March 30.
Billy trailed kisses dowomach, gently toug every part of her, each kiss growing more inteh every breath. In one moment, she tried to pull away, to resist, but the sensation of his lips on her body overwhelmed her, and she clutched his hands tightly. With each kiss, she felt herself losing trol, teetering on the edge of madness. Aried to scream.
-More, -she whispered.
Her green-brown eyes imagihe pleasure taking over, an all-ing force, something more than just desire—a power over her that was undeniable.
-More,- she gasped again.
He gripped her hips and pulled her close. The pressure became too much, snapping her back to reality. A sharp sound, a knock, broke the moment, pulling her away from the bliss she was ed in. It felt almost actal, like a sudden interruption, pushing her bato the mundane chaos of her everyday life.
She swung the door open, shouting over the noise of the children running through the house, her moment shattered.
-Quiet down! ’t you see I’m trying to catch my breath here?- Anne was overwhelmed, her frustrations bubbling to the surface.
-Dear, you're more worked up than usual,- ented her grandmother from the far end of the hallway, her tone distant but calm.
-I’ve got a lot on my mind. Aerday’s work nearly split my head open. Every m, the same yelling and chaos. It’s only six in the m, and school doesn’t start until nine! Why must you all start hammering away like this at the crack of dawn?- Anne’s voice broke with the weight of her frustration.
-Ah, there she goes again,- sighed the grandmother, shaking her head.
Aormed off to the shower, her body still burning from the lingeriions.
***
Billy, o, was immersed in his work, throwing himself into the role. The iy of the se mirrored his focus, each take demanding more tha.
-Take six! -
INT. GATTACA - PUTER PLEX. NIGHT.
The puter plex was empty and dimly lit. JEROME cast o look around the room. Sitting at the terminal, he pyed a final sequence of his path through the stars, the journey he was about to take.
He noticed a key was missing from the keyboard. Realizing its significe, he stood up, ready to leave.
IIGATOR
Vi...
Jerome froze at the sound of his name, his true name.
Slowly, he turo face the man who had called him. The Iigator stepped out from the shadows.
IIGATOR
What are you running from, Vi?
JEROME
(calmly)
From Vi.
The two men faced each other for the first time in a long while. The Iigator was stunned by the face staring back at him, barely able to believe what he saw.
IIGATOR
Has it been so long that you don’t even remember me?
JEROME
(nodding toward the Iigator’s badge)
Maybe it’s you... who’s fotten?
(looking at him)
What are you doing here, Anton?
The truth became evident—the Iigator was his brother, Anton.
ANTON
I could ask you the same.
(gng at the impressive plex)
I belong here. You don’t.
Jerome smirked.
JEROME
Do you believe that?
ANTON
(ign the eending his hand)
e with me now, Vi. You've gone as far as you .
JEROME
(looking toward the stars)
There are still millions of miles left to go.
ANTON
(firmly) "It’s over."
JEROME
(shaking his head)
Is that the only way you know how to win, Anton? By finding me again?
ANTON
It’s for the best.
JEROME
(getting angrier)
God, even you want to tell me what I ’t do. Haven’t you figured it out yet, Anton? I don’t need resg. But you did once.
The memory hurt Anton.
JEROME
(taunting)
So, what now? You have all the answers, right? How that be?
ANTON
(steadfast)
I didn’t lose that day. I beat myself.
JEROME
And who are y to vince?
ANTON
I’ll prove it. e swim with me, Vi. Now... tonight.
Jerome looked at Anton with a knowing smile.
A ph somewhere in the vast space of Gattaca. The echo erfect. "Take six" roved, after a long day of work.
-Cut!- called the director, ready to move on to the se.
**
Anne drove with frustration gripping the wheel, the music bring, trying to escape the day’s chaos. She had left work early with one goal in mind. Margot raised an eyebrow as she passed, but said nothing, sensing the turmoil.
-I’m sorry, but you ’t e in, - said a man, standing at the entrance.
Anne’s eyes narrowed in anger. She stepped toward him, pointing her finger acgly.
-Listen, pal, I don’t doubt your job, but I do doubt your brain. Now, do what you're supposed to, because my patience is running thin, - she snapped, her temper barely tained.
Anne’s anding presence was undeniable, and five mier, she walked in, still fuming. She sat down, her mind swirling, exhaustion finally pulling her into a nap.
Billy arrived ter, fresh from a long swim. He saw her there, the blonde woman fast asleep on the bed.
-Anne, wake up, - he whispered, gently shaking her.
-Anne, wake up, - he said again, nudging her softly.
She stirred, her hair tousled.
-I must have fallen asleep, - she muttered.
-Yeah, the guard said a lioness stormed onto the set earlier. You caused quite the impression—they won’t be telling you ‘no’ again anytime soon, - Billy teased, handing her a bottle of water.
She drank, her thoughts rag, but her mi bnk.
-I think I’m going to quit, - Anne said suddenly.
-What? What are you talking about, Anne? - Billy asked, ed.
-I ’t do this anymore. The pany, the pressure—it’s all too much. I feel like I’m suffog, - she said, her voice trembling with panic.
Billy sighed, realizing Monica had been right. She had seen the cracks f before anyone else.
-Monie, Anne, - Billy said, moving closer. -Don’t run away. She knows what yoing through, and she knows what you’re capable of handling. -
His words, though geruck deep. Billy pulled Ao his arms, holdiightly. Tears welled up in her eyes, her pride crumbling in the safety of his embrace.
-She said I could be with you, as long as it stayed... just this, - Billy murmured.
Aried to respond, but the wot lost ihroat. She felt vulnerable, like a deer caught in headlights.
-I want to quit, - she whispered again.
...
On Patreon, we are at 473. But hey, I repeat a lot of numbers, so it's more or less like 480