TWP 2: Waited Too Long

Lin You sat dejectedly in the rest area, his face etched with unmistakable exhaustion as he slumped into a leather chair that had long since lost its firmness from his frequent use.

The room was a mess—white lab coats haphazardly over chairs, sofas, tea tables, and work desks—not once hung on the clothes rack by the door. The air thickened with the distinctive cream-colored smoke of Castel cigarettes, while ashtrays brimming with cigarette butts cluttered both the tea table and work surface.

Upon the desk lay patient diagnosis notices and his latest research reports—all sliced open by his own hand using an X-Acto knife.

Lin You’s eyes remained closed; he lacked even the energy to remove his glasses perched on his nose as he leaned back against the soft chair for some rest.

“Mr. Lin You, it’s an emergency!”

An urgent pounding at the door jolted Lin You awake from his light doze.

He slowly opened his eyes—those eyes that should have been round and lively were framed by twin shadows of fatigue beneath them. Normally somewhat distant, they now bore a layer of hawk-like intensity due to lack of sleep and the stress of his recent encounter with Matthew.

“Mr. Lin You, please…” The person outside knew that Lin You hated being disturbed while sleeping more than anything else. His voice trembled uncontrollably as if someone were holding a knife to his throat. Headmaster Matthew was indeed terrifying, but apart from him, the most feared individual in all of Raid was none other than Lin You.

Yet… the crazed experimental subject on the other side seemed like a death warrant. With the atomic pen in hand, he stabbed anyone within reach. Left with no choice, he had come here to knock on Lin You’s door.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Lin You. Please open the door— If you don’t open it now, the research institute will be destroyed—”

Lin You remained lying on the leather chair, eyes still closed.

After two breaths, Lin You finally opened his eyes.

With a movement of his ankles, both long legs shifted from the footrest onto the floor. Lin You took swift strides to the door and flung it open in one motion.

The person knocking, caught completely off guard, tumbled headlong into Lin You’s lounge.

Unconcerned about the man sprawled on the ground, Lin You grabbed him by the chin, forcing his face upward.

Fear nearly made the man’s soul flee; his entire body shook uncontrollably, eyes bulging wide as crimson veins spider-webbed across them.

“Speak.”

“E-experimental subject 330712 has gone mad again—”

Subject 330712?

Ah, so he managed to escape successfully this time?

Lin You didn’t mind if the lunatic treated Raid Lab like his own kitchen; in fact, he’d secretly enjoyed watching from the shadows during previous incidents. It was only last time that…

“What is it?” Lin You asked.

Despite recalling the unpleasant encounter with Subject 330712 earlier, Lin You remained composed. He tilted his head with a smile, his voice low and smoky, exuding a laid-back yet weary air. “What does this have to do with me?”

His words weren’t entirely unfounded. The research institute had its own security guards and multiple layers of safety measures. Regardless of what happened, there was no need for an assistant like him to get involved directly.

“Mr. Lin You…” The researcher sounded choked up, speaking hastily. “Subject 330712 has breached three security lines and stolen an atomic pen. Whenever they see someone on their way, they ask about you by name—’Where’s Mr. Lin You?’ They don’t even wait for a response before stabbing people in the stomach. We’ve already sealed off the western laboratories and are just waiting for your arrival…”

Lin You glanced at the splatters of blood on the researcher’s face but showed no particular reaction.

He maintained his grip on the researcher’s forehead, dragging him towards the door. As they exited, he pushed the researcher to the ground with a dismissive:

“Get lost.”

Lin You looked down disdainfully at the researcher. One eye was obscured by a reflection, but the other brimmed with irritation.

Unconcerned with the man on the floor, Lin You headed straight for the western laboratory. Despite the armed guards lining the corridor, they parted like the Red Sea upon seeing him, as if grasping at their last hope of survival.

Yet these guards, clad in bulletproof vests and equipped with formidable weapons, dared not take even a single step beyond Lin You, maintaining a safe distance from the western laboratory.

As Lin You approached his destination, the sound of alarms grew increasingly deafening. Heeding neither the danger nor the need for protective gear, he strode directly towards the door.

The once pristine glass above the entrance now bore streaks of blood. Coupled with the flickering red lights inside and the ear-splitting wail of the alarm, the scene resembled something straight out of a horror movie.

The corridor leading up to the laboratory was strewn with bodies—some lying prone, others supine. They wore either protective suits or bulletproof vests, a testament to the chaos that had unfolded moments ago.

Inside, there stood only a young man with honey-colored curly hair. His locks hung down to his shoulders, stained with a thin layer of congealed blood that clung to his neck. Clad in a hospital gown, he faced away from the door. Though his slender legs and broad frame were visible beneath the loose fabric, he swayed unsteadily on his feet, a crimson ballpoint pen tightly gripped in his hand.

His palms and arms dripped with fresh blood, while strands of flesh dangled from the pen. The mere sight was enough to evoke a sense of sticky repulsion.

As if sensing something, the figure turned around. In the instant their eyes met, those bright golden irises sparkled with unparalleled joy.

Yet the dazzling smile and handsome features, paired with the frenzied expression and splatters of blood across his face, made for an utterly terrifying sight.

He wore an enormous grin, revealing a set of pristine teeth where the canines stood out sharply, though not overly so.

[Honey (Darling)]

His voice couldn’t penetrate the glass, making it seem like he was acting in a silent horror film. Nevertheless, Lin You discerned from his lips that this man was undoubtedly calling him.

[I’ve waited too long for you.]

On the left side of his neck, the number 330712 was clearly imprinted.