Reborn in the Enemy's Embrace

Peter gazed out the car window as he said, "Human desires are like a black hole, bottomless and capable of devouring everything... Some even proposed that humans are not native to the Earth but rather sinners who are trapped here, living through endless cycles of life, from birth to aging and death."

"Do you buy into these fallacies too, Dr. Jones?" I scoffed.

"Fallacies? Theology is, in fact, the ultimate frontier of science. Everything inexplicable by science can be explained through theology," Peter sneered.

"For instance, immortality. It may seem conceptually impossible, but is it really so? Did people from 3,000 years ago ever anticipate that the average human lifespan could extend to 73 years old, as it does nowadays?"

"The advancement of medical technology has nearly doubled the human lifespan, leading to societal aging and increased burden."

I furrowed my brows, contemplating Peter’s words.

"The result of medical advancement is exacerbated aging, decreased birth rates, and an increased focus among the upper class on the quality of their offspring-high intelligence, superior physical strength, innate immunity to diseases from birth, and other ’evolutionary advantages..." Peter smiled knowingly.

What he mentioned fell within the realm of current technology and medical care.

"Have you ever wondered why the wealthy tend to live longer than ordinary people, remaining vibrant and full of life even at the age of 90 or even 100? Do you think they possess some sort of longevity genes inherent in them?"

"No. It’s because of the things they have access to, things most ordinary people have never even imagined in their weirdest dreams... whether it’s drugs or other special treatment methods."

The things Peter mentioned were all built upon money and power, far darker than my imagination could have conceived.

"And you, Sophia Milford, your very existence is deeply entwined with the interests and destinies of many... You’re akin to the protagonist in The Truman Show. "

"Your entire life, your transformation, and your evolution are all scrutinized by countless eyes behind the scenes... including your ’reincarnation’ into Sofia Miller after your death."

"As preposterous as it might sound, someone has entertained such a hypothesis. Not to mention, the force behind this operation is capable of amplifying such value..."

Peter chuckled and asked, "You have no idea how valuable you are, do you, Sophia?"

Understanding Peter’s implication, a chill traveled down my spine.

With the potential validation of this ’reincarnation," more affluent individuals would likely be inclined to invest.

Genome Society could attract further capital infusion with me as a prime example. They could continue their research on clones, delve deeper into methods of "reincarnating" souls and memories, and strive to resist natural aging and death in pursuit of prolonged vitality.

Ultimately, their goal would be to achieve the so-called ’immortality," inevitably leading to more ethical dilemmas and sins.

"Was everyone destined for hierarchy from the outset? Was there ever true fairness in the world? ’Fairness’ is merely a term." Peter’s laughter hinted at a touch of madness.

"Whether you are truly Sophia Milford or not, I sincerely hope you’re not her... ’His words seemed to carry deeper significance, urging me to conceal myself without being discovered.

"I’ve been working tirelessly to prove that you’re not Sophia Milford, to safeguard you, Sophia," Peter declared. "We’re here. Let’s go."

I furrowed my brows as I stepped out of the car, finding myself standing in front of the asylum run by Peter’s father-in-law.

"This is where all the sins are hidden, " Peter remarked, his gaze fixed on the asylum’s inpatient building.

"Dexter, it was very clever of you to infiltrate this place, pretending to be a mentally ill patient. Trying to investigate the organization from within, weren’t you? I’ll give you that...". Peter’s voice was low, reflecting genuine admiration for Dexter’s tactics.

"However, those people are more vigilant than you think," Peter continued as he walked toward the entrance. "Come with me."

"Dr. Jones, our hospital has strict rules against allowing outsiders- the security guard interrupted, his tone wary.

"He’s a patient here, and this lady is his family," Peter explained, pointing at Dexter.

The guard quickly checked his tablet and verified Dexter’s information. "Okay, Dr. Jones. Please come-"

But before the guard finished his sentence, a truck suddenly came crashing toward us.

Dexter instinctively pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as he dodged the truck’s path.

Unfortunately, Peter wasn’t as fortunate. He was struck and thrown aside by the truck.

"Free... yourself... "Peter’s voice was hoarse, as though he was struggling to muster his last breath.

Free yourself.

With those words, Peter urged me to run away from the clutches of Genome Society, just like the protagonist in The Truman Show who eventually broke free from his monitored existence.

"Dr. Jones!" The security guard rushed out to check on Peter and dialed 911.

I stood frozen in place, my fingers tingling with numbness.

Despite Peter’s significant role in the organization, he was also marked for elimination...

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of despicable people I was dealing with. For the first time, fear and terror engulfed me.

To those echelons, crashing us was as easy as squashing ants.

"This world is like a colossal ant hill, with clear divisions and a rigid hierarchy. The interests of the upper echelons can’t be infringed upon. Anyone who dares to cross their path meets certain death."

Peter’s earlier words echoed in my mind.

The entanglement of capitalists, the geopolitical tensions, even the conflicts among neighbors and colleagues... Every individual harbored their own ambitions and shadows, which shifted and magnified depending on their position.

"Dexter, tell me, how can I distinguish what’s real from what’s not, especially when it comes to Sofia and me?" I asked softly, squeezing his hand tightly.

"Everyone is the protagonist of their own world; others are just NPCs," Dexter replied, his grip on my hand firm. "You’re the protagonist in my world, now and forever. And I refuse to be just an NPC in yours."

"What if... I’m not Sophia Milford?" I fixed my gaze on him, searching for answers.

If one day, data proved that I wasn’t Sophia but rather the subject of some memory implantation experiment, what would Dexter do? What should he do?

I felt a tingling sensation on my nose, and my throat was burning. I lifted Dexter’s face with my hands, pressing his forehead against mine.

He had endured so much for Sophia Milford, sacrificing greatly on her behalf. What if everything he had done thus far turned out to be in vain? What should he do?

The thought tore my heart as if it were being ripped into pieces.

I couldn’t be certain whether I was merely memories of Sophia Milford or perhaps her very soul... In fact, I wasn’t even sure I was Sophia Milford herself anymore.

I felt as if the entire world was but an illusion woven by someone, an experiment.

"You’re Sophia," Dexter asserted, his confidence unwavering.

I couldn’t discern whether his words reflected truth or if he was simply convincing himself.

"From a scientific perspective, both soul reincarnation and the existence of a parallel timeline are plausible. We can’t dismiss the unknown but scientifically feasible phenomena..." Dexter guided me to a secluded comer, gently cradling my face. "Don’t worry, Sophia. I’ll protect you, just as I always have."

Throughout the past, present, and perhaps even the future, Dexter had remained steadfast in his protection of me.

The ambulance arrived and rushed Peter to the hospital. We followed closely, only to learn that while Peter survived, the odds of him regaining consciousness were slim.

Despite Peter’s significant contributions to Genome Society, he was disposed of. He was discarded as if he were no longer of use to them.

It seemed Juliet’s contraction of AIDS marked not her end but the start of her nightmare. With Peter’s demise, she would likely live in constant fear, seeking refuge with Damien. He was her sole remaining source of reliability. She could only hope that he could shield her from the organization’s wrath.

"Dexter, you now understand that seeking the truth through conventional means is futile, don’t you? Join forces with us, and together, we can expose those responsible for Genome Society."

As we exited the hospital, we encountered Jimmy once again.

"You received the news quite promptly..." I regarded him with suspicion, finding his swift arrival after Peter’s hospitalization rather peculiar...