Cliff froze in place, his chest tightening as he caught sight of Valvet with another boy through the hotel window. From his angle, she appeared tense, but the sight still twisted his stomach. His mind spiraled. Did she have a boyfriend before? I should have confessed earlier… but fk it.
Heart heavy, he tore his gaze away and walked home, each step pressing down like lead. Shadows stretched unnaturally along the street, echoing the uneasy knot coiling in his chest.
Meanwhile, the reality of that night was far darker. Valvet, returning home after a half-day with her hospital friends, found her house empty. Then she noticed a figure standing silently in the living room. Panic surged. She was about to scream, thinking it a thief, but the man stepped forward calmly.
"Don't scream," he warned, voice low and dangerous. "Or your family will pay the price."
Fear froze her. The stranger explained everything: the DNA modification system, the adaptability tests, and her selection. He told her that, like Cliff, she had survived a traumatic event—the terrorist attack—and was therefore a potential candidate. Her adaptability had been secretly verified that very morning, through a part of her sneeze collected at a restaurant while she hung out with friends. The sample, combined with her survival of the blast, proved she could withstand modifications that would kill most ordinary humans.
Shock and disbelief held her still. "If my family is at gunpoint… I don't have a choice, do I?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"You don't," the man replied bluntly. "It's the same as what happened with Cliff."
Her fear deepened as he escorted her to a hotel—a seemingly ordinary building that concealed a secret underground hideout used by the government agents. At the reception, the agent whispered a code. Instantly, an elevator, hidden behind a panel, slid open. Together, they descended, deeper than any floor the public would ever see. The hum of unseen machinery and faint glows of fluorescent lights filled the air as they moved through sterile corridors.
Inside the underground facility, Valvet's body tensed as the modification began. Needles, vials of glowing serum, and machines surrounded her. The agent explained clearly:
Your body will take time to adapt these abilities. You will gain the power to mirror others' DNA-derived abilities. At first, you will only be able to copy a fraction of their strength. The stronger you become, the more effectively your power will manifest. Adaptation takes time—and patience.
Pain, heat, and energy coursed through her veins as the serums integrated with her DNA. For hours, she endured the agony, trembling as she imagined the weight of what she had become.
Finally, exhausted and wary, she was returned home. Her family gathered around her, alarmed at her pallor and exhaustion. The discussion was tense, but ultimately grounded in support, even as none of them fully comprehended the scope of the transformation she had undergone.
The next day at school, Cliff avoided her, half the day spent trying to suppress the whirl of jealousy, fear, and guilt. If she's part of it now… then nothing I do matters. Confessing is pointless.
But during a break, Valvet approached him privately. Her expression was serious. She had figured out his involvement—the same agent network, the DNA modifications, the hidden hideouts—and now, she was part of it too.
Cliff's mind raced. The man who had taken her was no rogue operative; he was part of the same network. The hotel, the underground facility… another secret hideout, just like his.
For the first time, Cliff realized he wasn't facing this shadowed world alone. Valvet, once a symbol of distant affection and normalcy, was now bound to the same dangers and struggles as him. Relief flickered briefly, but it was quickly replaced by unease—the missions, the experiments, and the unknown threats were now shared, and the stakes had never been higher.
After their private conversation at school, Cliff's thoughts raced uncontrollably. The weight of their shared secret, the shadowed world of modifications and missions, pressed against him like a vice. This path is dangerous… too dangerous to leave anything unsaid. I can't let it be a lost love I never confessed.
His chest tightened, resolve solidifying. With careful breaths, he met Valvet's gaze. "Valvet… I…"
Words hung in the air, fragile and trembling, as both fell silent. Heartbeats thundered in the quiet, unbroken except by the distant hum of the school corridor.
Finally, Cliff swallowed hard. "So…? Any answer?"
Valvet's lips pressed into a thoughtful line. Her eyes didn't waver from his, but she shook her head slowly. "It… it will take time. I'll tell you… after a week."
Relief and disappointment collided in Cliff's chest. He smiled faintly, a bittersweet mixture of joy and longing. At least she was considering it—but the delay stung, a reminder that the world they lived in was unforgiving and uncertain.
Night fell, and with it, the pull of duty. Cliff returned to the base, heart still heavy from the unresolved confession. To his surprise, Valvet was already there, standing beside Clad. Her presence was calm yet cautious, a reflection of the new strength she had begun to develop.
An agent stepped forward, voice cold and precise. "You three will be sent to the training island soon. For now, there's one final extermination mission here. After that… the island."
Cliff explained to Valvet, quietly, the magnitude of what awaited them: the island held over 250 failed experiments captured for training, a place where they would push their abilities to the limit over the course of a week or two. It was not a place for mistakes—or mercy.
For now, though, duty called. The trio departed for the extermination mission, tension threading every step. The streets and alleys of the designated area were silent, the air heavy with anticipation. Every shadow seemed to breathe, every distant noise a potential threat.
Then, he appeared.
The figure from Cliff's first mission—the one who had sliced through his arm in an instant, the one who had warned him never to trust the higher-ups—emerged from the darkness. His presence was cold, calculated, almost predatory. Cliff's blood ran ice-cold.
"No!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, heart hammering. "Run! All of you, run!"
The warning was immediate. Valvet, Clad, and Cliff sprinted as one, instincts and enhanced reflexes guiding them. The figure advanced with unnatural speed, but they moved faster, adrenaline and fear sharpening every movement. Their breaths came ragged and fast, echoing through the empty streets, the chase a stark reminder that in this world, even those they thought were allies could become threats.
Once they returned to the base, the trio recounted the encounter to the agents. Cliff's voice trembled slightly as he explained how Rafael had severed his arm during the first mission, the sheer speed and precision leaving no margin for error. The agents nodded grimly, memories flickering in their eyes.
Valvet and Clad exchanged a glance, fear etched into their faces. "Who… who is he?" Valvet asked, voice tight.
The lead agent's tone was icy. "His name is Rafael. How he regained consciousness after being declared a failed experiment… we don't know. But he's dangerous—he's killed over a hundred failed experiments on his own. His abilities… are numerous, varied, and deadly. For now, consider him your primary threat. Be careful."
He handed them each a note detailing the location and timing for their flight. "Pack your bags. You leave at 6 AM tomorrow. This is your final mission here before the island. Prepare yourselves."
The room fell into tense silence as the weight of the warning settled over them. Cliff's mind raced—not just with concern for his own safety, but for Valvet and Clad. The confession he had just made, the bonds they had formed, and the dangerous path ahead now felt heavier than ever.