The silence was so deafening that even Tan was amused.
"No?' Bram raised a fine eyebrow with a frown. "Guess I might have to dissect every one of you till the healer is revealed.
Everyone trembled in fear. What in the galaxy is going on? From being chased by the Crokuns and now this?'
Vist and the rest couldn't expose Carl. That would be a betrayal beyond any other. Cearl was like a younger sibling to them. He has been with them for a decade, and to suddenly give him up to save their own skin was unthinkable.
However, Carl had plans of his own. He was very much aware that if he didn't reveal himself, his teammates would die as they did in his last life. If there was one thing he knew about Bram, despite him being complicated as galactical equations, was that he hates useless test subjects.
If he reveals himself, Bram might… just might let his teammates go.
"We can do this the hard way if….'
"I am a healer,' Carl suddenly interrupted harshly, which made Tan frown, but Bram didn't care. He was too excited to worry about Carl's harsh tones.
"Goodness gracious, I thought I would have to dirty my new lab coat with blood, ha~ha,' Bram gave a goofy laugh with squinted eyes. The way his usual cold little face cracked into a sickening smile brought joy to Tan. It has been a long time since I saw such a wonderful smile from his boss.
Carl couldn't help but shiver at such a malicious laugh. This was what he had to deal with in his last life. He had to deal with Bram's shifting bipolar moods and Tan's confrontations. He died a miserable death at Tan's hands after he found out his plan to sabotage Bram.
Carl sighed. The funny part of it all was that Bram had always wanted him to get rid of him. Bram hated how Tan took care of him, and sometimes Carl would be responsible for Tan disobeying Bram.
Bram decided to let Carl plot his downfall. The lunatic always knew of his plan but chose to remain ignorant. He only pretended to fall for it, warranting Tan to end him.
"No, Carl,' Vist yelled. The rest were also shouting, ready to bust out of the cell and give Bram a good beating. Sadly, the guy is just unbeatable.
"We can't let our youngest be tortured by the likes of you, a very gruffy voice spoke out. "Bet you don't have anyone by your side, that's why you find it joyful to do such a thing. Don't you have remorse?'
Carl looked at Abudl with a heavy heart. In his last life, Abudl was thrown to the Crokuns after Bram dimmed him useless with his fire element.
It was hell.
However, empathy was never Bram's strong suit. Carl watched the lunatic raise an eyebrow at Abudl's remark.
"Is that what you think of me?' Bram folded his hands in a sassy gesture. "I'm a mother of two boys, whom I'm proud of.
This statement almost stopped the air from flowing into Tan's lungs, and even Carl frowned.
Bram only had one son, Asier, so where is this order one?' Carl felt scammed right now because things that happened in his last life are not happening now.
Bram glared at Tan, who was heaving like a fish out of water. Nevertheless, Bram turned to Abudl.
"I want to correct you on the notion, "You don't have anyone by your side". Unlike you, who needs the warmth and assurance of your fellow teammates to overcome loneliness, I was born in it. I would mind how I talk if I were you.
"With such a mindset, you would think everyone who does something evil is doing it out of loneliness. I know so many who have a complete family and are surrounded by circles of friends that do more vicious things than me.
Carl wondered how someone so beautiful, ethereal could be so detached and dubious. Bram switches personalities like a chameleon.
"But I serve the Unified Federation and the empire. The cure for the Corkun is being demanded as we speak. Therefore, no one would care if I killed you to make the cure. In their eyes, the cure is more important than your life. A sacrifice is unavoidable.
Abudl and the rest fell into silence and depression. The collar on their neck felt tighter every second.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I will need this young man here a while,' Bram smirked before he turned away.
Carl, for a moment, stared at Bram, who didn't even ask his name. He was busy ordering Tan around.
"What's your name?' Bram suddenly asked. "It says in your terminal that you go by Carl Hence.
"Just call me Carl,' Carl replied after being stunned for a while.
"Well, Carl, someone will come over to take you out,' Bram stated as he left the basement for the elevator. "See ya~.
Seconds later, two hefty men in uniform opened the cell. They walked in and grabbed Carl. However, Nick wasn't having it. He jumped one of them from the back, smashing a powerful fist on the man's back. Consequently, it didn't do shit to the man.
"Wha-
His partner released Carl to help him squat Nick off. Only to smash Nick into the cell wall.
Everyone was silent for a second. Right in front of them is the squashed body of Nick plastered on the wall. Blood spread in every part of the cell. Nick's limbs were dismembered, his organs pooled down to the floor, and half of his head was showing the minced brain and blood. Both his eyes were gone from his sockets.
"Dammit,' Atlas cursed under his breath. Anyone who heard him would think he was remorseful. Although the man looked regretful, his thoughts were not aligned. He was thinking of Bram's scary face and the deduction from his paycheck.
"These flies are just so troublesome,' Solen felt nauseous at the scene before him. "Atlas, I have told you several times to take it easy on the boss's property. I won't be surprised if he turns you into one of them.
Atlas grimaced. "May the galaxy forbid. They started it. They just won't stay put. Now I must clean this mess up.
Carl felt paralyzed with fear as he stared at the horror before him. He was grabbed and pulled away while the rest couldn't recover from the group that dwells with them.
...............….
They dropped the traumatized Carl in the empty lab. Strapping him to the table and binding him tightly.
"You be a good boy and stay here,' Solen smiled sweetly as he patted his blond, fluffy hair. Atlas left the lab to report to Bram, while Solen went the opposite way.
Carl was shaken. Hot tears slid to the side of his dim blue eyes. The death of Nick was still fresh on his mind. Just when he thinks he could avoid their death.
Fate was indeed cruel. What is the point of being reborn when he and his friends were going to die again?'
Maybe not everything was meant to change.
As Carl laments within himself, he hears footsteps coming beside him. Thinking it was Bram, Carl chose to ignore him.
"Hello?'
A soft voice called out. Like a child's. Carl immediately turned to face the stranger.
Vibrant gray eyes met his. A beautiful looking child stood, wearing black shorts, white long-sleeved and a black vest.
The boy was holding a keycard tightly in his sweaty palms.
"Who are you?' Carl couldn't help but ask. With the way the boy dressed, he might be one of the nobles' children, being overly curious.
However, he noticed the boy's trembling hands and fear written all over his little face.
"Did Papa wrong you?'
Carl raised an eyebrow. Okay, whose kid is this?'
"Don't worry, I will save you from him?' The boy croaked, trying to sound brave.
"Kid, just go away,' Carl sighed tiredly. The last thing he needs now is someone trying to play hero to save him.
"I know my Papa is dangerous, but you don't have to be afraid,' Misha swallowed constantly looking back in case Bram decides to appear.
Carl frowned. Now it dawned on him whose child this was. "Is Bram your Papa?'
Misha gave a strong nod. "Quick, I need to save you.
He moved to unbind Carl, but Carl shook his head.
"If you save me, who will save the galaxy?'
Misha paused, his gray eyes staring down at Carl. "I need to save you. Saving the galaxy should come with a choice of one's will to sacrifice what they have.
Carl chuckled in amusement. Sure enough, this boy is nothing like Bram. The lunatic just doesn't know the treasure. The empathy was too much.
"And what happens when no one is willing to sacrifice?' Bram's voice viciously came from behind.
He looked exhausted and emaciated. Regardless he voice brimmed with energy.
Misha staggered back in fear, while Carl felt a lump in his throat.
"I asked you a question you…
"Bram, take it easy on him,' Nuit interjected calmly. "He is just a child. It's normal for him to feel the need to do good.
Bram glared back at Nuit before turning back at the two beings, looking like lost souls.
With a sigh, he walked up to Misha and knelt. "Without the cure, everyone will die. Even uncle Nuit will die, Carl here will also die, and the galaxy will disappear.
'What a dubious brainwash,' Nuit thought as he shook his head.
'You lunatic, poor child,' Carl clenched his fist in anger, which, with all willpower, wasn't showing on his face.
"Would you want that?' Bram tilted his head in a way that made him look harmless and approachable. Misha was almost, almost, fooled by it.
"I don't want it to happen to anyone,' Misha whispered.
"Don't want that either,' Bram patted him on his hair. He froze. What in the galaxy was he doing?'
Misha felt it too, the Papa that left him to die in his last life is patting his head. He wanted to forgive him, he wanted to feel wanted, but after dying horribly and being reborn, he couldn't really let his guard down around Bram.
His Papa may decide to abandon him again. The man was like a ticking time bomb.
" Carl here wants to save the galaxy, so everyone will be safe, right Carl?' Bram looked at him so did Misha. But each had different expressions. One is a look of sadness, while the other is a look of talking any nonsense, and you will see the other side of me.
"Yeah, I would love to save everyone,' Carl replied sincerely to Misha. The boy's gloomy face really touched him.
"See that, now, why don't you go to your uncle? He will take care of you,' Bram smiled sweetly before standing up.
Nuit really wanted to smack Bram on the back of his head, but that has got to wait. "Come, Misha, I will get you some ice cream.
Misha nodded as he walked towards Nuit. As they walked away, Misha felt something he had never felt before. The fact that his father didn't put him away for punishment or reprimand shows progress.
It would be nice to have a one-on-one talk together.