Chapter 16 – Seconds

  The kitchen was hell.

  Men and women darted back and forth like bees in a hive, draining rice, prepping dishes, flipping pans. Steam filled the air, thick enough to sting the eyes. Knives sang across chopping boards, meat sizzled in oil, and the clatter of pots and trays built a relentless, metallic rhythm.

  Waiters poured out of the kitchen like a tidal wave, trays stacked with food, only to return seconds later with everything cleaned out.

  “He’s… he’s a demon,” one of the chefs whispered, pale with disbelief.

  “Just how much can he eat!?”

  “At this pace,” another muttered, wiping sweat from his brow, “he might even outmatch Sir Bulk.”

  ---

  In the canteen, Gabriel sat calmly, surrounded by towers of empty plates. He chewed without haste, his posture relaxed but focused, as if feeding was now a sacred ritual.

  Rivera watched him from across the table, a slight grin tugging at her lips. She couldn’t even bring herself to be shocked anymore. After all, he’d just woken from a coma that lasted nearly a decade. If anyone had a pass to eat like a black hole, it was him.

  As the last serving tray was cleared, a moment of silence fell over the kitchen.

  Then—grrrrnnn.

  Gabriel’s stomach rumbled.

  He sighed. “Seconds.”

  A collective cry of anguish echoed from the kitchen.

  ---

  Later, Gabriel and Rivera walked through the pristine white hallways of the facility, the sound of their footsteps the only thing breaking the silence. Bulk followed behind them, brows furrowed, arms crossed over his massive chest.

  Agents in sleek black military suits passed them occasionally. At the sight of their commander, every one of them either bowed or did a salute. Doctors moved around too—white coats, test tubes, notepads in hand, every one of them tagged with an ID card.

  Sometimes they passed other figures—ones dressed differently, walking with a quiet intensity. Heroes, maybe. Or something worse. Gabriel felt the aura they emitted like an itch in the back of his mind. His instincts flared up each time.

  Finally, they entered a massive lab—cold, clean, and humming with machinery. Rows of incubators stretched down the room like tombstones in a graveyard. Lab attendants moved quickly, and quietly, weaving around wires and control panels.

  But Gabriel’s attention went straight to the counter ahead.

  Ansel was there, crouched beside a small girl with midnight blue hair and bright blue eyes. Kathlyn. The crazy girl from before. The one who’d cost him his escape.

  If it wasn’t for her, he might’ve escaped...maybe.

  Ansel dropped a notepad on the counter and gently took her hands, inspecting her fingers, and rotating her wrists. His eyes were dull—still that same cold, clinical void. Was it emotionlessness? Or just exhaustion?

  Kathlyn suddenly lunged forward and hugged him. Then she raised her tiny fist toward him with a grin.

  Gabriel could’ve sworn Ansel hesitated—just for a second—before he bumped her fist.

  A smile flickered on his face. Barely visible. But it was there.

  Rivera approached, and Kathlyn’s face lit up. “Mummy!”

  She ran into her arms, burying her face in Rivera’s stomach. Ansel stood, pulling a chair forward and offering it to Rivera without a word. She took it with a bright grateful smile, before switching to a curt nod midway.

  Gabriel and Bulk stood off to the side, awkward spectators to the domestic moment. Bulk kept sneaking glances at the pair, a complicated expression on his face.

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  “Sorry for beating your ass, though,” Bulk said quietly.

  Gabriel didn’t even blink. “Well, technically you didn’t.”

  Bulk let out a booming laugh; "keep telling yourself that."

  It wasn’t long before Kathlyn darted towards them her eyes locked with Bulk’s.

  "Hey short stack, seems you're doing much better."

  "Yh my dad–

  A tiny gasp broke out from between her lips. She froze. Then her cheeks turned red. Bright red.

  With a squeak, she darted behind Bulk’s towering form and peeked at Gabriel from behind his leg.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Hi?”

  "You pervert... who let you see the light of day."

  "I don't have strength for this," Gabriel said as he walked away.

  Whilst he approached them Ansel glanced at the dark-haired woman standing silently near the wall. At his nod, she turned and began ushering the lab attendants out of the room. It didn’t take long; maybe 3 minutes or 4.

  Soon it was just the six of them—Gabriel, Bulk, Rivera, Kathlyn, Ansel, and the dark-haired woman.

  Rivera looked to Bulk. “Can you take Kathlyn outside for a bit?”

  He hesitated. “You sure about—”

  “Please.”

  He sighed and crouched. Kathlyn happily climbed onto his shoulders.

  “Who’s ready to binge Crush Derby!?” He cheered as they exited.

  The room felt heavier once they were gone.

  Gabriel watched as Rivera’s expression shifted to the dark-haired woman. There was a coldness in her gaze—guarded and sharp.

  The lady didn’t move. Not until Ansel gave her a subtle glance.

  She turned away, but not before letting her eyes linger on Gabriel. Not curiosity. Not suspicion.

  Something deeper. Stranger.

  Only once the door closed did Rivera exhale.

  Now, it was just the three of them.

  An awkward silence settled over the room. Gabriel and Ansel both staring daggers at each other.

  Rivera coughed. “Okay, now that we are all acquainted... let’s get down to business.”

  Ansel stepped forward. “Well said." Then he turned to Gabriel "I heard you want to know why the professor is so highly sought after.”

  Gabriel sat, arms folded. “Yes. What makes him so important that you'd torture someone for answers?”

  Ansel tilted his head sideways; "I told you to stop resisting.”

  “Well sorry. I'm not one of those guys who lets older men root through his mind just to get off.”

  Ansel's expression tightened. “Get off? How dare you insinuate I'd ever—”

  “Will you two quit it,” Rivera snapped, stepping between them. “Let me remind you both that the longer we waste time, the more danger we’re in.”

  Ansel looked away, face unreadable.

  Then, without another word, he dragged a transparent data board toward the centre of the lab and picked up a marker.

  “The 4LN was created to maintain global balance,” he said, drawing as he spoke. “We intervene in matters of extreme danger. Irregularities. Things that shouldn’t exist.”

  He wrote two words on the board:

  Nill Vault.

  Ansel circled them. “The professor built it. Alone. One of the most dangerous machines the world has ever seen.”

  Gabriel leaned forward. “What makes it dangerous?”

  Ansel capped the marker and then met Gabriel’s eyes.

  “It can bring someone back to life.”