Marcus walked out into the garden. The newly planted flowers had begun to grow, the tulips he had planted a week ago in memory of his brother's death anniversary. His brother had always loved tulips when he was alive. Grandmother had once mentioned his death to Celine, saying that it had deeply affected Marcus, and that was true, because Marcus had failed to protect his younger brother.
A few years earlier, his brother had been involved in an accident. His death had been officially ruled as an accident, but in reality, that organization had been responsible for it. Marcus had never realized that his brother knew about such an organization until he read a message in his diary after his death. From that moment on, Marcus became determined to investigate the organization. But the organization was not an easy target. They killed anyone who discovered their secrets. Fortunately for Celine's father, the scientist Ryan was the one who uncovered his involvement rather than another agent. Ryan spoke with him and warned him against continuing the investigation. At the time, Ryan himself was being monitored without realizing it. The spy overheard their conversation, and before he could report to the leader, Ryan revealed the matter himself. In that instant, he felt that his own life, as well as Marcus's and his family's, was finished.
Then suddenly, an idea crossed his mind. He claimed that he and Marcus had already agreed on a scientific experiment and that Marcus would cooperate with them by offering his daughter, Celine, for an important experiment. Miraculously, he managed to survive that situation. The problem, however, was the lie he had fabricated. Even so, it had been the only way to preserve all of their lives.
When Marcus learned about this, he was furious. He would never sacrifice his daughter, but Ryan calmed him down, saying:
"I'm sorry. I had no right to say something like that, but this is the only way to protect your life, your daughter's life, and your wife's life. Would you rather we all die, or hand your daughter over for the experiment? Don't worry. I'll handle everything myself, and I will personally ensure her safety."
Marcus replied:
"I can't hand my daughter over to those murderers. I will never give her up. I'll protect her no matter what happens."
"Marcus, this is the only way to protect her. Otherwise, she and everyone else will die. Do you understand that? You will be the reason for her death. You should never have involved yourself with such a dangerous organization, and now you must bear the consequences of your actions."
Marcus's face turned red with rage, and his expression hardened. In that moment, he did not know what to say. He slammed his fist against the table and cursed those monsters. Ryan understood exactly what he was going through, because someone dear to him had also been killed by them. That was why he never reported Marcus to the leader. He understood that situation all too well.
In the end, the father surrendered to reality and placed Celine under Ryan's care. And so, Celine and Lilia were used in the experiment alongside the other test subject.
After the unexpected results occurred, namely the formation of a shared consciousness and the connection of the three children's minds, the experiment was halted. Celine's and Lilia's memories were erased because what had happened could have led to dangerous incidents. The devices had barely withstood the pressure caused by the merging of three minds, and each child's mental abilities could have caused the machines to explode and the body's cells to rupture internally.
After the incident, Celine returned to her parents, and her father promised that he would never tell anyone about it, not even her.
As for Lilia, Ryan had been the one to bring her. The organization had ordered him to select children with exceptional mental abilities. At that time, despair filled Ryan's heart, and he decided to bring her to the laboratory. That decision would divert suspicion away from both of them, and no one would suspect that they belonged to Miriam Fallon's family. In this way, they could ensure their survival.
That decision had been wrong from the very beginning, but Ryan did not realize it until much later. In the end, the only option left was to get her away from that place. To do that, he forged her death and took her to an orphanage in another city, the rural town where Marcus and his family lived.
Ryan told Marcus what he had done, and Marcus decided to take Lilia under his care. He wanted to try to make up for his mistake, and even if he failed, perhaps it would at least serve as a good deed to ease the guilt he felt over what had happened to his daughter, Celine.
Afterward, he officially adopted Lilia and fabricated a false story for his mother and wife, insisting that they never tell Celine the truth.
Both girls were still very young. They lived in peace and happiness, spending joyful days together. But that happiness did not last long. A few years later, the organization discovered that Lilia was still alive. They did not intervene immediately. Instead, they observed the situation carefully and kept watching from the shadows.
When Marcus realized what was happening, he considered sending Lilia back to the orphanage and changing her name. But Celine overheard his conversation with Marlene and objected to the decision.
And so, they eventually arrived at where they are now, after all the experiments, adventures, and dangers they had faced together.
To be continued...