Miller’s body was wholly cramped and could not be moved. The stronger he resisted and struggled, the greater the whirlpool that dragged him to the bottom of the lake.
Amidst the state between life and death, Miller’s eyes suddenly darkened. When he was sure he had opened his eyes, Miller saw a white light that was so dazzling. The light penetrated straight through the water into his eyes. It was as if Miller’s eyes and head were watered by a flood of memories that were so overflowing.
Miller opened his eyes wide in the water. His body seemed to float, and he did not feel the burden.
‘I remember everything!’ thought Miller. ‘I remember what happened that day, Jonea!’
Miller heard Jonea’s screams faintly from the surface of the water. Jonea is not alone. Several people were attacking and surrounding her. The girl is in danger.
The memories that Miller got back took part in giving new energy to his body. It was as if Miller had just broken the chains around his body for the past year.
With his remaining breath, Miller swam back to the lake's surface. He swam as fast as he could, rushing to save Jonea.
“For whatever is in this world, I will never let anyone touch my sister.”
***
Aland left Hunter without a word. Aland remains silent about Jonea’s whereabouts.
Hunter was pacing in his study. He just realized that he really was trapped there.
Almost every step of the way, wherever he went, his mother’s confidants were constantly around him. The warriors indeed worked under the leadership of Hunter as the Alpha. But, actually, they were only carrying out the main orders from Mrs. Abraham.
“I’m just the puppet leader here! I should be able to get out of here and get Jonea first.”
Hunter’s study door was gently knocked. A beta appeared with some files.
“What is it?”
“There are some documents you need to sign, Alpha. This relates to the drug development business plan our research institute just discovered.”
“Just put it on the table!” said Hunter with a frustrated face. “Go and leave the files.”
Hunter began to prepare to escape from his office. He suddenly had an idea after looking at the files on his desk.
Hunter also signed there. Then he took the files and walked quickly out of his room to meet his mother.
When Hunter opened the door, two gamma people rushed to follow him. Hunter stopped and waved at them to stop.
“I’m going to my mom’s room. You don’t have to keep following me like a line of ants swarming sugar. Where can I go in from this building? Every corner of you installs CCTV cameras.”
The two gammas finally retreated and returned to their positions near Hunter’s workroom door. Hunter actually took the files to his mother’s office.
He was about to knock on the door but didn’t because it looked like his mother was receiving guests. As Hunter was about to turn to leave, he overheard his mother’s conversation with a man.
“Our hunters have located the girl's and her family's whereabouts!” a man reported to Mrs. Abraham.
Hunter froze instantly. ‘Is he referring to Jonea?’
Hunter failed to leave and instead put his ear to the crack in the door. He actually eavesdropped on the conversation between his mother and the stranger.
“Do it quickly and without anyone noticing, especially Hunter. You guys just need to bring the boy here. Kill the rest of his family. Especially that girl. Make sure she really isn’t alive anymore. They are quite dangerous for our future. It is enough for you to bring the boy here alive.”
“We will do it, Ma’am.”
‘Boy? Is it Miller? And kill Jonea? What exactly is my mother planning?’
Hunter clenched his fists so tightly. He stood before the slightly opened door, thinking back to every word Jonea had said last time.
‘This is all my mother’s doing? Is this a conspiracy to achieve a goal I don’t know about? What if Jonea is right that my mother caused this whole mess?’
Mrs. Abraham raised a hand to stop the man before her from speaking again. Mrs. Abraham glanced at the door, and she silently walked towards it. She opened the door, and no one was outside.
“Is something wrong, Ma’am?” asked the man.
Mrs. Abraham shook her head. “I’m probably exhausted and overworked.”
Mrs. Abraham looked at the clock on the table. She took her documents and rushed to the meeting room.
There is an emergency meeting to meet. They will talk about a new drug development project. They all started getting busy because they had managed to find Miller Fallon–the genius who had been missing.
Mrs. Abraham came into the meeting room and sat comfortably. She noticed one by one the members of the board of directors who had gathered, except for one empty chair.
The woman immediately stood up straight and called the assistant. “Where’s Hunter?”
“Mr. Hunter handed over the signed papers. Looks like he can’t attend today’s meeting, ma’am,” hungry one of his secretaries.
“Something’s wrong!” hissed Mrs. Abraham as she reached for her bag.
She asked the secretary to come along.
“We’re looking for Hunter right now. I’m sure I snift him at the door. I’m afraid he has overheard all of our conversations.”
***
Jonea’s head was covered by a black cloth. Her hands were tied behind her back. She was dragged away by a group of men who had just managed to find her in the woods.
“What should we do with this girl?”
The group leader had just finished talking on the phone with someone.
“The Boss gave orders to take the boy and kill the rest. So just kill this girl. She’s useless.”
A warrior came running from the direction of the camp.
“Boss, we ransacked the campsite and didn’t find the boy. There were only his parents–Mr. And Mrs. Fallon. They are with other humans who are running away from conscription.”
“Have you interrogated them? Where is the boy?”
“We’ve beaten him up, Boss. But they still don’t want to talk.
The leader glanced at Jonea. The girl’s head was still covered with black cloth, and she was now crouching on the ground with her hands and feet bound.
“Then ask this girl. She must know where her twin brother is.”
A man took off Jonea’s head scarf. The girl struggled and screamed but could not speak because her mouth was gagged with a handkerchief.
‘Who are they?’ thought Jonea. ‘Why do they want Miller? Are they people from the Abraham Foundation?’
“Uncover the mouth!” the leader ordered.
Someone untied Jonea’s mouth, and the girl screamed angrily. “Fuck! What do you want from me? Let me go!”
The leader felt his ears hurt when Jonea shouted. The man had to slap Jonea’s face until the girl’s lips cracked and bled. Jonea’s head throbbed violently. She fell to her knees and could barely move.
The man crouched down and grabbed Jonea’s long hair. Jonea winced in pain.
“Quickly tell me where your brother is?”
“Why? Why are you looking for Miller? Did Mrs. Abraham order you?”
“Talk too much! Just tell me quickly where Miller is?”
Jonea grinned triumphantly. She was grateful to have lost Miller at this time. Because Jonea really didn’t know where Miller was.
Even if Miller drowns in the lake, for Jonea, that would be far better than him being caught by these jerks and tortured.
“Why do you want Miller? I will let you know if you answer my question!” said Jonea.
“Hey, girl! You are not in a bargaining position with me.”
The man pushed Jonea’s forehead with his forefinger.
“But, fine. To fulfill your curiosity, before we finally finish you off. Mrs. Abraham wants your brother because he–he’s a smart fucking young man, after all. Miller Fallon is the only person who has formulated a drug that can convert human DNA into werewolf DNA without performing surgery.”
Jonea opened her eyes wide. She didn’t know anything about it. So far, what Jonea believes is Miller is the object of research. Someone other than the person doing the research.
“Impossible!” cried Jonea.
“Yeah, it’s impossible for a 2nd-year high school kid to come up with such a powerful and accurate medicinal formula. Meanwhile, none of the best scientists from the Abraham research center have been able to do this. Unfortunately, the secret formula was buried with Miller’s fading memory.”
Jonea now understood Mrs. Abraham’s reason for not killing Miller. Miller had an accident, not on purpose. If it was intentional, Mrs. Abraham would not let Miller live this long.
Instead, they continued to watch over and defend Miller. They waited until Miller could regain his memory and seize the secret formula.
Jonea looked down. Part of her face was covered by loose, tangled hair. Suddenly, Jonea burst into laughter. So that makes the men who captivate her surprised.
“What’s with this girl? Has she gone mad?”
“Miller!” she shouted. “I know you hear me. Wherever you are, never leave. I’m willing to die for you. I’ve come this far. What do you think it’s for? Of course, to protect you. Even if you don’t remember anything, listen to me carefully!” she shouted.
“Damn, girl. What are you doing?” shouted the leader. “Quickly find the young man! He seems to be hiding around here.”
“Miller!” Jonea shouted so loudly. “Go and stay away! Go as far as possible. Don’t let yourself get caught!”
The leader was so angry. Once again, he hit Jonea’s face hard. All his men had scattered to look for Miller in every corner around the lake.