Chương 17: 25;DESICION AT LAST
Leo stood still, his gaze fixed on the infinite void of space. The stars seemed colder now, more distant, as if mocking him with their indifference. Beyond the window, Earth was nothing but a faint shadow, a pale blue memory of what it once had been. His reflection in the glass stared back, his features hardened by anger and resolve. The decision he had made weighed heavily on him, yet he knew it was the only path forward.
Behind him, the sterile white walls of the room seemed to close in, amplifying the suffocating silence. Every breath he took felt deliberate, a reminder of the fragile balance between his humanity and the monstrous choice he was about to make.
Suddenly, the door to the room slid open with a soft hiss. A soldier stepped inside, his boots clinking lightly against the floor. He was a tall man with a hardened expression, his uniform pristine and his posture stiff with discipline. He paused at the threshold, his eyes briefly scanning the room before landing on Leo.
Leo remained motionless, his back still turned to the door. The soldier hesitated, unsure whether to speak or leave.
"You can go," Leo said without turning, his voice low and even.
The soldier nodded and started to step out, but then Leo spoke again. "Wait," he said, his tone softer this time.
The soldier stopped in his tracks and turned back, his brow furrowed.
"Do you know where Ms.Nana is?" Leo asked, his voice tinged with something the soldier couldn't quite place.
The soldier nodded. "Yea."
"Please, call her for me," Leo said, finally turning to face him. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto the soldier's with a quiet urgency.
The soldier stiffened slightly, caught off guard by the politeness in Leo's request. He gave a curt nod. "Understood," he said, before leaving the room.
As he walked down the long, sterile corridor, the soldier's thoughts drifted to the boy he had just left behind. There was something different about him, something that set him apart from the others aboard the Arc. Most of the 1 million who had been selected for the injections were far from composed. Some had succumbed to despair, their minds shattered by the weight of their fate. Others had retreated into themselves, their eyes hollow and lifeless. And then there were those who laughed—wild, unhinged laughter that spoke of broken spirits.
But Leo wasn't like them. The soldier couldn't help but wonder why. Was it because of Dr. Nana? She had personally vouched for only two people aboard the Arc: Leo and the girl in the glass, Sleek. The rest had been forced into compliance by the military, dragged to the labs and injected against their will. Yet Dr. Nana had gone out of her way to convince Leo, to handle him with care.
The soldier whispered to himself as he walked, "Ms. Nana..." The name sounded strange on his lips, like it belonged in a softer world, not this cold, utilitarian vessel. More like Leo and the Dr had some kind of history.
He reached a white door at the end of the corridor and swiped his identification card through the scanner. The door slid open with a soft mechanical hum, revealing the glass-covered room beyond.
Inside, Dr. Nana stood motionless, her hand pressed against the glass tank in the center of the room. Within the tank, Sleek floated in suspended animation, her raven-black hair billowing gently in the water. Tiny bubbles rose to the surface, their path illuminated by the soft blue glow of the tank's lights. Sleek's face was peaceful, her eyes closed, as though she were merely dreaming.
The soldier hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The sound of the door opening made Dr. Nana turn slightly, her hand still on the glass. Her gaze was distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice quiet.
The soldier cleared his throat. "The boy you were speaking with earlier... he wants to see you."
Dr. Nana turned fully to face him, her brow furrowed. "Leo?"
The soldier nodded. "Yes,he asked for you."
Dr. Nana's eyes flickered with something unreadable—concern, perhaps, or maybe relief. She turned back to the glass, her hand lingering there for a moment longer.
"Thank you," she said finally. "I'll go to him now."
The soldier nodded and stepped back, letting the door close behind him. Dr. Nana remained still for a moment, staring at Sleek's serene face.
"Oh, Sleek," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "How you've grown up."
With a sigh, she pulled her hand away from the glass and made her way to the door. It opened with a soft hiss, and she stepped out into the corridor. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she walked, her thoughts swirling.
Leo had made his decision. She could feel it in her gut, but what had finally pushed him over the edge? Was it anger? Grief? Determination? Whatever it was, she only hoped it would be enough to carry him through what was to come.
She reached the door to Leo's room and paused, her hand hovering over the control panel. For several long seconds, she stood there, staring at the door as if it might open on its own. Then, with a quiet sigh, she pressed the button.
The door slid open, and she stepped inside.
Leo was standing at the window again, his back to her. The dim light from the stars cast long shadows across the room, and for a moment, he seemed like a statue—still, cold, unyielding.
He turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers. "Ms. Nana," he said, his voice steady. "I've made my decision."
Dr. Nana froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"I agree," Leo continued. "I'm ready."
Dr. Nana's eyes widened slightly. "What?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
"I'll take the serum," Leo said firmly. "I'll do it."
For a moment, the room was silent. Dr. Nana stared at him, searching his face for any hint of hesitation or doubt. But what she saw instead startled her: determination. The same fiery will she had seen in Sleek's eyes not long ago.
Her fear came true,she was seeing it all over again.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực