Buckley Bolton never thought of himself as a suspicious person. Most of his work relies on rationality and data support, but tonight's situation is really different. Since receiving that strange email and letter, his life seems to have entered a state that he can't control at all.
As night fell, the streets were still crowded, but there seemed to be a tense sense of uneasiness in the air. Buckley got off the taxi and saw the outline of the old dock in the distance. This was a place he often visited when he was a child, but now it has become a forgotten ruin. The warehouse next to the dock was dilapidated, the wooden boards and metal doors were rusted, and a low whimpering sound was made when the wind blew through.
Buckley looked down at his watch, and the time was exactly 7:55 in the evening. He knew in his heart that the mysterious sender of the letter was waiting for him, but the question was: Is he walking into a dangerous trap, or a clue to the truth?
He looked around, and the dark neighborhood seemed particularly desolate. Occasionally, a few cars passed by the dock, and the neon lights in the distance flickered, reflecting in the sea. There were no suspicious people or vehicles staying nearby, which made Buckley feel a little relieved.
Buckley originally wanted to bring some self-defense tools, but thinking that this might involve a larger conspiracy, he decided to rely on his wit and judgment. After all, he was a person who survived by relying on his brain rather than force.
He walked deeper into the dock, his steps cautiously. Under the cover of night, the sea breeze with a salty and humid breath blew across his face, making him shiver. He felt a tension he had never felt before. On weekdays, his life always went on a set track, and every decision was carefully considered, but tonight, he seemed to have stepped into an unknown world.
When he approached an abandoned warehouse at the end of the dock, he suddenly felt some strange movement behind him. He turned around and looked, and a dark shadow seemed to flash at the alley in the distance. Buckley's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and he stared at that direction closely, trying to see the other party's movements clearly.
It was a tall figure, vaguely hidden in the dark. Although he couldn't see the face clearly, Barkley could feel a strong hostility. The man seemed to be monitoring him, or tracking him.
Barkley quickly turned his eyes back to the warehouse in front of him, and almost subconsciously quickened his pace. He didn't want to arouse the other party's suspicion, but the tension in his heart became stronger and stronger. His intuition told him that the man was not just passing by, and what happened tonight was not a simple meeting.
As soon as he entered the warehouse door, Barkley heard slight footsteps coming from behind. He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. At this moment, he was fully aware that he was being watched. Was it because his tax avoidance work aroused the suspicion of some authority? Or was it because of the mysterious email and letter that all this involved him in a more complicated situation?
The lights in the warehouse were dim, with only a few old chandeliers swaying, casting mottled shadows. The surroundings were full of abandoned equipment and cargo boxes, and the air was filled with mold. Barkley stood still and looked around, trying to find the mysterious person he wanted to meet.
Suddenly, a crisp sound of footsteps came from behind, breaking the silence of the night. Barkley turned around abruptly, but only saw the dust in the air slowly falling. This warehouse has not been used for a long time, but tonight it seems to have become the stage for some dangerous plan.
"You are on time, Barkley." A low voice came from the darkness.
Barkley turned his head quickly and found a woman in a black coat walking out of the corner of the warehouse. She had a pair of calm and sharp eyes, staring at him like an eagle, as if she could see through his heart. Barkley didn't know her, but his intuition told him that this woman knew a lot about him.
"Who are you?" Barkley frowned, with a vigilant tone. He was not sure whether the other party was an enemy or a friend, but what happened tonight had made him lose patience.
"My name is Nora," the woman's voice was calm and firm, "I know you have a lot of questions, and I can give you some answers."
Barkley stared at Nora, and his doubts did not diminish. He knew that in this situation, it would be very dangerous to rashly trust the other party. But at this moment, he seemed to have no other choice. This woman obviously knew something, and he had to find out.
"How did you know about me?" Barkley asked, trying to sound less nervous.
Nora smiled slightly, as if she knew Barkley's defensiveness well. "I know much more than that, Barkley. You've been looking for the truth about your parents, right? Their disappearance was not an accident, and you're not an ordinary person."
This sentence was like a bolt of lightning, directly hitting the most secret corner of Barkley's heart. His eyes widened slightly, and a huge wave of emotions surged in his heart. The unsolved questions for many years came to his mind again.
"What do you want to say?" Barkley's voice unconsciously lowered. He wanted more answers, but he was afraid that these answers would reveal a truth that he was unable to deal with.
Nora slowly approached and stood a few steps away from Barkley, her eyes still not leaving him. "Your parents were involved in a top-secret study on genetic engineering. This study is enough to subvert the foundation of human society and even change our understanding of the universe. You, Barkley, are the core of their experiment."
Barkley felt a chill running up his spine. He always knew that his parents were scientists, but they never mentioned the specific content of their research. Now, Nora's words seem to reveal the truth that has been hidden from him: some secret may be implanted in his genes, and this is why he is being targeted by various forces.
"You mean... my genes?" Barkley said with shock and confusion, "What does this mean?"
"Your parents performed genetic modification before you were born, and implanted a message that cannot be decoded by conventional technology into your genes." Nora's eyes became deeper, "This is not just a scientific experiment, it involves a bigger plan, an exploration of the future and the multidimensional universe."
Barkley felt his world collapsing. Multidimensional universe? Genetic modification? These concepts are too far away for him, but Nora's tone and eyes reveal a firm sense of reality. He had to start re-examining his past.
"Are you trying to tell me that this is why my parents disappeared?" Barkley's voice was low and serious. His heart was filled with anger and confusion. What did his parents do to cause him to lose them when he was young and walk alone today?
Nora nodded, "They discovered a technology that can break through the limitations of time and space, but at the critical moment of the experiment, they realized that this research may lead to unpredictable consequences. So, they chose to disappear to protect you, and also tried to hide this technology."
Barkley clenched his fists tightly, and his inner emotions surged like a flood. He never thought that his life was actually part of a huge experiment, and he didn't even know that he had such a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
"So... the reason why I am being hunted now is that these people want to obtain the genetic information in my body?" Barkley finally said the question he was most concerned about.
Nora nodded, with a hint of worry in her eyes. "Not only your parents' research results, but also because your genes may contain a key to the multidimensional universe. All forces want to master this technology, whether it is the government, private institutions, or more mysterious organizations, they will not let you go."
Barkley suddenly felt that he was involved in a huge and invisible conspiracy, a grand plan beyond personal interests. He always thought that he was just an ordinary tax avoidance expert, just good at walking on the edge of the law, but now, he found himself the focus of everyone's attention, and even the core of a cosmic battle.
Nora's eyes suddenly turned to behind Barkley, and her face changed slightly. "It seems that we have been targeted."
Barkley turned his head suddenly, and saw several vague figures flashing in the dark, and several red laser aiming points passed through the dust of the warehouse and fell on his chest. He instantly realized that danger was approaching.