# The World Behind Death[2] By [LHT](https://paragraph.com/@lht) · 2023-10-24 --- Chapter 2: Brain Lab -------------------- You would not believe what I saw here! After a dark channel, a bright light shot me. In three seconds, I could see a wall, yeah, filled with brains, human brains, and some creatures' brains I guessed. "Cut open the skull and remove her brain." A burning smell, I didn't feel any pain. But the body is shaking. "What a beautiful brain! Doctor Tina, you are doing a great job. Now you may send her back. No one will know as usual." I saw just some shadow and Tina's nude body. Everything was flowing in the air and then backed into the correct positions. It was so silent, I even couldn't feel that they were moving around. They were putting one thing into my head, which seemed like biobattery. The shape was exactly like a real brain. It was like an island covered with dark clouds during a storm - Yeah. The brain was back to life. "TJ, send it back to the patient room." The last thing I saw in here, was Tina's body fading away. Drifting like dust. And the brain walls were shining like going to explode. Suddenly a sharp pain hit me. This was the first time I had such a strong feeling after my death. It's like needles digging into your fingernails. The pain was so strong like a black hole sucking everything, you were torn apart. "Warning, warning, unknown connection attack, the lab will be shut down in three minutes." "What's going on? TJ." "Something wrong with this body, it got a free will. It's trying to take control of the body." "It couldn't happen. It never happened before." "Time is running out. What should we do? Professor Jeff." "Send it back, keep it in the hospital for a week, and see what will happen. Report to Doctor Tina." "And remember, destroy it when it's necessary. Doctor Tina is weak sometimes, you know what has to be done." "Understood. Professor Jeff." * * * Oh, my head tickles, like something is growing crazily inside. Wait!!! Why do I have these feelings? My senses are all back! OMG, does that mean I am Kate now?!! My fingers stretched out and found only the rough cover of the mattress. I propped myself up on one elbow, there was enough light in the patient's room. I saw a shadow curled up on the sofa. I swung my legs off the bed and came to the shadow lightly. The whole face was covered by the hoodie. Before my finger could reach out to it, the shadow suddenly jumped to its feet. "Mom is that you? Where have you been? I only found an empty bed when I came in. I...I thought you were...And I ran to the morgue and was told no new body came in today, so I ran back, searched every room I could but still couldn't find you. Where..." I finally saw that face filled with tears. She rushed into my arms and hugged me tightly. I found that her clothes were soaked with sweat. Her body was so cold and shaking even though the sun was shining brightly outside the window. My heart is twitching which is weird, I have never been a mom, is it how being a mother feels? I wanna say something but I could not speak a word. I was already shocked by how smoothly I could control this body! "Mom..." This poor thing lifted up her face and wanted some kisses I guessed. I didn't know what should I do but my hands gently patted her back to comfort her. “Mom don't cry, I am sorry.” Well, I have no idea why my eyes teared. I don't feel upset actually, is that how body language works? It seems this body has already known how to react in this situation. Does that mean some parts of Kate are still inside me? Can she sense me? I saw the face in the mirror, charming, and yeah, it was not my original face as I expected. I am not Kate, I am not her of course. Who am I now? "Can you stop crying? It's annoying." Fine, I spoke out my first word with this body. "Sure Mom, I am happy you finally talked to me. Can I do anything for you?" I looked at her carefully and realized she's not that kid I saw last time, she's not Cris. "Where's Cris?" "Dad caught her, I am all you have now, Mom." What? Am I in a family drama show now? It seems so complicated. "Who are you?" "I am Bette. Mom, are you alright?" "I'm sorry, but I am not your Mom." I don't wanna lie. Because lies require more lies to cover up which is really annoying. "That's okay. I knew you're not Mama Kate." "What? How can you tell?" "You didn't slap me and you never like me came too close to you.” She looked at me like a newborn deer, grabbing my hem. “Whatever, I love who you are right now, Mom. Please don't let me go." “You love me? Really? I'm a stranger to you.“ I stared at her. Her breathing getting faster. "Never mind. You are really smart. Now tell me more about your Dad and Cris, why they didn't show up today?" "They won't let me come to the hospital and lock me in the house. I slid away last night and stole one of Dad's cars. When I passed by Grandpa's house, I saw them fighting through the window. Cris's hair was torn out…" She kept wringing her hands. Mouth was sealed. "So you didn't go inside and stop them?" "I can't. Grandma likes seeing us get beaten, if I go inside, they will catch me too." "You are hiding from them now?" "Mom, can I stay with you?" She whispered. "How's your relationship with Kate?" "Mama Kate hated me. Because I was born when Mama Kate hated Dad the most." "How come?" "Mama Kate fell in love with Dad's twin brother, and Dad found out. Mama Kate wanted a divorce, Dad got so angry and raped her so many times until she pregnant with me." "What?! How did you know this?" "Cris told me these... But we never met Dad's twin bro... And there was a time I heard Dad yell at someone so angry in the base room. I went inside the base room secretly, because Dad forgot to lock it after that. It was so dark, I didn't see anything there just a huge mirror which could swallow me inside I think…" Her head was down like trying to bury it into the ground. "You are shaking. Are you scared?… You can stop saying if you don't feel okay." "I am fine, Mom. I can be useful to you. Don't turn me down please." Poor kiddo grip my finger trembling, really careful. It seems the girl assumed that I would abandon her. She has never been treated well I guessed. Oh, I shouldn't question her like a criminal. "Sorry for what you've been through…" I couldn't say more words, it's heavy inside. I put my hand on Bette’s head, it's soft. The door suddenly opened. "Congratulations Kate. You're awake. It's a miracle for all of us." "Thank you, Doctor Tina." "Hi kiddo, would you please give us some space? It won't be long." "She's fine here." "Oh okay then." Tina came close to me, her eyes were so dark like the deep ocean trying to explore all my secrets. "You're not safe here. Would you leave with me?" I tried to read more information from her face, but I got nothing. "What can I offer you?" "So far nothing. I just want to keep you company, you're a mystery and I want to become your key." Tina held my hands. “Would you allow me this honor?” I smelled the dangerous. Who is the hunter now? The best choice is escaping alone of course. But how can I do that successfully? "Bette should come with us." "Sure thing." Tina gave me a huge hug. And then took us away quietly. * * * "Kate? Or what should I call you now?" "Just L." "Nice to meet you, L. And welcome to our world.“ What a warm smile. Is it a trap? “I took the report from the lab, I think you might be interested in it." I took it over. Damn, these professional terms really gave me a headache. “Sorry, I can not understand this report. Can you just tell me what you found out that made you so excited? ” “No worries, L. We discovered that a layer of neocortex has appeared on the surface of the biobattery in your head.” "Emm, would you mind explaining that? I have no idea what you're talking about." "You see the biobattery is an energy support to Kate's body, which is mainly made of Neurons and Pulse current. With this, Kate still can be a living dead for another year, and no one will find out her brain was already been replaced." "Ahh, you guys are using this to cover your crime!" "No L. This is science, Kate should be proud to be chosen." "You got her permission?" "No, but she would understand I'm sure." "Don't be such ridiculous! I kill you and then say sorry to your dead body, is that funny to you?!!" "L, science is serious, and we need samples. A little bit of sacrifice could bring evolutionary changes. Why against it?" "So human rights are bullshit to you scientists?" "I think we are not talking at the same level, L." I am so pissed off. "L, think about it, if we didn't do that, you wouldn't show up. Did that make any sense to you? You have compassion for Kate, I understand you're really kind..." "All right, all right. Don't try to fool me morally. I don't wanna talk to you now." Tina smiled, she thought she won. But she did make sense in some ways. What am I now? I can not speak for Kate, and I am definitely not me anymore. Who am I? A monster? A new species? A mix? Can I still call myself a human being? Is everything here true? I put my hand out the window and felt the resistance of the wind. I leaned my head closer to Tina and smelled her perfume. I could hear horns honking and see people running along the street… Are they real? Or is it just my brain trying to fool me? --- *Originally published on [LHT](https://paragraph.com/@lht/the-world-behind-death-2)*