'None of this is real.' The horror of the situation fell on him like a harsh verdict.
Somehow against all odds he was imprisoned within a false reality so realistic it was almost impossible to see how it was any different from the real world.
He had lived like this for good knows how long, sleeping and waking up. Living life with things who simply looked like his family.
He shuddered to even look up knowing that he was being observed by that inhumane entity who was probably the one responsible for this false world.
'For what?' He asked himself.
His answer came in the form of a message on his office computer.
AUGUST CARPENTER. WE WOULD LIKE THE RESEARCH REPORTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE....
August read it, a gnawing suspicion growing in his mind. The Message in question was from the board of investors of his new company - Lazlo Pharmaceuticals set after the development of the anti aging therapy he had worked for years to pioneer using the deep sea microbe he discovered.
According to the narrative of this false reality, his research was an outstanding success. The Drug developed was capable of putting a halt to the aging process indefinitely. He didn't need to cross check since he had already discovered this after his massive success during his own small tests in the lab with human cells.
He remembered calling Sabine and telling her of the success promising the life of fortune and happiness for their little family.
Then as he was rushing home, he got involved in an accident. Both that particular memory was blurry for some reason. He couldn't remember even entering his car or being hit or colliding with anything only waking up in the hospital. The visual blueprint was there but something stopped it from being registered as a full memory like there were pieces still needed to complete the puzzle.
The fact that Faust was able to warn him and even give him a method of confirming his suspicions meant that other real human beings were present in this fictional world. Other people imprisoned just like him or it could be a trap both prospects were equally terrifying.
Both why were they here.
The board wanted a more advanced iteration of the anti-aging drug apparently a halted biological clock didn't seem enough like true immortality. And it wasn't at most the drug would keep you in your most optimal state for an extended duration of your lifespan which could be as high as three centuries. Bodies weren't made to endure eternity and yet that particular problem was what he was made to research.
"This is ridiculous." August cursed and turned off the system.
"Dad?" He heard call out as she stepped into the office. Seeing the mirror copy of his child treating him so warmly made him uncomfortable in ways he couldn't describe.
'She's probably pretending, I need to make sure I don't draw suspicion. Who knows what they are capable of.'
August gave a wide smile, the mirror Isolde saw her presence was welcome and entered freely walking over to August and sitting on his lap like a child despite her young adult age.
"Why are you not in bed?" She whispered in a low inquisitive lull, too nonchalantly for it to be seen as anything more than just a simple question but August knew better.
Everything for her sitting position to the way she asked him this was meant to make him vulnerable enough to unknowningly comply with her words. She was preying on his parental instincts.
"I was just wondering but nothing at all. I guess it's on of those nights where you can't really sleep." August replied naturally then tightened his embrace around Isolde.
"Okay. Do you like my song?" Isolde's question sounded so innocent you couldn't believe it had any bad intent.
"I love everything about you."
August kissed her hair hoping the thing bought his words.
"Which part?" The most challenging of all her questions came but August who had no choice but to pay close attention to everything around him for the past three days recalled every note with chilling precision.
"The mid-section, it sounded like loneliness. You are beyond talented." August made it vague, heartfelt and ambiguous. Enough to show that he was present during that moment so much so he had his own interpretation of her medley.
"I hope I can get even more better."
"I know you will."
August leaned in and kissed her forehead.
"Now go and sleep my princess."
The false Isolde kissed him goodnight then left to her bed or so it seemed.
August sighed and leaned back covering his eyes with his palm trying to hide from the terrifying existence now placed upon him.
"Is that really her?"
He even hated to admit that he felt too attached to this fantasy enough for him to keep considering if it was even worth it to try and leave.
This internal battle tore him apart but only he could know of it else whatever was keeping him trapped might catch on.
He opened his laptop about to message Faust when he stopped meeting him in person would be leagues safer, his service was most likely being monitored.
August returned to the comfort of a warm bed with the image of his wife who placed her hand over his chest though still asleep almost like instinct.
The ceiling was the only thing he could rely on to keep him company for what he knew would be a sleepless fearful night.
----------
"Rothschild is deceased. After acting against the order he was disposed of by Enforcer Dawn. Ensure to dispose of all attachments he had to the order as discreetly as possible. His name and identity will now be up for auction."
Zeke listened to Beelzebub's briefing in the Back seat of the car which formerly belonged to Ives.
"Rest in peace, Mister Rothschild." Zeke paid his final respects to his employer and close friend with deep Melancholy.
The car stopped at its destination.
MayQueens cafe.
Zeke walked in and saw the one who invited him to this outing sitting alone far off in the Black.
"Good evening, Miss Carpenter." Zeke said with his usual devilish charm as he pulled the seat in front of Isolde and sat in it.
"Mister Zeke. Thank you for coming." Isolde returned his greeting in a flat monotone.
Zeke excitedly ordered a few beverages for both himself and her before they could converse.
"How may I help you, Miss Carpenter?" Zeke asked as he received his order of cinnamon rolls and premium latte from a bubbly waitress.
"I would like to ask the order for help?"
Isolde's response made Zeke momentarily freeze in place before he assumed his calm façade.
"Affairs involving the order are only for true members otherwise normal people like you are killed on the spot just for knowing of its existence."
His warning was meant to deter her, he hoped she would take the hint and not involve herself with their secret circle.
"Is it okay if I join the order then?" Isolde inquired like it wasn't a big deal at all to enter a murderous superpowered elitist cult.
Zeke marvelling at her audacity asks, "May I then accept the commission?"
"Yes. I need your help in investigating the disappearence of August Carpenter."
"Your Father?" Zeke's interest was peeked.
"Yes. I received a clear sign that his disappearance wasn't him ascounding with the funds of his investors but might have been a kidnapping to either silence or secretly control his work. I just need his location regardless of whatever might actually be the case."
Isolde laid all these out without so having the air of urgency someone investigating this sort of thing would have.
Zeke watched her for a bit then caressed her hair like she was something too intriguing to resist.
"I will pay whatever fees you place on the table, all I want is results."
Isolde stirred her coffee with a spoon while Zeke fondled her.
"And how much would you be able to bring?" Zeke wished to see what she would offer.
"50 Million." Isolde said.
"Impressive then what if you stumble unto something dangerous, you can't rely on Mister Rothschild to watch you anymore."
Zeke's careless comment made Isolde take a sharp pause.
"Unfortunately, Ives engaged in battle against the order last night for a reason I can't disclose and it ended with him meeting his inevitable end and before that he had terminated Sabine's treatment and thus her life. Her remains have been left in your grandfather's care." He read out this events like he was reading out someone's last will knowing that he just might. The memory of when Isolde was willing to end her life when she still believed Ives was gone but now he truly was.
Isolde's response to this revelation came in the form of a well aimed question.
"Who will you stand with?"
Her soft voice asked with the intention of one ready to raise hell.
"No one, I will always have my own interests at heart first and foremost. Ives was a brilliant investment to have access to the internal workings of the cabal through him but alas the games being played by the higher ups won in the end. I hate that fact alone with every fiber of my being."
"But you will not do anything. Will you?" Isolde stated like a predator accessing their prey.
"Things are being done but you can never know them. If you wish to understand then I challenge you to join our sphere. You can't hope to fully understand the games we play simply by spectating from the sidelines."
Zeke stood to leave and kissed Isolde's forehead.
"I am ready to guide you into hell whenever you are ready."
Isolde received these words.
"Expect your lead within the week."
Isolde moved with a steady pace on her journey back. The world in her view eaten away by a grey haze which stole the very essence of life itself.
"Why did you leave?" She asked a seemingly dead Ives why he enacted such a dangerous attempt without even telling her first.
Her answer came aboard a glowing presence shaped into the image of a dove, bathing everything with glistening sparkles with each flap of its wings.
Almost as if air resistance didn't exist, it danced around Isolde who observed this phenomenon without much thought.
The dove showered the ground with its sparkles transforming it into a footpath that looked like something out of a fairtale. Using this it guided her to a hidden corner where a sphere sat inches above the ground, the space around it was distorted. Curved at the edges then drawn out inside its black interior. It looked like an optical illusion.
Isolde followed the dove into the object feeling like she pushed through a block of lard before emerging somewhere that shouldn't be possible.
Soft earth. Majestic tree line. Flora and fauna that looked like they belonged in a fantasy film. A city to beautiful to exist in the real world.
The dove led her to a woman waiting, a woman she never thought she would lay eyes on again in this life.
"Isolde. Dear." The woman looked at her like she was the best thing in the world, that same stare she always looked at her with whenever she was nearby, the same woman who heard her play the piano and told her that she could change the world with her medley.
"Celeste?" Isolde said with disbelief.
Celeste bridged the gap between both of them and pulled her into her arms.
She whispered in her ears.
"I missed you. I didn't think you would recognise me now that you have grown into a big girl."
Isolde hugged back too, melting into this moment.
Then came another delight. Ives stepped out in his signature lion mane coat and a gaze too profound for someone of his age.
Isolde went to him, reached out her hands and caressed his cheeks before pressing her lips against his.
Celeste covered her mouth as the shock hit her.
"I Love you."