It was Batho.
Rio watched in shock as Batho, his face now showing a healthier color compared to when he was first brought to the forest, injected something into Dr. Rega's neck. Rio's voice quivered as he asked Batho what he was doing.
Batho turned, not meeting Rio's gaze.
"I did what needed to be done," Batho replied, his voice calm but devoid of emotion. Rio, his own voice trembling, pressed further, "But why? What did you do?" Batho remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"Batho, what do you mean?" Rio asked, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of fear.
Batho finally looked up, his eyes meeting Rio's. "We can't escape from the forest," he stated calmly. "I knew what you were thinking when you looked at Dr. Rega. I'm just executing the plan."
Rio watched helplessly as Dr. Rega struggled, his body convulsing violently from the injection Batho had administered. With each spasm, Dr. Rega's breaths grew more labored, until finally, he exhaled his last.
"Why?" Rio's voice trembled.
"You know exactly why," Batho's face, illuminated by the eerie moonlight, appeared devoid of emotion, his features sharp and cold. It was a stark contrast to what one would expect from a child, who should be enjoying the innocence of childhood. Yet, here he was, entangled in a conspiracy far beyond their understanding.
"Surely, there must be another way," Rio protested, his voice strained with desperation. However, the approaching shouts and footsteps of the company operatives quickly extinguished any hope his words had sparked. The reality was undeniable: they were trapped, with no escape route in sight. Capture was imminent.
Batho's gaze remained fixed on the lifeless form of Dr. Rega as he spoke in a chilling tone. "What's done is done. The only way to rectify this is to assume Dr. Rega's appearance, hide his body, and avoid detection by the company operatives."
Rio felt a surge of conflicting emotions. After a few deep breaths to steady himself, he reluctantly acquiesced. "Fine," he hissed through gritted teeth.
As Rio's fingers flew over the AD's interface, the tension in the air was palpable. Every keystroke felt like an eternity as he entered the crucial information.
The approaching footsteps seemed to echo louder with each passing second, a constant reminder of the impending danger.
Rio's heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming in short, rapid gasps. He knew he had only a minute, perhaps less, to complete the transformation and conceal Dr. Rega's body. The urgency of the situation was overwhelming, driving him to work faster, his movements becoming more frantic as time slipped away.
As the green laser light from Rio's AD illuminated his face, the eerie glow cast strange shadows in the dark forest. The beam traced a path from his forehead to his chin, and with each passing moment, Rio's features shifted, morphing into an exact replica of Dr. Rega. The transformation was unsettling, as if his identity was being rewritten before his very eyes.
With his new appearance in place, Batho gestured urgently towards Dr. Rega's lifeless body, a silent reminder of the task at hand. Rio knew he had to act quickly, to move the body and conceal it before the approaching operatives arrived.
Rio lifted Dr. Rega's body with a sense of dread and urgency. Batho helped him carry the body to a nearby thicket, where they laid it down and covered it with branches and leaves. It was a crude attempt at concealment, but it would have to do for now.
Just as they emerged from the thicket, the company operatives arrived at the clearing. One of them spotted Rio, now resembling Dr. Rega, and Batho, and shouted for them to freeze.
Rio raised his hands slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned his body slightly, trying to keep Dr. Rega's body out of their line of sight.
Batho, exhausted from the ordeal and the effects of Zonizide withdrawal, slumped to the ground and passed out.
As Rio turned, Hyllos's face loomed before him, sending a jolt of panic through his veins. His mind raced, fearing Hyllos might see through his disguise, but he quickly reminded himself that Hyllos wouldn't recognize him as the impostor who had infiltrated their company.
Hyllos, the imposing leader of the group, stood at the forefront, his gaze sharp and suspicious, darting between Rio and the unconscious Batho. The tension in the air was palpable, each moment stretching like an eternity as they stood in the moonlit clearing, locked in a silent standoff.
"Is there a problem, Doctor?" Hyllos's voice was firm, his eyes probing Rio's face.
Rio, maintaining Dr. Rega's appearance, glanced at Batho and then back at Hyllos. "No, everything is under control," he replied, his voice steady despite the unease churning inside him.
Hyllos's men cautiously approached Batho, while Hyllos himself studied the scene. "Why is he on the ground?" Hyllos asked, his tone firm.
Rio, disguised as Dr. Rega, explained, "Batho was brought here by a stranger who left as soon as I took over his care. He seemed to be in critical condition, so I prioritized his treatment. While I was resting outside, Batho attempted to escape from the medical vehicle to run away."
Rio continued, "Batho was too weak from his withdrawal and initial treatment, which is why he passed out. I was trying to get him back into the medical vehicle when you arrived." His heart raced, unsure of what Dr. Rega might have told Hyllos. Rio could only fabricate as much of a story as he could on the spot.
Hyllos maintained his inscrutable expression but nodded towards Batho, silently instructing his men to assist Dr. Rega in moving him into the medical vehicle. Rio breathed a silent sigh of relief, sensing that Hyllos had accepted his explanation. However, his eyes inadvertently flicked towards where Dr. Rega's lifeless body lay.
Hyllos noticed this and questioned if there was anything else troubling the doctor.
Rio, now disguised as Dr. Rega, shook his head quickly. "I need to focus on treating Batho," he said.
Rio gestured towards the medical vehicle. "I need to go inside and check on Batho," he said, attempting to end the conversation.
Rio's heart sank as Hyllos blocked his path, his voice firm. "You can tend to him now, but I've received instructions from Mr. Haydon to bring both you and Batho back to the company. The forest is no longer safe." The words weighed heavily on Rio. It meant he had to continue his charade as Dr. Rega, risking exposure with each passing moment.
"What about the rest in the forest?" Rio blurted out, instantly regretting his question. He wanted to bite his tongue off for saying that. In reality, he just needed an excuse to prolong their stay, hoping that once Hyllos and his men left, he and Batho could slip away unnoticed.
Hyllos shot Rio a suspicious glance, his hands clasped behind his back as he circled him. Rio felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back, unsure where he had slipped up. Hyllos raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with suspicion. "Have you forgotten that we've already brought everyone back to the medical facility in the company?" The words hit Rio like a hammer. Panic surged through him as he realized the extent of his predicament.
Rio's mind raced, desperately trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "I-I was just... distracted," he stammered, gesturing vaguely towards the direction from which Batho had been brought. "By the stranger who brought Batho here... I had to focus on his treatment." It was a feeble attempt, and Rio could see the doubt flicker in Hyllos' eyes. He prayed that his words would be enough to deflect suspicion, at least for a little while longer.
A brief glint sparked in Hyllos's piercing eyes, hinting that he might have just run a quick ID check on Rio's identity. Rio swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to stay calm.
The quick ID check wouldn't expose him; he had registered his face with his body on the National Registry, ensuring his true identity remained hidden. Hyllos wouldn't be able to find out.
As Hyllos continued to scrutinize him, Rio forced himself to maintain a composed facade, hiding the turmoil within. He knew he had to tread carefully. "I understand," Hyllos finally said, his tone slightly less suspicious. "But we can't afford to take any risks. We need to get back to the company now."
Rio nodded, relief washing over him as Hyllos turned away, signaling for his men to prepare to leave. As they started to move, Rio's mind raced, trying to formulate a plan. He had to find a way to escape with Batho.
One of Hyllos's men moved swiftly to the driver's seat, igniting the engine of the medical vehicle. Rio seized the opportunity and stepped inside, immediately attending to Batho.
The interior of the medical vehicle was a marvel of modern technology, resembling a miniature emergency room on wheels. The walls were lined with sleek, futuristic panels displaying vital signs and medical data in real-time. A row of advanced medical equipment stood ready for use, gleaming under the bright overhead lights.
In the center, a state-of-the-art treatment area featured a sophisticated examination table with built-in monitoring devices. Cabinets filled with medical supplies lined the walls, neatly organized and easily accessible. Despite its compact size, every inch of the vehicle was optimally utilized, creating a functional and efficient workspace for medical emergencies on the move.
Batho lay in the middle of the medical vehicle, his body still and pale against the pristine white sheets of the examination table. The soft hum of the medical equipment provided a steady backdrop to the scene, punctuated by occasional beeps and whirrs as the machines monitored his vital signs.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, Batho appeared almost serene, his features relaxed in unconsciousness.
Even though Rio lacked medical knowledge, Rio's quick thinking and the reassuring display of stable vital signs on the wall suggested that Batho was now out of immediate danger.
Rio deduced that Batho's collapse was more likely due to exhaustion rather than a severe reaction to the withdrawal from Zonizide.
Dr. Rega, in a bid to help, might have administered a dose of Zonizide to tide Batho over, but Rio was uncertain how long this would last.
The uncertainty weighed heavily on him as he continued to monitor Batho's condition, knowing that their time was running out.
Rio took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He sat back for a moment, studying his current situation. He knew that PharmaMedicor, the company he was pretending to work for as Dr. Rega, likely had advanced technology to confirm his identity. However, he also believed he should be safe for now, as his face was registered with his body on the National Registry.
His biggest concern was that the company operatives might search the forest, where Dr. Rega's dead body would immediately expose him. Batho, on the other hand, seemed to be the target of Mr. Haydon, their mysterious adversary. They would keep Batho alive as long as they needed him.
Rio's thoughts crystallized as he realized his only chance to get to the truth lay in using Batho as leverage. He knew he had to stay one step ahead of both the company and Haydon if he wanted to survive and uncover the secrets hidden within PharmaMedicor.
As Rio mulled over his precarious situation, lost in thought, he was abruptly jolted back to reality as the medical vehicle came to a halt. His view was restricted to the interior of the vehicle, heightening his sense of isolation and vulnerability.
With a creak, the door swung open, revealing the familiar sight of the 'PharmacoMedicor' company sign. Rio's heart pounded wildly in his chest, fear and uncertainty gripping him as he prepared to face whatever awaited him outside.
"Come, Mr. Haydon has been expecting you," Hyllos appeared at the door and said, his tone unreadable.