Chereads / Endless Dusk / Chapter 2 - The Watcher In The Rain

Chapter 2 - The Watcher In The Rain

The Eldridge University is the best in the world, with all the latest technology and cutting-edge facilities. But inside, it has this old, mysterious structure that stands out. It's like a piece of history hidden in the middle of all the modern buildings. The contrast between the ancient design and the advanced technology gives the place a strange, unique vibe.

"Hi Agness! See you at class," said Garnet Ashford, one of my closest friends at school. She is the heiress of the leading Ashford Corporation, a company known for its luxury brands and cutting-edge technology. Garnet has this natural grace about her, like she's always in control, but she's down-to-earth and easy to talk to, which is why we clicked from the start.

I waved back at her, smiling as she walked off. Garnet's always busy with school and her family business, but somehow, she always makes time for me. That's something I really appreciate about her.

"See you later, Garnet!" I called, adjusting my bag. I took a deep breath, looking at the towering university buildings around me. Even though I was used to the luxurious campus, the sheer size and beauty of it still took my breath away sometimes. Every step felt like walking through a world that only the richest and most powerful could access.

My first class of the day was Molecular Biology and Genetics. I hurried to the lecture hall, which had shiny glass walls that made it look modern. This class was one of the most important in our course, and our professor, Mr. Marcus Jullian, was famous for his work on DNA.

Today, we were learning about the human genome—how DNA controls everything about us, like how we look, how healthy we are, and maybe even abilities we don't know about.

I sat down and noticed the room was buzzing with excitement.

"Hey Garnet! Over here!" I called out, waving at my friend.

She smiled and rushed over. "Coming!" she said, her voice full of energy.

"I'm so excited about today's lesson!" Garnet said as she sat next to me, her tone bright and cheerful.

Before we could talk more, the professor arrived. The room went quiet as he walked to the front and pointed to the screen, which showed a spinning DNA strand.

"This semester, you'll be studying your own DNA," he said with a small smile. "You might discover things about yourself you never imagined."

The room filled with quiet whispers of excitement. I felt a mix of curiosity and worry. Learning about my own DNA sounded exciting but also a bit scary.

What I didn't know was that this class wouldn't just teach me about science. It was going to reveal secrets about me that would change everything.

After the lecture, we went straight to the lab to do the DNA test. Each of us got a small kit. It was simple: take the swab, rub it inside your cheek, put it in a tube, and write your name on it.

I held the kit in my hands, feeling nervous for no reason.

"Don't look so scared, Agness. It's just spit," Garnet said, laughing as she swabbed her cheek.

"I'm not scared," I said, trying to act normal.

I carefully swabbed the inside of my cheek, making sure to do it right. Then, I sealed the tube, wrote my name, and placed it in the box with the others.

Professor Jullian stood at the front, holding the box with all our samples. "Good job, everyone. Your results will be ready in about an hour. Use the computers in the lab to check your profiles when they're up. You'll get to see what your DNA says about you."

An hour later, I sat in front of a computer. My hands felt sweaty as I typed in my code.

When the screen loaded, I saw all kinds of information about myself. It showed my eye color, hair type, and even some health risks. But as I kept scrolling, I noticed something strange.

There was a section called "Unknown Markers."

"What's this?" I whispered to myself. It said, "Rare genetic markers linked to unknown ancestry."

I stared at the screen, confused. Most of the others had normal results, but mine had something different—something I didn't understand.

"Hey, Agness, how's it going?" Garnet asked, leaning over to look at my screen.

I quickly closed the window. "Oh, it's fine. Nothing special."

"Lucky you," she said, rolling her eyes. "Mine says I might have a bad back when I'm older!"

I laughed weakly, but my heart was racing. What did those markers mean?

Professor Jullian walked by, and I decided to ask him. "Professor, can I ask about this part of my results?"

He looked at my screen and paused. His face became serious. "Hmm," he said, pointing at the section. "These are rare markers. I've only seen something like this a few times. They're usually linked to very unique ancestry."

"What does that mean?" I asked, feeling nervous.

He smiled kindly. "It means you have something special in your DNA. I'd like to study it more—if that's okay with you."

I nodded slowly. "Alright."

"Good," he said. "If you notice anything unusual about yourself, let me know."

As he walked away, his words echoed in my mind. Unusual. I didn't know what was happening, but I had a feeling this wasn't just about science anymore.

Meanwhile, Professor Jullian was in the lab, looking at Agness's DNA test results on his computer. As he stared at the screen, something didn't seem right.

Her DNA looked different from anything he had ever seen before. There were strange patterns in it, like a secret code hidden deep inside. It didn't look like normal human DNA at all.

"What is this?" he whispered to himself, confused but curious. He compared her results with other samples, but nothing matched. It was clear—Agness's DNA was unique.

The more he studied it, the more he realized this wasn't just a small discovery. It was something big. Her DNA had markers that seemed ancient, almost impossible to exist in modern humans.

Professor Jullian leaned back in his chair, feeling nervous. "Could this be real?" he thought. But he knew it was.

He printed the results and locked them in a drawer. Whatever was in Agness's DNA was more than just interesting—it was something that could change everything. But for now, he decided to keep it a secret. Agness had no idea about the truth in her blood, and he wasn't sure if she was ready to know.

Professor Jullian didn't know he wasn't alone. In the dark corner of the lab, someone was watching him.

The room was quiet except for the hum of the machines. A shadowy figure stood still, hidden where the light couldn't reach.

Their eyes stayed on the professor and the screen showing Agness's DNA results. The glowing patterns reflected in their eyes, and they seemed curious—or maybe even dangerous.

Professor Jullian was too focused to notice. He spoke to himself, "This is incredible… but it could be risky."

The shadow moved slightly, listening carefully. When the professor turned to grab a file, the figure quietly slipped out of the room without a sound.

By the time Professor Jullian looked up again, the lab was empty. He didn't realize someone had seen the results—someone who might use them for their own plans.

Back in the lab, I am sitting in front of the computer, staring at her DNA results. On the screen, it said "Unknown Markers." I didn't understand what it meant, but it made me feel uneasy.

"What does this mean?" I whispered, my green eyes focused on the strange words.

Garnet noticed me looking worried and came over. "Agness, what's wrong?"

I pointed at the screen. "It says my DNA has unknown markers. I don't know what that is."

Garnet leaned closer to read it. "Unknown markers? That's odd. Maybe it's just something rare or special about your DNA."

I frowned. "I don't think it's something normal. It feels strange."

Garnet gave me a reassuring smile. "You should ask Professor Jullian. He'll explain it better."

I nodded, but I couldn't stop staring at the screen. The words "Unknown Markers" stayed in my mind, like a warning I didn't fully understand yet.

Professor Jullian walked back into the lab where I and the other students were working. I got up and went to him.

"Professor Jullian, have you checked my DNA results yet?" I asked. "It says 'Unknown Markers.' What does that mean?"

Professor Jullian looked at me and said, "We will talk about it later. For now, focus on the class. I'll explain everything when it's time."

I felt a bit upset but nodded. "Okay, Professor. When can we talk about it?"

Professor Jullian smiled and said, "Soon. Don't worry."

I went back to my seat, still curious about my results. I tried to forget about it for now and paid attention to the rest of the class.