The Monster They Made: Now He's Free

Miller, and my

a kid, part of some secret experim

white coats I barely rememb

ity, is tied to getting real love a

hat sometimes sends me updates on a s

risons, and my fiancée, Oli

me, accept me, my "Resonance Sc

e drops, I g

s needing their approval, their

hings were goo

ook me in, gave

ant, always focused on business, but Eleano

. Beautiful, smart, from a fa

den couple of N

e was stable, a s

"Resonance stable. Mainta

lease them, desperate to

all, a loving famil

ht I wa

lian ca

ogical son, the one they th

frail, weak, with a story about h

warmth from El

t Julian with a longing I

e Score too

started, a dull a

ge: "Target affection waveri

y a mother' s love fo

ak; he was a master a

ht moments, stumble wh

that made Ethan, me, the adopted son, l

sympathetic to Julian

n worked

dmired her, how she was the

ing hints about

stand, Olivia, he's a

t the family accounts... I

e Score dro

orse, and a constan

k to Olivia, t

hat he seem

at me with di

uel to your brother?" Eleano

n through

st be patient, Ethan.

of being jealous, of tr

d said one evening, his voice stern. "

ance Sco

my chest, like somethin

g to O

iancée. She still

st to Julian's act, Olivia wo

ou know me. You know I wouldn't h

nd, but her ey

he' s so fragile. He told me

livia, he's manipula

on't say that, Ethan.

nance S

o feel a little blu

Julian's "

n. He needed an organ transplant,

the only match i

her eyes full of te

mbling. "Julian needs this. You'

is a major surgery. And he's

d you... you're so strong, Ethan. The doctors said you

no idea it was tied to their love

this isn'

me, her beauti

a future, you'll do this. This is the only way.

for his, and her love

e Score plu

was constant now. I

ved, the woman who was asking m

don't you?" I asked, my

ive, Ethan. And I believe you

strong. The irony

fading with ever

almness washing over me, "you'll marry

lief, in her eyes. "Everything will go back to normal

m might have called it, if it

I knew she wa

isons we

gram set, to secure their g

hysical anymore. It wa

at else was

Olivia. I'

small, almost suspicious smil

te in my mouth. "When have

o grateful, that this wo

d I was

phrase she kept repeating, meant the docto

however, was dire. H

would be perfect. The Harrisons would see my sac

istence, my Program-defined need for th

body could magically undo Jul

My Resonance Score was

nse, a constant throb in m

realization of her complete blindness, her

was a solution, a path

ir love, and they were asking me to risk my life ba

uld go thro

s, not for the Harrisons'

ecause there wa

Olivia. She always

prioritized their own, an

pted son, the temp

er voice lighter now, as if a great burden had been l

fleeting touch. "Thank you, E

hed he

icked up

miling at the beach. Her laughing at

delete button wa

ries turned to

st for them, for myself,

ck hit me

rare sign of affection. Eleanor smiling, genuinely smiling at me. Olivia, then just

lian' s

faked email suggesting I was mismanagin

d suspicious. "Ethan, we

s worried

se of me, "Richard, Eth

where he tripped on stairs he claimed I

ion" to Olivia that

y wavered,

more time with Juli

ach incident, each lie, each stol

was noticeable. I w

to "stress" over

a constant, bi

lked into my room.

nt on the bedside

t form for the

a desire to atone for any past misunderstandings

re making me apolo

e Score fli

that clause," I said, my

ike chips of ice. "Don't be difficult, E

mean," I said. "Best f

s digging into my skin. "You will sign it. You o

the pen in

y arm was nothing compared

aper and left wit

nance S

on was

minutes later, not to c

t of a relapse! He

red marks on my arm wher

ee the despa

Julian, her

h the throbbing in my arm and the

one buzzed.

tainable. Resonance Score critic

dire

a dry, pa

I managed

et away from