I wish I didn't feel the things I do

[Boss]

Three Months Later...

Jacob Reddinger was found early Saturday morning in a pool of blood, dead from multiple deep lacerations and a penetration wound to the left ventricle. Utilizing security camera footage, the perpetrator was identified and placed in custody. The following is a statement by Ms. Perkins.

I look at my wrist, my thumb gently resting on the veins. Beat...beat...beat goes the tempo inside. My blood, singing to me, aching to join the dance without. I tilt my head and smile. Yes, I will let you dance today. I release my wrist, relax my hand, and take hold of the knife at my side. The form at my side burbles wetly. His dance is over now, and with a swift movement I bury the blade in its heart. It sighs and goes forever still. Its blood danced well.

I pull the knife free with a tug and lay it at my side. Carefully, slowly, so as not to awaken a heady rush as my eager blood notices the dance to be, I roll my sleeve past the elbow. I take up the knife and survey. Ah. There. My skin tingles and flashes both hot and cold as the slick metal presses against my skin, denting it. Past dances still show, their marks remain. I remember this, inhale the sharp coppery stink of the other's dance. I hold my breath, savoring it...drag...and a sharpness, a surprised exhalation. It stings gloriously as the dance begins.

I hear someone. Quickly, cover the dance, sheathe the blade. I know sorrow that you could not dance for longer, my blood, my singing self. I wrap my cloak around myself and vanish into the night.

whirr

click

hum

I/O heads skittered across the disc platters as they sought the bits needed for the next operation. Servos rotated and gave a soft click as they reached the end of their traversal. HVAC systems lent a steady undertone to the room. Dominating the floor was a single black object, perhaps three feet wide by two feet long by five feet high. Status lights blinked and shifted their hues as the system ran its program. A smattering of maintenance robots worked to keep the room neat.

Intriguing, yet...slow.

Nemesis watched with profound interest.