Free The Perfect World (The Perfect World Series Book 1) by Katalina Gerard

with his voice included. After that had been done, the computer placed the definition on the screen for him. He hastily scribbled it down.
    “Sick: A disease of the mind where a person believes that they are better than others or know better than the Experts. A person who causes negative emotions in others and society. The person must be taken away from others in order to stop the spread of the disease. If sickness becomes permanent, extreme measures must be implemented for the good of all.”
    Cyrus read the definition over and over again. It gave him the same feeling that he had when the class had been discussing destiny. There was the information, but he still had so many questions. What did ‘extreme measures’ mean? 
    When the computer lesson was finished, he read the definition of ‘sick’ one more time and then put his  notebook and pen away in his drawer. He sprawled out on his bed and stared at the ceiling, pondering this new information. His caretaker would be coming in soon, so maybe he could ask her more about it.
    Cyrus was startled back awake when his dinner landed in his food slot. Sitting up on his bed, he opened the slot and pulled out his dinner. He grimaced when he saw that the main course was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
    Not this again, Cyrus thought as he squished the sandwich between his fingers.
    He had once voiced his dislike of these sandwiches to Ms. Linda. He’d explained to her that the sticky salty peanut butter and the sweet jelly didn’t mix well. She had replied that he actually liked the sandwich because everyone likes the same things. He just didn’t know that he liked it yet. Cyrus had told her that he did like it if he took the two sides apart and ate them separately. Ms. Linda had mildly scolded him for this answer, but by the way her mouth had twitched, he could tell she was trying not to smile.
    Cyrus pulled the sandwich apart and started eating it one side at a time. At least it’s not oatmeal, he thought as he choked the two sides down. When he was finished, he pulled his cup out of his drawer, filled it with water from the sink and gulped it down. It helped to get the taste out of his mouth. He nearly dropped his cup when the lock clicked open, and Ms. Linda walked in with her garbage bag.
    “Good afternoon, Cyrus,” she said in her curt manner. “Where’s your garbage?”
    “Right here,” he said, grabbing the rolled up wrapper. He threw it away for her.
    “Anything else?”
    “No, that’s all for today,” he said honestly.
    “Good. Well, then I won’t have to stay long—”
    “Ms. Linda,” he started, but she knew what he was going to do and interrupted him.
    “Cyrus, if this is more of your questions you know I can’t—”
    “Even if it’s important?” he cut in, letting some of his anxiety show up in his voice. Ms. Linda stared at him with an unreadable expression before putting the bag back down with a plop.
    “What is it now, young man?”
    “It’s about the computer lesson today.” He spoke quickly, knowing there was only a small window of time he could use to get her to answer with. “We learned the definition of ‘sick.’”
    Ms. Linda’s eyes widened ever so slightly, but she did not stop him. The young boy plunged on, hoping she wouldn’t leave without answering him.
    “The definition was different from the one you taught me,” Cyrus recalled as the words escaped from his lips almost before he had finished his thoughts. “My throat was really scratchy, and I kept coughing. You told me I was sick then, right?”
    “That’s right,” his caretaker agreed carefully.
    “But today the computer said that a sick person is someone with a disease of the mind. So, which one is right?”
    Ms. Linda considered this carefully, then said, “The computer definition is more important.”
    Cyrus tilted his head to the side at the words. “Why is it more important? Is it more dangerous?” His green eyes flashed as he thought of