Chapter 20: Mutants Attack 1
The three of them became alert. Su Wanqing quickly packed her backpack and prepared to evacuate at any time.
“What should we do?” Xiao Ran asked, “If this card was set up by the research institute, they will definitely recognize Lin Che.”
"They won't recognize me," Aze said calmly, "at least not right away.
I can adjust my facial muscles and expressions to fool the surveillance system. This is a little trick we learned in the lab.”
Su Wanqing hesitated for a moment: "Are you sure you can fool them?"
"No guarantees, but it's worth a try." Aze shrugged, "Unless you have a better idea?"
Su Wanqing shook her head, then took out a hat and a pair of glasses from her backpack and handed them to Aze: "Put this on and try to keep your head down. Xiao Ran and I will create some chaos, and you can take the opportunity to pass the checkpoint."
Aze took the disguise and put it on neatly. He adjusted his posture and hunched his shoulders, looking a few years younger than his actual age, and his temperament became much more ordinary.
"We'll meet at the gas station one kilometer behind the checkpoint." Su Wanqing said, and then looked at Xiao Ran, "Are you ready?"
Xiao Ran nodded, his muscles tensed: "Anytime."
The truck came to a complete stop. As the three of them were making final preparations, Aze suddenly grabbed Su Wanqing's wrist.
"Sister," he whispered, "if we ever separate, promise me one thing."
"What's up?"
"Don't trust anyone," Aze's voice suddenly became serious, "especially those who claim they can help us. The Institute's tentacles are much longer than you think."
Su Wanqing looked into Aze's eyes, which contained a maturity and alertness that Lin Che had never shown before.
She nodded: "I remember it."
Aze smiled slightly and let go of his hand. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes had become gentle and slightly blank, perfectly hiding the sharpness in his heart.
"Get ready for action." Su Wanqing ordered, pushing open the back door of the truck.
The rain has stopped, but the air is still filled with a damp smell.
The checkpoint in the distance was brightly lit, and armed men were checking every vehicle that passed through.
The three of them got out of the car quietly, their figures disappearing into the shadows on the roadside.
"Remember, see you at the gas station." Su Wanqing gave her final instructions, then took Xiao Ran to the left side of the checkpoint.
Aze walked to the right alone, with the brim of his hat pulled down low, covering most of his face.
He walked at a leisurely pace and looked like an ordinary wanderer rather than a high-value target of the institute.
The searchlight of the checkpoint swept around, and Aze cleverly avoided the beam and approached the target step by step.
He could clearly feel Lin Che wriggling in the depths of his consciousness, but he had not yet fully woken up.
Just this time, he thought, let me protect you.
There was a loud bang in the distance, followed by sirens and shouting.
Su Wanqing and Xiao Ran have already started to act, and the chaos they created has attracted the attention of most of the people at the checkpoint.
Aze seized the opportunity and quickened his pace towards the checkpoint.
By passing this level, they will be closer to the truth, but also closer to danger.
But for Aze, who has lived in hell for many years, danger has long been commonplace.
The only difference is that this time, he is no longer fighting alone.
***The night after the rain was slightly chilly, and the lights at the gas station were dim, reflecting the surrounding wet ground.
Su Wanqing leaned against an abandoned vehicle, looking around constantly, waiting for the agreed meeting.
"Why hasn't he come yet?" Xiao Ran paced, anxiety in his voice.
Su Wanqing looked at her watch: "It's only been fifteen minutes, give him some time."
"What if he gets caught?"
“No.” Su Wanqing said calmly, but her fingers unconsciously tightened the backpack straps. “Aze is much smarter than Lin Che.”
Just then, a thin figure came from the direction of the convenience store at the gas station.
The man was wearing a hat and lowered his head, but his steps were unusually steady. When he approached and raised his head, Su Wanqing immediately recognized the pair of purple eyes.
"You got here earlier than me." Aze took off his hat and casually combed his messy hair with his fingers. "How was the checkpoint?"
"It went smoothly." Xiao Ran replied briefly, "The explosion attracted them all away."
Aze raised his eyebrows: "I mean, is there anyone from the research institute?"
"No obvious marks were found." Su Wanqing replied, "But that doesn't mean anything. Their people may be disguised as the military."
The three of them walked into a convenience store to stock up on some necessities. The lights in the store were flickering, and several customers were selecting supplies from the shelves.
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The clerk behind the counter was playing with his phone idly. He just glanced at the new customer and continued to look down.
"What do we need?" Xiao Ran asked, picking up a shopping basket.
“Salt.” Aze said what Lin Che needed most urgently, “Also water and high-calorie food.”
Su Wanqing nodded: "You go and look for them. I'll see if there are any medicines and weapons."
The three of them split up. Xiao Ran and Aze went to the food section, while Su Wanqing went to the back of the convenience store.
"So," Xiao Ran asked Aze in a low voice while selecting canned food, "What's going on between you and Lin Che? How long have you been sharing a body?"
Aze put a few packets of salt and bottles of water in the shopping basket. "Since the first experiment, about two years ago. When Lin Che couldn't bear the pain anymore, I showed up."
"Have you always known what's going on outside?"
“Not exactly.” Aze picked up a pack of biscuits, checked the ingredient list, and put it in the basket. “I can only take over Lin Che’s body for a short period of time when he is under the influence of strong emotions. Most of the time, I am just a bystander.”
Xiao Ran frowned: "Then can you and Lin Che communicate with each other?"
"No." Aze shook his head, "At least not now. The suppressor of the institute has created a wall between us. I know what he thinks, but he doesn't know I exist."
"Then why are you helping him? Why are you helping us?"
Aze stopped and looked directly at Xiao Ran: "Because his pain is my pain. He wants to live, and so do I. We are two sides of the same person, with the same goal."
As the two were talking, there was a sudden noise outside the convenience store.
At first there were just a few shouts, then the sound of objects collapsing, and then a continuous screaming.
The customers in the store stopped what they were doing and cast vigilant glances towards the door.
A young man wearing a baseball cap walked to the window and tried to see what was happening outside.
"Don't open the window!" a middle-aged woman shouted hurriedly, but it was too late.
As the young man opened the curtain a little, a blood-red arm suddenly stretched out from the gap and grabbed his collar.
The young man screamed and stepped back, but the arm was so powerful that it dragged him towards the window.
"Help!" he cried desperately, scratching the ground with his fingers.
Xiao Ran immediately put down the shopping basket and rushed to the window. He grabbed the young man's legs and pulled him back, shouting, "Aze! Close the door!"
(End of this chapter)
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