Chapter 58

When Alpha entered the room, River became terrified. Alpha took a peek around, he had never seen this room before. He just followed River without thinking anything. 

He observed the strange surroundings with a suspicious gaze. His heartbeats rising, he returned his focus to River and saw the fear in his friend's eyes. "You look like you have seen a ghost." He commented with a bitter smirk. 

"It's not what you think, Alpha," River quickly let out, he appeared frightened for someone who just killed and cut open a body without blinking just a moment ago. 

Alpha's laughter rang out throughout the room. "I had no idea I was raising a snake, one that was secretly biting me in the back," he remarked, his tone amused and disappointed, sending River's nerves into a fit of chill. 

River's face twisted in remorse hearing the betrayal in his voice. "Trust me, I didn't purposely do that. The lab told me to keep an eye on you-" 

"That's the thing!" Alpha yelled, his pupils constricted, his voice turning the atmosphere dark. River backed off seeing his situation which was turning drastically. "I thought at least you weren't messing with me, but it turns out you were just another lab pest." 

"But I never once tried to harm you, damnit!" River screamed back with equal rage. "Yes, I'm nothing but a lab parasite…but I became your friend-" 

Even before he could finish Alpha's world began to collapse around him as an intense throbbing start in his head. Everything around him appeared to be mere illusions, he couldn't tell the difference between truth and lying. Nothing made sense to him. He felt as though everyone was pulling tricks on him and that everything around him was fake. 

First, it was Eve, and now it's River. 

"Alpha?!" River cried out in a terrifying voice as he watched him falling on the ground. 

There was a quick invasion of guards with Nick into the room just as things were getting out of hand. River stopped, looking at a shocked Nick in bewilderment. 

"Seize him." Nick ordered hurriedly. 

Alpha, still dazed, watched as the guards approached. The world spun around him, and his thoughts were scattered. He scowled at the guards through his dark furious eyes and the guards halted at once looking between each other. 

"Don't touch him-" 

"You shut your stupid ass!" Nick barked, shoving River back who was making a frantic effort to save his friend. "How could you be so careless? You fucking exposed the location to him. Did you do that on purpose?! Don't you fucking know what could this monster is capable of?!" 

"Have you lost it? Why would I purposely–!" 

"Hhng!" 

Alpha moved with incredible speed and strength that took hold of his paralysed brain, and his actions became ferocious and brutal. He lunged at one of the guards with bare hands. His grip was unrelenting as he ripped the guard's head from his shoulders with ease. The bloody head in his hands was a gruesome and nightmarish sight. 

"Fuck…!" Nick breathed out, heartbeats thundering against his ribcage. 

The other guards, witnessing the terrifying scene, were provoked helplessly by panic. It was impossible for them to match Alpha's strength which they knew were enhanced by the drugs.

They slowly backed off but Alpha leaped at them as well. However, before he could do anything he was shot in the guts and he fell to the ground. 

"What did you do?!" River yelled but Nick ignored him and kept his gun pointed at Alpha. 

He glared at the guards. "What are you doing? Capture him before he gains consciousness." 

"Yes, sir!" The guards chanted in unison before picking Alpha. 

Nick turned to River with a furious scoff. "You're so dead once the lab hears about this. Now, go and pull out that bullet from him. He will be transferred to the lab tonight." 

"What? But his training is not done-"

"They're coming for him tonight. His training ends today, you should pray for yourself," Nick warned before leaving for the other attached ward. 

River sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. 

Alpha lay on the sterile, cold bed, unconscious, while River worked on him. He has removed the bullet and he's waiting for Alpha to wake up. 

"Are you thinking about removing his memory?" Nick asked entering the room once again, he's keeping a close eye on him now. 

River sighed and rolled his eyes annoyingly. "No, it's not possible to remove his memories anymore. Your lab has done it so many times. It would be dangerous for his life if we tried anything." 

A frown creased Nick's forehead as he pressed, "How so? We removed his memory in the past, nothing happened to him at that time, so why not now?" 

River clenched his teeth, struggling to keep his calm. He doesn't like how everyone is so casual about using and destroying Alpha so easily as if he wasn't considered a human at all. "That's not how things work. Back then, his mental health wasn't as strong, so he accepted everything we did. He was designed from the start to accept changes. But it's different now, his body and mind don't respond to us."

Nick's dissatisfaction was apparent, and he probed further. "That's not a good sign. Why is he changing now?" 

River was cautious not to reveal too much. He reasoned, "Maybe because he heard something from his past that he shouldn't have heard. He mentioned nightmares after remembering the word 'Lia.' Do you know who that is?" 

The moment the name Lia left River's lips, a wave of dread washed over Nick's face, and he sternly warned River, "Don't call that name!" He panted heavily, this was the first time River had seen Nick horrified. "That person wasn't human, but a real-life monster. A curse, a jinx. That person was the reason this school was created."

River was taken aback. "Lia is the reason this whole ass Sunford asylum was made?"

Nick affirmed with a chilling voice and frightened gaze, "Yes."

River's curiosity got the better of him, and he inquired, "And Alpha is related to that person?"

Nick's expression hardened, and he fumed, "You don't need to know that. Just remember to never mention that name in front of him. He believes Lia is dead, and we need to keep him believing that, understand? Now, prepare for his injection." 

River was shocked by this sudden disclosure, his confusion and anxiety growing. He felt he did the wrong thing by asking Nick about Lia. Will that make him suspicious of Alpha even more? 

As Nick left the room to tend to the subject reports, River turned his attention back to Alpha. His voice was low and hushed. "Get up, he's gone. I know you're awake." 

Alpha, still groggy from the drugs, slowly opened his eyes. His head was still hazy. He listened as River whispered, "Go and find Eve. Stay with him if you don't want to go to the lab. If you end up there, it's over for you. You won't see Eve, me, or anyone ever again. So please go to him." 

Alpha was stunned but nodded in understanding, fear coursing through him. He quietly left the room and made a run for it, clutching his stomach with a fresh gun wound. 

Moments later, another nurse entered. He was shocked to see Alpha's bed empty. He inquired urgently. "Where did he go?"

River blinked, caught off guard, and hesitated, searching for an excuse. But before he could respond, Nick stormed back into the room, his anger growing as he demanded, "Where the hell is he?"

Panicked, River stammered, "I don't know. I was preparing the injection, and when I turned around, he was gone—"

Nick's face twisted in frustration, and he barked orders, "What are you waiting for?! Get the guards to go after him!"

[In the hallway]

Still suffering from the effects of the medicine and unbearable pain in his stomach, Alpha's body suddenly stopped. When he looked at the person standing in front of him, his eyes widened in terror and a freezing fear seized every nerve in his body.

His peripheral vision seemed to fade and warp as he narrowed it to only see the middle-aged man in front of him. The man with one eye missing. 

His breathing became laboured, and a chilling iciness appeared to pervade into his veins. His body was already boosting his distress due to the drugs, but the sight of this man made his limbs feel heavy and unresponsive. He couldn't move at all. 

"How wonderful to see you here in this state," The man let out, taking a step further and exposing his behind view which was a number of men wearing blue suits and holding guns. 

But they didn't faze Alpha at all in comparison to this man. As if trying to escape his body, Alpha's heart raced and pounded in his chest. The horror that swept over him sent his thoughts into a wild rage, and it was overwhelming. He was in the presence of something that had sparked a deep, past memory of this man in him, leaving him completely helpless in its presence, and each part of his body screamed in panic.

The drug's effects grew stronger, and Alpha's body started to turn colder. His entire body experienced tremendous trembling as a deep shudder swept through him. His teeth chattered as his muscles unconsciously stiffened by the cold. His face grew pale and lost all colours. 

Nick and the guards were taken aback by the unexpected presence as well when they caught up with Alpha. "Uncle Antonio?" 

River froze, looking between a trembling Alpha and Antonio. Shit! This bastard is already here. What should I do? How should I inform Eve? 

With his intimidating and menacing face, Antonio studied the surroundings with a sharp glance. He was a man in his forties with a terrifying face. He didn't waste any time in ruthlessly demanding. "What's happening here?"

Nick forced a hard swallow as he responded when neither River nor anyone else tried to say anything. "Alpha somehow found out about this place, but don't worry we're taking care of it." 

Antonio's piercing gaze penetrated down on Alpha, his intense scrutiny making Alpha feel like a cornered animal. Alpha's shivering only heightened under the weight of Antonio's attention.

"I can see how well you're taking care of it," Antonio's voice was serene yet it turned the atmosphere dark. 

The principal was also present. Though he didn't say anything. Antonio, however, was not satisfied with just words. He approached Alpha and, with a rough grip, pulled Alpha's head up by his hair. The act alone felt like an interrogation, and Antonio's eyes roved over Alpha as if he were examining a wounded prey.

"The subject looks weak." 

Both the principal and River tensed at his words. They looked at each other quickly, probably asking the same question about Antonio's arrival. 

"It's because-" River attempted to explain but Antonio's piercing glare silenced him instantly. 

"I'm asking the subject, not you," River gulped, and nodded. 

But Alpha remained in a disoriented and frightened state, unable to provide any answers.

Nick took the opportunity to speak up. "These changes in him started when he got this new mysterious roommate. I asked the Principal about it, but he didn't tell me anything."

Antonio's gaze shifted to the principal, who maintained an outward calm. He confidently denied it. "He doesn't have any roommate." 

"Why the fuck are you lying?!" Nick screamed angrily. 

"I'm not lying-" 

"Capture them both!" Antonio roared and his men were quick to grab the principal and River. He faced both of them. "The subject wasn't his usual self yet the reports sent to the lab were said he's normal, someone was living with him without our knowledge or permission. Aren't you both trying to make it more obvious?" 

River struggled against the grasp of the guards. "Don't try. You'll be rewarded for your participation in the experiments but not so soon. We still need you," Antonio smirked. "Hand him the gift we brought for him." 

River glared at him, his heart was racing. He knew he was in danger because the only way to get out of Sunford was by dying. So, he understands what rewards Antonio was talking about. 

Soon, he was handed a small red bottle. He frowned, scrutinising the bottle. "What's this?" 

"NeuroRage." 

River's eyes widened in disbelief. He doesn't even want to imagine what Antonio's demand could be. He stared at the input red liquid of NeuroRage. 

NeuroRage is a dangerous chemical. It is designed to awaken fatal instincts that have been suppressed deep within the human brain. When given, it triggers a person's most dangerous survival instincts, transforming them into a lethal, unstoppable force.

It eliminates restraints, numbs pain, and dramatically enhances physical capabilities. Those affected by NeuroRage become fearsome, they are also totally consumed by wrath and unable to differentiate between friends and enemies.

"I believe you have already assumed it. Now please proceed to give it to this useless dog," Antonio ordered, touching the long scar on his face that crossed his eyes and forehead. 

River shook his head profusely, his nerves screaming furiously. "That could–!" 

"Just do what you're ordered or are you forgetting your job!" 

River gulped, hell he couldn't deny or else he could get killed and he couldn't afford that because he needed to make sure that Sage was good and living before he left this world. 

He reluctantly gripped the bottle. He approached Alpha who's eyes were black and vacant. He seemed oblivious to his surroundings, his breathing unsteady and unremarkable. It was as though his very essence had been stripped away, leaving an empty vessel. 

River was handed an injection, he injected it in Alpha. And within moments, the transformation began. 

Soon, Alpha's face and body shook with anger and misery. His inner beast became conscious and was waiting to be let out. As adrenaline poured through his body, his muscles became larger and his veins began to pulse. He twisted into a terrifying snarl, his eyes now filled with a ferocious, firm purpose. He took a predatory attitude as he clenched his fists and tightened his body language. His body was bursting with uncontrolled energy, and his breathing had become quick and uncontrolled.

Knowing that he now had power over this wild fury, Antonio observed with a menacing smirk. Alpha had transformed into a weapon and an embodiment of wrath, no longer being the person he was a few minutes ago. Just like what the lab was working on for so long on him. 

Once the effects of NeuroRage had worn off, Alpha had fully transformed into a deadly weapon, a being of utter rage and destruction, ready to be pointed in any direction Antonio chose.

Every present man trembles at the sight of Alpha. "Kill everyone who's wearing a blue suit."