Chapter 569
"Be careful. He's very clever." Stan reminded us, looking neurotic.
I nodded perfunctorily and gently rubbed Ashton's head. "Ashton, listen up. We'll hide behind the door. You just run out and lure the people outside in."
Ashton acknowledged obediently and quickly ran out.
Una had already noticed Ashton and Xandra. She asked me with a puzzled expression. "Ashton.... In theory, they're my children."
Una had obviously figured out that the members of Genome Society had used Steven and Stephanie's fertilized eggs to create the second generation of experimental subjects.
"You're overthinking. They're Stephanie and Steven's children," I said as I positioned myself to shield Xandra.
Xandra and Ashton had also seen Una earlier on because she looked exactly like their mother. However, they were aware that she was not their mother.
Una crouched down beside Xandra. "In terms of genetic similarity, Stephanie and I are perfect replicas of each other. I'm your true mother, not her. Come to me."Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Xandra shook her head, took cover behind me, and whispered, "She's my mom."
Una was perplexed by the fact that the two children recognized me as their mother even though she bore a stronger resemblance to Stephanie.
I sternly warned Una, "It's not the time to take the children away now."
Una snorted and then hid behind Jimmy.
Meanwhile, Michael also kept his gaze fixed on Xandra. After all, she was Stephanie's child with another man. Despite being an experimental subject, Xandra served as a constant reminder of their unborn child that had been in Stephanie's womb.
I could discern a profound sense of regret, helplessness, and despair in his eyes. Yet, once something was lost, it was irretrievable. What purpose did regret serve? A shattered mirror could not truly be restored. Even if a broken mirror was carefully reassembled, its cracks would forever remain.
Ashton ran outside and saw the masked man. Then, he immediately ran back inside. After arguing with Ewan, the masked man was about to leave when he spotted Ashton with his hands tied behind his back. He subconsciously wanted to catch Ashton. Since he was just a child, most people didn't see him as aggressive.
As Ashton approached the door, Yara intentionally knocked something over in the room, causing a loud noise. Our attention immediately turned to Yara, who appeared innocent, nervous, and frightened. This incident confirmed that there was indeed something amiss with Yara.
As soon as the masked man at the door heard the noise, he halted and remained alert. Before he could call for assistance, I swiftly rushed out and kicked him down, eager to expose his true identity by tearing off his disguise. However, the masked man suddenly burst into an eerie and unsettling laughter.
"You're so enigmatic. Let me see who you really are." As we went forward to hold him down, I prepared to remove the human-skin mask from his face. However, as my hand touched the mask, members of the Rebels arrived and aimed their guns at us.
"Don't move, or we'll kill him," I declared, instantly trapping the masked man before me and tightening my grip around his neck.
The Rebels exchanged glances. Suddenly, the masked man I subdued attacked me unexpectedly. He pulled out a knife out of nowhere and stabbed me in the abdomen. Instinctively, I grabbed his hand and glanced into his eyes. His eyes... seemed oddly familiar.
"Leave!" I shouted, asking them to escape first. Michael stepped in to help me and nearly got shot by the Rebels.
"Carry the children and run!" I yelled at him. He hesitated for a while before he took the two children and quickly escaped.
"Mom!"
"Stephie!"
Ashton and Rachel called out to me with concern.
"Zion, take them away first!" I engaged in an intense fight with the masked man, allowing them to escape first.