ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 3

MIDNIGHT never liked cakes, but he couldn't throw the cakes he bought for his big brother. He ate it while on the plane to Pennsylvania even when the sweetness made him cringed. He finished every last bit of it, leaving nothing behind.

After the plane landed, he considered discarding the phone Sun gave him to contact his brother secretly, but he couldn't throw it away. It remained off, but he held onto it tightly.

From the airport, he went to the apartment Orlando arranged for him. As soon as he arrived, he received a mission from his father.

Mission: Establish a connection with Dominick Quinn. Observe and report.

The word used was observed, but Midnight knew it meant 'spy'.

Without replying to the message, it disappeared from his inbox.

Arriving at his new apartment, he casually looked around, noting the placement of the CCTV cameras, which he knew were connected to Orlando, before settling down.

He let a day pass before he started preparing for his mission.

To establish a connection with Dominick Quinn, he could only think of one person.

Dominick Quinn's daughter. That old man seemed to care for his daughter so much.

But how to make a connection? Should I stage a kidnapping and save her again? Would that be possible without her father knowing? I doubt it.

Without a concrete plan in mind, Midnight started investigating Dominick Quinn's daughter.

It didn't take much effort to gather the basic information about Dominick Quinn's daughter. With the exception of address and phone number, all information was easily accessible. Given that her father held the position of second Arkhon, it was only natural for such a high level of security to be in place.

Happiness Quinn was homeschooled, but she was attending a workshop for jewelry making.

The workshop alone would provide ample chances to make contact.

On the other part of Pennsylvania, in Pittsburgh, Dominick received a message from Ruthgar, his easy to annoy, but efficient tracker.

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: Someone just access the little princess' public information. The IP address took me to a wild goose chase, which tells me it's not an ordinary person. It irritated me so much that I want to beat that damn person up, but finally zeroed in on a location. It's an apartment in Harrisburg.

Dominick replied: Who's renting it?

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: Rented through a long ass list of chain of names, but the chain ended in Madrid, Spain.

Dominick: There's only one motherfucker I know in Madrid as of the moment who would be curious about my princess.

Then Dominick recalled that young man he met a while ago. Was it him doing Kelleon's bidding?

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: Yeah. It's Orlando, Kelleon's idiot right-hand man.

Dominick sighed: I already went into hiding and took my hands off of the Arkhontes. What more does that motherfucker want?

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: You know how Kelleon operates. I'm sure he's being paranoid.

Dominick: Then he shouldn't blame me for what I'm about to do.

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: Is that young man even willing?

Dominick shrugged and replied: we won't know until we try. Anyway, the moment he agreed, bury all his information until no one could dig it up.

Ruthgar NotTheGreat: Alright. Just contact me.

The conversation ended there, and Dominick happily made his way to his daughter's bedroom.

"Princess," he knocked on her bedroom door. "Dad is going out for a bit."

The door opened, and Happy's head poked out. "Where are you going again, Dad? Not gambling, I hope."

Dominick flashed his princess a tender, angelic smile, filled with pure innocence. "Nope. I'm picking up a weirdo in Harrisburg. I'll be right back tonight at the latest."

This time, Klaus was the one who accompanied Dominick, leaving his son, King, to take care of Happy and the mansion.

Back in Harrisburg, Midnight was getting ready to leave for Pittsburg. The jewelry making workshop was located there, a place he needed to be in order to establish a connection with Happiness Quinn.

However, as soon as Midnight left his apartment to have dinner before he departs, a familiar face suddenly appeared, blocking his path.

There was no mistaking the identity of the man standing in front of him. He's one of Dominick Quinn's trusted associates. The photos of the people around Dominick Quinn, along with their information, were sent to him by his father after he sent the mission.

"Yes, Mr. Zabat?" Midnight was direct and didn't waste any time.

Dominick's position in the Orgánosi was the same as his father. This suggests that he had no shortage of skilled people to safeguard his location. Someone most likely caught sight of him snooping around, trying to gather information about Dominick's daughter.

With a slight bow, Klaus smiled politely and motioned his hand to the RV parked near his apartment. "My boss wants to speak to you."

Midnight nodded, his expression unchanged, and wordlessly accompanied Klaus to the RV that was waiting nearby.

The door to the RV slid open, revealing a cozy interior, and Klaus gestured for Midnight to enter.

With a moment's hesitation, Midnight finally moved and stepped inside the RV.

True to expectations, the interior was incredibly spacious. With its own sofa set, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, this RV surpassed the others in the market in terms of luxury and comfort.

"Done checking out my RV?" Sitting on the sofa with nonchalance, Dominick exuded an air of leisure. As if the young man in front of him was a friend. "You like it?"

"It's okay," Midnight answered perfunctorily.

Seeing those soulless eyes again, Dominick couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. Those eyes were really unpleasant to see. It was as if he was talking to someone inhumane, which was probably the case.

Recalling Ruthgar and Von Per's investigation about this young man, Dominick shuddered to think of what had been done to this poor soul.

"Have a seat." Dominick's hand motioned to the sofa.

After Midnight took a seat, the RV started moving.

As soon as Midnight felt the RV moved, his eyes locked onto Dominick, a chilling, murderous glint flashed through them. Sensing the danger, Dominick quickly explained, fearful of any potential misunderstanding. He was not here to fight, but to negotiate.

"RV's can't park there for long. We'll just be driving around the city. Don't worry, I mean no harm." Dominick quickly explained.

Gradually, the tense air dissipated, allowing a calm ambiance to take its place. Midnight did not speak and just looked at Dominick as if waiting for him to say what he wanted from him.

Dominick took a deep breath and sigh before leaning back in his seat. "I have a proposition to make. But first, let me ask you. Are you willing to listen, Midnight Velasquez?"

When Dominick spoke his name, Midnight's mind went blank, unable to process anything else. From the outside, he appeared calm and collected as he locked eyes with Dominick, but inside, his thoughts were in chaos.

How did he know? Is he the only one who knows? If not, who are the others? I have to kill everyone who knows my identity as per father's protocol. He was taught to not leave a witness behind. Will this endanger big brother?

Dominick took Midnight's silence as an acquiescent. "Just listen to me first before anything else, okay?"

Midnight remained silent. His mind gradually calmed down, and he made the decision to kill first and ask questions later.

"What do you think about escaping from your father's control?"

As soon as those words reached Midnight's ears, all the murderous thoughts in his mind vanished completely.

Finally, Dominick saw a flicker of emotion in those soulless eyes.

Dominick smiled, delighted to get Midnight's attention. "I will help you escape from your father's control, assist you to build a solid foundation for yourself and, in return, you will work for me until I'm certain that my princess is safe. How does that sound for a proposition?"

Midnight blinked. "How is that different from working for my father?"

Dominick shrugged. "For starters, I will not control you."

"But you want me to work for you."

Dominick smiled helplessly. "Midnight, working for someone does not mean controlling them and robbing them of their own free will. That is not how it usually works."

Midnight's soulless eyes flickered again. "Free...will?"

"Yep." Dominick nodded. "Except for spying on me and betraying me to your father, you can do whatever you want." He opened his arms. "I'm a very laid-back boss, you see. How about it, hmm?"

Midnight's expression showed interest, but his mind had been twisted for more than a decade to only listen to his father. Thus, his first thought was to act compliant and report this to his father.

It had been engraved in Midnight's mind that betraying his father would result in his big brother's death.

His mind did not even waver when he heard Dominick's proposition. He was not even slightly tempted, however good the offer was.

Nothing was more important that the life of his big brother.

"Can I think about it?" Midnight tentatively asked. "What you're asking... is too much for me to decide now."

Dominick shrugged with a casual grin. "Of course. As I said, I am a laid-back boss. Think about it carefully and contact me if you made your decision."

Midnight nodded.

Realizing that Midnight had grown disinterested in their conversation, he extended his hand towards the intercom beside him and contacted Klaus, who was in the driver's seat.

"Klaus, we're done talking. Pull over."

Hearing the word pull over, Midnight stood up and walked to the door, waiting for the RV to stop.

But the RV did not stop, and gas was released.

Inhaling it by accident, he instinctively covered his nose and mouth, prepared to attack Dominick, but his steps faltered, and a sudden bout of dizziness overwhelmed him.

In the fleeting moments before his consciousness slipped away, the sight of Dominick calmly strolling towards him wearing a gas mask burned into his fading memory. Despite his best efforts to keep his eyes open, the gas potency was overwhelming, and he succumbed to unconsciousness shortly after.

After the gas had dissipated in the RV, Dominick lowered his mask, crouched down, and playfully patted Midnight's cheek, letting out a chuckle.

"Young man, I forgot to tell you a very important thing. My proposition will only start after I untwist that twisted mind of yours."

Standing up, Dominick walked to the front and slid himself into the passenger seat. Then he called someone on the phone.

"Silvanus, I need your expertise."

MIDNIGHT OPENED his eyes and immediately squinted at the blinding brightness that surrounded him. As his eyes struggled to focus, he became aware of his surroundings - a sterile, white room, where he was securely fastened to a bed by a chain and connected to medical equipments.

His brows did not even furrow as he recalled the gas in the RV and how he lost consciousness soon after.

It seemed he had been captured by Dominick Quinn.

While most people would react with urgency and panic, Midnight remained calm and unmoving, not even twitching a muscle. He knew he was at a disadvantage. It's important to first observe everything around him before making any decisions or movements.

Meanwhile, the people in the observation room watched Midnight as his gaze swept across the room, devoid of any warmth or emotion, before he settled into stillness.

"How strong is your mind to stay calm in that sterile white room?" Von Per asked, feeling bothered by the whole scene.

Silvanus Gray, a psychologist, and one of the youngest and most acclaimed Neuroscientist of the International Brain Research Organization, tapped one of the monitors connected to a high-tech medical device that could detect brain activity. "There is not even a slight fluctuation in his limbic system. His brain is too calm that it is not normal."

"So, what does that mean?" Dominick asked.

Silvanus shrugged. "Someone most probably trained his brain to be that way."

"Then is it reversible?" Von Per asked with a frown.

Silvanus shrugged again. "The brain is a very complex thing. I have to talk to him first to figure out what happened. But I can't promise you anything. In some cases, a brain damage caused by emotional trauma often reaches a point where it becomes irreversible, leaving lasting consequences. However, we can try. As long as the patient is willing, which is always not the case. Example," he motioned his hand to Midnight, "him. I don't think he is willing."

"Even if it's for his own good?" Von Per asked incredulously.

"Yeah." Silvanus looked at the calm patient inside. "I do not know what has been done to him, but I'm pretty sure he will not be willing to play patient-doctor with me."

Dominick sighed before firmly deciding. "Then let's force him to agree."

Silvanus turned to Dominick while shaking his head in fake disapproval and shock, but with a smile on his lips. "That's illegal."

Dominick snorted at Silvanus. "That's why I called you."

Silvanus' expression turned flat and spoke sarcastically. "Jeez, thanks."

Dominick smiled and patted Silvanus' shoulder. "Good luck, and be careful. He's a cunning one."

Dominick, Von Per, and Klaus left the underground research facility, leaving Silvanus alone in the observation room. Then one of the researchers entered.

"Chief, we need you in lab four."

Silvanus' eyes remained on the monitors connected to Midnight's brain. "Is it urgent?"

"No, chief."

"Then just send me a report later. I'll be busy in the next few days. Tell everyone not to disturb me."

"Yes, chief."

As the researcher left, Silvanus took a deep breath, stood up, picked up the tablet where he could see the monitor that show the result of the medical devices strapped to Midnight and then he entered Midnight's room through the connecting door.

When their eyes met, Silvanus couldn't detect any hint of emotion on Midnight's face. Dominick was right. He really looked like a robot—no, even robots could have expressive eyes.

Now, Silvanus's curiosity was piqued, wondering what had happened to this unwilling patient of his.

"Hi." Silvanus acted like a doctor. Polite, but not overly familiar. "I'm Silvanus Gray. I'm the one who chained you in that bed." He didn't care if Midnight looked uninterested. He said what he wanted to say. "Honestly, I want to study your brain thoroughly. It's so freaking fascinating. But I also know you're here against your will, so how about we make a deal?"

Midnight remained silent, and Silvanus continued. "Play patient with me for one week and if you're still unwilling by then, I will let you go."

Finally, Midnight opened his mouth. "Do you even have the authority to release me?"

"Of course." Silvanus smiled. Of course, I'm lying. What authority? I don't know that. Just let me check your brain. "I'm the chief researcher here. What I say goes. As for Dominick, I'm just doing him a favor. He had nothing to do with my lab."

Midnight did not believe him, of course. But what could he do? He's chained to a bed, and he had no clue where he was.

The best thing to do now in this situation was to be obedient. "Will you really release me after a week?"

Seeing Midnight showing a vulnerable expression, Silvanus inwardly shuddered. People like Midnight who rarely show any emotion and then suddenly showed their vulnerable side, knowing that they are at a disadvantage, was one of the scariest Silvanus had been encountered. But it also intrigued him.

No wonder Dominick warned me to be careful. Such a sly mind.

Silvanus inwardly sighed and casually answered. "I will. But you have to cooperate with me a bit."

"Do I have a choice?"

Silvanus shrugged with a smile. "No. Not really."

"Then can I ask what you'll be doing to me? I want to know before I decide."

"Of course." Silvanus unreservedly shared his plan, if it could be even called a plan. "I will just hook you to some devices to see what goes on in your brain and then I'll ask you some questions while we're at it. Just a simple talk, really."

Midnight, again, did not believe Silvanus. A simple talk? Even children wouldn't believe it. But if it's just talk, then he didn't need to be truthful, right?

"Alright," said Midnight. "If it's just talk, I'll cooperate."

Silvanus showed a cheerful expression, but deep down, he knew Midnight would never really cooperate, so he was calculating the best approach to get the truth out of Midnight's mouth.

"I'll untie you now," Silvanus told Midnight, while taking a syringe from his lab coat pocket.

"Thanks—"

"—But before that..." Silvanus uncapped the syringe and gave it a slight push, causing a small squirt of liquid to be released.

As soon as Midnight laid eyes on the syringe, his body tensed up and he attempted to resist, but it proved to be an impossible task. The tightness of the chain shackling him to the bed made it impossible for him to move an inch. The needle penetrated his thigh muscle and Silvanus patted his knee afterwards as if to comfort him, but Midnight could feel how fake it was.

"It's okay. This won't hurt you. It'll only prevent you from killing me for the next few days." Silvanus explained. "It'll only weaken your muscle a bit, so you won't strangle me to death." He gave Midnight a grin. "It's self-defense. Nothing personal."

Midnight couldn't do anything, as his muscle weakened. He could lift his fingers, but he didn't have the strength to fist his knuckles. He was that weak.

Despite Midnight's weakened state, Silvanus couldn't detect any signs of panic or worry in Midnight's expression. It was as if his life held no significance, and he seemed indifferent to whatever fate awaited him in this place.

Silvanus sighed as he watched the monitor on his tablet. No brain fluctuation, as if Midnight's brain was not responding to any external stimulation.

Just what did they do to this guy to be like this? Silvanus had a wild guess, but it was farfetched. Yes, that kind of experiment was sanctioned before to make perfect soldiers, but it had long been discontinued because of its unethical and inhumane methods.

But it's not like no one tried that experiment again. Even though it had become illegal, there was still a group of mad scientists who believed they could create a perfect soldier. Humans just really loved the idea of perfect soldiers. However, soldiers were soldiers because they have a passionate soul to serve their country and protect its people. These so-called perfect soldiers with no emotion and only know how to follow orders without the ability to comprehend if it was right or wrong were nothing but man-made monsters.

Silvanus untied Midnight, took a deep breath, used the tablet in his hand to remotely control the wall background of the room to make it cozy, and then left to look for someone to take care of the patient.

Meanwhile, the patient was just blankly staring at the ceiling, thinking that he should have been spending his time with his big brother right now.

In the observation room, the monitor finally made a sound, signaling that there was a slight change in Midnight's brain. And that slight change reflected on the tablet Silvanus was holding.

With a glint of interest in Silvanus' eyes, he smiled at what he saw. "Looks like there is still hope, after all."

CECELIB | C.C.