Chapter 839: Chapter 839

Chapter 839:

“I’m not about to bolt. I haven’t socked away enough for retirement yet.”

Allison ignored the dark hint in his words. Only a fool would be caught by him. Once the mission wrapped up, she wouldn’t stick around. Allison kept at it. “But could such a straightforward number really be the key? You’re not joking, are you?”

“Why not take a stab at it?”

That was exactly what Allison needed to hear. Feigning interest, she punched in the code. With a click, the door unlatched. Allison turned the handle and stepped through, the cool evening air kissing her skin. Right then, she was sure — it was indeed an escape route. Verruckt’s gaze followed her, his expression softening for a moment as the wind tousled her hair.

“You’ve asked two questions. One to go,” he reminded her.

Allison, careful not to overdo it, asked nonchalantly, “What kind of person do you think I am?”

Under the spell of the truth serum, Verruckt didn’t hold back. “A beautiful but foolish and useless soul,” he said slowly. “And yet, you shine with a certain light.”

Meeting her had shown Verruckt that some people truly did glow from within. In many ways, Alice brought to mind the late subject 001 — full of grit, fearless, never treating him as a monster.

Allison blinked. “Are you poking fun at me again?” A certain light?

She wasn’t made of sugar.

Verruckt chuckled. “No, I’m serious. With the truth serum, I answered each of your questions honestly.”

It also made it tough to keep a lid on certain cravings. Cocking his head, he added, “After all, you’re the only one gutsy enough to risk your neck for me.”

Allison sighed inwardly. For test subjects like him and her, old wounds made trust a rare commodity. They’d test the waters and pull back, again and again, until they were sure. And once they were, they’d hold on for dear life. That was how it had been with her and Kellan back in the day. Now, she was playing the same game with Verruckt, making sure he couldn’t slip through her fingers.

His fate was now sealed. Allison confessed, somewhat sheepishly, “But I haven’t been much help, really.” She eyed the door warily. “Why would such an important door have such a simple password?”

Verruckt locked eyes with her. “It’s a name.”

Allison bowed her head slightly, pretending to be puzzled. But deep down, she knew more than she let on. Verruckt hadn’t forgotten her.

“That was the codename of a subject from the old days. Her facility was brutal, way worse than today’s. Most subjects there lost all sense of themselves, but she was in a league of her own.”

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