Chapter 115: Shadow
It was Lillian. Her voice came from inside a large tube. Her body, blown apart in the explosion, had been pieced back together, though only a small portion. Her barely functioning brain floated in the liquid, tubes and wires connecting to it. "Sophia must've cried a lot, huh?" she added with a soft sigh.
Zack approached the tube, his expression serious. "I'll ask you one last time," he said, ignoring her question. His voice was cold and direct. "Are you absolutely sure you want to live like this?"
Lillian's face softened as she fell into quiet reflection. "Sophia's father passed away early," she began after a moment. "The weight of the family business fell on me, and I never had time to be there for her. Even when the apocalypse came, I failed her..."
"Stop." Zack cut her off, his voice sharp. "You know that's not what I'm asking," he continued, leaning closer to the tube. "The funeral was perfect. Everyone was there. Sophia believes you're really gone now. She's finally accepted your death." Zack's eyes narrowed. "Why not let it end there? Rest in peace. Do you really want to end up like Gers? What happens if you show up one day, looking like this, and tell Sophia you're still alive?"
His words were blunt, cutting through any illusions of hope. Lillian was silent for a long time, her face clouded with emotion. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady despite the tears forming in her eyes. "You're right," she said softly. "But I still won't change my mind. No matter what I become, as long as I can protect Sophia... I'll do it. I'm willing to give up everything for her."
Zack sighed. "Fine," he said after a pause. "But I'm warning you now," he continued, his tone cold and unyielding. "After the transformation, I'll have complete control over you. Your thoughts, your actions—everything will be under my command. My orders will override even your own will." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Theoretically, I could even make you harm Sophia. And you'd do it without hesitation."
Lillian smiled faintly. "I trust you," she said simply.
Zack's brows furrowed, caught off guard by her confidence. "Don't misunderstand me," she continued. "You may be ruthless on the outside, but you're kind at heart. You'd never hurt her."
Zack glanced at the monitor beside the tube, where a scrolling display of her brain's thoughts was being processed in real-time. "Ahem," Zack said, his expression darkening. "You do know I can see what you're thinking, right?"