The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of the mansion's kitchen, reflecting off the polished surfaces. Steam rose from freshly brewed coffee as the aroma mingled with the faint scent of baked bread. The table was set simply: three plates, three cups, a small vase with a single white flower.
Leah sat upright, still slightly pale but looking stronger than she had in months. Dante poured himself some juice and took a seat opposite her, his movements confident and fluid—no sling, no hesitation. Elias, as always, remained composed at the head of the table, scanning the morning newspaper but occasionally glancing toward the television mounted on the far wall.
The news was on, playing quietly in the background while the three of them ate. The reporter's voice was calm, almost casual, though the content was anything but.
"…and in other news, authorities confirmed that a doctor who was operating outside the law was found dead in his laboratory yesterday morning. The doctor's name is Kael Virelli, long suspected of illicit genetic research…"
Leah paused mid-bite. Dante froze with his hand hovering over the juice. Elias lowered the newspaper, eyes narrowing at the screen.
"…The laboratory was located in a remote area, and according to preliminary reports, the scene suggests the doctor had been deceased for over a week…"
Leah's fork clattered softly onto her plate. "Kael Virelli…" she whispered, voice low. Her mind immediately raced back to the files, to the man who had manipulated Izana's DNA.
Dante leaned forward, fists clenched on the table. "Wait," he said sharply. "If he's been dead for over a week… and they just found him yesterday… that timeline…" His jaw tightened. "That's Izana."
Elias didn't need any more context. He turned his full attention to the television, watching the grainy footage of the lab shown on the report. "It was him," he said, calm but firm. "Inevitable. He's precise. Calculated. And he moves faster than anyone expects."
Leah swallowed, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. "But… why would he—why now? He's been gone for so long, two years. And suddenly…" Her voice trailed off, heavy with disbelief. "He's… hunting people from his past?"
Dante stood abruptly, pacing across the kitchen. The chair scraped slightly against the tiled floor. "It's not just hunting. He's eliminating loose ends. Kael Virelli wasn't just any doctor—he engineered him. Manipulated him. And now… the man's influence is gone. But the evidence, the records… they had to be destroyed."
Leah's eyes widened, and she set her cup down with a trembling hand. "Oh… oh no. He's been alone all this time, working by himself… and he's still methodical. Even now."
Elias rose from his chair and moved toward the windows, gaze sharp. "It's what he does best. He's not reckless. He plans everything, waits for the perfect moment. That's why this news is both confirmation and warning."
Dante stopped pacing and turned to face Leah, voice low but urgent. "We have to accept it. We have to realize he's grown stronger in these two years. And if Kael was eliminated a week ago, Izana… he's already moved on. He won't hesitate if he needs to protect himself—or you."
Leah's hand rose to her mouth, breath hitching. "I… I can't stop thinking about him… about what he's capable of. Two years, and he's… still calculating… still perfecting himself." Her voice cracked despite her effort to remain composed.
Elias turned from the window, gaze resting on her. "Leah, you need to stay calm. We've survived the worst before. We'll survive this too."
Leah shook her head slightly, tears glinting in her eyes. "Calm? How can I be calm when he's… he's out there, alone, and we don't know what he's planning? We don't even know if he's okay!"
Dante placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "He's alive. He's fine. That's what counts. But yes… he's alone, and yes… he's choosing his own path. That's Izana. The same man we know, just…" He paused, voice dropping. "…more dangerous now than ever."
Elias folded his arms, deep in thought. "We can't underestimate him, but we also can't panic. This is exactly what he expects—fear, uncertainty, hesitation. We remain vigilant. He'll come back when he's ready, and we need to be prepared."
Leah's voice rose, trembling but filled with raw emotion. "I can't just sit here and wait! Two years… two years of wondering if he's hurt, or starving, or worse. I can't—."
Elias stepped closer, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Leah." His voice was firm yet gentle. "Listen to me. You cannot act alone. You are not helpless, but rushing will only put you at risk. You must stay with us. Together, we will find him, and together, we will protect him and ourselves."
Dante nodded, his own voice sharper now, cutting through the tension. "He's not a child anymore. He's capable of handling himself. But he trusts us, Leah. And we trust him. That's why we stay calm. That's why we survive."
Leah's shoulders sagged slightly, her breath uneven. "I know… I know you're right. I just… I can't stop thinking about him. Two years gone… and I don't even know what he's seen, what he's done…"
Elias gave a small, grim smile. "He's been learning. Adapting. Becoming stronger. But he's still our Izana. He's still the man you know. You will see him again. You must believe that."
The reporter's voice on the television continued. "…investigators confirmed that the lab was sealed and untouched for several days, suggesting that the perpetrator knew exactly how to avoid detection. Authorities are still searching for clues regarding the suspect's identity and motive…"
Leah's hand flew to the edge of the table, gripping it tightly. "They have no idea… no idea that it's him. That he's… been alive all this time." Her voice broke, a whisper now. "Two years…"
Dante rested a hand on her back, leaning in slightly. "He didn't come back sooner because he needed time. He's calculating, and this… all of this… was necessary for him. Kael was a threat to him—his freedom, his past, everything he is now. That's why it's gone."
Leah nodded slowly, wiping her eyes. "I… I just hope he's okay. That he… doesn't have to carry all of this alone anymore."
Elias's eyes softened slightly, a rare moment of emotion. "He's never truly alone, Leah. You, Dante, I—we are his family. He may choose his own path, but he's still connected to us. That's what matters."
Leah exhaled, her hands loosening around the table edge. "I just… I miss him. And I worry about what kind of man he's becoming… if he's alone, and… and carrying all that weight."
Dante's jaw tightened. "He's still Izana. The same man who fought through everything, who survived, who loved you. He may be more dangerous now, but he's not changed at his core. And that core… is the one we know and trust."
The reporter concluded the segment. "…authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Kael Virelli's activities to come forward. This investigation remains ongoing."
Leah leaned back in her chair, exhaling shakily. "He's out there," she whispered. "And… he's been out there for two years. I didn't know… I didn't know how long."
Elias placed a hand gently over hers. "You do now. And now we prepare. Calmly, carefully, together. That's how we survive him—and how we'll welcome him back safely when he chooses to return."
Dante glanced at the clock, then back at the television, voice steady. "We stay alert. We gather information. And we wait for the moment we can find him, safely. We protect him the way he would protect us. That's what matters now."
Leah's eyes were fixed on the screen, the grainy lab footage still echoing in her mind. Her fingers trembled slightly, but her resolve hardened. "I… I'm ready," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "I'm ready to face him… to find him… and to bring him back."
Elias nodded, finally allowing himself a small, controlled smile. "Then we begin, together."
Dante exhaled, hands relaxing from where they had been tense at his sides. "We'll see him soon. And when we do… we will be ready for whatever comes next."
The three of them sat in silence, watching the empty streets outside the mansion, hearts heavy but determined. Outside, the world continued, oblivious to the storm that had already been brewing for two long years—and the man who had survived it all, waiting to step back into the lives he had once been forced to leave behind.