Becky's eye shimmered with tears, but not of sorrow—of hope. The sight of the freed Percenters, determined and standing strong, stirred something deep within her.
"Dad, this is what you wanted... I'm fulfilling your will," she whispered, voice trembling as she clutched the fabric of her shirt with both hands. The emotion in her chest swelled until it broke free, spilling out in quiet sobs. But her tears were no longer of grief. They were of pride.
Not far from her, Trey stood in awe, his eyes sweeping across the lavish property. "Who owns this mansion anyways?"
A voice rang out confidently from behind.
"That would be me. I'm also the guy who teleported the both of you here!! My name is Drake."
Drake extended a hand, and Trey shook it, still visibly impressed.
"What's a guy gotta do to get a mansion ?!!" Trey asked as the two began strolling through the marble corridors and high-ceilinged rooms.
"When you're the best transporter of drugs around the whole country without a trace... you'll be pretty rich," Drake replied, nonchalant.
"Damn, that's pretty smart," Trey said, cracking a grin. The two of them shared a laugh that echoed through the halls.
Outside the mansion, the setting sun bathed the landscape in a golden hue. Rafik and Monet sat quietly in a pair of chairs, the moment giving them a rare breath of peace.
Rafik glanced at her, curiosity in his voice. "How did you even escape the lab to help me, Monet?"
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she stared off into the distance, arms crossed, letting the past resurface.
"Bones also sold me out to these people... talking bout a $100,000 fight match in another town. Once I reached there, those suited men sneaked up on me and carried me to the ship. I was experimented on for weeks... almost at the brink of death..."
Her voice dropped. "Then a man clouded in light broke me out, saying—"
"And then I was released," Monet finished, her tone unreadable.
Rafik blinked, processing the strangeness of her story. "Cloud of light... are you sure it isn't God that saved you?!" he said with a laugh.
Monet laughed along with him, the sound lightening the weight between them, if only briefly.
"So what are you gonna do now?" she asked.
Rafik looked ahead, eyes burning with intent. "I'm gonna end this."
Far above them, the ship Trey and Rafik had escaped from drifted in the sky like a floating tomb. The mood aboard was tense.
"Sir, we've lost 70% of our troopers and guards..." a nervous guard reported.
Dawn sat silently, hunched forward, his head bowed in dark contemplation. The guard hesitated, trying again.
"Get me Dr. Claude!!" Dawn suddenly roared, slamming his fist down on the control panel. The screen flickered from the impact.
"Yes, sir," the guard replied instantly, snapping to attention and saluting.
Dawn's hands trembled with rage as he reached for his phone. "You're going to die, Rafik... I'm going to kill you!!" he growled, dialing furiously. The line clicked.
"Yo!!" came Bones' voice on the other end.
"What's his address?!" Dawn shouted. "What's Rafik's fucking address?!"
Bones didn't argue. He gave the information, and Dawn simply smirked, a terrifying glint in his eyes.
Moments later, the door to Dawn's office hissed open.
"You called for me," Dr. Claude said, stepping in.
"Set it up," Dawn snapped, flinging his arm toward the lab.
"Sir!!... it's not ready for human use... we've only tested it on animals, and even—"
"Shut up and do it," Dawn snarled, grabbing Claude by the collar and shoving him back. His voice cracked with fury. "I'm gonna kill him. I'm gonna kill him!!!"
His breath grew heavier as he dragged his hand across his face, erupting into a wild laugh.
The lab was a cathedral of steel and tubes. Dawn was strapped tightly to a metal chair, wires and thick hoses plunged into his skull like mechanical veins.
Claude hovered nearby, visibly shaken. "Sir, are you sure you want this?"
"Do it!!!!!" Dawn screamed.
With a reluctant nod, Claude activated the machine.
"Aaaaaaaaaaargh!!" Dawn shrieked as gallons of an experimental fluid pumped straight into his brain, his body convulsing violently.
"I'm stopping i—" Claude started.
"Don't you dare!!!" Dawn bellowed.
"It's gonna bl—" Claude warned, but the words died as the machine detonated. A burst of flame and energy engulfed the lab, throwing debris in all directions and obliterating the surrounding area.
From the smoking ruins, a figure slowly emerged.
Dawn stood, naked, body scorched but alive. He raised his arm—and from his hand, flames ignited and danced in the air.
He began laughing maniacally, consumed by power.