Chapter 95: Shocked! The Kid Next Door Is... I Decided to Take Him Under My Wing!
Victor was walking with his head down, like a tired little turtle, slowly dragging his heavy backpack, step by step.
His mind was filled with the secret in the attic, that miracle he'd created with his own hands, a defiance of natural laws, which was both his pride and his greatest fear.
He was afraid of being discovered by his parents, afraid of being seen by his neighbors, and even more afraid that the people in this small town would see him as a freak.
Just as he was lost in thought, a figure blocked his path.
"Hi, Victor."
It was Edward from next door.
Victor's heart suddenly tightened, as if squeezed by an invisible hand.
He looked up and saw the familiar, easygoing smile on Edward's face, and for some reason, the uneasy feeling in his heart grew even stronger.
"E... Edward, good afternoon," he stammered, instinctively trying to walk around him.
However, Edward unhurriedly matched his pace, walking alongside him.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Edward's voice was casual, like a normal neighborly greeting.
"Fi... fine," Victor dared not look at him, only staring at the tips of his shoes, answering guiltily.
"Really?" Edward's tone rose slightly, "I don't think so.
I bet you were super excited last night, so excited you couldn't sleep at all."
Victor's steps suddenly halted. He looked up in alarm, meeting Edward's eyes that seemed to see right through him.
"Wh-what do you mean?" His voice became sharp with tension.
Edward stopped, turned around, and looked at him casually.
He didn't answer directly but cast his gaze toward the roof of Victor's house, a knowing curve forming on his lips.
"Last night's thunderstorm was pretty spectacular, wasn't it?" he said softly, "Especially those few lightning bolts that struck right on your roof."
BOOM--!
These words were louder than last night's thunder, exploding in Victor's mind.
His face instantly turned pale, completely drained of color.
His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word. He felt his legs weakening, the secret he'd desperately hidden, like a popped balloon, was exposed.
Seeing the little boy about to faint from fright, Edward knew the time was right.
He dropped the smile from his face, his tone becoming serious and direct.
"Don't freak out, Victor," he lowered his voice, ensuring only the two of them could hear, "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to tell you... last night's experiment was a success, wasn't it?"
He paused, enunciating the name that made Victor's soul tremble.
"Sparky... is back."
It's over.
This was the only thought in Victor's mind.
His biggest secret had been discovered.
Victor's eyes instantly turned red, huge fear and distress welling up in his heart.
He wasn't afraid that Edward would hurt him, but afraid that this secret would get out.
He couldn't imagine what kind of looks his parents, or everyone in town, would give him if they knew he'd done such a "horrible" thing.
"Edward... please..." His voice was tearful, almost pleading, "Please, don't tell anyone! Please! Sparky... he's not dangerous, he just... just wants to come back and be with me..."
"I know," Edward's reply surprised Victor.
He reached out and gently pressed Victor's trembling shoulder, a steady strength passing through.
"I know he's not dangerous, and I know you just miss your friend," Edward's tone was calm and sincere, "Actually, I'm impressed, Victor. You've accomplished something that even the world's top scientists can't do. You're a genius."
A genius?
Victor was stunned.
He'd imagined countless scenarios after being discovered—being yelled at, scorned, treated as a freak—but he'd never thought that someone would use the word "genius" to describe him.
"But..."
"But you don't know what to do now, do you?" Edward finished his sentence, "You're hiding him in the attic, living in fear every day, terrified of your parents finding out.
How long do you think you can keep it secret? A day? A week? He's a dog, Victor. He barks, he runs, he wants to go outside and play.
What's the difference between keeping him locked in the attic and him being dead?"
Edward's words, like a precise scalpel, cut open Victor's deepest contradictions and worries.
Yes, he'd succeeded, but then what? He hadn't thought about what came next at all.
He'd only brought Sparky back out of obsession, but he'd given him a new prison.
Seeing the confused and pained expression on Victor's face, Edward knew the moment was right.
"Maybe I have a place that can solve all your problems." Edward's face once again showed that confident and mysterious smile, "A place where you can fully use your talents, and where Sparky can live freely without worrying about being discovered by anyone."
Victor suddenly looked up, a glimmer of incredible hope flickering in his bloodshot, sleep-deprived eyes.
"Is... is there really such a place?"
"Absolutely." Edward nodded, "But before that, I want to see your masterpiece. Take me to your attic."
Victor hesitated for a moment.
Letting a second person see Sparky was a huge risk in itself.
But looking at Edward's frank and kind eyes, and remembering what he'd just said, Victor finally made up his mind.
He nodded firmly: "Okay... follow me."
The two walked into Victor's house, one after the other.
While his parents were still at work, Victor quietly led Edward upstairs to the attic.
As the attic door opened, a smell of dust, motor oil, and ozone wafted out.
Edward's gaze swept across the space. This was practically a mad scientist's secret lab.
Various antennas modified from coat hangers and metal sheets hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered with tangled wires and disassembled household appliance parts.
And in the center of the attic stood the core device that had received the lightning's power last night, still bearing scorch marks from electrical arcs.
"Woof!"
A familiar, lively bark sounded.
A small dog rushed out from behind a pile of junk, wagging his tail, excitedly jumping on Victor.
It was Sparky.
He looked no different from a normal bull terrier, except for... the clearly visible, crudely stitched scars on his body, and the metal bolts around his neck used as electrodes.
Some parts of his body had mismatched fur, a patch of white fur stitched next to a patch of black fur, making him look like a patched-up stuffed animal.
This was Frankenweenie.
However, his eyes were clear and happy, wagging his tail constantly at his owner, sticking out his tongue and licking Victor's outstretched hand, completely like a normal, healthy pet dog.
Edward watched this scene with interest, his assessment of Victor rising another notch.
This kid not only resurrected the dead but also completely preserved his soul and memories. This was no longer purely science; this was practically a combination of mad science and the supernatural.
He walked forward and crouched down.
Sparky seemed to sense the presence of a stranger. He stopped wagging his tail, watching Edward warily, a low whimper in his throat.
"It's okay, Sparky, he's a friend," Victor quickly reassured him.
Edward didn't speak, he just reached out and released a faint, benevolent Holy Light energy toward Sparky.
The warm and pure aura instantly enveloped Sparky.
The little dog paused, then, as if feeling something extremely comfortable, relaxed his entire body. He cautiously approached, sniffing Edward's fingers with his nose, then tentatively extended his tongue and gently licked him.
Seeing this, Victor completely let down his guard. Animal instincts are the sharpest; if Edward were a bad person, Sparky would never be so friendly to him.
"See, he's really well-behaved," Victor whispered.
"I can see that," Edward stood up, dusting off his hands, "A perfect creation like this shouldn't be buried in a place like this."
He turned to Victor, his expression more serious than ever before.
"Now, pack up your treasure and come with me. I'll take you to a new home."
"Wh-where?" Victor was a little confused.
Edward didn't answer, just motioned for him to pick up Sparky. Although Victor was full of questions, he obediently scooped up the little dog in his arms.
Edward led him directly to the front door.
Edward took a deep breath, and in his mind, in a voice only he could hear, calmly thought the word.
"Devil May Cry."
He reached out, gripped the doorknob, and gently twisted it.
"Click."
The door opened.
"Follow me," Edward said to Victor over his shoulder, then stepped first through the doorway.
Victor, holding the dog and filled with questions, also followed him in.
However, when he stepped over the threshold and saw the scene before him, he was completely frozen.
What greeted his eyes was a spacious, vintage, slightly Gothic office.
Huge floor-to-ceiling windows, deep red leather couches, glass cabinets displaying various strange collectibles, and a bar with a neon sign that read "Devil May Cry."
Giant demon specimens hung on the walls, a seemingly incredibly sharp sword stood in the corner, and the air was filled with a unique scent of leather mixed with old books.
Victor stood dumbfounded at the doorway, holding Sparky, his mouth hanging open wide enough to catch flies.
His mind was blank, completely unable to comprehend this surreal scene.
"Welcome," Edward's voice came from ahead. He was already sitting casually on the couch, legs crossed, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Victor Frankenstein, welcome to my office."
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