Chapter 78

The sudden click of doors opening made Lia jump back to his feet. Eyes widened with hope he turned around abruptly. 

"Dexter, are you letting me--" He thought Dexter finally got some sympathy and was letting him out but his words caught in his throat when he saw someone else standing there. "E-Eve.." 

With a face paler than a ghost, Eve's petite but calm face shocked him. "Brother Li?"

"Eve!" Lia quickly ran and engulfed him in a strong hug before Eve could complete his words. Frozen in shock, Eve was baffled for a moment after experiencing his brother hugging him so willingly which was a rare moment. 

Eve was so happy he could cry. But his heart was equally conflicted. He didn't like the reason for Lia being like that, he didn't wish for Lia to get hurt for someone else. Who could be the person who had turned his emotionless brother into such a pitiful and vulnerable person? 

"B-brother Li, are you feeling well? Dexter informed me that you were---" He couldn't finish because his weak heart couldn't bear the thought that his brother almost died. And why, because of some weird stranger, was what he heard from Dexter. 

Lia caressed his back and pulled back to look into his eyes before staring toward the open door. Knocking Eve out of his senses and running away was the first thought that came to his mind, but he paused at Eve's next words.

"Brother Li, do y-you really love that man?" Eve inquired softly, though he seemed to know the answer he was about to get because somehow he could already feel what Lia would say. 

And Lia was stunned to see a pang of jealousy in his eyes which he didn't understand. 

"Eve," Lia stifled gently but Eve's innocent tears were already staining his rosy cheeks. Lia carefully brushed away his brother's tears. "I…I genuinely care about him. He's that important part of my life where I can't breathe without him." 

Eve's heart twisted with sorrow so intense that it threatened to devour him. His flimsy facade broke, exposing the real emotion on his face. He has always wanted to be the one who could console Lia, wipe away his tears, and fix the shattered parts of his heart. But as he looked into Lia's eyes, he realised he could never compete with the love that burned exceptionally for someone else.

And he loathed this truth, he wanted to scream and rant against the injustice of it all, but all he could do was stand there in misery. But at least now there is someone who made his brother's dead heart beat again and taught his emotionless brother Li to cry and feel emotions. He just wished he could have done it first before someone else as his brother. 

I just wished...I could too. But I understand. I understand, Brother Li. I'm happy for you. 

"Leave before Mom comes back," Eve pushed Lia away and towards the door to his freedom. 

Lia looked at him with grateful eyes, and when he turned to leave, Eve's desperation erupted. 

"Wait," he cried out causing Lia to halt. For a while, he couldn't speak but when he did Lia couldn't handle the squeeze in his chest. 

"Don't come back. Don't ever come back. Run away with that person…somewhere far where you can be happy. I will handle mom here so don't worry." 

"T-Thank you," Lia hugged him again. "I never hated you," he declared as he felt the need to let Eve know his feelings towards him he never mustered the courage to disclose. 

"I know, b-brother Li," With a bittersweet taste of tears on his lips, Eve glanced up through his wet eyelashes. "I know you always loved me," He pushed Lia away. "N-Now go!" 

"I owe you in this life," And with that Lia was gone. 

When he could no longer hear Lia's footsteps booming down the corridor. He went to his knees, finally letting out the sniffles he was suppressing and trying to be brave in front of Lia. 

"Will...I e-ever see you again?" His body shook with a sobbing. 

◾◾◾

"Scout! Scout!" Lia yelled desperately as he barged into the police station. 

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" The officers seized him but he struggled against them. 

"Let me go! Where is Scout—?!" 

"What's all this commotion is about?" 

When Scout finally appeared, Lia sighed in relief. However, before he could even speak, Scout's fist collided with his jaw, sending him reeling back.

"What the hell is your problem?!" Lia exclaimed furiously, holding his throbbing jaw. "What was that for?"

Scout's eyes blazed with anger as he grabbed Lia by his collar and dragged him into an empty room. Violently throwing him across the room. 

"Because of you! Because of you, Wagnar canceled the Rave party. We were this close to completing our mission, and now everything's gone to hell! And all because of your stupidity. If you hadn't exposed yourself they shouldn't have been so careful!" 

Lia blinked bewilderedly. "What? But-" 

Scout was so angry, that he wanted to rip out his own hair. "He changed his plans. He's not selling those subjects yet. After he encountered Alpha's real personality, he wanted to delve deeper into this, to see if he could replicate this trait in other subjects as well. And after your incident, he shifted Alpha to the main headquarters where no other Lia could reach him again." 

Fear and disbelief mingled in Lia's eyes. "Then, it's even more important to rescue Alpha before they do more experiments on him now."

"What more trouble do you want to cause now, Lia?" he demanded. 

"Trouble?" Lia repeated, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "If we can erase the roots, then the tree of crimes will die on its own."

Scout frowned. "What does that mean?"

"If I destroy that headquarters, it will collapse Wagnar's entire empire. No more experiments, no more weapons, and no more Alpha suffering in that hellhole."

Scout's eyes widened in shock and fear. "Destroy the headquarters? Lia, that's suicide. That place is heavily guarded. And do you even realise how many victims are trapped there? If you destroy that place, what about them?" 

Lia stepped closer to him and pierced his dark eyes into Scout's soul. "Sometimes, you have to cut out the cancer to save the body. And this is the only way to save Alpha and stop Wagnar for good. Sounds heartless? Exactly, that's what we have to be. I only care about Alpha." 

"Oh, yeah. I already saw how brave you are with those bullet marks on you," Lia gritted his jaw at his comment. "I wonder how strong enough you are to execute this plan of yours." 

"You underestimated me, Scout," he whispered maliciously. "I'm not a saint. I've trespassed into highly secured places, destroyed facilities, and killed more people than you can count. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty to achieve my goals."

Scout's face paled for a moment. "This is still different. This isn't just some raid or skirmish. Wagnar's headquarters is a fortress. You can't just enter in there and blow it up."

Lia's smirk grew more sinister. "Watch me," he hissed. "Sometimes, to destroy evil, you have to become something worse. And I'm already the worst." 

"There might be other ways. Just wait until we come up with a new plan–" 

"I'm not like those pussies who, like you, wait for years, plan everything out, and then wait foolishly for that perfect moment. I strike out straight away without making plans. Since the right moment never comes, I will save my person, I will not let him suffer anymore. It's now or never, if you want to save those victims and children, feel free to follow me. I'll destroy that place and surely save Alpha this time." 

Scout sighed, it's harder than it seems to stop a crazy guy like Lia. He rubbed his temples until Lia spoke again. "So, are you in or out?" 

When Lia didn't get any response for a whole minute, he turned around and sprinted out. Scout's voice rang out behind him. "Lia, don't be stupid. You can't do this alone!"

But Lia didn't look back. He had made up his mind, and nothing could stop him now. If Scout wouldn't join him, then he'd go alone. He had his own methods, his own rules. And anyone who got in his path would learn just how dangerous Lia could truly be.

[ LAB HEADQUARTERS ] 

"Mindbender," The doctor let out as he looked at the several vials of a clear, viscous liquid lying on the table. A tall man with an emotionless face who was meticulously hiding the bubbling annoyance inside him addressed the group. 

"What you see before you is our latest achievement: Mindbinder. This drug is designed to interface directly with the cerebral cortex, which allows us to control neural activity at an outstanding level."

"It's not just control. Mindbender can induce obedience, enhance cognitive functions, or completely override a person's free will. The applications are limitless," Dr. Green, a short woman with sharp features added. 

"We've tested it on several subjects, and the results have been…remarkable. Complete compliance within seconds," Another doctor said. 

"What about side effects? Any long-term impacts on brain health?"

Dr. Green waved off the concern. "Minor neural degradation, but nothing catastrophic. The benefits far outweigh the risks."

As the discussion continued, the room filled with excitement and expectations. Yet, one doctor was fully silent, his expression telling that he didn't want to be there. 

"Dr. River, you've been awfully quiet. Surely, you must have some thoughts on this drug?"

River's gaze changed within a second, putting on a cool face. "The drug still lacks potential. We shouldn't test it on subjects just yet–" 

"Always the moral compass, aren't you, River? We're scientists. Our job is to push boundaries and to explore possibilities. Morality is not for doctors like us," Doctor Green said and everyone laughed around them. 

River's jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure. "Pushing boundaries is one thing. Playing with human minds is another. We've crossed a line."

Dr. Green scoffed. "Oh, spare us the ethics lecture." 

River's eyes flickered with frustration, but he forced himself to remain calm. 

"Now, it's time to use this on Alpha."

River nodded indifferently. Though inside, he was seething. "Very well. I'll do my part."

As the meeting adjourned, River walked out, if he could he wished to burn this place so that he wouldn't be forced to work there anymore. 

Just as he stepped out of the conference room, a guard came running toward him, his face pale with fear. "Dr. River, that subject has lost control again and is trying to run away."

River's heart skipped a beat, and he whispered, "Sage, oh no!" under his breath. He quickly ran towards the lab. 

When he reached the lab, he found a young boy, fighting fiercely with the guards. "Not this brat again." 

"I told you, you can't come here, Nick," River rolled his eyes.

"Let me go! I need to see him!" Nick shouted, trying to shove past the guards. "What are you guys doing to him?! Didn't I warn you all not to hurt him?!" 

River sighed and approached Nick. "Nick, you're not allowed to be here. It's strictly prohibited to meet or see the subjects."

Nick glared at River aggressively and stubbornly. "Don't call him a subject. And don't tell me what to do! I won't leave until I meet Sage."

River gritted his teeth, trying to keep his voice calm. As if the madness in the lab wasn't enough, he has to deal with this stupid kid as well. "Nick, please leave. If you don't, I'll have to inform your father about the chaos you're creating here."

"If you hurt Sage, I will kill you, you useless doctor. I swear it," River met Nick's furious gaze with a weary look. He had heard these threats before, yet he couldn't fathom Nick's obsession with Sage. 

But then, River didn't fully understand his own obsession with Sage either. There was something about that boy—so violent yet so fragile—that tugged at his conscience.

"I won't hurt Sage," River finally said, his voice softer this time, because how could he hurt that subject he's clearly fascinated with? "But you need to leave now."

Nick hesitated for a while. Finally, he backed down, but not without a final, threatening glare. "You'd better keep your word."

As Nick was escorted out, River suddenly heard a loud explosion as his ear rang. 

"Beep! Beep! Beep!" Soon, alarms began to blare, and the facility was thrown into clutter.

"Alert! Gas leak on the main floor!" a guard's voice crackled over the intercom.