Merrin stared at Chuck with hope in her eyes as he installed a tone generator on the wall in her room. Was he going to set her free? She knew not to ask, so she simply watched and waited.

  “It’s going to happen this time, I can feel it, Merrin,” Chuck said with a growing desperation that broke Merrin’s heart.

  “It will. I can’t wait to see you in your new body. What made the difference?” She said while trying not to stare too obviously at the tone generator. If he turned that on, she could return to her hypnosite on the shelf. They could be together. She knew she could help him once she was free. She closed her eyes and promised herself she would contain her jealousy of the little girl. She would do right by her precious Charles this time.

  “It wasn’t enough to have the child on her own. Granted, as she develops her resonance, it’s taken me closer and closer to resonating with my own hypnosite, but the real breakthrough happened when I managed to not only bring CX21 back, but I recruited his wife too.”

  “What?” Merrin tried to dampen the flames of jealousy at another woman being brought here. She looked at the tone generator, then to her hypnosite on the shelf in front of her. Just one button away from being out of this body again. She took a long, deep breath, “That’s so exciting.”

  Charles flashed Merrin such a beautiful smile and nodded emphatically as he finished installing the generator and sat next to her bed, “I feel like the synergy of all of their blood together is exactly what will bridge the gap for me. I’m so close, it’s excruciating to have to wait.”

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  Merrin was ready to explode. She couldn’t contain herself anymore. “I’m sure you need help with the last steps. You look exhausted and the Gilberts can’t handle it. I’d be happy to help.”

  Charles paused and looked back to the generator, “Oh I guess I should have explained myself. As soon as I successfully pair with my own hypnosite, I’ll set you free. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Understand what?!” Merrin snapped. She couldn’t help it. This was his fault, “I love you but you won’t even trust me? Instead you have to bring in some whore that knows nothing? I’m the one who funded your research with the Hypnosites. I’m the one who’s been by your side when you had nothing. I’m the one who gave you hope and yet you leave me here, alone all day. I’ve had enough of it!”

  Charles stood up with a look of cold determination, “I love you too.”

  “No wait,” Merrin said, trying to recover the situation, “I’m sorry for shouting. You don’t deserve that.”

  Charles flashed Merrin a sad smile and while walking out of the room he said: “Please be patient a little longer.”

  As the door closed behind Charles, Merrin screamed with all the built up emotions that she’d been holding back. This was not like him. She didn’t deserve this.

  Charles was acting so stupid. That wasn’t like him. She knew it wasn’t him that was twisting his perception of her. It wasn’t his fault and that’s why she needed to help him.

  As soon as she got out of her prison of flesh, she would make sure there was nobody else that could mess with Charles’s head. She would save him from everyone.