Robert sat in his apartment staring at the human figure that hung on the wall that he referred to as Gaia. He had already been in that barren room for hours just staring at her. She hung her like an exhibition in the room with only a few fake plants and flowers to surround her. He didn't want to chance a maid coming in to clean the room and have plants growing towards her. The last thing he needed was the world to know that it was actually her that could do all the magic and he was just a sham.
Maybe they already knew
He shook his head at the thought. There was no way they could know anything like that. He always too the up most care in hiding any personal information about himself. He even dropped his real name and adopted the name 'Dr. Plant'. All his documents now contained the ridiculous name.
Don't be a fool. Those people in the lab could tell anyone who you are.
Robert clinched his fist. He always seemed to forget those pests he had left behind. They could tell anyone who he was and he was surprised none of them had spoken up yet..
"Dr. Hussly, what have I told you about locking yourself up?" A familiar voice spoke.
Robert closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "It is Robert, Dr. Lee."
A chuckle could be heard before Dr. Lee spoke again. "Or should I call you Dr. Plant?"
Robert opened his eyes and turned to Dr. Lee. He was standing there looking like he always had. His grey suit that he loved to wear and white lab coat. He had his hair laid back with streaks of white going through the black. He was standing there. "I thought you were dead."
Dr. Lee laughed again then scratched his goatee thinking about the situation. "Perhaps I am dead. If I am then why am I here?"
"I am not in the mood for your riddles." Robert waved him off an leaned back in his chair. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to think of how Dr. Lee could be here.
"I see you still have her." The location of his voice changed. It was now coming from in front of him. Robert opened his eyes and looked up to see Dr. Lee standing in front of Gaia. He was so close to her, no one had been that close to her except for Robert since he took her from the lab. Anger quickly spiked as jealousy got the best of him.
"Get away from her." He stated harshly.
"Still obsessed with her as well." Dr. Lee continued keeping his back to Robert. "You are doing a good job keeping her healthy. Glass floor and wall for sunlight and a watering system. Our Gaia sure is doing well here... though you on the other hand..."
Robert stood up from his chair and approached Dr.Lee. "How I am doing is none of your concern. When I left the lab I did not tell anyone where I was or ask for any help. I do not need a babysitter."
"You're right. You don't need a babysitter." Dr. Lee said finally turning to Robert looking up at him. Robert had always been outstandingly taller than Dr. Lee, which was no surprise most american females were also taller than him. "But I do think that you need a friend. A human friend. A friend that doesn't hang on the wall silent." Robert did not speak. "Remember 'Don't get caught up in her like I did. As interesting as she is she is only a research project.'"
Those words echoed in Robert's head like deja vu. he had heard Dr. Lee say that before, not once, but many times. Each time after he had locked himself away in the lab. "'How about a drink? We need to get out of the lab every now and then for we will go crazy...'" He paused at that work. "Crazy.. crazy.. I'm not crazy!" his anger was overwhelming now. "All this time you thought I was crazy didn't you? Pitying me and making fun of me to the other researchers while pretending to be my friend!"
"You know that isn't the case." Dr. Lee crossed his arms. "Look at all the facts before you assume anything. Your first fact, You lock yourself away and obsess over Gaia, a none human living thing. Second, you have severed all ties to anyone because you are to paranoid to trust anything. Third, you are standing in here arguing with a dead man on the fact you are not crazy."
"You're the one that came here to torture me!" Robert resorted.
Dr. Lee shook his head and walked over to the window to see the city. "The world is changing Robert. I fear for you."
With that said Dr.Lee vanished leaving Robert standing there in the room alone again. Robert hesitated on approaching the window but in the end did. He looked down to the city seeing all the people rioting over the resent killings that had taken place. The people that were targeted were poets. He wasn't a poet. Nothing he had ever done was even close to a poet.
You think they will stop there. They will come after all magic users eventually.
"No!"
they will take Gaia away. Hide her from you, touch her.
"No!" Robert rushed over to Gaia laying his head on her stomach and putting his arms around her. "I won't let them take you from me. We will be together for ever."
So caught up on his own paranoia Robert didn't notice small bits of the vines and moss chip off her and floated to the floor. Gel'Linnea's body was starting to revive after such a long time.