Chapter 73 The Benefactor
Rafael
My head was pounding.
I tried to open my eyes, but everything was blurry.
"Rafael," someone said. "Wake up."
I forced my eyes open. The world came into focus.
I was in a moving van. My hands were zip tied behind my back.
Flora was beside me. Also restrained. Her face was pale.
And across from us sat a woman who looked exactly like Flora.
"What..." I managed to say.
"You took a nasty hit," the woman said. "One of my men hit you with a gun when the lights went out."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Subject L 04," she said. "But you can call me Lucia."
I looked at Flora. She was staring at Lucia with horror and fascination.
"She's another genetic match," Flora said quietly. "Created before me. Before Eva."
"Smart girl," Lucia said. "Father created me twenty eight years ago. The first successful attempt."
"He's a monster," I said.
"He's a visionary," Lucia corrected. "And now that we have all twenty three genetic matches, plus you two, his vision can finally be realized."
"Twenty three?" Flora asked. "You have the embryos?"
"Everything," Lucia confirmed. "While you were focused on the airport exchange, Father's team raided the hospital. By the time Detective Walsh realized what was happening, we were gone."
"That's impossible," I said.
"Father has people on his payroll," Lucia said. "You'd be amazed how many people will look the other way for money."
The van hit a bump. Pain shot through my head.
"Where are you taking us?" Flora asked.
"To Father's primary facility," Lucia said. "That's where the real work happens."
"What real work?" I demanded.
Lucia smiled. "Creating the next generation. Father has spent thirty years perfecting the genetic modifications. Flora's DNA is the key. And with twenty three subjects to study, plus Flora's living tissue, Father can finally create the perfect human."
"There's no such thing as perfect," Flora said.
"Not yet," Lucia agreed.
The van stopped. The doors opened.
We were in a clearing.
In the center was a small concrete structure. Just a single metal door.
Guards pulled Flora and me out. Dragged us toward the door.
It opened to reveal an elevator. We descended. Down. Down.
The elevator opened into a corridor.
They separated us. Pulled Flora to one direction. Pulled me to another.
"Rafael!" Flora shouted.
"Flora!" I tried to fight, but the guards were too strong.
They threw me into a small room with white wall and a single bed. There was a camera in the corner.
I sat there for what felt like hours. My head still throbbed. My wrists burned from the zip ties they'd removed. I stared at the camera, knowing someone was watching.
The door opened. A doctor entered, holding a clipboard.
"Mr. Valserro," he said. "I'm Dr. Patel. I'll be conducting your evaluation."
"Where's Flora?" I demanded, standing up.
"Being evaluated as well," Dr. Patel said calmly. "Mr. Kask wants to ensure she's healthy before procedures begin."
"What procedures?" My voice was shaking.
"Tissue extraction. Bone marrow sampling. Egg harvesting."
My blood ran cold. "You can't do that without consent. She didn't agree to this."
Dr. Patel looked at me with something almost like pity. "Mr. Kask makes the rules here. Consent is optional."
He took a blood sample despite my struggles. Checked my eyes. My reflexes. Then he left without another word.
I was alone again.
The door opened again. Victor Kask entered.
He looked better than at the airport.
"Rafael," he said smoothly. "I hope Dr. Patel wasn't too rough."
"Where's Flora?" I demanded again.
"Safe," Kask said. "I need her healthy for what's coming."
"You're a monster," I said through clenched teeth.
"I'm a father," Kask corrected. "I made Flora. I made Eva. I made all twenty three embryos. They're mine."
"People aren't property," I said.
"These aren't normal people," Kask said. "They're genetically enhanced. Superior. The future of humanity."
He pulled out his phone. Showed me a video feed.
Flora. Strapped to a medical table. Surrounded by equipment. Doctors preparing instruments. Her eyes were wide with fear.
"They're about to begin the first extraction," Kask said. "Bone marrow. Very painful. But I can stop it. Tell me where Catherine and Marco are hiding."
"I don't know," I said truthfully.
"Think harder," Kask said. He pressed a button on his phone.
On the video, a doctor positioned a large needle against Flora's hip. She flinched. Closed her eyes.
"Wait!" I shouted. "Stop!"
Kask held up his hand. The doctor paused.
"You remembered something?" Kask asked, smiling.
"They mentioned Singapore," I lied desperately. "Near the marina. A safe house. That's all I know."
Kask studied me for a long moment. His eyes cold and calculating.
"If you're lying, Flora suffers." He pressed another button. "Proceed."
"No!" I screamed.
On the video, the doctor pushed the needle into Flora's hip. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Tears ran down her face.
Kask watched with satisfaction. Then he left.
I stared at the camera, my whole body shaking with rage and helplessness. I'd bought us maybe a few hours with my lie. Maybe not even that.
But for what? We were trapped miles underground. Surrounded by guards. No way out.
The door opened. Lucia entered.
She closed the door quietly. Looked around. Then at me.
"We need to talk," she said softly. "About getting you and Flora out of here."
I stared at her, disbelief flooding through me. "You're helping us? Why?"
"Because I made a terrible mistake," Lucia said. "I've believed Father was right my entire life. Every word he said. Every order he gave. But I was wrong."
"What changed your mind?" I asked.
"My sister," Lucia said. "The newborn. They let me hold her tonight. And when I looked at her tiny face, I realized something. She's not a subject. She's not an experiment. She's a baby. A person. And Father wants to turn her into a weapon."
"So you're having second thoughts," I said carefully.
"I'm done," Lucia said firmly. "Completely done. But I need your help. We destroy this facility. Save Flora. Save all twenty three embryos. And make sure Father can never do this to anyone ever again."
"How?" I asked. "I'm one man. Unarmed."
Lucia pulled out a keycard. "This gets you to the medical wing where they're keeping Flora. Move fast. Security changes shift in ten minutes."
She cut my zip ties. Handed me the keycard.
"One more thing," she said urgently. "Father isn't the only threat. There's someone else pulling strings. Someone called the Benefactor. He's the real puppet master. The one with the money. The power. I don't know his real name, but he's more dangerous than Father could ever be."
Before I could ask more, alarms started blaring. Red lights flashed.
"They found out I'm helping you," Lucia said, her face pale. "Go. Save Flora. I'll buy you time. Run!"
She ran out the door.
I grabbed the keycard. Took a deep breath. Ran into the corridor.
And came face to face with Dr. Rossi.
She was holding a gun. Pointed directly at my chest.
"Hello, Rafael," she said coldly. "Going somewhere?”