Once Harry was gone, Dr. Bin quickly returned to the lab, where Mikey was still recovering, his body trembling slightly from the aftereffects of the transformation.
"You're not going to like what I'm about to do, but it's necessary," Bin said, his voice low. He moved over to Mikey and began adjusting various machines around him. "This next phase will make you stronger, but you'll need to control yourself. Do you understand?"
Mikey nodded, though his anger was still simmering just beneath the surface. "Just make it stop. I don't want to be a monster anymore."
Dr. Bin looked down at him, his expression unreadable. "You're not a monster, Mikey. You're a revolution in the making. And when we're done, you'll have everything you ever wanted."
The words were a hollow comfort, but Mikey knew there was no turning back now. Dr. Bin had him in his grasp, and there was no way out. Not yet.
Outside, the world remained oblivious to the darkness unfolding beneath the surface. The newscaster, Trump West, had reported the details of Officer Max's death. The mystery deepened with every passing hour, but the government's reward offer only added fuel to the fire. The search for answers was growing more intense, and it was only a matter of time before someone would uncover the truth.
Dr. Bin didn't care. Let them search. Let them waste their time. He was already on the cusp of creating something far greater than anything they could imagine.
And soon, the world would see it too.
"What have you done?" Mikey asked, his voice tinged with curiosity, a mixture of awe and suspicion.
Dr. Bin grinned slyly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Not for your friend," he replied, "It's for the second guy. I've set a trap."
Mikey frowned, suspicion growing. "That person should be Poure," he cautioned, his instincts telling him something wasn't quite right.
Dr. Bin shook his head dismissively. "It's not him," he assured, his voice firm, though there was a shadow of something unspoken behind his words.
Dr. Bin turned to the floor, his movements swift and purposeful. To Mikey's surprise, what had appeared to be an ordinary door on the ground wasn't a door at all. The earth beneath them shifted, groaning as if alive, and with a soft rumble, a small house began to rise from the ground. Slowly but steadily, it emerged, the house growing until it reached full height, and with a soft thud, it settled into place, now standing as though it had always been there. The door of the house creaked open, and Dr. Bin stepped out, his face tense. He was expecting someone. Harry, no doubt. But as his eyes scanned the area, there was no sign of the two men.
"Where are they?" Bin muttered, his voice low and sharp, a hint of frustration in his words as he checked the surroundings carefully. He was meticulous, but the place was eerily quiet, the air thick with a sense of unease.
He scanned the area once more. No one. He let out a small sigh, then returned into the house. Within moments, the structure was swallowed by the earth once more, as if it had never existed, its presence erased from sight. Mikey, though impressed by the innovation, couldn't help but feel a knot of distrust form in his stomach. There was something not right about Dr. Bin's actions.
Mikey watched from a distance, his mind whirring. He had always suspected that Bin wasn't as straightforward as he seemed. For one, Bin had never mentioned any other means of accessing the lab, except for the ones known to him, Harry, and Poure. The sudden appearance of this secretive house seemed to fit with his growing suspicion. Bin was trying to trap Poure, or so it seemed. Mikey's eyes narrowed. The wheels in his mind turned, pondering how he could use this situation to his advantage. One day, he would make his move. He just had to wait for the right moment.
Dr. Bin returned, his face a mask of irritation. "I need you to work on that boy. They've left," he said, his voice laced with annoyance.
Mikey's expression hardened. "I know," he replied, his tone defiant. "But I can't allow you to touch my friend."
The anger in Dr. Bin's eyes flared up. His patience was thinning. "I already told you," he snarled, "That boy is not your friend."
"Don't shout at me," Mikey retorted, his fists clenched at his sides.
Dr. Bin's fury bubbled over. "I am the boss!" he barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
Before Mikey could react, Dr. Bin uncovered his arm and tapped his veins. The sudden surge of power sent a shock of pain through Mikey's body. He crumpled to the ground, his hands clutching his head as waves of excruciating pain coursed through him. It felt like his mind was being torn apart, each pulse of agony more intense than the last.
"You should learn to obey me," Dr. Bin's voice came coldly, cutting through Mikey's suffering. "No questions. Do you understand?"
Mikey groaned, his body writhing in pain, but there was no mercy. He pleaded, his voice breaking, but Dr. Bin didn't relent. For the first time, Bin was setting the score straight. He wanted Mikey to understand his position—he was in charge, and Mikey had no say in the matter.
Meanwhile, in a different part of town, Dick had returned home after his encounter with Harry. The first thing he did was head straight for the kitchen. He was starving, but he ate in a rush. The meal seemed far too large for him, but there was no time to waste. He had other things to take care of, and he needed to make up for the time lost when he had been with Harry.
As he ate, he thought about his day, particularly the time spent with Harry in the forest. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of how Harry had begged for mercy earlier. It felt good to be in control, even if just for a moment. There was something exhilarating about the power he had over Harry, something he hadn't anticipated.
But as much as he enjoyed the power play, Dick knew that there was no time to bask in it. He had work to do. The chores that Alex had set for him were waiting, and the faster he finished them, the sooner he could get back to his plans.
Dick had always lived with Alex, and the two of them had grown close. They were inseparable, like brothers. Alex had always looked out for him, and even though Dick had never fully understood the circumstances surrounding his mother's disappearance, he knew that Alex had suffered greatly because of it. Yet, Alex had never blamed him, and for that, Dick was grateful. He knew Alex had done his best to give him a good life, and for that, he was willing to work hard. But at the same time, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to his own story that he didn't yet understand.
The tasks piled up—logs to split, water to fetch, grass to trim. It was hard work, but Dick had learned to accept it. There was no avoiding it. His father had a way of keeping him busy, and there were no excuses. He was supposed to do the work, and as long as he did, there would be no punishment.
Around the neighborhood, Dick was known as the "lazy boy"—someone who always found a way to entertain others, but never seemed to do much actual work. However, he had a natural charm, and people loved having him around. With Dick, there was never a dull moment. He could spend hours talking and making people laugh, and that was enough for them. But in the back of his mind, Dick knew there was more to his life than just entertainment.
The memory of the encounter with Harry stuck with him. He had never expected to feel so powerful, but Harry's begging for mercy had filled him with a strange sense of satisfaction. It was a feeling he hadn't realized he craved. As he finished his meal, he went to his room to change out of his uniform.
But as he stepped inside, something caught his attention. His foot was held back by an obstacle. Confused, he looked down and saw ants swarming all over the floor. But these weren't just ordinary ants—these were huge, muscular creatures, far larger than any ants he had ever seen. They were moving in and out of his room, their tiny legs working quickly, creating patterns in the soil.
Dick froze, stunned. This wasn't just an infestation—it was something deliberate. The ants had created a fine row of soil, revealing the shiny, inner layer of the earth beneath them. It was clear they were trying to tell him something.
Then, the tapping began. Some of the ants were tapping on the soil near his feet. When he looked closer, he saw that they had written something—a message. The words were simple, but shocking: "Dick, Genetic Beginner!"
The message sent a shiver down his spine. He didn't fully understand what it meant, but there was no mistaking it. The ants had sent a message, and it was meant for him.
Suddenly, Dick heard Alex's voice approaching. The door swung open carelessly, and Alex entered the room—only to freeze in fear when he saw the mound of ants. Without saying a word, Alex bolted out of the room, and Dick followed, both of them scrambling out of the house in a hurry. As they ran, the ground seemed to return to normal, the ants vanishing without a trace.
That night, Dick's mind was racing. He had a plan, a goal to fulfill. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. At 10 p.m., he grabbed his torch and sneaked out of the house, determined to return to the forest lab.