Death of a dream

The man is sitting in the armchair in the principal’s cabinet. And they just made a contract. This man squeezes the principal's hand and exits the school building. His name is Sebastian Lee Rice but better everyone knows him as an owner of the company Lee Rice and participator of next year Elections. He sits in the brand new car and doesn't even need to drive the car doing everything itself, he enters the house and his smart dom greeting him. - Good afternoon Mr Lee Rice, do you want me to make your usual green tea? - Yes, please - says Sebastian while changing the clothes to the home ones. - There is a special news episode, do you want me to bring it to the screen? - Hm, that's interesting, show me. The commentator Half an hour ago the building of the Lee Rice company was exploited. According to police calculations there are already seventeen injured and two dead… Wearing the first jeans and jacket that he found, he sits down in the car and drives as fast as he can to get to this unfortunate building. When he is finally there he sees not even a foundation of the building, only ruins and policemen searching around for people beneath them. A lot of cars around the building are ambulances and few firefighter ones. He just falls on his knees, while the police announce more and more names of people found under the rubbles, his business is ruined…What is he going to do ..? - Lee Rice! - Yes, it is me. - Please get in, the doctor wants to tell you something. Sebastian enters the cabinet, it is already two weeks since the explosion. And it is time for the year check-up. He already did some of the general examinations, which he was doing every year, spending plenty of money to be healthy. But today something is different in the doctor's face, he looks worried. - I am sad to tell you that Mr Lee Rice, but I..I am hundred percent sure that something is wrong, but not I neither my assistants nor professors in our university know what that is. - And what should, I do then!? - his voice was increasing with every word - Sorry, but I still want to know the answer for my question. Always concentrated and calm, Sebastian was almost screaming after this information, but his usual state already came back so he was sitting not as nervous as before, trying to find his answer in the doctor's eyes. - So, we have decided to have an international conference - he threw a glance at the calendar - tomorrow. And I will be very pleased if you will be there tomorrow. - There is no kind of problem for me, just send a message to my account. - Oh, and last thing, be aware that everything that will happen after the conference unfortunately you will need to pay. - Ok, goodbye Mr Cernson. The conference was about five hours but the doctors have found a solution to this problem, but that will be a new technology based on tiny robots which will help his organism to function. Also at the end of if organizers presented Sebastian a really big bill… There are two men standing near the school building, it is winter but they are still outside, talking about something very carefully - I am really, really sorry, but I do not think that I will be able to pay this and the next few monthly payments. - There is a problem, but we will be fine Mr Lee Rice, get well sooner, but maybe you want to have some tea or coffee with me? - Yes, please, it is pretty cold outside. They went into the school’s cafeteria and were drinking tea with croissants while talking about a lot of things. Sebastian said goodbye to the principal and went to the teachers changing room to get his jacket, thinking about the time spended with Mr Redtoc, principal, he encountered another teacher and the teacher dropped everything that he had in his arms, this everything is rolling out through the whole corridor. - I am sorry, I was very deep in my mind, what's your name..? - Everything is fine, I know what you mean, I also sometimes have this. I am Santiago, Santiago Lee Rice. This Santiago offered to Sebastian a lunch with him where he will explain everything and answer all the questions that he wants. - So, who are you? - I am Santiago Lee Rice, I think I already told you, didn’ I? - Yes, but the thing is that everyone in my family right now is dead. - How you can see I am not, I am glad that I was sick and did not come to this celebration. <i>A lot of people are in one huge house talking with everyone around them. Between these people you can easily see similarities, such as dark hair or similar height, but one man who is standing on the balcony, makes everyone quiet at once. Today we all came here to celebrate my son's birthday. Let's congratulate him. You can hear cheers coming from everywhere around and a small boy shining with happiness, standing beside his father on the balcony. In the room behind there are plenty of presents waiting to be opened. But suddenly a gunshot shutter a feast and serene house turns into panic and scare. The boy’s father left him to his aunt, going downstairs to help other members of family, but more and more people in all black entering the house and guardians are already dead, so the aunt with the name Hanny pulled him along, nevertheless that Sebastian wanted to go downstairs to find his parents and take them with. But they both sat in the car and Hanny drove away as fast as she could and in three hours they were at her house. The information about the things that happened that evening they got only in the news the day after, when Sebastian was sitting on the couch with his aunt watching TV. The commentator Yesterday happened the greatest murder and robbery in this century. Fifty six people of one of the richest families in the world were killed, but the murderers are already in custody. Also in attempts to decrease their punishment they said that legendary rubin with coordinates of the safe was not found. To the political news… The boy only nuzzled his aunt while she was hugging him. There were no more tears, they expired the night before.</i> - Then why didn't you show up before? - his voice was full of skepticism - I could not find you, I still was living in China, but you and your aunt moved to Canada, and right when I figured out where you two are, I came here. - Ok - You still don’t believe me, do you? - Yes, tell me something that only a member of our family could know. - This murder happened on your seventh birthday,.. - That everyone can find in the old news releases. - There were fifty six people killed. - Same. - he is already moving his seat to get out of this place. - I know where the legendary rubi is. - No,...Wait what? Where from? - See you are already interested. - But, why did you not take it yourself? - Because I simply cannot, I see what you want to ask, but let me explain first. So, how you should know the rubi is somewhere hidden in Tibet's house, where this thing happened. - he got a nod from the man in front of him and only then continued - on the rubi’s side you can find the coordinates of the safe, but my problem is that only you can open both of them. - Why? - Because we are not in the nineteenth century and there are other security systems, such as retinal scan, DNA test and others, so the question is do you want to do this, with me as your assistant of course? Sebastian got three days to think about this offer, but two of them were already gone. And he just has a meeting with his best friend Mira, for now a friend. He was walking home and thinking about that, about her, his life. She advised him to go, especially right now when he is in a bad situation, but if he is not so sure about that, then she can come with if that’s possible. And preparation time started. Mira, Sebastian and Santiago, were collecting everything that they could need in this adventure. They did not need to buy measuring devices, because Santiago is a science teacher in the high school. And twenty fifth of March they all met each other in the international airport. - So Mr Lee Rice, are you ready for your future? - Yes Mr Lee Rice - these men clicked with each other In fourteen hours they have exited Shanghai's airport and sit in Santiago's car. The owner in the front beside the driver and Mira with Sebastian in the behind seats, the car was divided into two parts, the front one and the one behind - Mira, I think I need to tell you something. - Yes, I am listening, what do you want to tell me? - So, I love you, I think I fell in love with you when we had our first project together. You were so beautiful that day, I..I mean you are still beautiful, and my question is do you want to be with me, to be my girlfriend? - it was his first time when he told someone that he likes about his feelings, he was preparing for it the whole flight, but it feels like the whole life. - Oh my goodness, Sebastian - she also was blushing because she never thought about him as her boyfriend, but their relationship might work, so they can try at least - I have never thought about us in this way - Ok, then just forget about that, I hope that we still can be best friends, can we? - there was nothing left from the shy boy a minute ago, he turned to face the window - But that doesn’t mean that my answer is no. - she was smiling with hope in her eyes, and he turned around again while tears were on his face, hope that they were tears of happiness. - Are you serious? - Yes. - Thank you Mira, I love you - I love you too They have decided that first they are going to see Shanghai. It did not take much time to decide, because neither Sebastian nor Mira have ever been here. Spending a week for holidays was the perfect decision before a great number of work that they need to complete. Arriving in the village you can see one house which is different from all the rest. It was made by a personal order of Sebastian’s grandfather, nevertheless that they were currently in China, everything was made in classic american style. The village is small so there is no hotel or anything like that. They entered the house today. Surprisingly indoor it was not mossy, shabby and abandoned, you still can feel that the best years of this place passed away, you can feel a melancholy for this place and people who were killed there, on some of the walls the blood was still here and memories like a very fast film were flashing in Sebastian’s head. - I think it was so beautiful before. - said Mira scrutinize the interior of the main hall - Yeah, it was - said both of the men at the same time, grinning because of this coincidence. Walking around the house all three of them were taking some notes about the room they were in. It was an enormous building, so in one of the corridors they divided with each other and started examining it each on their own. Later they meet in the main hall. And Mira made the list of what they got: Rubi mystery: 10 living rooms - 1 for Santiago,1 for me and one for Sebastian 4 bathrooms (two on each floor) 1 main hall - 1st 1 kitchen - 1st Big basement - 4 rooms Small attic - Mira, are you sure that it is the right name for this list? - Yep, don’t you think so? - she raised her head and collided with the gaze of a guy standing next to her. - If you want to leave it like that, then you can. - Right now I want to kiss you. And then the monotonous days of exploring all the rooms dragged on, but the nights were covering all the stress and fatigue from the day. Almost every night Mira was coming into Santiago's room or he in her’s. They were spending time together, having nice and romantic dates under the moon, talking about life itself and their lives, childhood. Santiago even told Mira what happened that evening, when almost everyone of his family got killed, as an exchange she told him about her difficult times in the highschool, where she got bullied. But one day when Sebastian was working alone, while Mara and his uncle were doing something in the cabinet, he found a sign of security systems in the wall. He entered the room and got straight to one of the tables near the window, searching for a pen which he forgot there. - Why are you both so quiet right now? - with these words he turned around to see his girlfriend on the table while his uncle’s arms were around her waist. - Wait, what is happening here? Mira, you are going with me - he exited the room but at the last moment he turned around to tell Santiago - With you I will talk later. Three seconds later in the hallway. - Mira, I can’t believe my eyes, what is happening, why while I am working my girlfriend is cheating on me with my uncle? - he was annoyed and shocked - You really thought that I wanted to be with you? That we will be happy forever? - No, but I can tell that our friendship was very helpful for my career, but now when I am who I always wanted to be, I can do whatever I want to do. - Santiago was trying to find an explanation in the eyes of his not only his ex-girlfriend but also his ex-best friend, but he found only ice in the once glowing warmth eyes. - Tell me that it is not true, please, tell me that it is just a bad joke. Please, I am begging, begging you. - she just grinned and went away, leaving the boy, who always wanted to have his family again, ddle of May. By this time his disease worsened a lot. Almost at the last moment he got in the hospital where the doctors were operating him for more than twenty hours but here on the cold marble floor among his ruined dreams. He did not talk with his uncle, he simply did not have any energy. But the next day he stood up and finished everything that he needed to do. Working with hypocrites and deceivers, he did not show any emotion, even when he wanted to break something around him, he didn't. When they finally reached the rubi and read the coordinates, the tool showed a dot on the island in the lake in a few kilometers. Opening the safe box was the easiest part of their journey, which they completed in a few hours. As compensation for the time spended here working with him, he paid them five percent from his capital and they left him this evening. When Santiago Lee Rice completed all the bureaucratic stuff about this house and everything that he owns right now, he came back to Canada, in the miat the end they got a healthy man. After a week in the hospital Mr Cernson allowed him to go home. Now he doesn't need to say anything anymore, the robots which were floating all over his body can connect with his smart dom and he just needs to think. - Oh, Mr Lee Rice, finally you are back home, do you want your usual tea? - Yes please, also can you please respond to “Mira”? - There is no kind of problem for me. - Thank you, Mira. The time was going and it is already Election time. He showed up once in public, but his campaign became second, so he just finished all his activity in this. He stopped getting outdoors at all, he was talking only with his “Mira”, while the real one was not worried about his state nor was worried his uncle. He was just laying on his bed the whole day, this action was interrupting only when he needed to eat. He spent months like that, after almost two years, he resigned to everything that happened before. His own “Mira” helped him with that. He changed the country to Argentina, his sphere of activity and stopped even thinking about what was before. Right now it has been ten years since he moved here. Sebastian is a successful writer and artist. His life became normal again, he got some friends, he has his usual routine which he needs to do daily, but sometimes melancholy covers him all, his friends, he actually can call them like that, are helping him to escape without any questions. Almost every time after that thing happens he gets a horrible headache, and this is one of these days. As always he finds a friend beside his bed on the chair. - Sally, I am here, Sally, wake up! - Oh, finally. - Yeah, I am also glad to see you, but can you please bring me a glass of water? - Okay, just a second. When he is getting downstairs to the kitchen, every step causes a new wave of pain in Sebastian’s head and before he draws in the blackness, he sees the last thing. Doctors during the operation are setting robots to not only help my body to function, but also to control it. But it should happen step by step over a long period of time. And this time is now. From the “right now” point of view, he sees a complete difference between him before and him right now. It looked like that happened because of Mira, but it did not. His whole rhythm of life changed after the operation and was changing more and more. What was their goal..? Flash in his mind and he feels terrifying, scared from something inside and…