Word count→_→ 1453 words

☣️☣️☣️

He looked at the test one last before he gave a satisfactory smile.

"Great news, the covid test is negative. I have to say that I am pleased by our results. It's always a good thing if we achieve the main objective - being a successful cure in this case." He went on to say as he faced his spectators before turning to Alex. "You've done well until now. All that's left is the final lap and then we'll be all done."

The young man didn't respond Doctor Rudolph took it as a cure to go on.

"Well, tomorrow is the day we administer our last dosage. I will need to do a few blood tests throughout today to determine if the dosage is actually needed." he continued. "Is there anything you want to ask? Maybe something you want? An indulgence, maybe?"

He stood there waiting for Alex's response. At first it seemed that Alex had not heard him at all but after a few seconds he responded.

"Anything I want..." he began thoughtfully as he turned to face the man. "Yes... there is something I want... Then again - you already know what I want."

"Hm... Do you mean chess? I'm not a good player but..." Doctor Rudolph stopped talking when he saw that Alex was laughing.

This confused him especially when he did not recall making a joke. Even Misty was confused. She had managed to recollect herself, the previous occurrence completely forgotten.

"You're really funny," Alex said in between fits of laughter.

"Did I say something funny? I'm confused here." Daniel said looking from to Misty.

Misty merely shrugged at the odd behavior.

"You already know what I want, doc, isn't that why I'm here?" Alex went on. "Now that I've kept my end of the bargain, it's time you kept yours."

"Alex, what are you talking about?" Misty asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Don't worry about it, Misty." Daniel said before turning to Alex. "And yes I haven't forgotten, Alex. I intend to keep my promise. Once we are done here I will get the UN to petition for the pardon."

"Pardon? What pardon?" Misty asked. She had never been more confused than she was now. She wanted to understand what was going on but she just couldn't get what they were talking about.

Alex said nothing as he tried to process what he had just been told.

Did the doc just say he would get the UN to petition his father's pardon?

It was then that it dawned on him- everything was a lie. All of it. They had used him and lied to him about it and this enraged him especially when he recalled that they had originally approached his mother. Had they intended to use her as well?

All these thoughts caused a hot blinding rage to bubble deep within him.

"Now, if that would be all, you should rest up. Maybe finish your breakfast first." The doctor said as he began to gather his things.

"No... No... That's not what you said before." Alex said with a frown. "You said if I help you you'd pardon my father."

"Wait, what?" Misty exclaimed as she turned to face Doctor Rudolph with a questioning look. "Did you say that to him?"

"Of course not. You misunderstood me, Alex..."

"I misunderstood nothing!" Alex interrupted, his expression growing darker. "I'm going home because clearly lying is the only thing you know. God... I am such a fool."

He got of the bed, ripping the IV tubes from his arms.

"Whoa now, let's just calm down." Misty said as she tried to calm him. "Let's talk about this...

She tried to guide him back to the bed but he merely swatted her hand away.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" He said angrily, startling her.

Normally she would have tried to reason with him but she found herself unable to speak. It was a weird feeling that made it seem like she was responding to a kind of silent command. Like a puppet being pulled by an invisible string.

"You're angry, I get that, but it was not my intention to deceive you." Daniel tried to reason with him. "I do intend to keep my end of the bargain. You have my word on that."

"Your word means nothing to me." Alex replied. "I came here in good faith- risked my very life even - but clearly that means nothing to you. Goodbye."

Daniel opened his mouth to say something but immediately shut up again. Things were going south way too fast and he didn't know how best he could salvage the situation. He had done the only thing that had come to mind. Reverting to the only safe zone he knew, he had secretly sent his brother an SOS message.

It had been Rowen's idea to use Alex. If anyone could possibly fix this mess, in Daniel's mind it was him.

As Alex walked towards the door, Daniel hoped that Rowen would get there in time.

Lucky for him because as Alex was at the door he bumped into Rowen. Alex didn't get a chance to react as he suddenly found a cloth pressed tightly against his face. He found himself suffocating, the strong smell of chloroform invading his senses.

He tried to fight him, his fingernails leaving shallow groves in the man's skin, but as the chemicals took effect he found his strength failing him.

As the darkness surrounded him, Alex felt a single tear trickle down his face.

Rowen let out a sigh of annoyance as he carefully laid the unconscious figure on the floor. Wiping the sweat of his brow, he watched his brother and assistant approach.

"What... What did you do?" Daniel asked in shock as he stared at the unconscious figure.

"Huh? Didn't you just send me an SOS?" Rowen asked back.

"Of course I did but I didn't say you should knock the poor kid unconscious!" Daniel exclaimed, putting his hands behind his head.

"Well what did you think would happen if this poor kid walked out of here and told his friends the truth of how we got him here?" Rowen pointed out."You made a commitment to achieving your dreams and I can't help you if you don't want to go all the way."

His expression was stern as he placed both arms on his brother's shoulders.

"Are you with me?" Rowen asked him.

Daniel was silent as his eyes once again gazed at the unconscious figure. He couldn't help the feeling that there was something wrong with this picture.

He hated himself for this. It was unfair of him to do this but he knew that he could make it better eventually. So why did he feel disgusted with himself.

"Hey! Are you with me?" Rowen asked as he shook him violently. "You can not be indecisive."

Slowly, Daniel nodded his head as he pushed aside all ethics from his mind. He would feel guilty some other time. Right now he had to finish his work.

"I'm with you." He said to his brother as he took a deep breath to calm himself. "Now come on help me put him back in his bed."

This made Rowen smile seeing they were once again on the same page.

He turned to Misty who stood there frozen like a zombie, eyes wide in shock.

"Come on, I need your help too." Daniel said to her.

"Are you crazy? I'm not going to help you." She said, her eyes showing nothing but her disgust. "This is wrong... And you want me to help you? If anything I should report you..."

She stopped talking and stared in even greater shock when Rowen pulled a gun to her face.

"No one's reporting anyone and you are going to do as you're told." Rowen said to her.

"You're going to shoot me?" She asked him. "You're not going to get away with this."

"Rowen, stop. There's no need for that." Daniel pleaded. "Misty, I'm asking you to help me here. I can't do this without you. I know you care about him as your patient. Please - reconsider."

"You can tell this trigger happy bastard to shoot me because I'm not going to help you." Misty persisted.

"Very well then." Rowen said before he pulled the trigger.

"No! Why did you do that?" Daniel demanded as her cold dead body hit the floor.

"Call it collateral damage." Rowen said with a shrug. "Now come on, are we getting the kid inside or what?"

With shaking limbs, Daniel knelt next to the unconscious body. As his fingers came in contact with the cold skin, he knew then why he had thought the picture looked wrong.

"Oh no..."