Although he was not a trustworthy type of person, he didn't seem like someone who would stab me in the back. Because of that, the documents he handled usually had a very high level of reliability. Moreover, he was someone capable enough to interfere with the government's information network and create a legal identity for JJ.
So the first step was complete. Now I just had to wait for Simon to send the documents through email. As for the landlady, I would say JJ was my cousin, and if needed, I could just pay her portion of the rent as well. Overall, everything had been arranged properly.
Less than two hours later, Simon finished his work and sent all the documents via email, including an ID card along with other essential papers. He was also the one who decided the name. Let's see.
"Lise Rohansen." JJ suddenly appeared behind me and read the name on the laptop screen out loud. "Whose name is this?"
"You're awake? That's your new name. With these documents, it'll be easier for you to go outside."
"You have no sense of aesthetics when choosing names. Besides, I like my own name more." She pouted.
At this moment, I felt extremely regretful for letting Simon choose a name for JJ. She had the appearance of someone of Asian descent, but the name he picked clearly belonged to some random Northern European girl.
"Uh… this name sounds fine though. And it's already stored in the government system, so it can't be changed." I turned toward JJ, forcing a smile in hopes of calming her down.
"That's fine, but I still want you to call me JJ."
Her eyes showed a firm determination.
"Isn't that just a lab nickname?" I asked.
"No. It's my real name. Everyone always called me that, so I think there must be some meaning behind it. And besides…" She raised her index finger. "JJ. Lise Rohansen. Which one do you think is easier to say?"
"Well, JJ then. I don't mind. It's easier to remember too."
She smiled in satisfaction, then turned toward me.
"So what should I call you?"
"Call me Don Visse Docastine Florentine. I only let special people use that name."
A name full of elegance and Mediterranean wildness. I had to think quite a bit to come up with it.
"No. Your name is Hung. Yeah, I'll call you Hung."
JJ rejected it immediately. Understandable, since that name was too hard to remember. Even I couldn't recall it properly after saying it. But… I didn't really like people calling me Hung that much, because if you pronounce it differently in German, it sounds like "hun", a dog.
But whatever.
After a few steps, I plugged in the cable to the old printer. I placed the best quality paper into it and started operating on the laptop keyboard. Within a few minutes, all the necessary documents were printed out. Once done, I quickly deleted the email and browser history.
"So now we have all the documents. Tomorrow we can go to the hospital so a doctor can check your arm. Yawn…" I interlocked my fingers, stretched them upward, then twisted my body. "What are you doing?"
JJ picked up a cigarette filter lying on the carpet and stared at it with fascination. She looked like a child who had just stepped out into the world.
"There was a time when I thought all humans were the same. Only I was different. But after meeting you, maybe I should seriously rethink that." She spoke softly, still staring at the cigarette filter.
Then she continued:
"Hey. Tell me. Why are you different from them? Why are you different from humans like that? Why aren't you afraid of me like the others?"
It was hard to answer that question because I had never thought of myself as anything special. The only thing that made me feel different was my dream. I liked humans, and I always wanted to do something with their bodies. The more unique a person was, the more I liked them.
And to me, JJ was a special person, just like how she saw me as special. So the answer would be:
"Because I'm like you. Because you're the only one who's special to me, JJ. That's why I won't be afraid."
At first glance, that would sound like a cheesy confession, so I had to clarify my stance.
"Don't worry, JJ. I promise you: your body will be the last thing in this world that I dissect."
JJ tilted her head, then burst out laughing.
"Hehe, you really are unique. The more I look at you, the more interesting you get. It's been a long time since I heard someone threaten to kill me like that. Then you can rest assured too, because you'll be the last prey I kill."
Her smile stretched wide to a disturbing extent, those red eyes staring straight at me.
"I will definitely kill you."
I was certain that wasn't just an empty threat. When I looked into her eyes, we both understood how strong the desire to kill the other was.
"Oh right, let's put the killing aside for now. Tomorrow we have to go outside, so you can't wear something this… revealing. Wait a bit, I'll find some clothes for you."
A few days ago, a classmate asked me to buy some clothes from H&M during a sale because she was busy. Their body sizes were quite similar, so the clothes would probably fit JJ.
Tomorrow at school, I would definitely apologize and return the money. There was no other choice. Hopefully she wouldn't be too angry because I broke my promise again.
"I don't really mind those things. But are you planning to go out today, Hung?"
"Not yet. Why?"
"I just want to go outside. Staying in one place is boring."
"No." I immediately refused. "If you go outside like this, I'll probably get arrested. Your body is full of scars and bandages."
JJ's expression instantly turned irritated. She gritted her teeth.
"Tch. Laws are so troublesome!"
To be honest, I was more worried about her losing control outside. Who knew what a serial killer might do? At the very least, right now, I didn't want JJ to kill anyone else.
Sunlight filtered through the window. JJ leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the sky. I didn't know what she was thinking. It was just a dull blue sky.
A large truck carrying construction materials passed by the main road near the building, creating metallic clanking sounds. Then everything went quiet again.
Boring. That was the feeling I experienced every day since coming here. Nothing to do and nowhere to go. After finishing fifty chapters of manga on my laptop, I turned to JJ to start a conversation. Leaving her alone didn't seem like a good idea.
"Are you American?"
JJ slowly turned, slightly surprised.
"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"
"Your English is pretty fluent. Did they teach you at the Institute?"
Language plays an important role in training. It's always better when both sides understand each other. It makes giving orders easier.
"I don't know. When I became conscious, I could already speak like this. Also… my memory isn't very good. It always feels like something is missing in my head, but I can't remember it. I don't even remember why I left."
"Because you were bored?"
"Yeah, probably." She smirked. "What about you? Why are you like this?"
An unexpected question. It made me hesitate.
Why am I like this? Even I don't know.
And what does "like this" even mean?
"I think I'm pretty normal."
JJ shook her head, tapping lightly on the window frame.
"I don't think I've been outside long enough to understand humans. But you're not like them."
"Everyone has differences."
Though mutants… might be "a bit too many."
To me, even knowing what she had done, I still didn't think JJ was a bad person. But what is a bad person? I don't really know. Humans all have good and bad sides. It just depends on how they show it. JJ was the same, only her way was… a bit extreme.
A wild human, living true to her instincts, with a simple way of thinking. No matter if others called her a monster or a mutant, to me, JJ was more "human" than anyone I had ever met.
If she liked something, she acted. If she was provoked, she fought. Living like that… you wouldn't have to worry about "what to eat tomorrow," right?
It's nice to think simply like that.
"Boring!" JJ suddenly stretched, then looked toward a corner of the room.
"Hey, what is that big glass box thing?"
Without turning, I already knew she meant the old TV in my room. Calling it a "big box" hurt a bit since I considered it one of my treasures.
"Oh, that's a device that transmits images and sound. If you want to watch, press the gray button in the middle."
Since it was an old TV, it didn't have a remote. It was inconvenient, which was why I rarely used it, mostly relying on my laptop instead.
"Got it." She said, then pressed the button.
Right on cue, the news broadcast came on.
[The sixth victim has appeared in the serial murder case…]
Immediately, I turned around and stared straight at the girl sitting there.