Shattered Innocence

In the Laboratory's Embrace

"Are you certain this is a wise decision?" Mikhail asks for the hundredth time. Nikolay, who occupies the passenger seat of the large 4X4, simply sighs and rolls his eyes. Turning from the driver's seat, I lock eyes with Ivan, Mikhail, and Yuri, all squeezed into the back. Fortunately, Nikolay was too big to fit there, but the three of them aren't exactly small. In fact, Yuri is wedged against the window, appearing uncomfortable.

Nikolay also faces them, and upon noticing their shivers, he averts his gaze, clenching his fists on his thighs. I assess him, making sure he won't lose control at the mere thought of physical contact or proximity to people, and it seems he has himself under control for now.

"We must proceed," I remind them. "What if she fails to appear?" Ivan inquires, always the logical one. His faint French accent is gradually fading after years of residence there. "She will," Nikolay confirms, his words carrying conviction. Those two powerful words suffice for him on the matter.

"I wouldn't." Yuri scoffs. "I'd be basking somewhere with attractive women, celebrating and indulging."

"She is not like you," I respond with a fading grin as I recollect everything I've read and seen about her.

"She needs certainty. She must know it's true, that he's truly deceased."

"Not to mention her sister," Mikhail points out. "She'll desire to see her." "Do you think she'll initiate contact?" I inquire.

Although I lead this group of misfits, I recognize when to rely on their instincts and intellect. Ivan has a way of perceiving people and empathizing with them, but Mikhail can decipher their thoughts and actions, stepping into their shoes.

"I'm uncertain. It hinges on how secure she feels," Mikhail replies. "But if you were in her position?" I press further. "If I were her?" He meets my gaze, his expression stern.

"I would reach out. Ten years is an extensive duration to be alone and on the run." Yuri swears, acknowledging his correctness. We are all aware of the consequences of prolonged isolation, the anger, and the hopelessness that accompany solitude. It impacts your mental capacity, alters your thoughts, and influences your behavior. It makes you reckless, a fact Yuri comprehends better than anyone after spending the most time imprisoned among all of us.

"Then it's settled. We proceed. We maintain a low profile and bear our mission in mind." "Her," Yuri nods, his gaze fixated on the serene church nearby, knowing it won't remain undisturbed for long. "The wretched man who inflicted this upon his daughter," he growls, glancing back at us.

"She is akin to us," Nikolay states in his low, guttural tone. Yuri nods but clenches his teeth before turning away. Any reminder of the man who altered our lives sours his mood and renders him unpredictable. His emotions are precisely why he was deemed a failure. In particular, his animosity toward the man presently awaiting burial in that church.

"She is not our foe. We require her to bring this to an ultimate resolution," I remind them, searching their eyes.