Chapter 006: My Sister's Notebook
Research Log Archive Date: March 20, 2024 - 8:15 PM
Night had fallen again when I regrouped with the members of the "Alliance of Espers." Zhang Lin arrived as promised, her face set with determination.
"I've uncovered some leads on Dr. Chen," she said softly as we prepared to move. "The last trace of him was near a small clinic on the outskirts of the city. He disappeared after visiting there."
"That clinic is significant," said Zhao Gang, the Alliance leader. "Our contact works there and believes it's connected to his disappearance."
We moved cautiously through the dim streets until we reached the clinic. It was a derelict building with shattered windows and a rusted chain hanging from the door.
Zhao Gang knocked in a rhythmic pattern—three short taps followed by two long ones. After a tense moment, the door creaked open, revealing a man in a tattered lab coat. His weary face betrayed years of stress and fear.
"You made it," he rasped, his voice a mix of relief and exhaustion. "I have something you'll want to see."
He led us down into a concealed basement. The room was cluttered with stacks of papers, photographs, and diagrams. On the wall, pinned among other documents, were several pictures of my sister. My breath caught in my throat.
"These were left by Dr. Chen before he vanished," the man explained. "He gave me these and told me to keep them safe, in case someone trustworthy came looking."
I rifled through the piles of documents until my fingers landed on a small, worn notebook. The name "Lin Wei" was scrawled across its faded cover. My heart pounded as I opened it—it was my sister's journal.
The pages were filled with detailed observations, written in her familiar hand. She had meticulously documented her work at Bureau 756, describing in chilling detail the experiments conducted under the Butterfly Project. One entry described a technique called Energy Resonance, which was designed to awaken latent abilities in human subjects.
"This is how they're creating espers," Zhang Lin said, reading over my shoulder. "Energy Resonance forces the human body to tap into its hidden potential, but the process is unstable—lethal for most test subjects."
I flipped through page after page of notes until I reached the last entry. The words there froze me in place:
"Wang Ming, if you're reading this, it means I'm no longer alive. The Butterfly Project is more than just a series of experiments—it's part of a larger conspiracy to weaponize human potential. They're not just creating espers; they're learning how to control them. I'm trying to find a way to stop them. Please, be careful. I love you. — Wei"
Tears blurred the ink as I closed the notebook. My sister's courage and sacrifice strengthened my resolve.
"We can't let this end here," I said, turning to face the group. My voice was firm, though my heart felt heavy. "We need to stop the Butterfly Project. My sister didn't die for nothing."
Zhao Gang nodded solemnly. "The Alliance stands with you. We've been gathering intelligence for years, but with what you've brought us, we're finally ready to strike."
We spent the next few hours laying out a plan. Our goal was to infiltrate Bureau 756, uncover definitive proof of the Butterfly Project, and rescue the remaining test subjects. It was a high-risk operation, but there was no alternative.
As the first light of dawn seeped into the basement, I felt a new fire ignite within me. My sister's voice echoed in my mind, urging me forward.
The truth was within reach, but so was the danger. And we were ready to face it head-on.