"How are you feeling?" Dr. Kim asked. By now, they were strolling in the woods behind the organization building.
"Confused… I feel lost. What's going on?" Kael was mentally fatigued.
"Have you sorted your memories?"
"I think so."
"Tell me what you know about your new body." Kael went on to tell her everything he remembered, from the details of his old life to the very last incident—his assassination.
"Good. I know you're confused, but I'll explain. I work for an organization called The Veiled Syndicate. We're trying to perfect our rebirth program, which involves taking a soul and putting it into a body of our choice."
Dr. Kim immediately regretted putting it that way. It sounded too cold, too detached.
"Or rather, into a better body."
"So you guys are scientists?" Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Since you've got your memories back, you must have realized this isn't your birth planet. So I welcome you, Kael, to our realm—Athens. Don't worry, you're almost ready to go home. A few more tests and you're on your way."
Kael felt a gnawing discomfort at the words almost ready to go home. It didn't sound right. A project as big as this, they wouldn't let him go so easily. He knew how these things worked on Earth. Or were things different here?
"So... am I free to leave when the tests are done?" Kael asked, though he feared the answer.
Dr. Kim hesitated, her gaze flickering away for a split second. "I'm not sure what you mean. The company wants you to be well-tested, then we'll send you back. That's what my boss says." Her voice was tight, the words a little forced. She quickly changed the subject, as though trying to shake off the discomfort.
"By your boss, you mean the man at the lab?"
"No." Dr. Kim gave a light laugh. "That's Dr. Grey, my research partner."
Kael's gaze narrowed. There was something in her tone that seemed off, an undercurrent of hesitation. It wasn't lost on him. Something was being left unsaid.
"So, Dr. Grey is in charge of the research? And you just help him with the experiments?" Kael asked, a note of skepticism in his voice. "Seems like an odd arrangement."
Dr. Kim's posture stiffened, a flicker of discomfort passing over her features. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering for a moment as though seeking something to anchor her. "I wouldn't say I just help," she replied, her voice lower now. "I play my part, yes. But Dr. Grey is more focused on the mechanics. The scientific side of things. I'm more involved in the ethical considerations, making sure we don't lose sight of humanity in all this."
Her eyes drifted toward the towering trees around them, as though seeking some clarity from the quiet solitude of the forest. "But sometimes… I'm not sure we're on the right path. I didn't sign up for all this... manipulation. I thought we were trying to cure diseases, improve lives, not… steal them." She spoke the last word so softly that it barely reached his ears, but the weight of it hung in the air.
Kael caught the shift in her expression. There was an unease in her posture, a conflict she couldn't hide. She wasn't entirely comfortable with what they were doing, but then why was she still involved? Guilt? Fear? Or something else? The questions swirled in Kael's mind, but before he could ask more, the ground beneath them trembled.
At first, it was a soft rumble. Then, a crack—a sharp, jarring sound that split the calm of the forest. Something large and powerful had disturbed the peace of the woods. A low growl, almost animal-like, echoed through the trees.
Dr. Kim froze, her body stiffening. Her eyes widened in shock. "What—?"
Before she could finish her sentence, a shadow shot past them, a figure moving faster than any human should be able to. Everything around them seemed to blur, and in an instant, Dr. Kim was yanked forward, her body pulled away with brutal force. Kael was thrown off balance, his feet scrambling to stay grounded as he reached out for her. But she was already gone, her presence slipping further from him with each passing second.
"Dr. Kim!" Kael shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the chaos that erupted around him. The air was thick with rustling leaves and snapping branches, the forest itself closing in. His heart raced. He couldn't see her. He couldn't hear her. The world was spinning, and his mind was overwhelmed with the desperate need to act.
She was in danger.
Instinct took over. Kael's senses flared, his entire body humming with energy. Blood Sense. He'd almost forgotten his new skill set but now, it surged to the forefront of his mind. A pulse of raw power ran through him, and he immediately focused on the faintest trace of a scent—metallic, familiar. It was Dr. Kim's blood.
Without thinking, Kael darted into the forest, every step driven by the pull of the blood trail. He moved through the dense underbrush, the scent of the blood growing sharper with each passing moment. He felt it like a magnet, a compass guiding him deeper into the woods. His body moved as if it already knew the way, his instincts honed and sharpened by his newfound abilities.
I'm coming for you, Dr. Kim. Just hold on.
The minutes seemed to stretch into eternity as Kael ran. His muscles screamed in protest, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he didn't stop. The scent was growing stronger. He could feel it, taste it in the air now, her blood beckoning him forward.
Finally, through a break in the trees, Kael spotted a silhouette—Dr. Kim. She was crouched low, her body tense, eyes darting around as if she were waiting for something. She hadn't seen him yet.
"Dr. Kim!" Kael shouted, his voice rough with relief.
Her head snapped up, and her eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and something else—something Kael couldn't quite read. She stood cautiously, as though unsure whether to trust him.
"Kael… How did you find me?"
Kael took a few steps closer, his breath ragged as he finally reached her. "I... I followed your blood."
She stood still, her gaze scanning him warily. "I didn't think you would be able to. You're... different."
"Are you okay?" Kael asked, his concern outweighing the shock.
For a long moment, she didn't answer. She just stared at him, as if weighing whether to tell him more. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, almost distant. "I don't know."
Dr. Kim straightened, her expression tense. "We need to move," she said, her voice urgent. "This is bad. That wasn't just some random attack. Someone—or something—was tracking me. We're not safe here."
She didn't give him time to question her. Without another word, she started moving, her steps quick but cautious. Kael followed, his senses still on high alert. As they moved deeper into the woods, the silence that had enveloped them grew heavier, the kind of silence that pressed against the skin, the kind that made the hairs on the back of Kael's neck stand up.
Within minutes, they reached the edge of the woods, where the forest opened up to reveal a hidden building in the distance—a structure that appeared almost like a fortress, its tall walls looming against the darkening sky.
"The lab," Dr. Kim murmured, glancing at Kael. " Kael's mind raced as they approached the building, the scent of Dr. Kim's blood still faintly in the air. He didn't know what exactly had just happened but he could sense a kind of bloodthirst, the type he had a few hours ago. From the memories of the owner of this body, vampires once existed in this world but was just a myth. Were the vampires actually real? He was confused. Everything had escalated so quickly, but one thing was clear: whatever the Veiled Syndicate was working on, whatever project had brought him back to life, it was far from over.
And now, they were in the heart of it.