The most intelligent person in the room

Chapter 4
The end of the day

Chapter Description: William's first day as a child still has surprises for him while he waits for the night to have a rest moment

William entered his office, guided by Sara, and closed the door behind him with a soft click. The scientific paper he had been reading all afternoon lay on his desk, its pages filled with formulas and data that now seemed boring and irrelevant. With a sigh, he sat back in his chair, feeling the weight of the day crushing him. He needed something, anything, to distract him from the thoughts that tormented him.

It was then that he remembered he hadn't checked his phone in hours. With a swift motion, he picked it up and flipped on the screen. To his surprise, there was a notification from Daniel. The message had arrived hours earlier, while he was playing soccer in the backyard, completely oblivious to what was happening in the outside world.

With a knot in his stomach, William opened the chat and began reading.

Message from Daniel:

"William, I'm sorry for the delay. The police have been questioning me all night about the theft, along with other colleagues. They don't know who stole the serum, but they're putting pressure on everyone in the lab. The situation is serious, very serious."

William felt the air escape from his lungs. His fingers trembled slightly as he continued reading.

Message from Daniel:

"The police asked me about you. I told them you couldn't be the culprit, that you were on vacation and had nothing to do with this. They seemed to believe part of my story, because they mentioned you have a good alibi for the time of the robbery. That gives you some leverage, but they don't rule you out as a suspect. Not entirely."

William took a deep breath, feeling a small sense of relief knowing that at least some of his plan had worked. But that relief was short-lived, as Daniel's next messages brought him back to reality.

Message from Daniel:

"William, this isn't a game. The police need someone to blame, and they need it fast. I overheard some officers talking in secret... If they don't find the real thief, they're going to need a scapegoat. And you, even if they have no evidence against you, could be that scapegoat."

William's heart began to pound, and a sense of panic swept over him. Not only was he in danger of being discovered, but even if they didn't find evidence, they might frame him just to close the case. The idea of being framed for a crime he had committed but couldn't be proven terrified him.

Message from Daniel:

"Take care, William. I don't know when I'll be able to communicate with you again. I'm afraid the police will discover this secure channel and use it to frame you. Stay away from the offices. I hope you're well and enjoying your vacation."

William put the phone on the desk, feeling Daniel's words echoing in his mind. The situation was worse than he had imagined. Not only was he in danger, but he now knew the police were willing to blame someone, even without evidence. And he, with his old connection to the Phoenix project, was a perfect candidate.

He sat silently, staring straight ahead, not really seeing anything. His mind was blank, unable to fully process what he had just read. The scientific paper he had been reading earlier now seemed even more meaningless. What good were formulas and data when his life could be in danger?

Finally, with a slow movement, he turned off the phone screen and left it on the desk. He didn't have the strength to respond, or even to think of a solution. He could only stand there, silent, feeling the weight of the situation crushing him.

Outside the office, the sound of the washing machine continued to rumble in the background, and Tina and Sara's laughter drifted toward him, distant but comforting. But William couldn't enjoy this moment of normalcy. He knew that, for now, his life was on hold, waiting for the police's next move to decide his fate.

With a final sigh, William closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of peace before the next alarm sounded. He knew he couldn't stay like this for much longer, that he would have to act, that he would have to find a way out of this situation. But for now, he could only sit and wait.

While William locked himself in his office, lost in his thoughts and the anguish caused by Daniel's messages, Sara and Tina continued with their routine in the rest of the house.

When Tina came home from school, shouting from the front door, Sara quickly left the bathroom, leaving William sitting on the toilet. With a warm smile, she greeted her daughter at the entrance, hugging her briefly before leading her toward the kitchen.

"How was school, honey?" Sara asked, as she served a plate of food she had prepared for lunch.

Tina sat down at the table and began to eat, talking between bites about her day. "It was boring, as usual," she said, in a tone that was typical of a girl her age. "Miss Martinez gave us a lot of math homework. She says we need to practice more."

Sara nodded, listening intently while she cleaned up the kitchen. She knew Tina wasn't a big fan of math, although Sara suspected it was because the class bored her. "Well, you know you can ask me for help if you need it," she said, sounding encouraging.

Tina just shrugged, concentrating on her food. "I don't think I need it, Mom. But thanks."

After they finished lunch, Sara went back to the bathroom to help William, leaving Tina relaxing on the couch with her phone in hand. When Sara returned, she found her daughter giggling softly while seemingly chatting with someone.

"Tina, shouldn't you be doing your homework?" Sara asked, her tone both gentle and firm.

Tina looked up, her expression half guilty, half unconcerned. "Yes, Mom. I was just resting a little." "I'll be right there."

Sara nodded, satisfied with the answer. She knew Tina was responsible, but she also knew that sometimes she needed a little push. "Well, don't take too long," she said, before heading into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

As she washed the dishes, Sara couldn't help but think about William. She knew he was going through a difficult time, and while she couldn't do much to help him with his larger problems, she was determined to be there for him in any way she could. With a sigh, she finished washing the dishes and dried her hands, determined to take a moment for herself before the next alarm went off.

She sat down on the sofa, picking up the novel she'd been reading for the past week. It was a lighthearted story, something she could enjoy without overthinking. But despite her efforts, she couldn't fully concentrate. Her mind kept wandering to William, to the situation they were in, to the uncertain future that awaited them.

Finally, after a few minutes, her smartwatch alarm started vibrating, reminding her it was time to take William to the bathroom again. With a sigh, she put the book on the coffee table and stood up, heading toward William's office.

She knocked softly on the door before opening it. "William, it's time," she said, her tone gentle but firm.

But when she walked in, she found him sitting in his chair, staring at the ceiling with a worried expression. His face was pale, and his eyes seemed lost somewhere far away. Sara felt her heart clench at seeing him like that.

"William," she said, her tone both gentle and concerned. "Are you okay?"

William didn't respond immediately. He just continued staring at the ceiling, as if he hadn't heard her. Sara approached him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"William," she repeated, her tone firmer this time. "What's wrong?"

Finally, William looked down, meeting Sara's gaze. His face held a mixture of fear and despair that Sara had never seen before.

"Everything is wrong, Sara," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Everything is very wrong."

And at that moment, Sara knew the afternoon's tranquility was over. What came next would be much more difficult.

Sara gently closed the office door, making sure Tina couldn't hear them. She approached William, who was still sitting in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ceiling and a worried expression that broke her heart. With a careful movement, she knelt in front of him, placing a hand on his knee.

"William," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "What happened? What's got you like this?"

William looked down, meeting Sara's gaze. For a moment, it seemed as though he wasn't going to say anything, but finally, with a deep sigh, he began to speak.

"Daniel responded," he said, his voice sounding more tired than angry. "The police have been interrogating him since yesterday. They don't know who stole the serum, but they're pressuring everyone in the lab. The situation is serious, Sara. Very serious."

Sara listened to him in silence, feeling the weight of his words resonate in the room.

"Daniel told me the police asked about me," William continued, his tone a mixture of frustration and fear. "He defended me, said I couldn't be the culprit. They even mentioned I have a good alibi for the time of the robbery. That gives me some leverage, but... they don't rule me out as a suspect." "Not entirely."

Sara remained silent, watching as William seemed to just float in his chair, as if everything had stopped mattering.

"But that's not all," William said, his tone barely above a whisper. "Daniel overheard some agents talking in secret. If they don't find the real thief, they're going to need a scapegoat. And even if they don't have proof, anyone in the lab could be a scapegoat."

Sara felt the air escape from her lungs. The idea that William would be blamed had never been a possibility, but she could feel a sense of frustration at the thought that this whole serum business had been for nothing if her husband were still going to end up arrested for reasons of chance. But she also knew they couldn't allow fear to paralyze them.

"William," she finally said, her tone intended to be reassuring. "For now, our plans haven't changed; the best thing we can do is wait. Keep hiding, keep a low profile, and you're still a kid, so we still have a good head start."

William frowned, feeling frustration rising in his chest. "Wait," he muttered, his tone betraying his displeasure. "That's all I can do. Wait. My wonderful plan, months in the making, is the best time it can give us."

Sara looked at him sympathetically, although she couldn't allow William to go down that path and be dominated by bad ideas. "I know it's frustrating, honey. But for now, it's the safest thing to do. We can't risk the police finding you."

William didn't respond immediately. He knew Sara was right, but that didn't make the situation any less frustrating. With a sigh, he nodded weakly. "Okay," he said finally. "We'll wait."

Sara nodded, feeling a little relief spread through her chest. She knew this wasn't a permanent solution, but for now, it was the best they could do. "Let's delete Daniel's chat," Sara said, taking the phone off the table and handing it to William. "We can't risk the police discovering evidence that you've been talking to Daniel."

William didn't protest. He just grabbed his phone and, with quick movements, deleted the chat with Daniel. He knew it was the right thing to do, but he also knew it meant he was completely alone in this. At least as far as his former life as a scientist was concerned.

Once they were finished, Sara stood up, feeling it was time to give William some space. But seeing him so frustrated and distressed, she couldn't help but approach and hug him. William, at first, seemed to resist, but finally collapsed in her arms, allowing the tension and fear to leave him, if only for a moment.

"Everything's going to be okay," Sara murmured, gently stroking his hair. "We're in this together. No matter what happens, our family will stay together."

And in that moment, as they embraced in a silent embrace, they both felt that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.

The embrace ended with a shared sigh, as if that moment of calm had sapped William's last strength. Sara caressed William's face before pulling away, her fingers lingering a moment longer on his cheek, as if to reassure himself that he was still there, present. "I'm going to make dinner," she murmured, and he nodded silently, knowing that those words were both an invitation to follow her and a necessary respite.

While Sara was lost in the comforting sounds of the kitchen—the clanking of pots and the sizzling of something in the pan—William stood by the window, watching the evening light tinge with shadows. Time seemed to stand still until the aroma of cooking brought him back to reality.

Night had fallen, and the family gathered in the dining room for dinner. Sara had prepared a simple but comforting meal, and the three of them sat at the table as they did every night. Tina talked animatedly about her day at school, telling her mother stories about her friends and the classes she'd had. William, although in the room, wasn't present; he remained inside his head as he ate dinner on autopilot.

Sara, sitting across the table, watched her husband, noticing his distraction but doing her best to keep Tina's mood unaffected, trying to have a cheerful dinner for her daughter. Tina, for her part, had noticed her father's expression from the moment she sat down at the table, but despite being curious, she thought having a dinner without her father's derogatory comments sounded good, leaving her father calm and enjoying the conversation with her mother.

When they finished dinner, Sara got up to clean the dishes, and Tina headed to her room to finish her chores. William sat at the table for a moment, staring out the window as he reflected on everything that had happened that day.

Later, when it was time to sleep, William headed to his room. After everything he'd been through today, simply closing his eyes and stopping thinking felt like the greatest reward of all.

Upon entering the room, he saw Sara sitting on the bed, reading a book with a calm expression. On the nightstand, neatly folded, were the pajamas Sara had bought him that morning. William looked at them with a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment. They were onesie pajamas, bright blue, with all-over prints of Stitch, the Disney character. The pajamas covered his entire body, from neck to toe, with a zipper down the front that ran from neck to waist. What was most striking were the feet built into the pajamas, with small, non-slip rubber insoles and details that mimicked Stitch's paws, complete with tiny claws and all. The character's large eyes seemed to be looking at him with a mocking smile.

"Really, Sara? Stitch?" William asked, holding up the pajamas with two fingers, as if he were holding something repulsive.

Sara looked up from her book and smiled, trying not to laugh outright. "It's the only thing I found in your size, William. Besides, it's not that bad. You'll look... nice."

William frowned, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise to his cheeks. "It's not supposed to be cute," William said, making his voice as silly as possible. "Wearing this is… ridiculous, to say the least."

Sara put her book aside and approached him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know, honey. But we have to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. And that includes dressing you like a boy, at least for now."

William sighed, knowing that arguing would get him nowhere. With a slow, resigned movement, he took off his clothes and put on Stitch's pajamas. The fabric was soft, but that didn't make him feel any less ridiculous. He looked at himself in the closet mirror and couldn't help but grimace. "This is humiliating," he muttered.

Sara walked over and hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his head as she looked at him in the mirror. "It's not humiliating, William. It's just... different. Think of it as field research, so when you sell the formula you can share some fashion tips." "Like not buying a onesie with feet unless you're like 2?" William replied with a sarcastic tone that made him sound like some kind of defiant teenager. "See? You're already learning." "A few more months of Stitch pajamas and we can start the Barney research," Sara said, giving William a kiss on the cheek.

William relaxed a little at his wife's teasing, feeling the tension in his body begin to disappear. "Maybe I'll give you some serum too, and we can start investigating Barbie's pajamas."

Sara smiled back, feeling some of the tension in the air begin to dissipate. "No, that ship sailed from the dock years ago; if you're going to buy me pajamas, it better be something that shows off my figure and makes me look beautiful."

With that, Sara released him and headed toward the bed, leaving William alone with his thoughts for a moment. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with Sara by his side, he was willing to face it.

Once William crawled into bed next to Sara, dressed in Stitch pajamas, they both settled in silence. The room was lit only by the dim light of the nightlight, creating a peaceful atmosphere. William leaned back on his pillow, feeling the built-in feet of his pajamas brush against the sheets.

Sara, lying beside him, looked at him with a serious but loving expression. "William," she began softly, "we need to talk. Now that we know you'll have to remain a child for an indefinite period of time, we need to make some changes. We can't keep acting like everything is normal."

William turned his head to look at her, feeling a lump form in his throat. "What kind of changes?" he asked, although deep down he already knew what she meant.

Sara sighed, searching for the right words. "Well, for starters, we can't just keep sleeping together like nothing happened. If we have visitors or the police come to investigate, they can't see that we're still sharing a room; we can't risk them seeing a child sleeping in our bed. That would be... weird."

William closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the reality of the situation hit him full force. He knew Sara was right, but that didn't make the thought any less painful. "I understand," he murmured, his tone akin to resignation. "What do you suggest?"

Sara adjusted herself in bed, looking him straight in the eye. "I think you should move into the guest room. We can decorate it to look like your new room, and that way, if anyone asks, we can say it's... well, Bobby's room."

William frowned at the name, but didn't protest. "Okay... but don't call me Bobby unless absolutely necessary," he finally said, though his voice did nothing to hide his hatred for the childish diminutive of his name. "But, Sara... What if this goes on too long? What if I have to live like this for months, or even years?"

Sara looked at him with an expression of understanding, but also of firmness. "Then we'll have to adapt, William. We have no other choice. And... there's something else we need to think about."

William looked at her, feeling anxiety beginning to grow inside him. "What else?"

Sara took a deep breath before continuing. "At some point, if this goes on too long, we'll have to consider enrolling you in school. We can't have a child at home all day without anyone noticing. Besides, you can't just stay home like your life's on hold; you need to get out, talk to people, hang out with us, and if this goes on to that point… consider living the life of a 10-year-old, at least until we can escape together to a place where it's safe to use the antidote."

William was silent for a moment, feeling the idea terrifying him. "Really, Sara? Going to school? I can't do that. I'm 35! I can't sit in a classroom full of ten-year-olds and pretend to be one of them."

Sara looked at him with a mixture of fear and concern. "I know, William. I know it's difficult, but if the situation calls for it, we'll have no choice. It's not like we can find a fake passport for you to leave the country with; we'll be lucky if we can find a way to forge new documents that will prevent social services from looking for Bobby over time."

William looked down; he had more things to worry about now, things that somehow felt more pressing than all the hypothetical scenarios he'd been plotting all afternoon. "Okay," he finally murmured. "I just hope it doesn't have to come to that."

Sara nodded. "I hope so too, honey. But we have to be prepared for any situation."

The two remained silent for a moment, each lost in thought.

With that, Sara turned off the nightlight, plunging the room into darkness. William lay back in bed, feeling the built-in foot of his pajamas brush against the sheets, reminding him again and again of his new reality. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with Sara by his side, he was willing to face it.