The European man’s voice crackled through the van’s speakers once again. "Now then, Mr. Reeds. We still have your son in custody. I suggest you tell us where the Serum is." he said calmly, as if he hadn’t just had my mother killed in cold blood.

  My father said nothing. He just glared at the man, his eyes seething with fury, burning through the tears that stained his face.

  The man behind the camera sighed, irritated, "Have it your way then. Richard, scan the house for residual traces." he ordered.

  Without a word, the man in glasses withdrew a silver, pen-like object from his jacket pocket. A blue light flickered from the pen, sweeping over the room as it scanned every inch of the house.

  The man’s frown deepened. "It’s picking up something… here."

  He moved toward the kitchen table, "There’s a large trace coming from this table—wait a minute." he said, leaning down and pointing the pen closer. "I’m picking up traces... on this Tamagoyaki." he added, his voice laced with confusion.

  The European man was silent for a beat, before realization dawned, "Good god, there’s no way you actually did something so moronic!" he exclaimed, staring at my father in disbelief.

  He then turned to address the camera, perhaps speaking to his headquarters, "Reeds has dosed these omelettes with the Serum. I can only presume he’s already fed it to his entire family." he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

  The shock of his words ripped through my haze of despair. 'What the hell?! Dad drugged our food with the miracle water?!' The thought hit me like a freight train. Is that why Mom’s food tasted so different? My eyes, still swollen from crying, widened in understanding.

  A muffled voice came from the other side of the camera feed, it was most likely the European man's superior issuing him new orders.

  "We've already taken care of the wife, we'll promptly dispose of the rest." the man replied, making my blood turn cold.

  The European man let out a sickening laugh, "Well then Mr. Reeds, it sounds like your time is up. I'm feeling generous today, so if you quietly hand over the rest of the serum, I'll give you and your son a painless death."

  My father chuckled darkly, "I can't do anything with your enforcer holding me like this."

  The man sighed, exasperated. "You think I'm foolish enough to release control of you? Just tell me where the Serum is."

  Father clicked his tongue, maintaining a composed demeanor. "It's in the cabinet, right next to my wife."

  "I appreciate your cooperation." the man replied, making his way toward the kitchen, where my mother's lifeless form lay. I forced my gaze away, unable to bear the sight of her desecrated corpse.

  The cabinet door creaked open, revealing the black case nestled inside. Seemingly satisfied, the man radioed his command, "Target acquired. Returning to base."

  A subtle beep broke the silence, and I could no longer avert my eyes from the camera feed. I watched as a chilling smile spread across my father's face.

  Suddenly, a blinding flash consumed the screen, accompanied by the deafening roar of an explosion. The camera feed dissolved into static, and from the other monitors in the van, I witnessed my home erupt into a fiery inferno. The blast was powerful enough to rock the vehicle, even from its distant position within the neighborhood.

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  Startled, the suited man beside me sprang to his feet, pressing a finger to his earpiece in an attempt to reach the agents who had been inside. "Charles! Charles, come in! Sh*t."

  He hurriedly retrieved a phone-like device from the corner of the van, punched in a series of digits, and lifted it to his ear, "Central, come in. Charles and his enforcer have been taken out. Reeds must've rigged the house with explosives."

  After a brief pause, he offered a response to an unheard query. "No, he didn't extract the Serum before the blast. It was likely destroyed."

  The man turned his obscured gaze toward me, his intentions hidden behind thick-tinted glasses. Helpless, I could only watch as he reached into his pocket, retrieving a leather glove. Donning the glove, he extended his hand toward my face, unperturbed by the venomous glare I cast in his direction.

  As his fingers made contact with my temple, my vision abruptly faded, plunging me back into darkness.

  As I regained consciousness, the sterile, white walls of an unfamiliar room surrounded me. I lay immobile, unable to move my head or survey my environment. The harsh glare of fluorescent lights flooded my vision, revealing a man in a surgeon's gown hovering above. Realizing I was completely naked, I deduced I was likely on an operating table. A suited figure stood silently in the corner, their presence enforcing my paralysis.

  The doctor acknowledged my wakefulness before turning to address an unseen individual, “The subject has awakened.”

  A voice responded from the shadows, "Good. Begin the tests. Our clients grow restless for the next batch of Serum."

  The doctor voiced his concerns, "Didn’t he receive a dose from an experimental strain? Its full effects on human physiology remain unknown."

  "Regardless, proceed. Recreating the original batch could take years from scratch." the voice commanded, leaving no room for argument.

  Resigned, the doctor agreed, "As you wish."

  Footsteps faded as the door swished open and closed, leaving me with the doctor and my immobilizing sentinel.

  Rage and despair welled within me as I recalled the recent events that led to my current predicament. Tears formed in my eyes, but even my voice was captive this time, I was unable to move even my lips.

  The doctor, sensing my distress, chuckled. "Don't exert yourself, boy. We have much work to do." He retrieved a metallic instrument from a nearby tray.

  A sharp pain suddenly erupted in my abdomen, snaking its way up towards my chest. Excruciating agony overwhelmed me as I realized the doctor was slicing me open. Unable to scream or defend myself, I could only clench my teeth as my vision swam.

  The torment seemed unending. I desperately longed for the sweet release of death, but even that reprieve was denied. I pleaded for the darkness to claim me, to grant me relief from the unbearable suffering.

  "Incredible." the doctor marveled, seemingly unfazed by my anguish, "Your healing factor is remarkable! My previous incisions have already closed."

  His fascination was lost on me as waves of pain consumed every fiber of my being. My mind was a haze of torment as his blades continued to violate my flesh countless times. My cries were swallowed in the abyss, trapped within the prison of my own body.

  Minutes turned to hours, and hours turned to days as I lost track of time. Every moment became a blur only distinguishable from the brief moments of peace where I imagined the doctor went home to sleep. There was always a man in a suit standing in a corner of the room, sometimes it was the same man, sometimes it was a different one. I could hardly even tell their faces apart anymore.

  My only respite came during the rare moments when I could sleep, my nightmares replaced by visions of a luminous woman gazing down at me, her presence a beacon of solace amidst the torment.

  These fleeting reprieves were eventually stolen as a team of scientists were brought in to conduct round-the-clock tests. They meticulously recorded each attempt on my life, observing as my body fought to return to its normal state. One day, my blood was drained entirely, leaving me suspended in a state of excruciating weakness.

  Despite the horror, I clung to the dreams of the mysterious woman, her visits growing more frequent and vivid. In one dream, she appeared more radiant than ever, her skin glowing with ethereal light. Her golden-yellow eyes, though tinged with sadness, pierced my soul as she looked down at me.

  "W-who are you?" I asked, my voice cracking from disuse. It had been weeks since I last spoke, and the sound was alien to my ears.

  Ignoring my question, she asked her own. "Do you wish for me to free you from this world?"