Chapter 229 "What's your name?"
Twenty minutes had passed. The young boy looked up from the makeshift chessboard, locking eyes with Elbert.
Elbert gave a small smile.
"The Black Ghost, the White Ghost, the Blue Ghost, the Red Ghost… none of them could beat me," the boy said softly. "But you… you beat me thirteen times. Twice in less than eight moves." He paused, looking serious. "You beat me. So I'll go with you."
Elbert's smile turned bittersweet. The "Ghosts" were just imaginary opponents the boy had created in his mind.
Elbert recalled the info from the facility's database:
[Innate modifier gene, no adjustment needed!]
[Possesses power-regulating cells, no injection needed!]
[Still young, no special abilities yet!]
[Potential is huge!]
[Highly necessary for research!]
[All other information is being explored!]
Elbert knew what it meant. The "innate modifier gene" meant the boy had 63 unpaired chromosomes, a defect causing infertility. The "power-regulating cells" were cancerous, giving him strength and speed but shortening his life.
This kid was living on borrowed time.
Elbert ruffled the boy's hair. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated. "They call me Robert."
"What?!" Robert's digital voice echoed in Elbert's mind, shocked and indignant.
Elbert quickly recovered. "That's a terrible name," he said, forcing a smile. "How about I give you a new one, Dennis?"
The boy pouted. "You beat me, so I have to listen to you. But you're not good at picking names."
Elbert chuckled. "You're right, my alias isn't great."
"It's not cool at all," the boy added bluntly.
Elbert felt a wave of affection for this serious child.
"Enough chit-chat, guys. We're on a time crunch." Trinity pointed to the flames creeping into the room. "Keep this up, and that new name will be for a headstone."
The boy looked at Trinity. "Red isn't your color," he said.
"It's 'Miss Trinity' to you, short stack." Trinity put her hands on her hips, trying to look authoritative.
The boy sighed. "Fine, 'Miss Trinity.' But only because I'm a good boy."
"Oh, you're killing me with that cuteness!"
Elbert scanned the room. Two large bookshelves lined one wall. This wasn't an ordinary four-year-old; this was a brilliant mind craving knowledge.
He stood, determination replacing his anger and despair. He was going to protect this extraordinary child.
"Time to go."
He walked to the metal wall he had kicked in earlier. With effort, he bent the metal further, making an archway big enough to pass through.
"Strong bear," the boy whispered, wide-eyed.
Trinity shook her head, smiling. She scooped the boy into her arms, shielding him with her body.
They moved through the inferno, Elbert leading, Trinity and the boy close behind, the warped metal their only shield against the heat.
Outside, the facility was a blazing chaos, the roar of flames almost deafening.
Trinity clutched the boy, relying on Elbert's strength. For a moment, it felt almost normal—like a family escaping a storm. But this storm was fire, and their path was through a collapsing building.
"So," Trinity asked, her voice steady, "what's your name, kiddo?"
The boy frowned. "The strong bear said it's Dennis."
"Dennis it is," Trinity chuckled.
They navigated the burning wreckage, finally reaching the cooler access tunnel. The elevator still worked.
As they ascended, a massive explosion rocked the facility. They had escaped just in time.
Outside, students and campus security were everywhere, their faces lit by the firestorm behind them.
But Dennis, eyes wide with wonder, saw none of it. He was mesmerized by the crowd, his face a mix of curiosity and fear. He had never seen so many people, never been outside the facility.
Elbert's heart ached for him. He gently squeezed Dennis's shoulder. "Stay with Miss Trinity for a bit. I need to handle something. I'll be back soon."
"Elbert, where are you going?" Trinity's voice was sharp with concern. "You can't leave us now."
Elbert turned, resolute. "I'm meeting a friend. A friend I've never met." He looked at Trinity. "And you have a job to do."
Trinity frowned. "A job?"
"We are in Victoria. Manage the situation, contain the fallout. Use your FIC connections. Keep this out of the public eye. Your people are good at that."
And with that, he disappeared into the crowd.
Trinity stared after him, realization dawning. He looked and talked just like Officer Reed.
She sighed, a mix of exasperation and admiration. "Alright, Elbert," she muttered. "But don't take too long."
She turned to Dennis, who was staring at the crowd with wonder and fear. She hoisted him higher on her hip.
The onlookers focused on the beautiful woman in the red dress and the adorable child.
No one noticed the figure crawling from the wreckage of the genetics lab. His body was a charred ruin, his skin blackened and cracked. But he was alive. And he was moving.
He crouched in the shadows, eyes fixed on Trinity. A feverish intensity burned in them.
He ran his tongue over his cracked lips, tasting ash and something more sinister.
"My beautiful savior," he rasped, his voice gravelly. Half his tongue was missing, burned away by the fire.
"I will have you… serve you… make you my queen."
His words grew clearer as he spoke. His tongue regenerated, the charred flesh knitting back together. The burned skin sloughed off, revealing new flesh. His mangled hand flexed, bones knitting back together.
The black and white clown tattoo on his arm, obscured by soot and burned flesh, slowly reappeared, its grin wider and more grotesque.
"Wait for me," he whispered, his voice a sibilant promise carried on the wind.
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