Not A Simple Mortal

Rachel's fists clenched as she stared at the frail woman inside the glass chamber, her mother's words echoing in her mind.

"She seems like she has gone through something worse than hell..."

A pit formed in her stomach as she realized the truth of it. The woman had been reduced to something barely resembling a human being.

The sheer weight of suffering she must have endured, the lifeless demeanor, the way she barely moved, as though existing itself was a burden—Rachel had never seen such hopelessness in a person before.

Then, the metallic click of the door unlocking echoed through the cold chamber.

Rachel and Cecilia's heads snapped toward the entrance, tension rising in their bodies, only for their expressions to darken as Derek entered, two trays of sealed food in his hands.

The door locked behind him automatically.