Chapter 4

I dragged Cassidy to the training grounds, where we found Serena.

But she wasn't alone.

Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder stood on either side of her, like personal bodyguards.

The three of them were laughing and chatting. Dr. Julian Hayes spotted me and suddenly frowned, his face tight with anger.

"What are you doing here? This isn't where you belong. Get back to the lab. Your body can't handle this kind of strain."

I sneered at him, cursing myself for not seeing through his hypocrisy sooner.

If he cared so much about my body, why did he leave me alone in the lab last night to fend for myself?

Or was it simply that when Serena was around, I would always be second?

I avoided his gaze, took Cassidy's hand, and looked at Officer Ryder with cold eyes.

"I've come to demand justice."

Before I could continue,

Cassidy suddenly pulled her hand from mine and rushed forward.

"Blaze!"

Blaze was Cassidy's warhorse.

For ten years, he had accompanied her into battle.

From a weak, scrawny pony, he had grown into a strong, magnificent lead stallion, accompanying Cassidy through days of blood and sweat.

But now, Blaze lay on the ground, his bright mane stained red with blood.

His eyes were wide, as if proclaiming his brutal death.

Cassidy knelt beside him, weeping until she retched. I knew how important Blaze was to her.

"Who did this?!"

Cassidy's eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the three of them, her hands trembling uncontrollably with rage.

Serena instinctively flinched, intimidated by Cassidy's fury.

I seized the moment, pulling Serena out from between the two men.

I wound up my arm and slapped her directly across the face.

"That's for falsely accusing others! We had no quarrel, so why did you keep trying to frame us?"

"And that's for your cruel heart, for not even sparing Blaze!"

Dr. Julian Hayes lunged forward and roughly shoved me to the ground, his eyes filled with a ruthless malice I had never seen before.

"Who gave you permission to touch her?! It's just a horse. Are you really making such a scene over an animal, Jordan?!"

The rough concrete scraped against my skin, leaving my arms and shins instantly bruised and swollen. I gritted my teeth and struggled back to my feet.

Serena hid behind Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder.

Only her eyes were visible, glaring at us with a sly malice, like a perfectly sheltered princess.

"Julian is right, Jordan. No matter how much affection you have for it, it's just an animal. If an animal is disobedient, shouldn't it be gotten rid of?"

She stared at me with gleaming eyes, a clear implication in her words.

Hearing her, my anger surged again, and I lunged forward, trying to grab her.

My fingers barely brushed her clothes when her face suddenly twisted in pain.

Then, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed into Dr. Julian Hayes's arms.

"Serena!"

Both men cried out simultaneously.

Dr. Julian Hayes awkwardly scooped her up and rushed towards the lab.

Before leaving, he turned, giving me a cold, chilling look.

"If anything happens to Serena, you'll join her in hell."

I stood there, feeling utterly drained, in silent despair.

The murmuring voices of the surrounding crowd drifted into my ears.

"It's just a horse. Why can't she be more understanding? Serena's right, no matter how good you are to it, it's just an animal."

"I think Dr. Hayes was so sweet to Serena just now. Are they getting married soon?"

"Yes, Serena said their wedding is just around the corner."

I woke up again to find myself confined in that dark lab.

I looked down to see my hands and feet bound tightly to a chair, unable to move.

Dr. Julian Hayes walked in, wearing a white lab coat and safety goggles, a syringe in his hand.

The sight of the needle sent me into a desperate struggle, painful memories flooding over me like a tidal wave.

I recalled the repeated agony of needles piercing my skin.

The helpless inability to control my body, and the dizziness, vomiting, fever, and spasms that followed.

I twisted my body, trying to break free from my restraints, despair etched on my face.

"Julian, what are you doing? The apocalypse is over, isn't it? The antidote has been developed, right?"

My wrists were raw and chafed from struggling. Dr. Julian Hayes looked down at me.

Perhaps my sudden submission stirred a flicker of pity in him, or perhaps mentioning the apocalypse reminded him of my sacrifices.

He gently patted my head, a gesture meant to be comforting.

His voice was no longer as harsh as before, yet the words he spoke sent a chill through me, like being plunged into an ice-cold abyss.

"Jordan, Serena has a very rare disease, and there's no known cure on the market yet."

"People have to be responsible for their actions. You hit her, so testing experimental drugs for her could be considered evening the score between you two."

"As for your best friend, Officer Ryder threw her into the stables. Since she loves horses so much, she can just live and eat with them from now on."

"Just bear with it a little longer, Jordan. Once I develop the medicine, we'll get married, okay?"

I stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom that those words had just come from his mouth.

I hit her, so I have to pay with my life?

"Get out! I'd rather die than ever marry a man like you!"

I weakly raised my arm, trying to swat him away.

Dr. Julian Hayes held my struggling hand, seemingly unfazed by my words.

"Jordan, don't say such things out of anger. Just be a good girl and be quiet. We can finish this sooner."

My heart pounded with dread; I was utterly terrified.

"No! Please, no! Julian, I don't want anything anymore. I won't marry you. I'll stay far away from you, okay? I just beg you, let me go."

Tears streamed down my face. My desperate struggles were futile.

Dr. Julian Hayes covered my eyes, and the cold needle pierced my skin.

My body began to shiver uncontrollably, my teeth chattering.

Finally, I couldn't bear it any longer and passed out.