Once Upon an AI's Story : AXEL

Chapter 4

"What is this all about?"

Erin handed the diary to Caleb who was sitting comfortably at the sofa while reading some magazines. Caleb assumed that Erin already knew what the diary is all about. He's been ready for this.

"Your mother's supermassive project is an AI "

Erin let out a mocking laugh as if Caleb was giving the infamous introduction, ' Once Upon a time'. She did not take seriously what Caleb mentioned about AI. Although, from her mother's diary that AI was mentioned. But still she's not convinced. For her, it was only an old story, merely a fantasy.

" I know it is hard for you to understand and accept it, but you must believe in your mother. Sandra is a scientist and an engineer. Not to mention her innate ability and intellect in modern civilization and different invention. It is not impossible for her to develop and create an AI. "

Erin followed Caleb's gestures as he rise from his seat and walk towards full framed glass window. The scene looked like a father telling a serious yet exciting story to her daughter.

Caleb turned his back to Erin and stare at the frame standing at one of the tables at the corner side. The frame enveloped a thick special paper where two people wearing a bright smile just as bright as their laboratory gown was printed. They're Caleb and Sandra. Caleb felt someone just pinched his heart for no reason. He missed Sandra. Maybe that's it.

"Since when did my mom did this? "

Erin confront Caleb with a more interesting aura. She wanted to know whether what she read was just a simple formula of how to make some experimental drugs for simple diseases or the opposite.

" Before you were born she's already an outstanding woman. She did great in technology development industry. Since then, she tried to create something new. Something that could make the world applause. "

"So that's how ambitious my mom was? "

"No. At first I thought that was her goal. For fame and acknowledgement. But I was wrong. She had a deeper source of continuing that project that's beyond my knowledge. She kept the project to everyone."

"What's the reason?"

Caleb faced the floor.

'She didn't read the whole diary'

But he doesn't want to reveal Sandra's deep sorrow to Erin. Not yet.

"I'm sorry, but she didn't mention anything."

"Who is Alex? What was his connection to mom?"

" Im sorry -"

"Why can't you just tell me everything. I felt like I was too dumb for I know nothing on the events that's going on with my mom. "

Erin started to raise her voice. She slowly loses a grip on her temper.

"It's for your safety. Sandra only wanted you to be safe and live normally. "

"Normally? Why Caleb? Will I live differently if I meddle with my mother's deeds?'

" No. But it will only make things complicated. "

" Didn't you make it more complicated for not telling what's really going on?"

"I really didn't mean to make you think about that case. I'm just protecting you. And keeping Sandra's will."

Feeling unsatisfied, yet unable to force Caleb to speak up a little farther and admit that he is guilty, she played another argument.

"My mom, she did not caught an accident. "

Caleb was frozen. He didn't know how to react. Erin was a genius, he belittle such kid not to know the incident. With all the proof he made that it was just an accident only to make everything safe and calm but Erin was a real inspector. Nothing surpassed her. Not even her mother's death. Caleb only wanted Erin to live a simple life, she must not carry the burden the cruel fate had given her. He will be the one to solve Sandra's case. For him, Erin was just a kid who's been too curious of everything to the extent that she'll involve herself in everything without recognizing danger.

"Your mother already told you when she woke up that she looses her break and made a wrong turn causing her to be hit by a truck. "

Caleb tried to speak fluently making sure he will not stammer. Luckily he made it until the last word.

"What made you think that I will believe you? And my mom? I know if mom is lying or not. She's not good at that thing we both know that. I believe something happened. That her death was not a purely accident."

"Erin. "

Caleb lost his words. She was right. Sandra's motto in life is ' Honesty is the best policy'. Because she believed that honesty is both creation and distraction. It is honesty that build trust among people to make bonds stronger. But if you failed to do so and became dishonest, it will destroy everything. Dishonesty will lead to a quick heartbreaking ending. Sandra's death made sense now. But Caleb still couldn't believe it. Sandra's just a victim.

"If my mom's death was only an accident, how could she write a note narrating as if she's going to die? Tell me, is that another advancement in life? To foresee the time of your death? If so, then why did my father didn't leave a note before he died? Didn't he also caught an accident? "

"I - .."

He was caught off guard. Erin was too hard to deal with. How much more fooling her.

"You know what you don't need to answer. And I don't need your approval too. If you don't want to tell me, fine. I'll investigate it myself. "

"I was your father.. "

Unable to mention the right phrase, he paused for a while. Yet, making Erin completely puzzled. Erin looked at him with knitted brows and mocking eyes.

"I mean, I was your father's friend. And I was with him after the accident when he was brought to the hospital. But he's already running out of blood and the incident made his life critical. Wherein it became impossible to take him from the emergency room safe. And with his last strength, he told me to take good care of you and Sandra."

" I still don't believe you Caleb. We only have each other yet your making me doubt you as a comrade. "

Caleb couldn't speak any word. He let Erin mock him.

"If that will lessen the burden you had, I wouldn't mind accepting all this treat. "

Caleb sense annoyance on Erin's expressions. So he changed the topic.

"I will bring you to University of West Valley tomorrow. Your transfer was already processed and you only have to show yourself there and be familiar with the place. "

"That was fast."

Erin lifted her lips and look away. Watching the leaves fall through the window.

" One of the professor there was a good friend of mine, so it does not take longer time for the transactions. "

"Hmm. Connections. I wonder if he or she is also mom's companion. I think I needed that friend of yours for my business. "

"Erin. "

Caleb called out with a light authority.

"Don't worry I won't cause any trouble."

" Can't you just focus on your study ?"

"You know well that I can't."

Erin looked at Caleb's eyes with full of determination before she turned her back and walk away.

Erin was making not more than five steps when a loud alarm just like that of the horn of an ambulance and a firetruck.

"What the hell was that."

She looked back only to see how Caleb panicked and run past her. She wanted to climb back to her room upstair but her curiosity drag her down. Her mind is telling her that she must follow Caleb. But she doesn't want to.

She begin to take one step, yet ended up walking backwards and follow Caleb's trail.

She reached the open door where Caleb went into. The room was just few steps from the right wing of the staircase. Surprisingly, the place inside was elevated. There is another stairway which has a five step case.

She walk closer to the stairs but was immediately stunned as she saw what's below the room.

'No, this is just a dream. And I badly needed to wake up '.