The world below is crisp and clear and sparkling. Kaelen seems to be pausing to reflect on this discovery as well.
I watch him carefully, waiting for a cue. He makes his way down deeper. I still can’t see the bottom. Even with my enhanced vision. Which means we must not even be close to it. I don’t know much about submarines, apart from the limited knowledge I received via Reese’s video game, but I have a feeling it’s not all that accurate. I sincerely doubt most submarines blow soap bubbles or have magical instruments that make you travel faster. But I do know that if there’s any kind of underwater vessel passing below us, I certainly can’t see it. And judging by the expression on Kaelen’s face, neither can he.
He dives a little deeper and I follow. This is my first time swimming. That I can remember, at least, but I already know that I like it. And I’m good at it. The feeling of maneuvering through the water is soothing.
It’s also very quiet under here. Peaceful.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard such silence before. With my superior hearing, there’s always noise somewhere. Even if it’s far off in the distance. A fox howling five miles away, people arguing in the apartment across the street, a bus approaching a curb three blocks away.
But down here the world seems to have finally gone to sleep. Apart from the gentle shhh sound of the water against my ears, and the occasional ripple-splash of Kaelen’s stroke, my ears pick up nothing.
It’s wonderful.
For a second, I’m almost able to forget how cold it is and everything that’s happening above the surface. I’m almost able to feel okay again.
Kaelen and I make a small circle below the spot where we landed. There is still no sign of anything apart from a few schools of fish that pass.
I’m not sure how long an average person can hold their breath, but I estimate we’ve been down here at least three minutes and I don’t feel the need to surface anytime soon. However, I do notice that the deeper we go, the more pressure I feel between my temples. And in my chest.
Kaelen must feel it, too, because after attempting to paddle even farther into the depths, he suddenly stops and starts to float back upward.
We break the surface a few moments later and I wipe the water from my face and eyes. We’re both shivering.
“Did you see anything?” Kaelen inquires, his teeth chattering slightly.
I shake my head. “You?”
“Nothing.”
We tread water in silence but I keep my gaze tightly on Kaelen. His wet hair is slicked back against his head, revealing more of his smooth, arched forehead than I’ve ever seen before. I can’t help noticing the way the moonlight reflects off the moisture in his hair. Like his loose waves are woven with tiny diamonds.
He senses me looking at him and turns, the light momentarily catching one of his brilliant blue-green eyes.
It would be ridiculous for me to deny how beautiful those eyes are. Breathtaking. Even more so against the deep blue sea and darkened sky behind him.
Then I think about Zen’s soulful brown eyes. When I look into them I see everything. I see love. I see light. I see home.
And yet, somehow, sadly, they seem so mild in comparison to Kaelen’s.
It’s like regardless of what nature can do, regardless of how hard it works, how hard it tries, how magnificent the results, science always manages to find a way to surmount it. To make things not just magnificent … but perfect. And I find myself thinking how unfair that is. How devious.
Like science is somehow cheating at the game.
And nature simply doesn’t stand a chance.
How do you compete with eyes like that? With skin that flawless? With hair that glitters in the moonlight?
The answer is obvious to me: you can’t.
But still, it doesn’t stop me from wondering what Kaelen sees when he looks at the world. Does he even have the ability to perceive with subjectivity? To look at something and think it’s beautiful? Or has Alixter removed that, too?
And somehow, that is the saddest idea of all.
What does Kaelen see when he looks at the sunrise? Is it just a sequence of atmospheric pigments and light patterns? Or can he recognize that it’s masterful? What about when he looks at the stars? The ocean? The snow falling from the sky? Does he only see frozen water? Or does he notice the exquisiteness of each unique snowflake?
What about when he looks at me? Does he see another genetically enhanced, scientifically created, Diotech-manufactured superhuman? One whose programming has gone awry? Or …
Does he think I’m beautiful?
The thought makes my stomach turn and for a moment I stop paddling and begin to sink. Kaelen is quick to grab me and pull me back up, and once again the touch of his skin is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s like the world comes alive. I come alive.