The serum. The serum that a kid destroyed from me years ago. It was the only solution to the odd paranormal video that kept surfacing on my news feed, my daughter a star player in it.

Violet.

She was the only solution to my problem.

I couldn't recreate my serum because I had destroyed the notes as soon as my product was finalized. I didn't want competitors breaking in and stealing it. I was too confident in my creation, too young and stupid at the time. And now Violet has my mind reading serum engrained in her DNA. I needed her blood so I could perform some tests and extract it; I could check up on my project, how it evolved over the years.

I wondered if it had affected her, but the beta version I had been testing on my students was doing nothing to them. They weren't developing any special powers, just getting sick.

As a scientist, I must do everything in my power to regain my formula, regardless of what it takes t achieve this goal.

I checked my phone, searching for Violet's location on the handy new applications that track people. I had one that simply found a person according to their phone number; and soon enough I was outside my old home, wondering what Violet was doing here.

I knew Amelia had been busy with her boyfriends case, taking care of his property and assets. Meaning, she hadn't been home for a while and most likely wouldn't be today.

I rushed up the stairs, the door had been wide open and I saw him in a compromising position with the boy she had dated when Amelia and I were still together. Truth be told, I never really liked Joseph. He was always a little bit mischievous and his actions were a little sketchy. I knew my daughter could do better if she actually saw herself worthy.

"Violet." I said, watching the boy adjust himself and jump off the bed as though it were lava. He stood there with a smug grin as my daughter had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Excuse me young man, do you mind giving me a moment with my daughter." I asked, glaring at Joseph.

"How the hell did you get in here?" He put his shirt back on and crossed his arms, giving her deathly glares as he approached me.

"The door was open and I heard screaming. Do you mind giving me a minute with my daughter?" I asked as he pushed past me, giving her one final glare before leaving the room.

"I don't want this bitch anyway." He exclaimed. His grimace showing as he shouted it from down the stairs.

Good riddance.

"Violet?" I asked as I sat beside her on the bed and she immediately moved to the other side.

"D... Dad? Dooley?" She adjusted her eyes, staring at me then rushing over to hug me, "he tried to rape me. He was trying to hurt me, dad I'm so scared." She cried against my chest as she hugged me. I pushed her head back so she wouldn't ruin my new suit.

"Yes, some men are stupid. I think we should go somewhere else." I said, standing up as she quietly walked to the bathroom.

"Just give me a second dad, I need to wash my face." She whispered, walking out a couple minutes later and smiling at me, "thank you for being here when you did." She said as she walked down the stairs.

"Yes child. That's what fathers do after all." I patted her back awkwardly, I hated the emotional stuff, I hated having a child because of it. Amelia always was the one to deal with Violet when she became emotional. I was a logical minded person; science and emotion never mixed well for me.

"Why are you here?" She suddenly asked as she wiped her eyes, seeming unfazed by what had happened with her boyfriend. "Not that I'm not grateful that you're here. I just... mom hasn't been here for over a week and my best friend had to take a trip to visit a friend today." She said as I grinned.

"Friend who? Stacy? Or the boy that was here last time I was? Aaron I believe." I asked as she blushed. Clearly, she was in love with the boy. And he wouldn't know where she would be after today. I'd have my experiment back in no time and the solution lied in my own flesh and blood.

"Aaron." She said, I wondered what happened with Stacy, but I refused to ask. I simply didn't care and yet when I had visited the house last night, Stacy's face could be seen through the window so clearly it wasn't like their friendship had ended. But once again, I don't care. Relationships and friendships are stupid. All that matters is my project.

"I see." I said, trying to hide the smile from forming across my lips, "then come with me dear, I'm happy to listen to you. I want to be there for you." I lied, a cheerful grin on my face as her face lit up.

"Really dad?" She smiled widely as I nodded. Stupid naive girl.

"Of course," I said, wondering what would make it seem more convincing, "because I love you."

Her smile reached from ear to ear as she walked over to me and hugged me. For a girl who was so traumatized why was she touching me. I stiffened as she pulled away and headed toward the door.

"So where are we going, dad?" She asked as I quickly took the opportunity to say the excuse that I had been preparing for weeks.

"Let's go get some food, but I left my wallet at the lab so can we stop by there first?" I asked.

"I can pay." She smiled widely, reaching for the passenger seat of my 1974 vehicle. It was small and rusty and above all, very old. I had had it since my father handed it down to me.

"No, no, I want to pay. You've been through enough today. Let me treat you out," I said, hoping it was convincing enough as I added, "sweetheart" at the end of my statement.

"Sure dad." She said, I wondered why she was saying dad so much, but ignored it.

"So, when I visited a few months ago, you never old me the reason you wanted to see me."

"Oh!" She said excitedly, happy to please now that dear old daddy was giving her attention, "some weird things were happening to me with... I don't even know how to describe it. It was like I could... hear people's thoughts for a while. But then it stopped. I know it sounds crazy, but I..."

"No, not crazy at all." I said, realizing I had just caught the fish and was bringing her to my tank soon.

"You believe me?" She asked, shocked.

"Of course, why wouldn't I? There are so many things people don't know about the brain and supernatural things. It's like people saying God isn't real. There's no way to prove or disprove that statement just like there's no way to prove or disprove that he is. But I personally would rather believe in something, like mind-reading, and find out later it wasn't real, than not believe and later find out it was real."

She nodded thoughtfully. I almost felt bad about what I was going to do to her after what she'd already been through. I didn't know how to react.

"Yeah, that's a good point!" She said, just as I parked in front of the building that had my laboratory inside.

"Do you want to come upstairs with me? I don't think I've ever shown you my lab." I said as she happily hopped out of the car. She smiled the entire way there and I was happy to be the one to make her night.

"That's so cool dad!"

"Indeed."

We headed up the elevator to the fourth floor, walking to the end of the hallway and entering. "Wait here a minute, don't touch anything. I'll be back in a second." I said. I quickly rushed out of the room to the nearby trashcan where I had left my tranquilizer gun. She would certainly not be expecting dear old dad who had suddenly gotten nice to hurt her, especially not now while she was vulnerable.

I quickly walked back into the room as she smiled warmly at me, standing up from the chair and approaching me. "Ready to go?" She asked, looking at me happily. I almost didn't shoot her, but I had to. For the sake of science.

Her gasp was the first thing I heard as I pressed the trigger and the needle released its contents into her arm. She watched me carefully for a few seconds and I had thought it didn't work. I saw her looking dizzy as she stared at me.

"I needed to do this. You have something of mine and I need it." I explained as hurt filled her eyes and a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I instantly regretted it.

"I would've willingly helped you," were the last words out of her mouth as her hurt eyes stared at me before she knocked out and landed on my floor.

Time to get to work.

In case you're interested in getting the totally edited/revised/changed paperback version of this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Read-Minds-ebook/dp/B08RYV11F2/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=veronica+Soliman&qid=1609863783&sr=8-3

(Link will be available in the coming weeks)

(Link will be available in the coming weeks)