passing me the list of questions I’ve to ask Mr. Grant at 27^th NeuroScience Day conference to be held tomorrow.

Clark Grant is the youngest billionaire of the city. Incredibly smart and intelligent. Definitely one of the greatest scientists of the century. Tomorrow, he’ll reveal the world's most powerful weapon against terrorism, that would save thousands of lives. At least, that’s what he claims.

“Harry!! It’s very irrelevant to the conference I’m going in, to interview Mr. Grant”

The only one thing, I can guarantee you about Harry is that he’s a die-heart philosopher, who’s always asking you such bizzare questions and eventually, answering them for you. It’s been five years since Harry and I are friends. We graduated from the same college. And we’ve been working in the same office for almost a year now. And let me tell you, he’s very much the same person I met five years ago.

“No, It’s for you!! “ he waited and continues “It’s something you should answer" he insisted.

No matter how philosophical he is, yet he’s the only person I can trust to talk anything with. He’s the kindest man, I’ve ever been around with. And so, do I. People call me a lot for advice and help. I can actually write a whole book recusing damsels in distress. People call me in the middle of the night, especially some friends, who heavily get drunk and apparently, can’t drive and no matter where I’m, I need to rescue them. I’m not bragging, but that’s who I’m. That’s how I’ve been raised, with compassion, with love, with kindness and modesty and integrity. And the reason, It’s easy for me to make friends. People love me for the way I’m. Not even a single percent of hatred or envy.

But, all those qualities don’t work for my boss, who doesn’t like me for being so good. And that’s why he hardly gives me a chance to be a good reporter. And apparently, that’s the very reason for which he’s sending me to tomorrow’s seminar, to just sit and listen and ask a bunch of questions, which apparently are not prepared by me too, because he thinks I’m worthless. And I still wonder, why on earth Am I doing this job or why on Earth he hasn’t fired me yet?

Maybe because he too somewhere knows that I got the potential to be a good reporter and he wanted to test my patience by handing me a good amount of dull and boring work; absolutely worthless work. But, whatever it is, I think tomorrow will be life-changing. Although, the seminar sounds a bit boring to me but I think it’s going to be uplifting. There’s a part of me that knows, things will change tomorrow.

After just sitting on the desk for almost a year, helping other reporters with the paperwork, editing- omitting mistakes. Tomorrow, It will be my first chance to interview someone, to write my own article. It’s a start, the day I was waiting for. Although, It’s not as exciting as Harry’s job like moving around the city, getting some amazing documentaries filmed or talking in-person with the celebrities and Yes, I remember he was once a part of the spying team, who was eventually spying on illegal drug sellers. Harry even broke his left ankle while running to save his life as he was almost caught by them. He was on the bed rest for a week, that made him realize he’s not appropriate for such a thrilling job. And now he only interviews celebrities.

So, going back to Harry’s question about the last day of my life.

“Umm… I would love to be a badass for a day, at least “ I was literally laughing hysterically.

“You deserve at least a day for this work, Yes!!” He joined me in the laughing session.

“Hey, Harry!! I wanted to ask you this, why Will (My boss) is sending me for tomorrow’s seminar??... like for a long time, he just wanted me to do that silly desk thing and now, suddenly this big change of mind!!” This particular question was killing me, since the day Will asked me to do this.

“Umm… It will sound a bit bad, but…” he looked around to check if anybody’s watching us and continues “ Because Clark is the most arrogant, rude and of- course, Will calls him ‘Obnoxious’ man on the planet. But, I don’t agree… I mean I’ve read his books and seen his interviews, he looks kind and humble and dedicated. I guess that's why Will doesn’t like him, in the same way, he doesn’t like you to be good. Maybe Will is allergic to good. You know what I mean… So, maybe it’s not a good opportunity but it’s like sending you into the deepest hell, he ever knows, maybe to make you feel… like what he always yells about you… You are worthless” he explained with so much of expressions.

“ Thanks!! For being so honest…” I looked at him with surprise. At least I wasn’t expecting this huge explanation, which is eventually sad.

“Then, why he hired me?? To make me feel worthless??...” I was expecting another great explanation.

“He never hired you, technically !! Remember??”

“Yes!! My father is the chief editor, so that’s why it’s a bit of mercy” I realized this one thing, that I never wanted to.

“Look, Jesse… No matter what he thinks about you, I know you’re worth it. If tomorrow you’ll be able to tackle Clark. Well, then Bravo!! It’s definitely will be a silent slap on Will’s face. And I’m waiting for it. So, believe yourself and be yourself.” That was relieving.

“ Ya, I mean Will write always bad about Clark, maybe not this time”.

“That’s what Will is… Pessimist when it comes to news writing, he always sees the world as a bad place to live and trust. And that’s how Clark works just opposite. He’s trying to make this world a better place by spreading Optimism and Hope.” And now I can bet, there’s a part of Harry who respects Clark and his work and who secretly wanted to interview him in-person. The way he wrote all the questions for me to ask Clark, I can surely tell you that he’s dying to interview Clark.

“We’ll see tomorrow… How Optimistic he is, Mr. Fan”. I winked at Harry and left the office as it's my official time to go home; meaning the end of my work at the office and the start of my research work about Clark Grant at home.

CHAPTER 2

When I was doing my research on Clark, I eventually came to know that he knows my father and there was this one interview video that I came across and that clears that Clark and my father have good terms at least in front of cameras. Although, I can ask my father about Clark a bit more. But I won’t. He’s enjoying his vacation at LA with his third wife. He’s a bit more romantic and young and he thinks exploring is the key to happiness.

Well, when I was inside my mother’s womb, my father left my mother because he was in love with a celebrity, which eventually turns out to be a very unsuccessful 3-month marriage. And after their divorce, he came back to my mother but eventually they were divorced too but still he used to stay with us. I mean, my mom loves him and I don’t know what sort of love is there from my father’s side for her. Then, why I was one, he met Beatrice and she’s her soul mate now. I love seeing them together. She’s a good person and she likes me too. Till high school, she used to invite me for weekend brunch and she makes amazing food. But, then I went to New York and lost a bit of contact with her. And then, my father employed me in his company and here I’m been called worthless every day. The major purpose of my father behind employing me in his own company is because his other daughter, Lynn left him and Beatrice because she got addicted to drugs at high school and they tried everything in their power to find her and they really never did found her eventually. Beatrice has learned to live without Lynn and she doesn’t wait for her now but my father he’s always missing her, tracking her and believing that he’ll see her one day. I don’t blame him for this concern but I always wanted to ask him, I’m also his daughter eventually 3 years older than Lynn but he doesn’t love me like her. He thinks me as a duty. He employed me so that he could show me how concerned he is about me but in my heart I know, he doesn’t like me or my mother. It’s Beatrice who I’ll choose above my own father, any day!! I remember, one week after Lynn left them, my father came to me, he was crying, he was looking so vulnerable and weak and that was the first time when he actually spoke his heart to me and hugged me eventually. I was happy but then, I realized he was drunk and was confusing me with Lynn. That still hurts me. I sometimes want to run from this complicated situation but I can’t. My mother still cares about him and loves him. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to understand this sort of love in my lifetime.

My mother is a doctor and most of the time she works outside in the fields, especially organizing camps for poor or refugees. And she calls those people's smiles as an inspiration and motivation, a path toward enlightenment. Helping people in need is what I've always been taught, to be kind and good. 

There was once a man, who knocked on our door in the middle of the night. I was ten, so young to understand what sort of person my mother was. The man was holding a gun, threatening my mother to help him, he was bruised, he was shot. And my mother without any hesitation let him in and helped him to get the bullets out. She also wanted me to assist her. But, I refused as children at my age are taught that people with guns are bad except the cops. She almost yelled at me when I refused to help her. And then, she told me "There's something you'll never understand about people if you'll always see their bad face. You'll never- ever be able to understand their past, how it compelled them to be bad. Nobody is born with hatred, people are meant to love and to be loved. But sometimes, hate becomes the only way to survive. But, the day they will encounter kindness face- to- face, they'll change no matter how ugly heart they used to carry".

I couldn't see anything good in that man, not even the way he was looking at me, it was terrifying as if he's gonna shoot me the very next moment if I resist anymore. And after operating him, my mother asked me to give him some food. I was terrified and angry and fighting with so many strange emotions in my head. When I reached to him, he asked me to keep the food aside and sit beside him, I was numb to think of running away or cry or what?? But, eventually, I followed his instructions and I sat beside him. He took my hand and the anger and fear inside me vanished as if it never existed or I anticipated so false about him. It's funny how even as single touch by someone can really wake you up.

He told me that he has this theory that people who are kind will be surviving the apocalypse. 

His words were way too big for a 10-year-old to understand, but his theory definitely proves that he was not a bad man, he was the survivor, the victim.

He also told me about things that he's born with, like a legacy. Things that he wanna change inside him, but he's afraid to, afraid about the consequences the change could bring. I still don't understand what legacy he was referring to but I didn't question him any further.

But, this is what life is, a balance between good and bad.

The same man was arrested the next day, my mother was also called during his trial at the court and eventually, he was proved not- guilty. He shot one man for self-defense and after he was set free, he came to visit me and gifted me flowers. I still remember they were Iris, a symbol of hope. He never showed after that day. But, I'm happy for him and where ever he's, I still know that remembers me.

If I wouldn't have met him that day, I wouldn't have ever realized the power that kindness can bring. That day changed a part of me and made me better. 

And and and about my research, I apparently came to know that Clark Grant's company also donated a handsome amount of money to help people in the refugee camp where eventually, my mother is also working. I don't visit her too much as that place is far from where our house is. It's in the outskirts of the city. But, the media covers everything right there. They even interviewed my mother once. And she's terrible in front of cameras. So, this donation thing can say two things about Clark, that either he' s kind or he's a bit business minded, like you know the tactics behind being good. The latter one is what Will wants us to believe as he thinks that Clark wears a beautiful mask to hide his ugly face.

But, the way I've seen my mother as a science person, always finding ways to help people with her knowledge and skills, I also somewhere feels the same for Clark. He's a scientist, he might be also feeling a need to help people with the resources that he owns. 

It's not fair to say things about a man who I've never met in person. So, I'll leave the judgemental things for tomorrow.

CHAPTER 3

I thought I was right on time as I was asked to, but something was not right!! First, I forget the list of questions that Harry prepared for me the other day. So, my confidence as a reporter was negative. Second, my watch was showing the same time, for how many hours, I don't know. Third, I was in big trouble as the seminar hall looked empty. So, that concludes Will's gonna fire me today and I'll be jobless for how long, I don't know. And yes, no matter if I'm the Cheif Editor's daughter, but still I'm worthless. 

But, for the sake of hope, I shouted "Hey, Is there anybody??" and my voice echoed.

I was convinced that the hall was empty and I was about to leave the place. But, to my surprise I saw a man sitting in the front row, near the stage; where earlier today Clark was supposed to explain his new invention. I was standing in the last row, near the entrance gate for reporters and the man was almost 36 rows ahead of me. And after listening to my voice he stands up and turned around and then again to my surprise he was the one and only Clark Grant.

It looks like the day's still not over yet, not the worst of all. A little hope and my sanity saved the day or I can definitely call it my optimism.

"Hello!! Mr. Clark, I'm Jesse Stone from Evolve Worldwide Media... I was supposed to be here for your seminar, but it seems like I missed it!! And I'm so sorry about that." We both were walking towards each other, me at a slow pace and he was a bit faster than I.

"Miss Jesse Stone" He smiled and was looking straight into my eyes. That was a bit difficult moment for me as I really couldn't understand what that smile stands for. 

"Yes, Sir" I smiled back, at least that's the only thing I could think at that time.

"Only Clark would be fine" He was so much not like arrogant or rude as suggested by Will's theory.

"It's a little bizarre!!... I never- ever anticipated you to be this generous towards a reporter who's firstly not on time and secondly, whose company is always against you." And those were my so very real thoughts. 

"And I never anticipated that I'll ever get a chance to meet you, Jesse Stone" he was continuously holding his alluring smile and I was confused.

"Umm... I'm afraid, I don't know what you're talking about ??" 

"I'll explain you but before that, I need to ask you something".

"Oh!! Yes... Anything!!" I was a bit puzzled and a wave of tension could be easily noticeable on my face. 

"Will you go on a dinner with me tonight?? I can pick you up too. " He literally asked me that. The only one reply for any stranger across the world from my side is a big NO!! But this was different.

"You know my address!!" That was embarrassing.

"No, But I can find it if you want me to" he was once again back with his smile.

"No, no... I have a car and I'm not jobless, at least for now. So, I can manage that" Oh, Gosh!! Did I just tried to be funny!! Hell, embarrassing.

"Hey, hey, I was just joking!!" He almost laughed.

A scientist cum billionaire, seeing him like this is a dream. It can't be real.

"Joking!! About the dinner??..." I hesitated then continued "I should have known that of- course." I tried to smile, to at least act normal like very normal, not embarrassed.

"No, not about the dinner part but about your house." he calmed me, of course, he saw the growing tension inside me. " Okay, so I'll catch you at 10 tonight."

"Yeah!! It would be a pleasure to have dinner with you, Sir." he looked at me for calling him Sir, and I clear my throat " Clark, I mean."

And after I left the hall, I called Harry. I could hear Will yelling behind him for me being worthless. He already knows that I missed the seminar but what he doesn't know is that Clark Grant wanted to have dinner with me. And as soon as I told Harry about it, he was happy and surprised and a lot of mixed feelings. 

NOT FROM JESSE'S NARRATIVE

They say we are becoming monsters. They say we all lie because we are afraid of the truth. They ask us to forget the rest and start moving. They have abandoned us wholly. And the only thing that is keeping us alive is the air, which they are contaminating. The world needs space and they are taking that from us. It's time to show them, we are not afraid, we are powerful weapons. And we are coming to fragment their worlds. 

And the peace will come.

We are THE ILLICTS!!

CHAPTER 4

He put his hands across my shoulder, helping me to get on my legs, supporting me till I stand still on the ground beneath my feet, which is still dizzy. My breathing is becoming normal, I can feel the oxygen reaching my lungs. I can feel the valves of my heart functioning. They are still intact. I'm standing strong now. 

ONE HOUR AGO...

"Here Mam, Sir is waiting for you" A tall, blonde man greeted me gently and directed me the way, where Clark was already waiting for me from the last 20 minutes. 

"Hey!! Clark!! I'm so so sorry... I've some childhood problems with punctuality..." I was a bit embarrassing cos it's the second time within 24 hours that I late for the same person.

"Hey!! Hey!! I guess you have a patent over panicking!! But, I'm glad you came" he smiled and we sat and I can already feel the red wine lying on the table. So, here's a fact about me, I have got areally bad self-control when it comes to Italian wines. 

And then we talked about the very much unnecessary stuff for a while and then, he finally broke the tread of the wasteful conversation and said: "I have got a lot to tell you."

"Ya!! I'm listening!! Clark, What is it??" This man sitting right in front of me is looking so weak and vulnerable that now I'm curious to know what on earth has caused this.

He started "Chris Grant is my father. And I know you know him. He's in a terrible awful condition now. He's once again weak and fragile and vulnerable. He's lost somewhere. He's bruised and scared from inside. I don't know what is causing this. I'm working to find the cause but all my techs have failed and I'm afraid that I'll lose him. I'm afraid none of my technology can help him to settle, to bring peace to him. But, I know you are the only one who can help him. You inspired him to embrace his fear, not by fighting but by agreeing to have peace with them. And the one person who can help him now is also you, Jess. "

I was not expecting anything like this devastating. I was afraid, I had no words to calm Clark, to tell him everything's going to be all right.

Yes, I  know who is Chris Grant. He's the same man who knocked my house's door in the middle of the night 14 years ago. He is a doctor. He and his family were refugees. Their district was broken and they were compelled to settle here ( 5 years ago before that night), cos their native district never recovered from the war's effect. I still remember that night, even those days were a bit difficult too. Something was happening bad. Curfew was set up. Citizens were asked to not step outside their houses. The government assured us that it was not a war but something else and all the details were kept private. During those chaos days, Mr. Garnt's family was attacked by some bad guys. They were threatening Mr. Grant to save one of their member's life, who was shot near his heart, but not in the heart; at the sternum space. He refused to help them because of his personal reasons. Mr. Grant's father was a criminal too; an offensive minded person who was death sentenced for killing 5 men. Mr. Garnt was afraid of becoming like his father, and that used to haunt him since his childhood. He had no friends in the school cos of his father's criminal background. So, when Mr, Grant refused to help those people they start threatening him that they'll kill his son. He was afraid. So, during an assault scene, he unintentionally killed one of their men and those people got mad on him and he was running all the night saving himself ( he asked his servant to take Clark at a safe place ) and he finally ended up at our door. The next day he surrendered himself for the crime to the police and he was eventually set free by the law because his act of firing was under self-defense, not a murder. And now you must be thinking about how I inspired him? That night he saw something great inside me, he saw me evolving from a terrified and weak kid to a much stronger person. That night I stood against my fear, my fear of having justice in a certain way, my fear of choosing the good and the bad and the way I used to categorize them. He realized that day that if a child an evolve like that why not him, why can't he stand up against his fear of becoming like his father. At least that's what my mom told me and Clark also agrees with this.

"What is happening to him??" I catch my breath which was somewhere lost when Clark told me what Mr. Grant is going through.

"One month ago, he was working at a refugee. suddenly, some bombs were dropped at that site. Army controlled the situation but some people went missing after that and my father was among them. I did everything in my power to track him down, but I failed. I lost the hope of seeing him again. But, a week ago he showed up. I was relieved and happy to see him. But, he was bruised. He was kidnapped by an organization, who call themselves "THE ILLICTS". I tried to track them, but none of my satellite is helping with that. My father's not okay. No physical injuries. But, they did something with his mind. His brain waves are deformed. I've never seen anything like that before. I'm working on it but in the meantime I want you to help him fight for the justice of his individuality and psychology against whatever causing it. And I know you are the only one who can help him. You can show him the hope to defend his sanity against the lost time inside his mind."

"I promise I'll do everything in my power to get him out of that phantom zone. Clark!! I promise."

As we walked out of the place, into the open. I felt claustrophobic like something's choking me. The air felt painful against my skin. I was shivering. It was hard for me to stand still and I fell and cried till I convinced myself, that I'll fight for Mr. Grant. He put his hands across my shoulder, helping me to get on my legs, supporting me till I stand still on the ground beneath my feet, which is still dizzy. My breathing is becoming normal, I can feel the oxygen reaching my lungs. I can feel the valves of my heart functioning. They are still intact. I'm standing strong now.

SOMEWHERE IN NORTH

Peter enters the room silently making no noises with his feet. He opened the door with precision so that it won't make any noise because his boss Alexandra is mediating now and he got bad news to tell her. And he also knows, how much she hates failures and that there is no space to comprehend this fact inside her. "Mam, our satellites are ready for the launch...But..." 

"But, Peter?? What is it??" She looks angry but she's meditating. Peter is lucky, she will not yell at him now.

"But mam, the tech is not ready yet. Dr. Schott needs more time to run some tests on the subject otherwise, it can be lethal for other remaining subjects and he's afraid that the chances of this project to collapse are very high, if launched now". Peter was terrified by the fact that how Mrs. Alexandra Leigh will react after hearing about another failure. It's the fifth failure in the same month. 

Dr. Schott is lucky. She can't kill him because he's the mind behind nanotech organisms. 

She's preparing for war. 

CHAPTER 5

Next day,

"Steve, I need your help. Can we meet somewhere? It's urgent" I texted Steve. Steve is my childhood friend, who's a psychiatrist apparently. I wanted to talk about Mr. Grant's condition with Steve. I know Clark himself is a Neuroscientist but still, I've some faith in Steve too.

"Of- course. You send me the address." Steve texted back within 15 seconds after my message. He's always on the phone like a maniac.

"Oh- well!! Why don't you come to my office?? " Steve's message appeared before I can send him the address.

"Okay!! On my way" The place doesn't matter, the person does.

I last visited his clinic a year ago with my friend who was in urgent need of a psychic treatment. And he started liking Steve, The LGBT stuff. After that Steve requested me to not come here with any of my male friends ever.

His clinic is very amazing. It has a library which is the most peaceful place in this city, at least I feel that way. Steve inherited this clinic as his grandfather's legacy who was a psychology professor. So, I'm guessing, it's in his blood and he can help me.

"Steve!! Hey!!" I smiled while reaching to Steve for our childhood hug, which is a kind of happy tonic. Steve is full of energy and he radiates positive energy too, which can make your day amazing.

"Is this Jess??" he tried to make a joke.

"Well, apparently YES!!" I punched him in the abdomen, which is our childhood way of meeting. Strange, I know.

"Come this way" he directed me to the library room. 

For 5 minutes straight he was telling me his break up story with an English girl. It was the last thing I wanted to hear from Steve today because I was running out of time. 

"Oh, I forget!! You wanted to talk about something. Right?? You look a bit tense." he finally came to the point.

"Yes!! There is this friend of mine whose father is behaving abnormally. I want you to visit him and help him understand what's happening to his father." 

"What exactly is happening to him? Any previous psychic history?? "

I explained to him everything that Clark told me last night about THE ILLICTS kidnapping him and inducing something that caused the psychic abnormalities and the deformities in his brain waves. 

"Come on then... Let's see Mr. Grant and try to figure out what's troubling him". We left his clinic and headed to Clark's place.

Steve was a bit surprised and shocked to know I'm friends with Clark Grant. And actually, I'm still learning this reality of me being friends with Clark too. I mean we are different.

As we reached Clark's house, the same tall blonde man from last night was there to receive us and to direct us to Mr. Grant's room as Clark was busy with his research to cure his father.

Mr. Grant was sitting on his study chair holding a book in his hand. He was reciting a sort of song, which our teachers used to teach us in our early school days when we were almost 6 or 7 years old. I don't remember the song, but the rhyme was familiar. 

"He's singing the Sailor and Ship song," said Steve. 

"Umm... Is that the same song we used to sing in Miss. Asher's class?" During her childhood days, Miss. Asher used to live near a coastal area and that's why she was obsessed with ships and seas. And she used to tell us about her and her cousins' adventures during young childhood days which always were around the coast.

"My father used to sing this song for me when I used to miss my old house. We also used to live near the coast. We too had a small boat, which my father built himself as a gift for me when I was seven" Clark came from behind. 

  

"Hello Mr. Clark, I'm Steve Matthew,  Jess's friend, and a psychiatrist." Steve introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet you, Steve!! Jess told me about you earlier this day and I was hoping if you could help my father with his condition..." He waited and continued " I shall leave you two here ... I'm working on something. You can ask Taylor ( the blonde man ) if you need anything or if you need my help. Okay?" he smiled and left the room. Taylor was standing outside the room, standing with his back towards the wall of Mr. Grant's room.

As soon as Clark left the room, Steve approached Mr. Grant, he tried to converse with him like a normal conversation. Mr. Grant was looking at Steve's face like he's seeing something ugly. Steve is a good looking man. So, maybe Mr. Grant was actually not understanding Steve's words. Maybe he was in his own phantom zone, hallucinating something but not Steve.

After 45 minutes, Steve went to Taylor and asked him to call Clark urgently. Clark came within 5 minutes.

"Clark, What is your father's current age?" asks Steve.

"Fifty- four. What happened??" Clark replied.

"And till what age he used to sing that song for you?"

"When I was eight, my district was turned into ashes. We were forced to take shelter here. I used to miss my district not for so long. Maybe a year or two. Then, I started liking it here. And he never sang that song for me again. I think so."

"So, let's take your age to be ten when he stopped singing that song for you. "

"Hmm... I think so".

"And what's your current age?"

"Twenty- seven".

"So, Fifty-four minus seventeen equals to..."

"Thirty-seven" they both almost yelled at the same time and then laughed hysterically, like some math quiz competition was going on. Mr. Grant looked at them for a moment like he agrees with me that they both have gone crazy and then went back to his work again.

It's funny how such small things like these can make you laugh. Even when the world around you is collapsing.

"I have got a theory, Clark, I don't know how much assertive I'm going to sound."

"Go on... Steve" Clark looked curious.

"He's not losing the track of time... he's reversing it."

"Reversing time?? Like Time traveling??" I asked him and his reply to me, made me feel like absolute stupid in front of these two intellects.

"Are you crazy, Jess?? It's only a concept that can fascinate children. Grow up!!" Steve looked at me like I'm crazy.

"But, the cells of his hippocampus seems fine" assures Clark.

"Maybe they are polymerizing in reverse fashion, which looks exactly the same at the end of the process that's why you can't see any changes there. What I mean to say here is that he's not losing his current memories. It's there in his hippocampus. But, they are fading as the hippocampus is treating his older memories as new once and vice- versa. Like we have a good hold on our current memories as compare to the older ones. Our older memories don't get completely blank but they do fade as we start creating new ones."

"Sounds convincing. I never thought about this possibility. Steve, it would be great if you can help me with this thing."

And they both left.

SOMEWHERE IN THE EAST LAND ( TWO- YEARS AGO)

"It's been 30 days now." Alice Carter continuously staring at the unknown body (still alive) lying on the bed of the hospital. Alice found her bruised, her entire skin was bleeding. No ID, No Passport, nothing that could reveal her identity. 

"I think, it's time for John to know about her. She's another victim of ILLICITS torture and we still don't know, how lethal it could be to hide this from John after all he is our president." Mariah stands near Alice passing her antiseptic to treat her fresh wound. 

"I don't know Mariah... It's just... Once they'll find her they'll put her like those other people in the containment cell and I know she's more than them. She's a fighter and not a victim. I can feel it, John won't understand this. "

"What can you see??" Mariah pointing at the high tech monitor representing the unknown body's nerve excitations via a graph.

"She's not sleeping. She's fighting something inside her brain and once this war ends, she'll wake up" Alice assuring Mariah. 

CHAPTER 6

I left Clark's house and I reached my office in 30 minutes where Will was already shouting and yelling on other people. I went straight to him because I wanted to talk to him about THE ILLICITS.

"Will, I know I messed up tomorrow... But, this is absolutely necessary... Please don't shout on me for once and listen to me... We never write about THE ILLICITS and the missing people. Yesterday, I was going to the statistics which clearly show that 500 people per year are kidnapped from of country without purpose and If my guess is right, they are all kidnapped by ILLICITS."

"Don't get involved in this thing Miss. Stone. It's not your department of work." 

"Please Will, People of this city and nation are unaware of this happening. It's our moral responsibility to do something for them. We are reporters."

"You are a reporter, Miss. Stone!!?? Are you kidding me!! Where were you yesterday?? Huh??" He was back with his yelling thing. 

"I take the blame, Okay?? But, Will at least help me... Give me any information that you have regarding ILLICITS ".

After I pleaded for 15 minutes, he finally agreed to help me. He gave me some files which were his own research work. When Will was a young reporter, the idea of ILLICITS used to excite him and he wanted to know everything about them. The data that he gave me was from the year 2003 when the first time ILLICITS came in front of the world. After that, they tried to create some chaos and people were afraid of their presence. So, the government created an anti- ILLICIT organization called THE LEGALS. The work of LEGALS has also been secretive. Nobody knows how they function or in what part of the world they are right now. 

It was almost evening when I completed my research on THE LEGALS and THE ILLICITS. But, I found nothing useful that could take me any closer to their plan. The data and the new reports that Will gave me were very old, 16 years old. And there was nothing important that I could get out of them. Except for one thing that I just realized now; ILLICITS must be residing at some barren land, untouched for years, isolated from lives. Where are they?? Where are they?? I don't know. But, I know someone who can help me with it. Clark said that he tried to track his father, How on earth can someone track a person with the mobile GPS or a tracker. It's because he has his own satellites. And ILLICITS might have shielded themselves from getting detected. So, if Clark could find that shield. We can find them. 

"A shield!! like a frequency dampener or like it's made of a technology that works by mimicking the anti-satellite frequencies, so to remain undetectable. Maybe it's something like a hemispherical dome that covers their area of work and if we break it and if we can anyhow find a region on earth that exists but not on any map like the satellite image maps, we can find them. Oh, Jess. That's amazing. I must go and tell Clark about it." Steve was convinced by my idea, but the rest like the frequency dampener or the anti-satellite thing was purely his idea.

Steve and Clark worked on this Shield theory and they come with this conclusion."There are 27 spots on earth where if the magnetic field of the earth can be made to coincide reversibly with another artificial mageitic field. So, it can act as a barrier for satellite communication. But, Clark's satellites won't be able to find them. There are specialized tech satellites which can work at those places but Jess, such satellites are only theories and no significant practical evidence." 

"I think, I know someone who can help us with that!!" And yes, I'm talking about THE LEGALS. "They are not merely theories, they are real. And I know, where they are."

Of-course, LEGALS includes scientists from all over the world fighting against ILLICITS. How can they not know anything about such shields and such satellites?

I went back to my computer, to study about those satellites and I found something. Something very useful. Professor Harvey McLuther was the mind behind those satellites and he resigned from the university after a year THE LEGALS was formed. So, there are chances that he might be working with them. 

If we find, Prof. Harvey, we can find THE LEGALS. 

I have heard someone talking about it... Somewhere...Somewhere... Yes!! I remember it. And I know what I've to do next. I know where to find THE LEGALS.

2 YEARS AGO...

 Day 14,

Subject still unconscious...

Spike Potential: not stable

Gamma wave frequency: unstable

Vitals: Normal

NOT FROM JESSE'S PERSONAL NARRATIVE

I wasn't expecting any letter from the woman who left me when I was three and my sister when she was just an infant. Crying and sobbing seems absurd now. But, I don't understand why on earth, Alice is still waiting for our mother to return. She must be happy about receiving her letter. But, I'm not a fool. There's always a poorly enlightened reason for her to say such illogical things in the letter. 

"Change is inevitable. 

The sky that had changed your momentum once is ready to restore it back.

The hope is inevitable.

You see this change now.

You are becoming the change."

I wonder why she has not mentioned any name in the letter. Neither Alice nor mine. I doubt, who she's actually referring to.

CHAPTER 7

Silence. Have you ever heard what silence speaks? No, I'm not joking. Silence does speak. The language is still unknown to most of the people, but that doesn't mean it's an absurd concept. I'm listening to it right now. I doubt if there's something wrong with the grey matter inside my brain, but I hear myself whenever I go to sleep or try to just meditate. The voice is full of fury and rage. All violent emotions that I don't understand, that I can't even picture in one frame and put it on my house's wall.

And yes, HOPE IS INEVITABLE IF YOU ARE BELIEVING TO BE THE RIGHT CHANGE.

It's been 17 days since I last met Clark and Steve. They are working all day long and sometimes even they both forget to sleep. They propose that they are really close to solving the problem. Clark says it's an infection, not the biological one but something man-made, he talks about nanotech organisms that might have infected Mr. Grant. They are working on the technical issues and here I'm working constantly on the moral one. THE ILLICITS are threatening the world, maybe preparing for war. I'm not a spy but as a reporter, it's my duty to aware the people of this country about such an underlying threat to the human race.

I asked Will to help me with writing an article and spreading awareness about THE ILLICITS and surprisingly he said yes to work with me. This is a really new side of Will's character that I'm witnessing these days, except that he still shouts like hell. We have prepared an article that the government forbade us to publish because anything that is related to THE ILLICITS and THE LEGALS must be confidential. But that doesn't mean such government rules can forbid us from reaching the masses and telling the truth. Will has a plan for tomorrow. He has not shared any piece of information with me yet but I trust him.

---

"Steve, are you still there?"

"Yes!! Yes!! I'm listening..."

"Don't tell my mom and Clark and Harry about this".

"Of- course. But on one demand..."

"No!! No!! I know what's exactly in your head... You can't come with me!!"

"I'm Jess... I'm coming with you"

"I'll be fine Steve... Believe me. Clark needs you right now. You can't abandon him in the middle. I can't really tell you... what's happening exactly. But, I need you to trust me... " I disconnected the call because I don't want to fight Steve. All I want to do is to, protect people I care and love.

---

I don't want to remember it. I just want to move... not just move but fly away as far as possible from this cruelty and injustice that's residing inside of me.

I'm trying everything that could help me to get out of this province of terror. But, I'm failing and failing.

And the worst part is, It's me... It's only me that I wanted to run from.

Tomorrow, I'll be traveling to the north to find answers and reasons ... to know who I really am!!

Yes, I know... I know where THE ILLICITS are residing and I know, I don't belong to this world of secrets and darkness and I'll bring this to an end really soon...

END OF PART ONE...

PART 2

THE SHADOW OF A CURSE

YOU KNOW THE BEST THING ABOUT MEMORIES,

THEY ACTUALLY FADE...

AND THE WORST THING ABOUT THEM IS...

THEY NEVER DIE!! 

CHAPTER 8 (Clark's Narrative)

Black. Black is not a color, it merely indicates the absence of light. The Light. I'm starting to forget how does the sensation of light feels against my skin. 

I don't know, where I am? I don't know how many days have passed. I don't have an answer. I can't run because I don't have any directions.

"Clark Grant... The scientist!! I'm asking you once again... Where is Jesse Stone!!??" I can't see who's right in front of me because they have blocked my vision with some black tech glasses but I can sense there is not only one person, there are two; two female voices mixed at some bizarre pitched tones and the combination is a terrible fail. They have also cuffed my legs and hands. I can't move; all I can do is only breath. But the air, it's wet and warm and clumsy and rotting at times. I'm afraid, I think it's a laboratory; maybe a biology one with live specimens of animals like toads who are speechless cos I can't hear any voice. 

"I told you already... I don't know where she went!!" There was only silence, nobody replied but they were still standing there cos I could feel the anguish heat they were transmitting towards me.

"Please at least take those glasses off me... I feel like Brain Dead !! " I continued after receiving no response from the not-so-generous people standing in front of me. 

And to my surprise, they actually took off those glasses from my eyes. The light was so dim, and the darkness was still winning. 

"I know who you are!! I know... But, I'm afraid to speak it out loud... You are THE LEGALS!! " Yes, I know who they are. The one thing I'm really good at is noticing even the very unnoticeable trait in one. As soon as they took off those glasses, the very first thing that I noticed was black symbols carved on their skin. The symbol of THE LEGALS.  

"Don't try to act over smart Mr. Grant!! Now, tell us the truth??"

"Well people, why do you think I'm lying. After all this torture that I've witnessed for how many hours and days and weeks, I'm afraid nobody can possibly lie." The torture was real. The darkness was like hell. The silence was devastating. The air wasn't enough for the cells of my body to work optimally.

"Because... Jess was working with you Mr. Grant to help your father".

"Yes, she was... But, I don't know where she went... I don't even know what on earth is going on right now... and why on are earth are you concerned about her?? And where is she?? And where am I?? Every single thing that's happening currently is making no sense to me. And I'm worried, what trouble Jess might be facing right now." They looked at me; very calm now. They were attentively listening to me all this time. And I can see their expressions changing and they are trusting my words and me. 

Within a few seconds, they both started to take off the cuffs from my legs and hands. 

"Our trackers have failed to trace her." One of them who seems like in her 30s said.

"What trackers??" I asked cos I was assuming some weird explanation.

"We found her bruised two years ago. She was bleeding and bleeding. She was in coma for a month almost. And we found her, we treated her, we tried to cure her but we failed. We were afraid, we guess that she was another ILLICTS torture victim. That's why installed a tracker inside her body to just ensure her safety if in any case, she's in some trouble especially related to ILLICTS." 

"No!! You installed those trackers cos... cos you were using her as a bait!! A bait to reach THE ILLICITS". I was not convinced by her explanation. And there is no reason for me to trust her.

"How could you even say that!! I was protecting her... not like you!! You were the trouble maker. We tried to save her, to keep her away from those bad guys and you went engaging her into this absurd mission of yours." She yelled at me. Although like I said, I have no reason to trust her, but still, I could feel her worried state of mind.

"Was she friends with you?? Tell me... Tell me everything!! Plz... I plead!! For once, trust me... I can help you people".

CHAPTER 9

Shrieking. Monotonous. This is how it feels now. Do you know, how does it feels to your ears when your ear ossicles start to work independently. No synchronization. They not only create bizarre sounds, but they create amplified voices that echo inside your brain, reaching the very last audio center of your brain. At least this is how I'm feeling right now. There is not just one voice inside my head, but it's a herd of voices. Different voices. Different sounds. Different tones. It's like a completely non-synchronised band where each member is playing the instrument independent of the other member, no combination is leading to anything logical and useful.

I don't know where I'm right now. But, one thing that is very certain to me is that I'm imprisoned here. It's not the place I was looking for; I was summoned to. Yes, I know this because she told me.

She? Who is She? Where is she now? Is she still present at the same place where I heard her voice a day ago? I need her. Right Now. Right Here with me, besides me.

This place is dark. This place is rotting. The fumes inside the cell are causing hallucinations and these strange voices inside my head. I can't fight it cos I'm handcuffed already. I'm not afraid of the dark, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to see her cos of these fumes in the cell making my vision foggy.

The fumes are becoming dense slowly and slowly now. This has become a routine since the day they kidnapped me. But, there's a pattern of this density. I know, what will happen next; I'll faint cos the air around me is getting deprived of oxygen. When I'll wake next, the level of oxygen will be optimal. Then the level will start deteriorating, leading me to pass out again. I haven't eaten anything since the day I was brought here. But, my vitals are normal because these fumes contain optimal nutrients that will penetrate the cells of my body, charging them, energizing them. Helping me to survive a little longer.

"Hello!! I know you people can hear me... Plz, get me out of here..." Nobody responded to my words. "At least show me your damn faces!!" Yes, I was angry.

"We don't have faces!!" A voice responded and I know it's not one of the familiar voices that I used to hallucinate. So, that means maybe it's a real voice; a real human voice that I've heard in weeks.

"Oh!! C'mon... We all have faces!! What are you exactly afraid of??... I can't hurt you!! I'm still handcuffed". I tried to convince the master of that unknown voice to at least have a conversation with me.

"Madam!! I'm afraid, You are stronger!! Can't be detained with these cuffs".  He was gentle but he was my kidnapper.

"I don't understand !! Plz... At least let's talk!!".

"Another Day."

"There is no such thing as another day!! Plz!!" I pleaded.

And I fainted.

CHAPTER 10 ( ALICE'S NARRATIVE )

Silence; Sometimes could be outrageous. Sometimes, not having an answer can turn the purpose of the question down and the speaker can sometimes lose his momentum if the truth is being denied for a long time. And the truth must be unfolded and the lies must be apprehended and executed.

"My name is Agent Alice and she's Agent Mariah (pointing towards the other woman standing beside her). And as you already know we work for THE LEGALS."

He nodded gently and was looking at us with curiosity; to know more, to know our connection with Jess.

"So, let's begin from the beginning, Mr. Grant!!" 

---

Two years ago...

"Hello... I'm glad you woke up at least!!" The girl looked puzzled. She's seeing the light after a month. She's finally sensing the touch of an invisible air that is touching every part of her body. And she looked afraid; afraid of surrounded by unknown peoples.

"Hey, I'm Alice and she's my friend Mariah... And what's your name??" She was looking at me and then at Mariah and then at me again and then at Mariah again and then finally closed her eyes. She might be analyzing things.

"Umm... It's... My name is... What my mother used to call me?? What was the name, I was entitled to?? What is it!!" She wasn't able to remember her name and she was crying and puzzled and lost.

"Jesus!! Alice... This isn't any good!!" Mariah said.

"Jess!! Jesse Stone!! That's my name... I remember it now" And she was smiling now.

"Hello, Jesse... You are safe here with us!!" I assured her.

"What is this place?? Why it smells like medicines and antiseptics?? Am I bruise??" She was panicking.

"Hey, hey... Calm down!! You are Okay!! Yes, you are bruised and you need to take some rest!!"

"Plz... Tell me what's happening!! It's been about a month and there is this voice that I'm hearing... It's furious and devastating and awful and I don't know whom it belongs to!! "

"It's nothing!! Just a post-traumatic symptom... Umm... Jess!! If you don't mind, I need to run some tests on you right now!!"

"You can do anything if it's to free me from that voice". 

x-x-x

"How can she even remember the time??" Mariah asks me as we left the place.

"I haven't seen anything like that before... I guess It's not just complicated but it's entangled at random degrees..."

---

And suddenly my phone ranged, "Alice, John is looking for you and he's furious by your absence!! It's urgent" Mike was on the other side of the phone.

"Tell him, I'm on my way!!" I hung up the phone and told Mariah to keep an eye on Clark.

When I was about to leave the room, Clark interrupted "Woohoo!! That's it!! You are leaving... Aren't you gonna tell me what happened next?" 

"No!! We'll continue... Mr. Grant!!" 

"At least tell me, where is my father?? Is he here?? Is he safe??"

"He's safe!! He's with us now and so is your friend, Steve."

"Can I see him?? Please..."

And I left the place without answering.

CHAPTER  11

"Integrity. The only element that keeps us all bounded during the dark days. But, it's lost now. People can do anything to shut you down, to stop your heart from pounding and to make sure you don't inhale the last piece of air."

"How did you get it?" Alice almost yelled while snatching the letter from John's hands.

"Alice... Who are you writing all these letters to??" John wasn't really fond of her sister keeping secrets from him. 

"It's none of your business, brother... Stay away from my things!!" Her tone was still the same, she was yelling and looked disgusted at him.

"You are writing this to our mother, Aren't you??" He somewhere already knew the answer but just to be sure he called Alice.

"Yes!! Our mother..." Her expression evolved to became vulnerable now and a tear shed from her eyes.

"She's dangerous Alice!! Why are you not understanding this simple thing?? Are you working with her??" John calmed effort suddenly transformed into something wrath.

"For the starters, she is not dangerous and secondly, I'm not working with her. I'm just concerned about her."

"Your words from the letter aren't confirming your concern. But, they are indicating that you might be working against us." He looked suspicious and was holding a slight grin.

"She's the very soul of this organization and I was just letting her know about the dark days inside this organization. She can't see anything outside because of your surveillance but at least she deserves to know what's happening to her own organization. How people here aren't reliable anymore. The conspirators are still here. We are losing the very last integrity that was holding us."

"We all are together. It's only in your mind that you are making such stories, Alice. That woman, right out there is using you. She was caught dealing with THE ILLICITS illegally." John was again placid now.

"You have already chosen your side, brother and I have chosen mine. So, let's stick to it. I'm not creating any chaos in your life then, please stop prying into mine." And Alice left the place, angry and vulnerable and not-ready-to-give-up-yet.

-----

(ALICE'S NARRATIVE)

My mother is not a traitor. I agree, she isn't the best mother or even she doesn't come nearby being the nicest mother a child ever wanted. But, all her life, being away from us; she was protecting us. Protecting us from the worst reality of being apprehended because of the sins of others. Others like THE ILLICITS. My father was killed by them, he was not just murdered but he was tortured by them. 

THE ILLICITS are using human subjects for their experiments. They wanted the flaws in human society to be eradicated. Very nice concept, but at what cost? At the cost of humans only.

As far as I know(on the record) they have created a serum that agglutinated with the cells of the hippocampus in our brain, eventually creating a deep clef into it. And by using the nanotech, they are introducing machinery inside that cleft. So, to make sure every memory that one creates remains intact forever and by using the AI tech, the sort of memory one should create can also be controlled.

But, in some cases, the void gets filled with blood and new cellular abnormal growth takes place and the memories are replaced forever. New memories can't be created anymore. In some other cases, the amygdala is also affected along with the hippocampus leading to the change in emotions concerned with a particular memory. For example, if you have a happy memory; this will transform into it's alter form; the negative side. And now you'll treat that happy memory as the worst one. And Jesse's case is one, that is much controlled by the adrenaline rush and is protecting her in some ways rather than acting in the opposite way. I don't know if this is exactly what THE ILLICITS wanted. But, I do know, she's in great trouble.