Chapter 3:A Scientist's Burden

Will rubbed his temples, his mind racing. "Joy, listen to me. If Esono's involved, this isn't just some unethical research. This is life-and-death stuff. What are they making you do?"

Joy hesitated, his jaw tightening. His gaze flicked around the room, scanning for anyone who might overhear them. He leaned in closer, his voice barely audible.

"They call it Project Vitalix-X. Officially, it's about curing diseases, finding breakthroughs in genetic therapy. But that's just the surface." Joy paused, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "The truth is… they're creating something. Something I don't think they fully understand."

Will's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What are they creating?"

"A virus," Joy said flatly, his eyes locking with Will's. "A genetically engineered virus. They told me it's for medical purposes—targeted therapy, curing genetic disorders. But the data doesn't add up. The sequences I've seen… they're unstable. This thing could rewrite human DNA, maybe even erase memories. And if it gets out—" He stopped himself, shaking his head.

Will stared at him in disbelief. "Rewrite DNA? Joy, that sounds like… like science fiction. Are you sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure," Joy snapped, then softened. "I didn't want to believe it either, but the evidence is there. And Esono… he's obsessed. He's desperate to save his son, but this isn't just about curing one boy. It's about control, Will. Control on a scale we can't even imagine."

Will exhaled sharply, trying to process the weight of Joy's words. "And they're forcing you to work on this?"

Joy nodded, his expression dark. "I tried to quit. Told them I wasn't interested. But Esono doesn't take no for an answer. He knows things about me—things I can't let come out. And if I don't cooperate, he'll ruin me. Or worse."

Will's hands clenched into fists. "That bastard. He's using you. Joy, you can't let him win. There has to be a way out."

Joy gave a hollow laugh. "If there is, I haven't found it yet. And until I do, I've got no choice but to keep playing his game."

The two men sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation pressing down on them like a heavy fog. Finally, Will broke the silence. "What if we find a way to expose him? Take the evidence public. If people knew what he was doing—"

"You think I haven't thought of that?" Joy interrupted, his voice sharp. "You think I don't want to? But Esono's not just some two-bit criminal. He's untouchable, Will. He's got politicians, corporations, whole governments in his pocket. If I try to expose him, I'll be dead before the first report hits the news."

Will leaned back, defeated. "So what, then? You just keep working on this nightmare project until he decides you're expendable?"

Joy looked down at his coffee, the steam curling into the air like the remnants of his fading hope. "I don't know, Will. All I know is, I can't let this virus fall into the wrong hands. If it does, the world's not ready for what it can do. Hell, I'm not even sure I'm ready."

Will reached across the table, placing a firm hand on Joy's shoulder. "Whatever happens, you're not doing this alone. We'll figure it out. Together."

Joy glanced up, a small spark of gratitude flickering in his eyes. "Thanks, Will. But if you're going to stick by me, you'd better be ready for whatever comes next."

Will smirked faintly. "I've faced worse. Probably."

But as they left the coffee shop, the shadows seemed to stretch longer, and the weight of what they'd uncovered lingered like a storm on the horizon.