?


    "No one knows about our secret little ind," Colin mumbled, his voice growing more hoarse by the minute.


    I stared at Colin for what felt like an eternity before whispering back, "Okay, I''ll trust you."


    ...


    Even if we can''t touch.


    Even if we''re only inches apart.


    We can still feel each other.


    I guess, scientifically or medically speaking, this might be considered some form of mental illness, but I believe... those who''ve passed on still exist around us in another form.


    Even if it''s just a wishful thinking, at least, itforts the lonely souls.


    "Phoebe, you''re here with me, right?" Colin asked softly.


    "Yeah, I''m here," I replied with a smile.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Even though I can''t touch him, even though he can''t see me, even though he can''t hear my words.


    I still wanted to respond to him.


    "Theb is hidden in the undeveloped woonds near Cloud City, bordering the wilderness, a ce most folks wouldn''t stumble upon by chance. Officially, it''s some kind of upscale retirement vige, with wealthy retired scientists living above ground. But underground, it spans three levels, all dedicated to theb," Robin said, his voice heavy with frustration.


    "Naomi''s the head of thisb. She calls the shots on everything. The Gene-Forge Collective operates manybs across the country, but this is the only one we''ve managed to uncover so far. We thought we could trace back from this one, unraveling the whole operation like pulling a thread, but... we underestimated the Gene-Forge Collective."


    Outside the emergency room, Robin rubbed his temples in distress.


    "Everyb in the Gene-Forge Collective operates independently, with no connections between them. Their subjects, researchers, medical staff—all of it-they groom from scratch, taken by human traffickers who kidnap those with special talents for training and brainwashing before sending them off to thesebs. So, basically... there are only two ways to link all thebs together and pull them out of the shadows like uprooting weeds."


    Finn looked at Robin. "One, through Naomi, and two, by tracing the human traffickers and organ smuggling rings, unraveling thework bit by bit."


    Obviously, in their attempt to save me, they had alerted their enemies, severing this lead.


    "What''s the status on Naomi?" Robin asked.


    "She''s still in critical condition. Her physiology isn''t like Foebe''s; Phoebe had a resistance to the drugs. Thankfully, the dose wasn''t lethaf but the doctors are just hoping she won''t end up in a vegetative state," Finn shrugged.


    ?


    I stayed close to Colin, sitting down beside him as he slumped to the ground. I leaned my head on his shoulder.


    So, this is what it feels like to be in love, wanting to be by his side every moment.


    Feeling safe only when I''m near him.


    This is nothing like thepromise I had with Dexter...


    Thinking about this, my vision blurred again. Who am I really... am I not Phoebe?


    Is everything about Phoebe in my head just imnted memories?


    Am I really... just Foebe Larson, not Phoebe Caldwell?


    "We found this in theb..." Cory came running over, his eyes filled with urgency as he looked at Colin. "Can I speak?" Robin nodded.


    "The girl named Hannah woke up safely, no serious harm to her. She was given a truth serum. Everything she said about Damian and Foebe''s ns... all the evidence is here, Foebe i''s Foebe. Damian had her imitate Phoebe, learn everything about her, and then undergo hypnosis..."


    "Foebe Larson is not Phoebe Caldwell."


    Cory said softly.


    Colin didn''t move, didn''t even lift his head.


    But I panicked, lowering my head, afraid to meet Colin''s eyes.


    Meanwhile, Dexter turned around and briskly walked over, snatching the evidence from their hands, his fingers rigid. "What does this mean... memory imntation, hypnosis..."


    "It means, Phoebe is dead, Dexter. Your carelessness and arrogance killed Phoebe. Death is irreversible, The so-called resurrection was just a part of Damian''s n to expose the organization''sbs, nothing more," Robin said, his voice deep and each word stinging Dexter.