Father sat at the kitchen table, his fingers tracing the edge of his coffee mug. The rich aroma filled the room, but he barely noticed it. His thoughts were tangled in the shadows of his past—a past he had shielded Elias from for far too long.
Elias's laughter echoed from the living room, where the post-game highlights blared on the television. The sound was vibrant, full of life. Silas envied his son's freedom, but he knew it couldn't last.
Potenus had breached containment. The plant was growing restless, and its energy was becoming harder to control. Nexus Biotech would stop at nothing to reclaim it, and when they did, they wouldn't care who got caught in the crossfire.
Silas knew it was only a matter of time before Elias became a target.
He couldn't let that happen.
Silas took a deep breath and walked into the living room. Elias was sprawled on the couch, a grin stretching across his face as he watched a replay of his game-winning touchdown.
"You're going to ruin your eyes staring at that screen," Silas said, leaning against the doorframe.
Elias smirked. "It's called basking in victory, Dad. You should try it sometime."
Silas chuckled, but the weight in his chest remained. "Mind if I join you for a minute?"
"Sure." Elias shifted to make room.
Silas sat down, the game highlights flickering across the screen. For a few moments, they watched in companionable silence. Then Silas cleared his throat.
"You know," he began, "there's something I've never told you about my work."
Elias glanced at him, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Is this the part where you finally admit you're a secret agent or something?"
Silas laughed softly. "Not quite. But it's...complicated. When you were little, I was involved in a project that went sideways. Really sideways."
Elias frowned. "What kind of project?"
Silas hesitated. He had rehearsed this conversation in his mind countless times, but the words still felt heavy. "It was a research initiative involving a plant called Potenus. It's not just any plant—it has properties that defy the laws of nature."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like sci-fi."
"It felt that way sometimes," Silas admitted. "But it was real. And dangerous. Things got out of control, and I had to make a choice—to stay and risk everything or find a way to escape."
"You escaped?" Elias asked, leaning forward.
Silas nodded. "Barely. And I've been running ever since, trying to protect you from what I left behind."
Elias's expression hardened. "Wait, are you saying those people you used to work with are still after you?"
"Yes," Silas said gravely. "And after Potenus. They won't stop until they have it."
Elias leaned back, his jaw clenched. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because things are escalating," Silas said. "The plant... it's waking up again. And I can't handle it alone."
Elias blinked, taken aback. "You want me to help you with some crazy science plant? I don't even know the first thing about labs, Dad."
"I know," Silas said. "But this isn't just about science. It's about survival. And I need you to understand what we're up against."
Elias shook his head, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "This is insane."
"I know it's a lot," Silas said gently. "But I promise I'll explain everything. I just need you to trust me."
Silas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, weathered notebook. He placed it on the table between them. "This is where it all started. My notes on Potenus. It has the answers I couldn't find back then—and the key to what comes next."
Elias stared at the notebook, the weight of his father's words sinking in. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"
"Dead serious," Silas said.
Elias exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. I'll hear you out. But if I get dragged into some government conspiracy, you're buying me a new car."
Silas laughed, relief washing over him. "Deal."
As they sat in the dimly lit living room, Silas knew this was only the beginning. The truth was out now, and there was no turning back.
Elias would learn everything—about Potenus, about Nexus Biotech, and about the escape that had haunted Silas for years.
And this time, they would face it together.