Author's Note: First-Time Novelist (aka AshenBlaze)
Hello, my dear readers,
Before we get started with Chapter 2, let me just say this: I know it might seem like a snoozefest, but stick with me, folks. This chapter isn't directly related to the main storyline, but it's a crucial element in MC Bowen's development. Think of it like that one weird episode of your favorite TV show where they take a break from the main plot to focus on a character's backstory.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Boring, slow-paced chapters? No thanks, I'm outta here!" But wait! Don't abandon ship just yet. Trust me, this chapter is going to be the catalyst for some seriously fantastical adventures with MC Bowen.
So, buckle up, grab some snacks, and get ready for a wild ride. From here on out, it's going to be non-stop excitement (or at least, that's what I'm telling myself). Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Cheers, Happy reading! :)
Chapter 2: Revenge
"My condolences to all the scientists who lost their lives for humanity. The government will take necessary steps to rebuild the bioscience institute from scratch." Prime Minister Grunt made a heartwarming speech regarding the explosion that occurred in the bioscience institute, shedding some of his crocodile tears, for the election is nearing soon. He entered his heavily guarded limousine, leaving only the driver to be his companion. Of course, William could not have a better opportunity to be close to the corrupt official. Halfway through the journey, the ever-silent driver questioned the prime minister.
"Sir, why did the research institute explode?"
"Annoyed being questioned by a low-class worker after the long press meet, "why do you want to know, huh? Are you going to compensate money in my place? Haven't you heard that it exploded in a chemical accident?" said the prime minister.
"A good guise, sir, but can you please tell me the real reason?"
The prime minister immediately became cautious, for he knew there was something fishy in the tone of his driver.
"Who are you?" he asked immediately.
'Bang!' His question was answered by a hole near his chest caused by a bullet from a silencer gun. The stupefied prime minister started shouting for help but was forced to zip his mouth when he came in view with the murderer's face. "How, hhh..how, we …killed you, …definitely killed you." William's next act of pointing the gun to his forehead made Grunt realize that he had to spill the beans to keep his life intact.
"We..we…. did it so as to keep the Gene X a secret. The neighbors... umm... ha... our neighboring counties were ready to exchange it for a huge sum of money... William, please don't kill me. It was all Roland's idea. You wouldn't betray your own country to profit more,so... we... we..." before he could finish his explanation, there was a heavy accident involving the prime minister's car, which went off the rails and fell from the bridge due to malfunctioning brakes. The corpse of Mr. Wallace Grunt was found to be blown into parts along with his car.
Jenna anxiously bit her nails as she watched the recent flash news telecasting the suicide case of a millionaire named Fin Roland, who happened to have jumped from his cabin window located on the 25th floor of his office building the previous night. The public may consider the prime minister's accident and Roland's suicide as rare coincidences, as they were still strangers to each other before the populace, but not Jenna. She grabbed the keys to the latest model sports car gifted by William for her birthday. The sports car rushed to the high-class district where only celebrities and dignitaries lived. She made a forceful landing in front of the open doors of the professor's house. She wanted to know if the old foxes had conspired against each other. She stumbled and fell down because her running legs hit something lying on the living room floor.
Unfortunately, her keenness could never be answered because there was only the lifeless body of the professor that remained for her to question. Horrified Jenna found professor Clayman to be poisoned. The spots on the body and the frothing mouth proved to her that there was an outsider responsible for all the murders. Her shaking hands lost all their strength to hold her i Phone, but they still managed to dial the number of the only person Jenna could rely on.
"Jack, Jack, where are you now?" urgently spoke Jenna as soon as the call connected.
"Cool off, Jenna. I saw the news too. It could be a coincidence and we can talk to the professor. Hide somewhere for the time being, then..."
"The professor is dead," Jenna interrupted.
"What?" exclaimed Jack.
"There is someone trailing us, Jack. He will surely kill us. Help me, Jack. Please come soon. I don't want to die," Jenna desperately begged with tears.
"Hey, wait." Ting tong "You, who are you?... No, no, it can't be... How? Wait... Ah... Ahhhhhh, please wait... Ahh, ghaaaa... Hic, hic, no... Ahh, please William, leave me... Beep, beep, beep, beep..."
Jack's wailing on the other end of the receiver amplified Jenna's fear to several degrees; her legs gave in.
Drops of sweat flowed over Jenna's beautiful face, even though it was a cool winter night. She managed to return and lock herself up in her room after the horrific incident. She just had to wait for her morning flight, which was delayed due to heavy snowfall. Suddenly, the room turned dark. Thud, thud..sound of footsteps and her racing heartbeat filled her ears. Jenna lit up her phone's torch only to see a familiar man standing a meter away from her.
"Oh honey, it's you, ha ha... My honey William, you're back. Thank goodness you didn't die. You know what, they blackmailed me. They said they will kill me and my family if I don't act with them. Yes, it's all an act, honey. I... I was really sad that you were dead. Good thing you killed those morons. They deserved it. Now we have no one in between us, we can marry and have children just like we planned earlier. Honey, you believe me, right? Huh? Yes?" Jenna sprouted all the nonsense that she had previously memorized line by line, as it was her last strand that she could hold on to.
"Sorry, Jenna," said William softly. "Sorry, I didn't know you loved me so much."
"Yes Will. I love you so much. After all, I am your only family," said Jenna, portraying a loving face as much as she could make under the suffocating atmosphere.
"Let's go, Jenna. Come die for me so we can go together and get married, at least as souls," William said.
"Huh! What did you say? Don't joke, William. It's not funny at all," Jenna said. Suddenly, she took her kitchen knife and went for William's heart, only to find there was no resistance and the knife went through as if it would pierce the air.
William's body was artificially created by the deity so it wouldn't get destroyed by normal physical means. Due to this, William was able to conduct all his murders successfully in a short span of time.
Nevertheless, Jenna now had proof that William was really a ghost. She didn't have time to execute another trick. All she could do was run as fast as she could, just like some dog running for its life, as she had witnessed previously. All doors were locked, but fortunately, she could access the door of her bathroom. But the lock on the bathroom that she did soon came to waste when William's body passed through the door.
No amount of begging could soothe William's heart; they only added fuel to his fire for revenge. Hence, he decided to put them off by forcing Jenna's head into the bathtub full of water. Contrary to his character, he felt exhilarated. He would never find a small ounce of guilt hiding in the corner of his heart, even when shaken upside down. He could feel the pain on Jenna's body through his hands. It was just the same pain that he saw in the eyes of his other four dear partners, nothing more, nothing less. Surprisingly killing someone who had been so close to him was nothing different.
"Did they feel the same way when I died?"I wondered. Truth be told, I believed I wasn't made for revenge when I came here with Emma. But when I heard that many other scientists' lives were taken just to hide their research, I lost control. They appeared to be beasts, playing with other people for their selfish desires and comfortable lives. Killing them felt like doing a favor for humanity. My brain justified it all, proving to me that I was correct. However, deep inside, I knew something died in me each time I committed murder. All I wish now is to repent for my mistakes in hell before I myself turn into the very beast I detest the most.