Rio stared at Man 3, his eyes narrowing. "If you knew about this, why did you let Dr. Rega inject us with those substances? It's like you're helping her keep us here."
Man 3 leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, but did I really allow it, Rio? How can you be so sure?"
Rio felt a chill run down his spine. "What do you mean? Of course, you allowed it. That's why you are still here, aren't you?"
The smile on Man 3's face widened. "Am I, though? Or is there more to this than meets the eye? Perhaps Dr. Rega has her own agenda, one that even I am not fully aware of."
Rio's confusion deepened.
Man 3's expression serious now. "I must confess, Rio, that I have been deceiving Dr. Rega and the company. The injections were nothing more than a ruse. I started this plan long ago, waiting for the right moment to make my move."
Rio's eyes widened in astonishment. "You mean, you were never under their control? You planned all of this?"
Man 3 nodded. "Yes, precisely. I chose the others to join me when I saw the right timing."
Rio felt a surge of hope. "So, what's the plan? How do we get out of here?"
Man 3 stood with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Rio. "You've done well to discover us this far, Rio. But your journey is far from over. You are our best chance at escaping this place, but I need to be sure you have what it takes to see this through."
Rio looked at Man 3, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. He had trusted Man 3 so far, but now he wondered if he had been wise to do so.
"I understand," Rio said finally. "I'll do whatever it takes to get us out of here."
Man 3 nodded, a determined look in his eyes.
Rio took a deep breath and recounted his observations at the clearing. He spoke of Batho, who seemed to be treated differently from the rest, and how the others seemed to hold a deep-seated resentment towards him. As he spoke, he watched Man 3 closely, trying to gauge his reaction.
Man 3 pressed his lips together, his brow furrowing in thought. He seemed to weigh his words carefully before replying. "Batho... he is a special case. There are reasons for the others' feelings towards him, reasons that go back a long way."
Rio's curiosity was piqued. "What reasons? Why is he treated differently?"
Man 3 hesitated, as if debating how much to disclose. "Batho is... unusual," he began slowly. "He was not part of the original group that arrived here. He came later, under mysterious circumstances."
Rio leaned forward, intrigued. "What do you mean by 'mysterious circumstances'?"
"He appeared on the island one day, out of nowhere," Man 3 explained. "None of us know how or why he got here. But his presence has always been... unsettling to some."
Rio furrowed his brow. "Unsettling? How so?"
Man 3 glanced around, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before leaning in closer. "There are whispers among the group," he said in a low voice. "Whispers that Batho is not like us. That he possesses abilities... beyond our understanding."
Rio's eyes widened. "Abilities? What kind of abilities?"
But before Man 3 could answer, a noise outside the cottage interrupted them. Both men tensed, listening intently.
The noise outside grew louder, resembling footsteps approaching the cottage. Man 3 motioned for Rio to stay put as he cautiously moved towards the door. With a swift movement, he opened it to reveal a figure standing in the moonlight.
It was Batho.
The young man's eyes were wide with fear, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked past Man 3 and locked eyes with Rio, a mixture of desperation and pleading in his gaze.
"Please, you have to help me," Batho implored, stepping into the cottage. "They're going to do something terrible."
Man 3's expression hardened. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
Batho hesitated, glancing nervously at Rio. "I... I can't explain it now. But they're planning something. Something that could put all of us in danger."
Rio and Man 3 exchanged a look, understanding dawning on both of them.
Man 3 hesitated, his eyes darting towards the bedroom. Batho's expression was one of sheer panic, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Man 3 could sense the urgency in the air, the unspoken fear that lingered between them.
"I need to go inside," Man 3 said finally, his voice tense. "We can't stay here. Someone is after us, and if they catch us, we'll never escape."
Before Batho could respond, Man 3 turned towards the door. In that split second, Batho's hand shot out, grabbing the whiskey glass from the table. With a swift, almost desperate motion, he swung the glass towards Man 3's neck, striking him with precision.
Man 3 crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Batho stood over him, breathing heavily, his hands shaking. He looked at Rio, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination.
"We have to go," Batho said urgently, grabbing Rio's arm. "There's no time to waste."
Rio confronted Batho, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Why did you attack him?"
Batho's expression was a mix of fear and determination. "Those men won't be able to escape Dr. Rega and PharmaMedicor," he replied, his voice surprisingly steady for someone so young. "They've installed chips to track our movements. Bringing them along would only expose us."
Rio was taken aback.
Rio's mind spun with the realization. There was a part of Mr. Khamis in this body, a grown man. Yet, standing before him was a child, Batho, with his innocent eyes and youthful innocence. It was a disorienting contrast, like two souls inhabiting one body, each pulling in a different direction. Rio couldn't help but wonder how this peculiar duality would influence their decisions and actions moving forward.
"Rio, we have to go," Batho insisted, his voice urgent. "Those men won't be able to escape. We're the only ones who can get out of here."
Rio hesitated, unsure of what to do. "But where would we go? How do you know the way out of this forest?"
"I've been here before, Rio," Batho explained. "I know the paths, the hidden trails. Trust me, we can make it out if we stick together."
"Why did you come to me and abandon your group?" Rio asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
Batho's voice was barely above a whisper as he leaned in, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and determination. "I've come to realize that Dr. Rega, or perhaps PharmaMedicor, has nefarious intentions for us. They're keeping us alive for a reason, and it's not one I want any part of." His gaze darted around, as if expecting someone to jump out from the shadows at any moment. "I knew I had to escape, even though I don't fully understand what they're planning."
Rio's gaze flickered between Batho and the unconscious figure of Man 3 sprawled on the floor. Doubt gnawed at him, twisting his insides.
Should he trust Batho, a peculiar blend of child and adult, with a mind that seemed far beyond his years?
The urgency to escape this enigmatic place clawed at him, but the unknowns held him in check. His eyes darted back to Batho, then to Man 3, the weight of his decision palpable in the tension of his body and the furrow of his brow.
Just as Rio deliberated his next move, a cacophony of loud noises erupted from outside. Batho's youthful face twisted in shock, revealing his fear that the source of the commotion was the people after him – and now, them. Rio sighed heavily, his decision made. He would flee with Batho, who had unwittingly led their pursuers right to their doorstep.
Rio grabbed his bag, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He motioned for Batho to follow him, and together, they slipped out the back door just as the front door burst open.
The night air was cool and crisp as they dashed into the forest, the sounds of pursuit fading behind them. Rio could feel his heart pounding in his chest as they ran, the urgency of their escape lending speed to their feet.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped, gasping for breath. Rio looked at Batho, their eyes meeting in the dim moonlight filtering through the trees. He knew this was just the beginning of their journey, and the mysteries surrounding their existence were far from unraveled.
As they caught their breath, Rio glanced around, trying to get his bearings in the darkness. Batho pointed in a direction, indicating that they should head deeper into the forest. Without a word, they set off, moving swiftly and silently through the undergrowth.
The forest was alive with the sounds of the night – the rustle of leaves, the chirping of insects, and the occasional hoot of an owl. Rio couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched, but he pushed the thought aside, focusing on their escape.
After what felt like hours, they came to a small clearing. Batho gestured for them to stop, and they crouched down behind a bush, listening for any sign of pursuit. When all seemed quiet, Rio dared to speak.
"Do you know where we're going?" he whispered.
Batho nodded, his eyes darting around the clearing. "There's a cave not far from here. We can hide there until morning."
Rio nodded, trusting Batho's knowledge of the area. Together, they crept towards the cave, their footsteps barely making a sound on the forest floor. As they entered the cool darkness of the cave, Rio felt a sense of relief wash over him. They were safe – for now.
As Rio and Batho settled into the cave, the adrenaline of their escape began to ebb, and Rio's thoughts turned to the events of the night. He turned to Batho, who was sitting quietly, staring into the darkness.
"What do you think they wanted with you?" Rio asked, breaking the silence.
Batho shrugged. "I don't know for sure. Maybe they were trying to bring me back to the company, or maybe they had something else in mind. All I know is, I couldn't stay there any longer."
Rio nodded, understanding Batho's urgency. "And what about the others? The ones back at the campsite?"
Batho's expression darkened. "They're safe, Rio. Dr. Rega and PharmaMedicor will do anything to keep their secret. It's me that what they want."
Rio listened intently, a chill running down his spine at Batho's revelations. "So, you think they're using you for some kind of experiment?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Batho nodded grimly. "It's the only explanation that makes sense. Why else would they treat me differently? And why would they go to such lengths to keep me alive?"
Then, Batho dropped a bombshell on Rio, revealing a dark secret that had been kept from the group.
His voice trembled as he recounted the harrowing experience that had almost cost him his life. "They sacrificed another man to save me," Batho whispered, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and anger.
Rio was stunned by Batho's revelation. "They sacrificed someone else to save you?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Batho nodded solemnly. "Yes. I was in a critical condition, and Dr. Rega made the decision to use another man's DNA to boost my immune system. It saved my life, but at the cost of another."
Rio felt a wave of revulsion wash over him. "That's... monstrous," he muttered, struggling to comprehend the extent of Dr. Rega's actions.
"It's just the beginning," Batho continued, his voice filled with bitterness. "I don't know what else they're capable of, but I can't let them use me as a pawn in their twisted experiments any longer."
Rio's AD chimed, drawing his attention away from Batho's revelations. With a flick of his wrist, he activated the holographic message from Professor Landon. The professor's image materialized before him, his face etched with concern.
"Rio, I need you to come to my place immediately," Professor Landon's voice was urgent. "There's something important I need to show you."