The rainstorm battered the pine trees mercilessly, as if the sky were vomiting all its wrath onto the earth. Lightning struck wildly, briefly illuminating a dilapidated wooden cabin hidden deep within the forest, five miles from the Miller family's tomato field. The hole-ridden tin roof dripped muddy water onto the floorboards, which creaked under their weight.Inside that stuffy, foul-smelling cabin, Isabella's breathing sounded like a broken machine.David laid his general down on a pile of dry leaves that was slightly cleaner than the floor. Isabella's face, usually as cold as ice when holding a weapon, was now as white as cotton. Her body, clad in dirty mechanic's overalls, shivered so violently her teeth chattered, even though Elena had taken off her coat and draped it over the woman."Hold on, Bell. You cannot give up here," David whispered, his voice hoarse, fighting the guilt tearing at his chest. He pressed his scraped palms against the wound on Isabell

"She's still breathing, Dave," Elena whispered softly. Her voice was hoarse from exhaustion and a full night of crying.The pale and cold morning sunlight began to pierce through the cracks in the walls of the rotting wooden cabin. The light revealed dust dancing in the air, falling right onto David Vexley's body. The man sat petrified in the corner of the room. His back leaned stiffly against the moldy wooden wall. His hands resting on his knees were still covered in crusts of brownish-red dried blood. He didn't blink. He hadn't slept a single second since Isabella's heartbreaking screams faded into the darkness of a coma."Her breathing is very weak," Elena added. She sat kneeling on the dirty floor, wiping Isabella's forehead with a wet cloth. "Her fever hasn't broken, but she survived the night. You managed to save her, David.""I cut off her leg like cutting a rotten tree branch, Elena," David answered with an empty and hollow voice. His eyes did not shift

"Take it, Son. This water is very clean, far better than the dirty mud stuck to your shoes."That incredibly calm and polite voice broke the tension at the end of the asphalt highway. The man in the perfectly tailored grey suit squatted slightly, offering a sealed bottle of mineral water to Arthur. The seven-year-old boy swallowed hard. His round eyes stared at the water with agonizing thirst, but he took a step back and hid behind his mother's legs."Don't touch that water, Arthur," Elena whispered with a trembling voice. She hugged her son's shoulders tightly, her eyes glaring sharply at the strange man before her. "Who are you? What do you want from us?""My name is Dr. Aris. I am here only to help, Mrs. Miller," the man answered with a warm smile. He slowly stood up and put the water bottle back into his coat pocket.On the cold asphalt, David Vexley knelt, panting heavily. Fresh blood still flowed from the stab wound in his left shoulder, dripping on

"Her body temperature has dropped, Dave. The doctors said the sepsis infection has stopped spreading. She made it through the critical period."Elena's voice trembled with immense relief. The woman stepped into the hospital room with a noticeably lighter stride. For the first time in seven years, Elena's face looked bright and clean. The remnants of mud, blood, and despair from their escape in the forest had been completely washed away. She wore a change of clothes, a soft grey cashmere sweater provided by the hospital.David Vexley was sitting on the edge of the bed. He held his left shoulder, which was wrapped in a sterile white bandage. His sharp eyes stared directly at his wife. Instead of returning Elena's smile, the former King's face hardened like a rock cliff."Get Arthur's clothes right now, Elena. We have to pack immediately," David ordered in a very low and urgent tone.The smile on Elena's face faded instantly. She stopped in her tracks in the

"Your hands are too slow, Miller. Swipe that card properly or I will cut your pay this very day."The harsh voice of Head of Security Barnes echoed down the sterile hallway of AgriGen's underground laboratory. The stocky man slapped his baton against his palm. He looked at David with a condescending glare.David Vexley stood stiffly in front of the scanner machine. The cheap polyester dark blue uniform he wore felt itchy and hot. He took an ID card from a young scientist who didn't even bother to look at his face. David swiped the card through the scanner machine. A green beep sounded. The scientist stepped inside without saying thank you."Sorry, Sir. The machine jammed a little," David replied in a flat voice. He swallowed hard, enduring the throbbing ache at the base of his spine. Standing for eight hours straight was a new torture for his mortal body."The machine didn't jam, your farmer brain is jammed," Barnes mocked with a cynical laugh. "You shoul