64 Perfect Recall (1/2)

Allison wakes up in her bed, screaming in terror.

It takes more than a few seconds for her to finally calm down and have a good look at her surrounding, finding herself safely in her apartment.

It is night time and the lights are off, so everything is shrouded in darkness.

Moonlight streams through the windows and curtains, bathing Allison partially.

The last thing she can recalled was being dragged and strapped to a metal chair by scientists. With her arms and legs as well as her neck and head being locked in place, those people were about to cut her head and skull open to have a look at her brain – while she is still conscious!

She touches her head with both hands, assuring herself that her brain is still nested inside her unsplit skull.

Her hands are now coated in cold sweats that caked her hair and body.

Allison didn't recall what happened afterwards since she immediately found herself in her bed, so she believes it is just a dream.

Even as a dream, it feels so real, so very, very real.

She swears that she could feel the deadly heat from those lasers as they are being powered up to cut through her hair and skin and bone.

”It is just a dream, just a dream. Calm down Ally, you are not being dissected like some sort of lab rat by the Government. That would be insane! Insane!”

Allison tells herself with her palm against her forehead.

It is one of her fears. If anyone figure out what she can really do, they will undoubtedly kidnap her and experiment on her. That is why Allison never tells anyone about her perfect memory, not even her parents or relatives.

And once her heart regains its normal beating rhythm, she grudgingly drags herself out of her bed and makes her way towards the kitchen.

She needs coffee – a lot of coffee – to clear her mind and calms her nerves.

Luckily, someone has made a pot already.

It is still warm.

”Good morning, Miss Allison. Or maybe it is good night since it is still dark outside.”

I speak up from the couch since she didn't seem to notice me on her way to the kitchen.

She is too preoccupied with something else, probably wondering who made the coffee.

I did because I was thirsty. I didn't really need caffeine to keep myself awake.

If I want to stay awake, a little command to Selene will tell all the nanomachines in my bloodstream to keep my brain working overtime without any side effects.

Of course, I do sleep since sleeping does help in other ways.

”Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Allison responses with a deafening scream while falling backwards against the kitchen counter. She is acting as if she has seen a ghost – or maybe a demon.

I am not that scary, am I?

”Can you please shut up?”

Allison immediately did, but her body remains trembling.

Her pale lips quivers in fear.

Her eyes never left me as I get off the couch and stretch my arms.

I had a good nap after bringing her home and tugging her into bed. I might have even given her a kiss on the forehead and sing her a lullaby, thinking she was my daughter.

Well, that isn't far from the truth – in a sense.

Is it creepy to watch a beautiful woman sleeping in her room?

Definitely.

That is why I doze off on her couch, instead.

It is totally not creepy at all.

Joke asides, I pour myself a cup of coffee before handling her one as well.

”Here, you go. You wanted one, didn't you? Drink up, you will feel better soon.”

Allison still stares at me, seemingly lost her voice.

She is too paralyzed with fear to even accept the cup, and it wasn't until I narrow my eyes in annoyance that she grabs the cup and downs the whole thing before coughing.

”It wasn't a dream…!”

Allison utters and tries to calm her raging heart. It is thumping madly.

”Unfortunately, it isn't a dream, Miss Allison. It is all real, and we learn a great deal from studying your brain. It is quite remarkable. And I promise you that you won't remember of it before, didn't I?”

I pause. I had thought about letting her have a choice, but the pain might be too much. She is not as strong as Sandra in willpower, unfortunately.

”Would you like to hear all about it? It is quiet fascinating. Well, at least to me.”

I response and take a sip from my cup before sitting back down on the couch. I look back at her and points at the spot next to me on the couch.

Allison swallows hard and slowly gets off the ground. I watches her take step by step across the kitchen and sits where I told her to.

She is quiet obedience now that she fully understands it is impossible to run away from me.