Chapter 156 He is a monster!!

Chapter 156: Chapter 156 He is a monster!!

Ava’s eyes remained fixed on the place where her mother had disappeared hours ago. The ceremony had been going on throughout the night, and now the first traces of sunlight were slowly filtering through the closed curtains of the enormous hall.

The event should have been over by now. At least, that was what Ava thought. But something about the atmosphere felt wrong. People weren’t leaving. Instead, they seemed to be waiting. Waiting for something. A grand finale.

Ava’s fingers remained pressed against her chest as she remembered what she had just seen. Those creatures. Those things inside the glass chamber. They had once been human. She was certain of it.

Her stomach still churned whenever she remembered the way their bodies had twisted and changed. The scales. The claws. The strange eyes. The horrifying transformations. She had never seen anything like it. And judging from the expressions around the hall, she wasn’t the only one disturbed.

Bonnie looked especially shaken. Her face was filled with disgust and disbelief as she stared toward the massive glass chamber. She couldn’t understand how someone could do that to another human being. How could a person look at another human life and decide that it was acceptable to turn them into an experiment?

The worst part was their eyes. Before the transformations completely changed them, Bonnie had seen something familiar in those eyes. Fear. Pain. And a desperate plea.

Help me.

Even though their bodies no longer looked human, Bonnie had been able to understand what they were trying to say without hearing a single word. Please let me go. It’s enough. Stop.

But Mr. Davis hadn’t cared. The scientist had continued talking about the experiments as though he were presenting some magnificent discovery instead of displaying tortured human beings.

Bonnie’s stomach turned. "I don’t think I can stomach this anymore." She covered her mouth. "Everything is becoming so dark." She swallowed hard. "Gosh, I need to throw up."

She quickly staggered away from the gathering and hurried toward one of the restrooms. She barely made it. The moment she reached the toilet, she bent over and vomited. Her entire body shook. She stayed there for several moments, trying to regain control of herself.

Eventually, Bonnie slowly stood. She walked toward the sink and turned on the water. She splashed her face repeatedly, hoping the cold water would clear her head. It didn’t. The image of those creatures remained burned into her mind.

Bonnie lifted her face toward the mirror. Her eyes were red. She looked exhausted. And frightened.

Then she noticed something in the reflection behind her. A figure.

Bonnie’s body stiffened. She quickly turned around. Her heart nearly jumped into her throat.

"Chris?"

Chris Walton stood behind her. Bonnie instinctively moved backward, gripping the edge of the sink.

"Hi again." Chris smiled. "We haven’t really seen each other properly since our argument that day about Luna."

Bonnie didn’t answer.

Chris continued. "I came here to apologize."

Bonnie’s fingers tightened around the sink. "That’s... good." She forced a small nod. "I don’t have any problem with you." Her eyes darted toward the door. "As you can see, I’m trying to move on from everything." She laughed weakly. "Especially the fact that my best friend might have been butchered somewhere out there." Her voice cracked. "Or that she might already be dead."

Bonnie looked away. "Trying to move on from that is going great."

She wanted to leave. Something about being alone with Chris suddenly made her skin crawl. Before tonight, she had known him as a gentleman. Someone friendly. Someone she had trusted.

But that image had shattered. Chris wasn’t simply Chris anymore. He was the General’s son. The newly announced leader of the safe zone. She had watched him speaking comfortably with the President. She had watched them share drinks and laugh. And she had watched Chris standing near Mr. Davis—the same scientist responsible for the people inside those tanks—as though there was nothing unusual about it.

That wasn’t the Chris she knew. And suddenly, being alone with him felt like a terrible mistake.

Chris tilted his head. "I hope you don’t mind what they announced out there."

Bonnie looked at him.

"Me becoming the new leader of the safe zone." He smiled. "It’s not bad, right?"

Bonnie slowly nodded. She was terrified of saying the wrong thing. The President knew him. Chris had influence. And after everything she had witnessed tonight, Bonnie no longer trusted what these people were capable of doing behind closed doors. She had always felt that something about this place was suspicious. She had simply chosen to ignore it.

"Yeah," she finally answered. "I don’t mind." Her voice was strained. "I definitely don’t mind the fact that the friend I thought was the perfect gentleman just got introduced as something I’ve never heard before." She forced a smile. "And then laughed while his fellow humans were being treated like animals."

The sarcasm was obvious. Chris noticed immediately. The smile on his face disappeared. His expression became serious.

"What exactly did I do wrong?"

Bonnie didn’t answer.

Chris stepped closer. "That’s me trying to save the world." Another step. "Us trying to save you." His voice became more intense. "We’re trying to put humans in a stronger position so that we don’t go extinct." He frowned. "And you’re making me sound as though I’m doing something extremely evil."

Bonnie instinctively stepped backward. Chris moved closer. She moved again. Her back eventually touched the door. Bonnie immediately reached behind herself and grabbed the handle. She twisted it. Nothing happened.

Her eyes widened. Locked. She was trapped inside the bathroom with him. Now that she was thinking about it, Chris being inside the women’s bathroom wasn’t normal either. It was another red flag.

"I understand," Bonnie said quickly. "It’s not your fault."

She didn’t mean it. She simply wanted him to stop. She wanted the door opened. She wanted to leave. She wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

Chris’s smile returned. "That’s sweet of you." He stepped closer. "Come closer."

Bonnie froze.

"I’m lonely." His eyes moved over her. "I need a woman’s touch right now."

Bonnie’s stomach twisted.

Chris smiled. "Someone as beautiful as you shouldn’t be alone either." He moved another step closer. "Who better than a friend to keep you warm?"

Bonnie flinched. Disgust spread through her entire body. This had gone too far. He had crossed a line.

"Chris, this is inappropriate." Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to remain firm. "I don’t feel that way about you." She shook her head. "You’re a friend to me. That’s all." Bonnie was carefully choosing every word. "Nothing more."

She hoped it would be enough. It wasn’t. Chris continued moving toward her.

Bonnie’s fear turned into anger. "Stop."

He ignored her.

She raised her hand. Smack!

The slap echoed through the bathroom. Chris’s head turned sharply to the side. Both of them froze.

Bonnie stared at her own hand. She had never slapped anyone before. Her heart was pounding. But she didn’t regret it. "I said enough!"

Chris slowly turned his head back toward her. The expression on his face was completely different. There was no friendliness. No charming smile. Only cold fury.

Bonnie barely had time to react. Chris grabbed both of her wrists.

"Chris—"

He shoved her backward. Her body slammed against the bathroom mirrors. The impact rattled the glass. Bonnie’s head struck the edge of the sink. Pain exploded through her skull. "Ah!" Blood immediately began running down the side of her head. She stumbled.

Chris held her in place. "You bitch." His voice was low.

Bonnie stared at him in horror. She couldn’t recognize the man standing in front of her. This wasn’t the gentleman she thought she knew. This was someone else. Someone far more dangerous.

Before Chris could do anything further, a voice suddenly echoed from outside. "Mr. Walton!" Chris stopped. "Where are you?" The voice became louder. "You’re being summoned by the President."

Chris slowly released Bonnie. His expression changed instantly. The anger disappeared. A smile returned to his face.

Bonnie slid down slightly against the sink, still clutching her bleeding head.

Chris adjusted his shirt as though nothing had happened. Then he leaned closer. "Remember something."

Bonnie stared at him.

"I am the leader here." His smile became colder. "Everyone in this safe zone is under my authority." He pointed toward her. "That includes your useless ass."

Bonnie’s breathing became shaky.

Chris continued. "One day, I might even use you as an experiment." His eyes darkened. "Either I have you..." He shrugged. "...or you end up inside Mr. Davis’s facility." He smiled. "Either way, you need to prove useful."

Bonnie’s face went pale.

Chris straightened his shirt again. Then he walked toward the door. He opened it.

Before leaving, he glanced back at her one final time. Bonnie remained frozen beside the sink.

Chris stepped outside. Immediately, his expression changed back into the confident smile of the newly appointed leader.

Then he saw something that made his face brighten. Madison Hart and Thomas Hart were being dragged toward the stage by armed soldiers.

Chris stopped. His eyes lingered on them. A slow smile spread across his face.

"The day just keeps getting better and better."