Alpha drowned in his own murderous intent.
Cold sweat drenched his back.
He dared not move.
The transformation was breaking, and worse, he feared that if he moved, he wouldn't be able to control himself. He would kill the scientist.
The group escorting Beta slowly approached.
And as Beta walked, he looked around cheerfully. His eyes shone with excitement and a childish curiosity, interested in everything. Looking forward to life.
A joyous child. As if he hadn't suffered horrendous experiments. As if he wanted to learn everything and to fill the gaps he missed while he was experimented on.
If one looked at him, they could only feel love and pity.
But only if monsters did not encircle him. Monsters in human clothing.
The group passed by Ronnan and Jim.
Swoosh!
Beta's eyes widened.
He froze and turned to look at Jim.
Jim also looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Tears welled in Jim's eyes.
"B-Brother..."
The words escaped his lips, his voice breaking.
Swoosh!
He jumped at Beta.
Thud!
A punch landed on Jim's stomach.
He collapsed on his knees.
The two guards reacted, grabbing him by the arms. They slammed his head on the floor, keeping him pinned down.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Ronnan shouted.
"We are all brothers! LET GO!"
He was infuriated.
They attacked without warning, out of nowhere.
"We have orders! We must protect him."
One of the guards replied.
"It is a misunderstanding! You don't believe he would attack a child?!"
Ronnan refuted.
"Brother..."
But Jim paid them no mind. As if they didn't exist and as if he wasn't pinned.
He called Beta, trying to reach him.
"You resemble my brother so much...Jin...Jin."
Tears streamed down Jim's face.
All they could see was a broken man, hopeless, grieving—a man who found a resemblance to his brother in this young child.
Little did they know the devious mind hidden behind the facade.
'Beta. Beta! BETA!'
Alpha called in his mind.
But Beta just stood, looking him in the eyes, as if frozen.
Scientist Alpha, Elias, trembled.
'What are those fools doing!!'
The veins on his forehead popped.
'I told them to act discreetly. Not like this!'
His fists clenched.
'We must make him feel at home! Not make him feel like a prisoner!'
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Elias's roar tore the air.
The guards looked at him, startled.
"Release him at once!"
"B-But sir, your orders..."
Confusion struck the two guards.
Their grip lessened, but they didn't let go.
"RELEASE HIM!"
Elias rubbed his temples, his breathing quick.
"Fools..." He uttered through gritted teeth.
He glared at them, his eyes murderous.
"Get out of my sight."
"Y-Yes sir,"
The guards awkwardly let go of Jim and stood aside.
But Elias waved his hand dismissively, not even allowing them to stay. He barely contained his anger.
His gaze fixated on Beta, analyzing his every move.
Beta has tensed up.
'Those two fools ruined all my progress,'
A sigh escaped his lips—a helpless sigh carrying away all his anger.
"Jin..."
Jim called gently, raising to his knees.
They were at equal height.
Jim gently extended his hand, touching Beta's cheek.
"You resemble him so much..."
He repeated like a broken record.
Elias glared at Ronnan and walked to him, standing behind Jim.
"What's going on?"
He inquired.
Ronnan let out a heavy sigh and started the explanation.
And while Elias listened, he kept his eyes glued on Beta's face. From this angle, he could see every microexpression perfectly.
He was interested in his reaction, which is why he allowed this to go on for so long.
Tears rolled down Beta's cheeks soundlessly.
"Y-You are..."
Beta's trembling voice left his lips.
"I-I thought I was abandoned! I thought no one loved me!"
He burst into tears.
Thud!
He hugged Jim tightly.
Surprise flashed in Elias's eyes.
'I somehow expected this...but not to this degree.'
He nodded repeatedly, careful not to miss even a micro expression of Beta.
As if he wasn't watching a crying child who experienced love. But a lab rat. An amusing lab rat who showed unexpected results.
'Faced with such overwhelming emotion. Such overwhelming grief and love... test subject Beta reacted this way. Fascinating.'
Elias took mental notes.
'But his ability must play a big role. He must have read this soldier's mind and knows those emotions are genuine. Someone is showing him love for the first time. True love.
With this soldier, it might be easier to manipulate him into helping us. We might not even need to put any effort. Just endanger the life of this man, and test subject Beta would act.'
But not in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that the enemy he so much feared was right before him. Sharpening the fangs of the child he thought he had manipulated.
'Beta, what happened?'
Alpha asked.
They conversed.
Test subject Alpha and test subject Beta met and conversed using Beta's mind-reading and telepathy.
'They....they said you abandoned me. They said you and your sister, Delta, abandoned me. You escaped on your own.'
Alpha's blood boiled.
He wasn't a child. He could see their intentions.
To him, their thoughts were as clear as day.
'They said they were my saviors. Scientist Alpha was a spy there to save us.'
Beta explained everything to Alpha. All the lies Elias tried to seed into his mind.
And the more he listened, Alpha's expression grew darker.
His entire body trembled. He trembled in fury.
But to Elias and Ronnan, he looked like he was crying.
'Those bastards!!'
Alpha bit his lips, trying to hold himself back.
His legs returned to their original state. The transformation was rapidly undoing.
They couldn't see underneath his clothes. But once it reached his face, it would be over.
'How dare they! HOW DARE THEY!!'
His mind screamed.
'After everything they've done! Now, they want to turn us against each other!!!'
Desire grew within him—desire to turn back and snap Elias's neck.
It would complete a massive part of his revenge. His personal revenge.
But no!
Determination flashed in his eyes.
He wouldn't allow his emotions to hinder his grand revenge. His revenge on all of the rotten humanity.
"Alright, alright,"
Elias clapped his palms.
"It's time to go."
Alpha immediately controlled his expression, once again becoming grief-stricken and sad.
Ronnan rested his palm on Jim's shoulder.
"Jim, he is not your brother."
Jim stood up and patted Beta's head.
'Beta. I'm here now. Don't worry.'
Beta nodded.
'But don't reveal me. Just act as if I'm not here.'
Betan nodded once again.
"I know,"
Jim raised his head, looking at the ceiling, pretending as if he held back tears.
They slowly separated.
Elias led Beta away, and Ronnan led Jim to his room.
"Thank you, Ronnan,"
Jim thanked Ronnan as they stopped before a door.
"Don't mention it," Ronnan shook his head. "My condolences, Jim,"
Jim lowered his head and nodded.
"The world is nothing like it was before."
A sigh escaped Ronnan's lips.
"Rest,"
Jim unlocked the door with a key he found in his backpack and entered.
Clack!
He locked.
"Sighh..."
Another sigh escaped Ronnan's lips.
"Jim..." Sadness flashed in his eyes. Sadness and understanding. "I hope you can recover,"
Memories flashed in his mind. The happy memories of Jim and his brother smiling together flashed in his mind.
"But nothing will ever be the same,"
He knew the shadow Jin's death left on Jim.
Jim was not well. He needed rest. He needed to get far away from this constant tension. Constantly battling the demons and zombies, this continuous living on the edge.
A tear silently rolled down Ronnan's cheek.
"Jin, rest in peace."
.
.
.
Thud!
Alpha collapsed in the room.
His facial skin twitched, as if worms crawled beneath it.
His face returned to its original.
The transformation was undone.
Alpha drenched in sweat.
His breathing ragged.
Exhaustion was visible on his face, but a smile crept up his face - a crazed smile.
He was in enemy territory, deep in the heart.
But instead of fear, his heart pumped with excitement.
His eyes flashed with malice.
"I'll end you all!"