11

Cornelius crossed himself when he saw how the cinema doors flew apart.

The sledgehammer used by Doom whistles very loudly when swinging.

— Damn it!—Cornelius blurted out.

— It's a big thing...—Dariusz whispered in horror.

— You'd better keep quiet...—Cornelius took the broken leg of an aluminum chair in one hand.

Doom growls like an animal, knocking down chairs that got in his way.

— Kirby, hide behind the screen!—I said.

— What, why? I have a gun!—My brother said indignantly.

I pushed my brother towards the screen, wanting to avoid further bickering.

I jump aside just in time and manage to get as far away from Doom's sledgehammer as possible.

A large dent appears in the floor of the cinema.

— Scattered!—I shout.

I shoot Doom in the back as he swings a sledgehammer at Kirby as he runs out.

I heard Cornelius's quiet command in my head. More precisely, it was a request.

"I'll kill him myself. Just distract him now."

Cornelius nodded when our eyes met. It meant "now."

My second bullet ricocheted off the Doom.

— You'd better run away, little ants...—

When Doom says even a small phrase, it gets even scarier for me.

— Oh, horror, this freak also talks...—Cornelius said aloud, dodging the blow.

— It would be better for you to run away, Kaminsky, you and your pack of puppies will soon be under my hammer!—

This time, after the second saying of the Doom, his sledgehammer scratches Cornelius' back.

Kirby takes aim and shoots Doom right into the mouth, which is open in a terrible grimace.

Everyone froze...

The bullet fell to the floor.

Doom's huge, stone-like teeth twisted into a grin.

— Run, Kirby!—I shouted, firing bullet after bullet at Doom.

A sledgehammer hits Darek's shoulder. It is unclear whether the bones cracked or not.

With a running start, Cornelius jumps right onto Doom's back. Right on the back of this freak, who is about two and a half tall

meters that Frankenstein would have been afraid of.

The second impact on that huge head flattened the aluminum leg of the chair like a Pepsi can.

— Let's run as far as possible!—I shout, noticing that my beloved's eyes are turning black.

Cornelius's eyeballs turned completely black when he sat on the Doom like a mechanical bull.

Kaminsky's fingers dug into the monster's temples.

Doom's skull crunched, black smoke from Cornelius' fingers enveloped the monster's head and swirled around in worms of incomprehensible

forms. These worms were devouring the giant's huge head!

Cornelius jumped off the giant, but did not avoid hitting the back of his head against the wall.

— Cornelius!— I jumped up to my beloved, but my beautiful professor got up himself:

— I'm fine. We're leaving. We need to check if there are any traces left...—

I held my lover's shoulder.

—You're shaky, Cornelius...—I said

— I'm fine, I'm fine... I'll get my strength back soon...— Cornelius took out a package of paper handkerchiefs.—We need to clear everything. Cover the footprints with that!—

I opened the package. White powder was wrapped in handkerchiefs.

— From the screen to the exit?—Dariusz asked.

— If you know what to do, why ask?— Cornelius began to pour powder on the floor, simultaneously covering Doom's body with it, or rather,

What's left of him.

— And what is this?—I asked, carefully covering the floor.

— Have you ever seen a biodegrader poured into cesspools? It looks like this very biodegrader. How it will stink here!!—Neil B. poured a separate dose of powder on the guard's body.

We scattered the remaining couple of doses where there were bloody traces.

— Let's leave quickly and don't breathe!—Cornelius said.

— And the cameras? They could have filmed us!—Kirby said nervously.— We need to look for surveillance cameras! —

— No need.—Cornelius looked up at the ceiling.

The red light flashing in the corner sparkled and went out.

I smiled.

**

Cornelius drove his car to the club at crazy speeds.

I even had a fleeting thought that I should have entrusted the steering wheel to Kirby...

— Where are they?— Neil B. jumped out of the car so fast that my eyes didn't have time to catch it.

— In the office, waiting for you.—A short, stout man said.

— Of course, you shouldn't have let them come to me... Okay.—Cornelius went upstairs at a brisk pace.— Stay in the hall for now, if I

I'll kill them, I don't want any witnesses.—

— I'm so afraid when he's angry...—I said softly.

— You love him so much that sometimes I feel uneasy...—Kirby whispered.

— Since he entered the classroom... I've been afraid of myself ever since. I remember how Hannah tried to prove to me that it was only about his cute face...—I smiled.

— Love is a feeling above being carried away by a cute face. Love is the union of two hearts.—Dariusz said.

— Oh, you're a poet.— I noticed a clean sofa and sat down on it.

— No, I just watch a lot of TV. And how long have you known Cornelius?—Darek asked.

He also sat down on this sofa, throwing a pillow covered in blood on the floor.

— Ten years... Even almost eleven. He was looking for parts of his ship and for this he got a job at the university where I was a student. The nuclear physics teacher disappeared there. Now I think it's not without his intervention. I can't stop to look at him... Then he tried to hijack a satellite or something to knock down the trajectory of the meteorite... But

It didn't work out. He almost died then, and I lost my memory... If I hadn't remembered him, I would have killed him on Mariusz's orders... Kirby was in the car with me when it happened...—I turned to my brother.

— ... And I remember everything. But I can only speak in the presence of Cornelius...—Kirby pointed to his temple.— A tiny piece of this stuff is still out there somewhere, wandering, tearing my brain apart. One day he might kill me, but... If it going out, I'm going to die...—

— Is it hard to live with that?—Darek asked.

Kirby did not have time to answer — first two men jumped out of the office screaming, and then Cornelius calmly left.

— I've fixed everything.—He smiled carelessly.— They will bring twenty boxes of ammunition tomorrow. For free, of course...—

When Cornelius is so cheerful, it's clear that he scared someone again.

Antimatter isn't always unpleasant to him...

— Are you sure they're still in the mind?—I asked.

— Hey, I'm just a beast in your opinion!—Kaminsky Sr. said.— I just raised my voice a little bit at them!—

—Darek,— Kirby suddenly asked.—You have a gun, but why didn't you fire a single shot? Are you out of bullets?—

Cornelius grinned, sitting down next to me.

— Come on, Dariusz, tell Kirby about Dad's gun.— He said.— I was angry at first that you took his gun, but now I think,

it will be necessary...—

Dariush took a sawn—off shotgun out of his trouser leg.

— This gun shoots a piece of supernova. Compressed to atomic size, a supernova stands here instead of cartridges. I was

Ten, when I went on a spaceship flight with Cornelius... Of course, I got in there without his decision , but it's not main thing what I was uninvited... We were looking for smart, intellectual civilizations, and we found this...—Darek waved his hand.— Almost the same as ours! Only people aren't that smart. But there is Poland (though not so big), England, the USA and Africa... Well, I don't remember all the countries... Almost everything is the same... Some countries are completely incomprehensible to us...—

— We don't understand them either. No one understands...—I said.— That's how we live...—

— How can you live without logic?—Dariusz asked.

Suddenly, in this almost silence, the stomach of the eldest of the Kaminsky brothers rumbled loudly.

Cornelius laughed, causing the print on his pink T-shirt to twitch and the wound running through his ribs became noticeable.

— Cornelius, did Doom hurt you?—Darek and I asked in unison.

— Let's go eat first, and then we'll waste our nerves...—Neil B. said.— I can't think when my stomach is empty...—

— And where did the last owner of this club go?—I asked, standing by the window.

I didn't stand there for long - my head started spinning very quickly.

Cornelius laughed soundlessly when I sat down next to him.

— The owner of this place was only too happy to get rid of him. And I wouldn't go near that window . I've already thrown a few people through it today...— Cornelius' hands are much hotter than they should be.

His body temperature is very often higher after the release of antimatter.

— You're a fire.—I say, smiling, and pull him onto the bed.

Cornelius lies down in front of me, I hold him to me as tightly as possible and press my lips to those perfect lips.

— Was that a compliment?— my beloved asks.

— I'm hot with you. And yes, you are a real fire...—I whispered.

— Thanks, my love... And you know...—Cornelius approached even closer.— It's time for us to get ready for work...—

— And you? Will you be sitting in the office?—I asked.

— I'll try to dance, I'll rehearse here if I can...—Cornelius listened.— I hope they won't be late with the repairs... —

***

I entered the staff locker room.

Unlike the club, it was a little chilly here, probably it was created by the metal details of the interior.

— Adrianna!— a voice that was painfully familiar, almost youthful in tone, called me.

— Cornelius...—I smiled.— Is there another exit here? —

— With the exits that this club has and the entrances, I would call it an anthill. I wanted to see you again...—whisper Cornelius has a loud pulse in my head.— Actually, I always want to see you, but now I wanted to give you a gift for good luck. Like that bracelet... Like this magical days...—

Surrounded by cigarette smoke, he looked like a vicious angel among the clouds.

Cornelius came over and put his chain around my neck. His smell... It's driving me mad!

— Let them guard you together. I don't think I would have kept my mind on this terrible planet without you...— the cigarette falls on the floor fades under his shoe.

— I can't imagine how I would have lived without you at all... If I had been offered a life-changing, I would never have agreed. Yes,

I miss my parents and Kirby misses them. But we will find them. I don't know how... We'll find them. And the second one I'll never find treasures like you...—

Gathering my courage, I changed my clothes.

The shiny dress didn't look as ridiculous on me as I initially thought.

I walked briskly into the hall.

Dariusz was stacking the washed glasses.

— Our authentic "Three Sixes" squad will start its business soon!— He said in a whisper.— And this will be our headquarters, at least

At least for now... I'm so happy for some reason...—

— I'm glad I'm on the right side myself...—I said.

The large doors leading to the small hallway slowly parted in different directions.

— Get the earplugs ready...—Dariusz said, walking away to the beer taps.

There, noticing in the mirror that he had left in plain sight another important and familiar object to those who know him, a medallion, on

which is his name, Darek unbuttoned his shirt by a couple of buttons and hid the jewelry.

I took a position near the bar - the whole room is best visible here.

Four aliases flashed on the big screen, it seems, female...

Someone called me, I took the order and went to the bar.

— They're asking for red wine and a cheese plate.—I told Darek.

— Now.— Dariusz went to the kitchen of the club.

He returned with a large plate full of various kinds of cheese slices.

I left to deliver the order, taking another large bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

— Excuse me, can we have two more glasses?— one of the men asked me.— The ladies will be coming to us soon.—

As I walked back to the bar, I realized I didn't see Kirby.

My inner intuition tells me that everything is fine with him.

Maybe it's true... But I can't do it without checking.

I took a couple of glasses from Darek and took them to the men.

So far, I haven't noticed anyone suspicious...

Girls with very impressive shapes were spinning on stage to creepy music in witch costumes.

Perhaps there is something wonderful in this... "Artistic striptease," as Cornelius once said.

When I got a text message, I immediately hurried to the kitchen of the club.

Mariusz will never call this phone. He doesn't know this number.

Two people know this number- my most beautiful younger brother Kirby and my father's best friend Ryan Carter.

It is simply impossible to find a nicer person.

He was the one who moved from America to Poland to take care of Kirby and me.

He has been missing for almost a year, and even then only because I found him a good specialist who will help him cope with his problem.

Because of my first meeting with Cornelius, Ryan suffered a terrible injury - his spine was damaged by a bullet in his back.

I still haven't said what, or rather who, was the reason that our car was shelled in the evening.

"I'll be back soon. I want to see you so much! Maybe I'll come to you on my own feet."

I smiled and went out into the hall again.

With my excessive powers of observation, the show was even too fast for me.

The bowl that stood at the stage, in order to avoid this unpleasant shoving of money into the underwear of strippers, is filled

incredibly fast as always.

I'm always waiting for Cornelius to show up when I'm here. I think that even without memory, my heart has always been waiting for him.

My only one... The one for whom I am ready to do anything...

The moment I first looked at him, my life changed, I drowned in these brown lakes...

A strange-looking man stabbed one of our waiters... Damn it!

The badge is exactly like mine!

I don't know how I had the self-control not to rush right here to find out what happened.

At that moment, Kirby came out of the room behind the stage. Acting almost unobtrusively, he called our waiter over

with a gesture, without even approaching them.

Someone called me again, but I didn't react and went to where Kirby had disappeared.

The boy, whose name seemed to be Tomas, was convulsing violently.

Dariusz had left someone to replace him at the bar, and now he was injecting the victim with an antidote.

— He's alone here, but he needs to be dealt with.—Cornelius came into the back room.— To be sure, we'll do it together. Need a high

the probability that he will die. What was he drinking?—

I was thinking.

— He didn't call any of us... Dariusz?—I turned to the youngest of the Kaminsky brothers.

Darek rolled his eyes thoughtfully.

— Absinthe, then he ordered Chinese vodka twice.— He said in a drawl.

— I see. You can't put it in absinthe...—Cornelius scratched his head.— You can try to mix my poison with vodka... Just check it out with the flashlight of the phone, so that there is no sediment left. Leave someone with the poor guy... It is unknown who else might be here and finish him...—

Cornelius left quickly. His assistant Lukasz stayed with a young guy who had not yet recovered.

For some reason, it seems to me that Lukasz knows about Cornelius's oddities, maybe not all of them, but he knows...

Cornelius went out into the hall, which caused an exclamation of admiration.

Of course, I'm not crazy, but...

sometimes I want to kill even those who look at Cornelius...

Suddenly that man called me over.

I feel a mixture of adrenaline and fear tearing apart my blood vessels with a caustic cocktail.

— Yes, what did you want, sir?—I asked with a smile as I approached.

— Bring me three bottles of rice vodka...— He said.

— Can I get one glass?—I asked, and suddenly I even felt physically stupid.

— Do you see anyone else here?—The man barked angrily.

The plastic cover bursts in my fist, the plastic sticks into the skin of my palm and blood flows.

I went to the bar.

— Darek, I really need to serve vodka right now. For some reason, he asked for three bottles, not one. Maybe he suspects that he is being bullied? That is, they are trying...—I lowered my voice to a barely audible whisper.

— Give him a drink and leave. Cornelius will step in next. He or I will tell you when it will be possible to go out into the hall.—Darek told me.

I took three bottles to the man, stood in the hall for a while and tried to disappear as unnoticed as possible.

When I went out into the Hallway, Kirby met me.

— So far everything is fine, he drinks. And apparently, yes, he suspects something, but he doesn't think about poisons.— said the brother.— And how are you? You look scared.—

— No, Kirby. I'm never afraid of anything...—I sighed.— And that's my weakness...—

***

Near the door to the room behind the stage, we were still overtaken by an unexpected ambush.

Kirby was hit on the head with something wooden and the brother immediately passed out. I was kicked in the ribs with a giant foot and felt a heat in my stomach.

Blood flowed from my mouth.

Grabbing a metal trash can, I hit one of the attackers, but the trash can crumpled as if it were made of paper.

I successfully managed to avoid a couple of blows to the face.

Kirby woke up and grabbed his gun.

He had the opportunity to hide the weapon, and with my dress, alas...

Feeling for Cornelius' pendant around my neck, I grabbed it like a crucifix.

The blade that popped out at the edges cut my palm... Here it is!

Feeling for the groove on the pendant, I pushed the halves apart in different directions.

I got a pretty big spiked crescent moon.

In surprise, I missed two blows, but quickly came to my senses and, tearing the pendant from the chain, stuck it into the attacker

right in the neck.

The pendant sank like a hot knife into butter.

Cornelius appeared as if from nowhere.

As I saw only after everything, the man whom we were going to kill by poisoning with vodka went out into the corridor to Kill us.

Cornelius pierced his throat with a weapon shaped like a spindle.

— I look and see that someone has missed me very much!—Cornelius said, looking at me with blackened eyes.

I smiled, despite how much my ribs hurt.

Neil B threw his weapon at the last opponent and hugged me.

— I already feel like saving you is becoming a habit for me...— He said.— Well, don't be so clumsy!—

— Punish me after a day at work...—I smiled.

— It's time for me to go out... Get yourself cleaned up and go back to the gym...—

Cornelius disappeared the same way he appeared - quickly and no one knows where...

***

When we went back into the hall, the next number was just ending.

— Are you sure your ribs don't hurt anymore?—Kirby asks anxiously.

— I'm fine, brother...—I sigh.— Go to the remote control, it's safer there. And you have a good view there... And there you won't bother me with your care!—

Kirby laughed and went to the console.

Suddenly Cornelius appeared on the scene.

— I will start my performance not with a dance, as everyone probably expected, but with one song that I did not have time to sing last time. That time when the unknown attacked our club, I sang this song... The text does not belong to me at all, but it is connected with a wonderful moment in my life...—He smiled at the way the women were getting excited.— I don't have a very good voice, but... For some reason, you always like to listen to me!—

His beautiful laughter echoed through the hall.

Cornelius cleared his throat and sat down at the piano.

The music started playing.

— Say my name, So I will know you're back, You are here again for a while.— he sang, looking into my eyes. For some reason, at that moment, I remembered how many times we had lost each other.—Oh let us share the memories That only we can share together. Tell me about the days before I was born how we were as children...—

I looked at Cornelius singing and felt his voice filling everything around.

I remembered how my wonderful professor often looked at the sky...

I wonder what he's looking for there or what he's waiting for?

The pleasant feeling of intoxication with my beautiful Cornelius quickly passed - someone called me again...

***

We went home after work, to our house - maybe one of Mariusz's people will appear on the horizon...

Only a fool can think about that you can get tired of hunting...

— Sometimes it seems to me that Mariusz's people are not as scary as your favorite toys. Kirby's minion-studded room doesn't scare me that much...—Cornelius said, taking the turk off the fire.

— I've always loved scary things, since I was a little girl... I don't like a normal life. I am not at all someone who could be called a "normal child" or a "normal person." I read scientific books, I have no friends at all, I have always walked alone, I do not know what a normal life is. You're the only normal thing in my life...—I said, stroking the porcelain mug with my fingers.

— Are we going to stay here today or don't I need to relax?—Kirby came out into the kitchen.— For some reason, I already really want to sleep! -

— You did a very good job today, Kirby. We haven't had such a fun DJ and suitable music for a very long time. If we get out of this mess alive, maybe you'll take a permanent job?— Cornelius sat down next to me.—Our salary is good and I really like your tastes in music. You know how to choose tracks.—

My beautiful angel took out a silver bracelet with a small dark blue stone from his pocket.

— Here you go.— Neil B. handed the bracelet to my brother.—With this thing, you can talk when you're far away from me.—

— Thank you...—Kirby accepted the gift.— It looks cool! I promise I won't lose it!—

Cornelius looked at me for a second.

— It's okay, Kirby sometimes loses her jewelry.—I said.

— It's not going to lose, trust me. Most likely, he just won't be able to take it off later. The clasp on these bracelets is correct...—

We sat down to watch TV so that our consciousness would calm down a little.

Darek fell asleep in a bag chair, and Cornelius and I had no desire to sleep.

We watched one comedy after another from Kirby's and my arsenal.

Cornelius' eyes shine in the dark like a cat's. In principle, I can say that his eyes shine very often. In moments

His eyes generally shine with joy, like the sun at its zenith.

— ... Let's play your favorite game...— Cornelius waves the disk.— Do you have a laptop or a computer that can handle this?—

I recognized a familiar and very cute bear in a hat.

— The full meeting?—I stared, and then smiled.— You're afraid of dolls placed around the house! Can you stand it?—

***

A ray of sunlight hit me right in the eye. I shuddered.

The thought comes to my brain: it's already morning, I slept in my clothes and where the hell is Cornelius?

The phone vibrated.

And I felt this unpleasant pang of fear inside.

I immediately opened the SMS.

"Don't make any sounds and don't leave the room!"

And how does he manage to send SMS at such moments?

I let out a strange nervous laugh and got out of bed.

If they tell me that I can't go anywhere, then why should I obey?

Neil B stood pressed against the wall, and the black and green snake glared at him... With the gaze of twelve triangular eyes!

— What are you doing... Go back!—Cornelius whispered very quietly and monotonously, not taking his eyes off the terrible monster.

— I wouldn't even think about it!—I said.

It immediately seemed to me not even just reckless, but... I went out to Cornelius.

— Step back, my dear Professor.—I said.— I know what I'm doing. I don't know why, but I know! —

— I don't know why...—Cornelius repeated reproachfully in a whisper.

I whistled, which made Cornelius grimace and the monster growled.

— I don't like it, yes...— I took two silver vases from the bedside table and knocked them together.

Cornelius' eyes widened as the monster bit into its tail and growled through its teeth.

— Go away!—I said to the creepy creature and whistled even louder.

Cornelius closed the door to the room where Darek had just woken up.

From the addition of the sound of my whistle, the monster began to crack.

— Get back to the room!—Cornelius warned me softly.

I ran out of air at the most unexpected moment.

Kirby looked out from behind the door, the creeping monster growled and Cornelius managed to push me out the door.

He was looking for something in his pocket, not taking his eyes off the terrible creature.

— What is it?—Kirby whispered from behind me.

I shuddered. In my fear, I forgot that I was in his room right now.

— I don't know, brother, I don't know...—I said, looking out the door for a second.

Cornelius took something out of his pocket and, as if with a knife, the sound of a bamboo flute cut through the atmosphere and followed after that

explosion.

When I opened the door a crack, I saw that our hallway was smoking.

— Stay there! What's wrong with my reaction?—Cornelius quickly threw off his shirt, which was smoking and spreading on the floor

to pieces.

— Cornelius, how are you?—I asked.— I'll come to you through the interior doors now! —

My beautiful angel is all wet with sweat, there is a small reddish spot on his cheek, on his shoulder too.

— These worms are my countrymen. From the same planet that... Which I miss. Even though it's dangerous there, I miss you! But such "gifts" from Mariusz that infuriate me just to the point of horror... He took my Gloriaterran ship... These parasites won't die

In space, only whistling kills them. And when they get to this planet, they become three or five times smaller...— Cornelius touched it

the wound on his shoulder.—Either he was moving too fast and exploded, or I was too slow...—

I touched my lips to his cheekbone.

— I don't think you were slow...—I whispered.— But I know what was strange about this worm. I do not know where the idea of how to destroy it came from in my head...—

— We'll find out one day...—Neil B. smiled sadly.— And now all we need is cleaning...—

— I'll go through the second exit and go make breakfast. Or lunch, judging by the time...—I said.

— The second exit, damn it, the second exit! Why didn't you tell me about him right away? Come on, let's check the second exit together. I don't want any of us to be eaten... Let's go... Let's go already!—