Inspirational quote: Don't just dream about success. Work for it.

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Arista was dead.

It was hard thinking about it, but it was true.

Arista was dead.

Both of them.

Version one and version two as well.

It was too surreal to be true.

Dr Kozak and Ezekiel had just killed her, so now they were both staring at her,lying lifelessly on the floor, however unlike Ezekiel, Dr Kozak was nearly about to cry.

"Well that escalated quickly," Kieran echoed, but then stopped talking when everyone in the room was looking at him spitefully.

"Be quiet, Kieran," Esperanza told him. "Now is really not the time. Please be respectful to the dead."

That was when the room went completely silent, however not completely silent because Dr Kozak was sniffing and crying his heart out.

Everyone realised this, but only Ezekiel tried to cheer him up because nobody else really knew how to.

When no one was looking, particularly when Agent White, Esperanza and Kieran were talking about something, Agent Ezekiel walked closer to Dr Kozak who was now sitting on a chair with a million boxes of tissues infesting him.

"Hey," Ezekiel whispered, putting an arm around Dr Kozak.

"Hello," Dr Kozak whispered back through a misfit of sniffles.

Ezekiel: You okay?

Dr Kozak shook his head vigorously.

Dr Kozak: Is that a trick question?

Ezekiel: *is watching Kozak cry, knows that he has to do something about it* Aww... Want a hug?

Dr Kozak didn't say anything. Just nodded. That was when Ezekiel hugged him, and when they hugged each other, they didn't stop.

For about fifty seconds anyway.

Ezekiel: Do you want to talk about it?

Dr Kozak: Okay. But later. Much much later.

That was when Ezekiel stood up, heading for the door, Agent White just beating him to it.

White: Well... I've got to go.

Ezekiel: Where you going?

White: *taps his watch continuously* Maria Grace needs me.

Ezekiel: Why does Maria Grace always need you?

Agent White just stared at him, not saying anything for a while.

White: Well... I've never really told anyone this before but...

Ezekiel: But what?

White: Maria Grace is my sister.

That was when Ezekiel gasped, not believing what he had heard, then turned to Dr Kozak, whose eyes were red.

Ezekiel: Demetrius!

Dr Kozak: *frowning, face is red, and he's still crying* Yeah?

Ezekiel: Is Maria Grace really Agent White's sister?

Dr Kozak: Yes. Maria Grace told me. I had to check both of their birth certificates as well because I didn't believe them. But it's true.

Ezekiel: *turns back to Agent White* But you're like.... Thirty!

Agent White: *is offended... Highly offended* I'm eighteen!

Ezekiel: You look 30.

Dr Kozak: Yeah he does.

Ezekiel: *tilts his head to the side to see something* Oh yeah. You do look like Maria Grace. You have the same eyes as her.

White: *slightly confused* Is that a compliment or an insult?

Dr Kozak: Compliment.

Agent White didn't say anything.

White: Why compliment?

No one replied.

Ezekiel: Because if he has said insult, you'd get offended. Don't deny it, dude. You get offended pretty fast.

Agent White smiled.

Dr Kozak: Eh well... Kind of.

Agent White: I don't get offended by things that quickly, you guys are just over exaggerating a bit *casually but slowly heads for the door* Anyway... My sister needs me. I'm sorry but I have to leave.

But Ezekiel held him back.

Ezekiel: Wait. One more thing Agent White....

Agent White: *slightly annoyed once again* What?

Ezekiel: Why do they call you agent White?

Agent White: Because I always wear white.

Ezekiel: You're not wearing white right now though are you?

Agent White: That's because all of my white clothes are dirty.

Dr Kozak: But what's your actual name?

Agent White: That's for me to know and for you to wish you did.

Then he headed for the door.

Agent White: Okay fine. It's Fernandez. Anyway. No more questions. I have to leave. Bye. *purposely slams the door and leave*

Nobody in the room had said anything after Agent White had left, and before he even realised it, Dr Kozak was crying all over again.

"Are you sure you're okay, sir?" Kieran had asked him, after just having the longest argument ever with Esperanza over why she was always rude to Cynthia Rose. And she still didn't say why.

"Yes, Kieran! Yes. I'm fine," Dr Kozak lied, still crying though.

No one was convinced.

Although after he had said that, Dr Kozak had unexpectedly done something.

He fainted.

No one really knew why or how, he just fainted. And worst of all, no one caught him.

Ezekiel caught Dr Kozak after about a minute after he had fainted. He then helped his best friend up to his feet again, muttering something.

"Okay. We need to talk, Demetrius." Ezekiel told him, helping him up and heading outside.

"About what?"

"Stuff," Ezekiel replied unhelpfully. "And I'll tell Esperanza and Kieran that we're leaving so they don't start helplessly wondering where we are."

Dr Kozak didn't say anything. Just watched it as Ezekiel told them that they were heading outside, then before Dr Kozak knew it, Ezekiel was escorting him out of his laboratory.

Ezekiel then led Dr Kozak into a room, not a janitor's closet, just a very miniature room that was located about five rooms away from Dr Kozak's laboratory.

They were in there for about five minutes before they left again.

Ezekiel: Okay. You're upset. I don't like that.

Dr Kozak: *uses tissue to conceal the fact that he's crying* Just emotionally unstable, Ezekiel.

Ezekiel: *is staring non stop at him, Dr Kozak is doing the same thing but through tears* I've just never seen you this upset before. You need to tell me what's on your mind that's making you feel like this.

Dr Kozak: It's just... I didn't really want to kill my daughter, but she deserved to die, you know....

Ezekiel: You did the right thing Demetrius. And you know that as well.

Dr Kozak: I'm so going to hell when I die.

Ezekiel: You're making me angry. Don't say stuff like that. God forbid.

Dr Kozak: *is crying non stop* I just wish Arista told me that she was working for Diana's sister...

Ezekiel: I would have told you too but Agent White and I only found out about this today. Sorry.

Dr Kozak: No one trusts me anymore! People are always keeping secrets away from me. And I don't know why.

Ezekiel: Hey hey hey. I think you're forgetting something really important here.

Dr Kozak: *blinks at him in perplexity once, doesn't say anything* What?

Ezekiel: I trust you.

Dr Kozak smiled faintly.

Ezekiel: And I've never kept a secret away from you. You know that. We've never had an argument before. Because we always tell each other things no matter what. And I want it to stay that way, until we both die.

Dr Kozak: *crying tears of joy but still crying helplessly nevertheless* My god Ezekiel you are so nice.....

Agent Ezekiel smiled then laughed which Dr Kozak didn't know was pretend or not.

Agent Ezekiel: Just doing my job.

Then another long hug proceeded that....

Agent Ezekiel: Okay. We're alone here, so admit it. Is there anything else that's making you cry your eyes out right now?

Dr Kozak: Yes.

Agent Ezekiel: What is it?

Dr Kozak: It's kind of personal... So don't worry about it.

Agent Ezekiel: Okay. Okay that's fine. I can't force you to tell me something personal if you don't want to.

Dr Kozak: Thanks for understanding. Demetrius loves you. You're the best.

Ezekiel: And Ezekiel loves you too, Demetrius. Forever and ever.

Same, long hug....

The conversation had ended when Dr Kozak had unlocked the door, but before he left, Agent Ezekiel said something.

Ezekiel: Wait. Demetrius. One more thing.

Dr Kozak turned back once he heard that.

Dr Kozak: What is it?

Ezekiel: Check your phone.

Dr Kozak: I can't.

Ezekiel: Why not?

Dr Kozak: Kieran has it.

Ezekiel: *confused* Why does Kieran have it?

Dr Kozak: I forgot to collect it back from him. We needed it as a timer for the mission. Everyone else's phone had died and mine was the only phone that was fully charged. Well realistically seventy percent or higher. But still.

Ezekiel: Okay but when you've got the time, check your phone. I may or may not have written some nice long paragraph about you.

Dr Kozak: *smiles, still sniffing* Thanks so much.

Ezekiel: No problem. Although I have to leave.

And saying that, Agent Ezekiel left, and so did Dr Kozak. Dr Kozak headed back to his laboratory, and Agent Ezekiel to his room.

When Dr Kozak had entered, he soon found himself crying all over again, however for a completely different reason.

Kieran and Esperanza were both watching him non stop as he sat down in his spinning chair, sniffing.

Esperanza: *watches him intently* Hey sir.

Dr Kozak: *spinning around in his spinning chair* Hey Esperanza.

Kieran: You okay?

Dr Kozak: You could say that.

Esperanza: What's wrong?

Dr Kozak: What isn't wrong more like. My life. That's what's wrong.

Kieran: Aw... Want to talk about it?

Dr Kozak: Yes. Talking would be nice. Thanks.

That was when Kieran and Esperanza went closer to Dr Kozak, still standing up though.

Esperanza: Is it okay if Kieran and I sit on your lap?

Dr Kozak: Sure.

That was when they both sat down, Kieran sitting on Dr Kozak's right leg and Esperanza on Dr Kozak's left.

Kieran: So what's wrong?

That was when Dr Kozak started crying again, Kieran and Esperanza just watching him sympathetically.

Dr Kozak: I can't believe I'm saying this but I deeply regret killing my daughter... Although she deserved to die...

Kieran: Don't feel bad. You did the right thing.

Esperanza: Kieran's right. And if you're ever feeling upset again just know that you've got us.

Dr Kozak: Thanks guys.... I just really miss my daughter....

Kieran: Is there anything else that's making you feel upset?

Dr Kozak nodded vigorously.

Esperanza: Okay so what is it?

Dr Kozak: You guys won't understand.

Esperanza and Kieran: Why not?

Dr Kozak: Because. You're teenagers. And I'm an adult. So I don't really feel like you guys would be able to understand things from my point of view.

Kieran: You're underestimating us... What's the second reason on why you're upset?

Dr Kozak: Because I just realised something.

Esperanza and Kieran: What?

Dr Kozak: *crying helplessly* All of my family members are dead.

There was silence in the room for a while as neither Esperanza or Kieran or Dr Kozak said anything.

Kieran: Not all of them are dead.

Dr Kozak: The ones I lived with.

Esperanza: Continue talking.

Dr Kozak: There were five people in my family, including me. Me, Astera, Marcel, Tyrese and Arista. And guess what?

Esperanza and Kieran: What?

Dr Kozak: *looks at both of them quite annoyingly, tears still in his eyes* They've all died, Kieran and Esperanza. All in less than one week as well.

Kieran and Esperanza both gasped once they realised that this was true.

Dr Kozak: I'm the only living person in my family left. I don't like that... I wish I could just join the dead with them. Heck, why am I even ranting to you guys... You won't understand a word of what I'm saying.

Kieran: Actually.... We do.

Dr Kozak just stared at Kieran blankly, looking really unconvinced.

Kieran: All of my family members I lived with are dead too. I had three siblings who were all triplets and my stepmother killed all of them. Except one, who died in a tornado.

Dr Kozak: Oh yeah I remember that tornado.

Esperanza: Same.

Kieran: My real parents are dead. They both died before I could even get a chance to properly meet them. My stepmother died by falling out of a window and my adoptive father died by a train crash.

Dr Kozak: Oh yeah I remember reading about this in your history of your life.

Esperanza: The history of his what?

Dr Kozak: *turns to face her* Don't worry. It's a long explanation but everyone has one of them.

Esperanza: And Dr Kozak... I know how you feel too. Okay so maybe all of my family members that I currently live with aren't all dead... However my oldest brother died in a car crash last night and my father died by a bomb explosion in the streets last year July.

Dr Kozak: Thanks for understanding. Maybe I underestimated you guys.

Kieran and Esperanza: Yes you did. You really really did.

Kieran: *puts an arm around Dr Kozak and hugs him* Hey and we might not actually be blood related but you've always got me and Esperanza by your side no matter what happens.

Esperanza: Yeah. You're like our father, Dr Kozak.

Dr Kozak smiled at that, his face and eyes still red from crying so much.

Dr Kozak: And you guys are like my kids.

They all smiled at that.

Dr Kozak: *hugs both of them at the same time* It may not always seem like it but I love you guys so much.

Esperanza and Kieran: *both simultaneously hug Dr Kozak back* And we love you so much too, Dr Kozak.

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Moral of chapter: Just because you're never there when someone cries doesn't automatically mean that they don't have feelings.