Chapter 4

The drug was forcefully pushed into my vein.

In that instant, I felt my heart suddenly stop beating.

Then came an even more violent pounding, as if it would burst through my chest.

My breathing was instantly taken away.

All the muscles in my body began convulsing violently, uncontrollably.

My body arched in the icy mud water, then crashed down heavily, bouncing repeatedly.

Kate watched me struggle in agony on the ground with cold indifference, watching my lips gradually turn purple from lack of oxygen, her tone terrifyingly calm.

"When Pedro had difficulty breathing, he convulsed just like this."

The drug burrowed into my veins. My heart stopped suddenly.

Then came the drum-like violent pounding, threatening to tear my chest apart.

My breathing was stripped away.

My muscles spasmed uncontrollably, my whole body arching in the icy mud water before crashing down heavily.

In my fading consciousness, I saw my mother.

She lay in a hospital bed, holding my hand, her breath barely there.

"David, live well... for me... see the whole world..."

No. I can't die.

I haven't fulfilled my promise to her yet!

I bit down hard on my tongue. The sharp pain brought a moment of clarity.

I used my last bit of strength to fumble in the mud, my fingertips touching a sharp piece of broken stone.

I slashed it toward the woman who had injected me.

"Ahhh—!"

She screamed and dodged, a deep gash opening on her arm, visible to the bone.

"You dare fight back!"

Kate's face twisted with rage. She kicked the stone out of my hand.

She stared at me intently, then suddenly smiled eerily.

"David, didn't you once say your greatest wish was to donate your corneas after death to help others?"

That was the most sincere thing I'd ever said to her, whispered lovingly in her ear.

On the screen, Pedro's voice rang out excitedly.

"Kate, I have a friend whose mother is waiting for a suitable cornea donor!"

"Perfect."

Kate's smile was both brilliant and cruel.

"Since you're going to die anyway, might as well make a contribution now."

She tilted her head toward the thugs.

"Hold him down."

"Take out his corneas for me!"

"Kate! You wouldn't dare!"

I let out a beast-like roar, my eyes bloodshot, rage filling my vision.

Several thugs surrounded me with vicious grins. One of them now held a gleaming fruit knife.

They pinned down my limbs. The cold blade aimed at my eye.

Just as the knife tip was about to pierce my eyeball—

"BOOM!"

The parking garage's rolling door was smashed open by tremendous force.

Several black cars sped in. Trained men in black jumped out of the vehicles.

The thugs were subdued instantly. Screams rose one after another.

The man leading the group rushed to me and wrapped me in his coat.

"David! I'm sorry Leo came late!"

All the strength seemed to drain from my body. I leaned against his solid arm, lifted my eyes, and looked coldly at Kate.

On the screen, Pedro's face froze, completely dazed.

"David?"

Kate's voice shook uncontrollably. She couldn't comprehend what was happening before her eyes.

Pedro on the other end of the screen took a long moment before letting out a terrified shriek.

"Kate, run! They're... they're from Stellar Technologies!"

I looked at Kate, using all my strength, each word hoarse like sandpaper scraping.

"Her, and that man on the screen—I want them... to beg for life but be denied, to beg for death but be unable."