The bathroom door clicked softly behind her. Rita leaned against the cool tile wall, her palms pressed against the porcelain sink, splashing water over her face again and again. Each cold splash was supposed to wake her, reset her as always, but it only sharpened the ache inside her chest. She knew every detail about Jeffery—the things no one else could ever imagine—the sacrifices, the dangers, the burden he bore silently. Yet knowing didn't make this any easier for her.She stared into her own eyes in the mirror. The reflection was fragmented by streaks of crystal clear water, tears she hadn't stopped, mascara staining the edges of her irises. Her hands trembled slightly. The sound of the running tap filled the empty bathroom, masking the storm that raged in her mind.I can't believe it. I can't believe that my father would do such a thing—giving them the power to vote me out of the board. Everything I struggled to build... it would return to me. And I thought all this while that he'

The neon light outside his room stuttered again. Then a long, sickly flicker that stretched across the cracked walls like a warning pulse.Jeffery didn't look up.He sat hunched at the rickety motel table—barefoot, shirt clinging to him from sweat, shadows pooling under his eyes. The air in the room was stale and metallic, thick enough that every breath felt like swallowing rust. Something restless prowled in the atmosphere, a prelude to an unnamed disaster.On the table, the Philosopher's Stone glowed faintly inside its silver casing, its pulse rhythmic and alive. Almost like a heartbeat. Almost like it was reminding him:You're running out of time.He knew. He didn't need the Stone to tell him that.The city outside held its breath. Criminals armed with Prescott's awakening drug were growing faster, stronger, hungrier each night. News reports painted him as the threat. The board was turning on Rita. And Aadam Prescott—somewhere in his expensive, clinical office—was watching the worl

Sunlight seeped into the room through the velvet curtains, basking it in warmth and ambience. Specks of dust swirled slowly in the air, a testament that the room wasn't that clean. Just as night had come quickly, it also went in the same manner.For other people it was another new day for them to continue their lives. Perhaps they would continue with their jobs or wallow in depression. But the day would still mean something for them. But for Jeffery it wasn't so.The fate of the world at large depended on him. He had to stop whatever Aadam was planning. Before things got out of hand, he had to make sure to bring order. Hence, the reversal formula which he decided to create.After creating it last night he felt at peace with himself, even though it was just by a little bit. It was just one step in stopping the mass production of Aadam's Dantian awakening serum.Today he was going to refine the drug. It would be the second step he would take in order to ruin Aadam's plan. And he believe

Jeffery waited in silence, watching Lukas. The man was also watching his predecessor intently, his eyes devoid of any emotion. It was as if he was watching something which he had created with his hands. It made Jeffery suddenly become uncomfortable."You mentioned telling me something important," he said, breaking the long silence. "Can you tell me now? In case you didn't notice, I'm already losing everything I suffered to build. And the same thing is happening to Rita as well."He paused, "So if you really want to help me you have to speak fast so I can continue with what I was doing."He raised the bottle up, shaking the content slightly. The drug within let out a white, soft glow before fading to its normal transparent colour. The Reversal awakening drug which he had created as a counter to Aadam's Dantian awakening drug."If you insist," Lukas finally spoke. "I have a lot of things to tell you actually. A lot of important things."Jeffery narrowed his eyes, his breath hitching. Im

The room was as silent as a graveyard, the air within still even. It was as if someone had pressed a pause button on everything. And in this room were two figures, each occupied by their own thoughts.Jeffery Flamel was lying down, baiting the spy to attack him. The spy on the other hand just stood there, looming over him like an angel. Except, he wasn't an angel but someone who obviously wanted to take Jeffery's life.Jeffery expected the spy to attack him immediately. After all, he was pretending to be sleeping. The spy was supposed to think that he was vulnerable at this moment. But he knew that the spy was also cautious. He was a master alchemist as well.And so the both of them remained that way, one standing and the other lying. Several minutes of inaction passed and the only sound Jeffery could hear was his own very thoughts.For what seemed like an hour, the spy loomed over Jeffery. He stood like a shadow without making any movement. Even a subtle one. He didn't even seem to b