Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Bryan's POV

I scratch my overgrown messy beard lightly as I stare at the laptop screen. I really should get a haircut but that is not a priority right now. I look at the screen to see a notification informing me of the results of an online search. I click on the notification icon and the webpage displays a much expected list. The list of recent sightings of Perry across the world. After a few more thorough searchings , I find the most recent place where Perry was last seen. A little town in Australia. Armidale. The town locals reported seeing a "lizard man". He destroyed a laboratory and left there with three scientists. I have been keeping tabs on his sightings and investigating. I'm sure all these are connected. At almost every place he has been, equipment similar to the ones we used in the creation of the serum were taken. This gets me confused. What is he trying to do. Whatever it is, it cannot be good. Everytime I think I have a lead on him, I end up coming up blank but I must keep trying. I must find Dad as soon as possible. It has been a week since Smasher and Perry took him. I was so devastated when I woke up on the pavement and they were gone. I have not had a good night's sleep since that night. Anytime I close my eyes, I see his face. I could not get to him in time. I failed him. I said I would protect him and I failed him. Since that night, I have tried everything in my power to find him. I even searched for others like Perry, Smasher and I but all I end up finding are made up facts and people.

All of a sudden, my stomach growls loudly. Guess I have been so busy that I have not even thought of food yet. I decide to go get something to eat. Without even realizing what I am doing, I find myself parked at the restaurant. The same restaurant Dad and I usually ate at. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and go in. I order some soup. As I sit waiting to be served, I look around. I remember the last time we were here together. I look in the direction we saw the family that was here that night. They are not here tonight. A figure blocks my vision. "Mind if I take this seat?", I hear a female say. The figure in front of me moves to the right and I make her out clearly now. Sima? I stare at her long and hard then realize I have not replied yet. "Oh I'm sorry. No. Please sit" I mutter with a bit of embarrassment in my voice. I bet I have a pink tint on my cheeks now. This lady has a way of making me feel boyish. She smiles and sits down. She looks different now. Her previously raven black hair is blonde now. It looks good on her. I think she looks even more beautiful than before. I just realize I have not seen her since I left the hospital a month ago. "I heard about your father. I am so sorry. How are you holding up? " She looks at me sympathetically. Sighing softly I close my eyes. "Not well at all. I feel like a failure. I should have tried harder to protect him". "It is not your fault Si..Bryan" . She almost called me sir again. That gets me Chuckling. "I need to find him Sima. He is the only one I have left. I just got to know him and I cannot lose him, not now" . She places her small hands over my bigger one and looks softly at me. "Everything will be alright. What matters is that you don't give up. Can you promise that? For your father?" I nod in response. "There is someone I would like you to meet if you are up for it. This meeting will help in finding your father" . I place my other hand on hers already on mine and look in her pair of ocean-like eyes. "I am up for anything that will help me find my Dad". The waitress brings my food and apparently Sima ordered too because another waitress serves her grilled salmon.

We eat in silence with occasional glances at each other. When we are done, I ask for the bill for both of us. Sima tried to pay for hers but I quickly hand the money over to the waitress. "You can pay next time" I tell her smiling. We leave the restaurant shortly. We take my car. She gives me directions while I drive and we have some small talk. Finally after the last directed turn, I drive straight ahead till I find myself in front of large metallic gates. Sima rolls down the window on her side and looks up at a security camera at the top of the wall. The buzzer blinks green and the gates open slowly. Woah, the guy who lives here must be loaded. I drive through the open gates and after a small drive distance what I see has my jaw dropping, literally!! In front of us is a huge mansion with a spectacular water fountain in front of it. The mansion looks like something out of a fairytale movie. Bright neon green lights surround the entire property. A magnificent stone horse stands in the middle of the fountain with water shooting out of it's stone mouth. Sima clears her throat and I look around only to see her standing outside and gesturing to the mansion. I get out of the car and follow her . We reach large oak doors and she knocked once. The door creaks open slowly and we step in. The place is dark . I hear a clap and suddenly the whole place is bathed in bright light from an elegant crystal chandelier. "Welcome Mr Wilde" a figure from the top of a long spiraling staircase speaks. I nearly jump. The voice is a female's. "I have been expecting you" ..