Chapter 196 - Project: augur

"Project AUGUR, hmmm. Years ago, rumors about that project made lots of organization danced -- finding if it was true or not." Seraphina states stating her full interest about the matter. She added,

"Don't tell me… it's been conducting here?"

Dr. John was not surprised by Seraphina's quick assumption. "Don't look at me like that, dear. I just discovered it recently."

"Then, why tell me about it?" Seraphina squints her eyes in suspicion. After all, Dr. John won't blurt this classified information just because they were friends.

Dr. John sighs heavily, before solemnly saying, "I want to help."

"Say, Dr. John, you didn't invite me here just to help me, right?"

Dr. John smiles a knowing smile as a response.

----

"So this is your plan, make me your guinea pig?" Seraphina sassed as she watched Dr. John attached different wires to her head and some on her fingers and c_h_e_s_t.

Right now, Seraphina was lying on a high-tech capsule depicting someone who's being experimented.

She could audibly hear Dr. John mumbling like a real mad scientist as he was recalling how does this thing work.

Granting that the project hasn't been successful, alas, Dr. John has been studying and researching about project AUGUR since the rumors started. Through years of studies, he able to come with lots of conclusions.

Furthermore, the moment he discovered that the project was being funded in the same research lab, he snuck in like a rat wanted to see the progress and conclusion with each of their test subjects.

Risky, yes. Even so, with the information Dr. John gathered and his own conclusion, he had the final conclusion and needed someone for him to test it.

He needed a strong-willed, fearless and would benefit in return if it was a success -- which made Seraphina the perfect candidate.

"Goddess," Dr. John called out in a serious tone as he gazes at Seraphina's bored eyes. Seeing Seraphina roll her eyes as if saying her go sign, he nodded in agreement.

After a moment, Seraphina scream by the sudden electricity that travels through every nerve of her body. It was as if it was slowly killing her and frying her brain to crisp. "Ahhhh!!!!"

Her screams resonated at the secluded soundproofed white room. It had a touch of torment yet, Seraphina just screams but she never pleaded for it to stop.

This time, Seraphina could feel that her body was being ripped apart by the pain. The veins of her eyes instantly reddened, her body practically convulsed.

Dr. John immediately stops the machine operating as he rushed towards Seraphina. Just as the torturous pain stops, Seraphina could still feel sparks of electricity traveling through her nerves making her body involuntary flinch.

"Sera! Sera! Hey!" Dr. John called in a panic as soon as Seraphina lost her consciousness.

------

A few hours later, Seraphina's eyelids started to flicker before her eyes crack opens. The moment she opens her eyes, she was welcomed by Dr. John's wrinkled face.

"Ugly…" Seraphina dissed meekly.

Dr. John heaves a sigh of relief seeing that she was alright. For a moment, he thought that she died or might go to a coma.

Seraphina supports herself in her elbow until she leaned her back against the bed's headboard. After some time, Seraphina took off the drip on the back of her hand before glaring at Dr. John.

"That experiment is a failure. It's much worse than Silla electrica."

"Whoever's funding this project is bound to fail." She added. Sensing that Dr. John slightly flinched when she utters her sentence, she instigates with authority.

"Who? I almost died, I should at least benefit some information, don't you think?" Seraphina's usual tone whenever she was Luciano resurface. Doctor John clears his throat. Indeed, she should at least be informed about simple information in exchange.

"The project has been funded by the Triad. I heard you recently had a dispute with Dragon so, if this project will succeed, he'll surely come after you someday."

Seraphina simultaneously taps her fingers on the armrest as she was contemplating. She recalled her lover being here before. Hence, even if the pieces fit perfectly about his identity, Seraphina denied that fact.

"Is that so?" She mumbles blankly.

"Sera, I told you don't let love cloud your judgment." Dr. John blurted out as he was disappointed about Seraphina's lack of enthusiasm.

"You knew?!" Seraphina's expressions darken hearing his abrupt confession. She repeated. "You knew who was Ryu and who's funding this project and you made me meddle with it?!"

Although Seraphina's body was still weak, she balls her hand into a fist as she supports herself out of the bed.

Doctor John subconsciously steps back feeling the dark aura she emits. He was well-informed about Seraphina's temperament yet, he never witnesses it that is why he was horrified seeing his old sweet friend transforming into a beast that can rip him apart any minute.

"For old times sake, I won't kill you. But, you better not show your face to me for now or else… you are well-informed what I'm capable of." Seraphina warns before leaving the mortified Dr. John. She didn't at least give him a second glance.

Doctor John's gaze was mindlessly following her retreating back. When Seraphina enter the lifts, his body unconsciously collapsed. Now, he finally believes the rumors about Seraphina as Luciano -- one wrong move, and you will end up to her bad side, forever.