CHAPTER 7

Elena and Marcus stepped out into the coolness of the evening air, coolness hitting them like a splash of cold water. That tension from sometime earlier still lay between them, as did the unsettling warning from the woman, upon their minds. They walked a few paces before Elena turned to Marcus, trying to shake off the feeling of dread.

Who was she?" Elena asked in a whisper. "Do you think she was telling the truth?"

"I don't know," Marcus said running his hand through his hair. "But we can't just let it go. We need to find out what's going on with Lucas."

At that moment, they heard an interrupting voice. "Excuse me, are you two looking for Lucas?

They turned and saw standing behind them a young woman with brown hair tied up in a ponytail and a pair of glasses balancing on her nose. Her faded hoodie and jeans gave off an impression of casualness tinged with seriousness.

"Who is asking?" asked Marcus instinctively, already assuming the protective role.

"I am Mia," she replied, having taken a step closer. "I, too, am a researcher within the same organization as Lucas. I have some information that may be of importance to you."

Elena's heart skipped a beat. "You know Lucas?"

"Yes, I do," answered Mia gravely. "And I think you should sit down. This is something that is certainly not discussed here outside in the open."

Elena threw a glance at Marcus, nodded, and wordlessly, they seemed to reach an understanding that for now, they would have to take a leap of faith with her. They turned to Mia and continued in the direction of a nearby bench, away from more listening ears. Elena sat down, her heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness. "What do you know about him?"

Mia took a deep breath, her eyes darting around as if to make certain they were well and truly alone. "Lucas is involved in some very groundbreaking research. It's cutting-edge material, but it's also highly controversial. There are ethical dilemmas that are. well, troubling."

Elena's brow furrowed. "What kind of research?

Research that could change the way we understand human biology," Mia said, her eyes wide with intensity. "But it's drawn some very powerful notice. The kind of people who don't play by the rules."

Marcus furrowed his brow and leaned forward, his face serious. "You mean like government people? What exactly are you implying?

Mia nodded. "Yes. There's a possibility that Lucas's research might make some breakthroughs in medicine, but it opens so many questions. Are we ready to play God? Who decides what is and isn't ethical? Dangerous questions and Lucas is right in the middle of them."

Scared and thrilled simultaneously, Elena asked: "Is that why he's in hiding? Because of his research?

"I do believe so," Mia replied now, her voice evened out. "He didn't confide in me with everything, but he mentioned that he felt watched. He's uneasy over the possible consequences of his work, and with some threatening letters he has been receiving lately. "

"Threats?" Marcus repeated with incredulity. "From whom?"

Mia shook her head. "I don't know. But serious enough to make Lucas feel that he cannot trust anyone. He has kept things secret for a reason."

Elena caught Marcus' gaze, a shadow of doubt falling across their faces. "How are we to know that you are telling the truth?" she asked, crossing her arms in a defensive gesture. "You could be one of them."

"I understand why you would be sceptical," Mia said frankly. "I'm just trying to help. I do believe in what Lucas does, and I would never want him to come to harm. I just want to make sure he's safe.

Marcus sighed and looked over at Elena. "This is rather much to swallow. We came to find more about Lucas, but now it seems as though we have opened Pandora's box."

Mia nodded. "I understand, but if you're serious about helping him, you need to know what you're up against. This is no more about him. It's bigger than all of us.

Elena's stomach knotted. "What would you suggest we do?

Mia leaned a little closer to them. "We need more information, but we have to be very careful. Some people watch. I'm able to help, but you need to trust me."

"Trust is earned," Marcus replied frankly. "What's the next step?

For a second, Mia was taken by deeper thoughts. Then she added, "I have some associates that might come and help explain what is going on with Lucas, but we need to get to a safe house to talk. It's too much of a risk talking about this out in the open if we're being followed."

Elena faltered, turning to face Marcus. "You don't think we should?"

"We have to find out more," he replied, "If there is actual danger involving Lucas, we can't do anything.

"I do," Elena agreed grudgingly. "But we need to do it intelligently.

As they were discussing the plan, one quick flashback came to Elena's mind: Lucas was surrounded by lab equipment; she saw him with an air of great intensity in his expression. The image was unreal, but it spoke volumes about the world he dealt with. It disappeared quickly, but the vivid images gave her an inkling of the depths into which Lucas might have plunged.

Before we go, I gotta ask," Elena said, her curiosity welling up. "What kind of ethical dilemmas?

The serious look was back upon Mia's face. "Imagine a world where genetic modification will become the norm. Sure, great benefits, but at what cost? What if the government took that knowledge and used it against us to control or manipulate us? That brings up a lot of questions about humanity and the freedom to make our own choices with and about our bodies.

Elena was whisked away, her mind spinning as the words sank in. "That sounds… terrifying. And Lucas is in the middle of that?"

"Yes," said Mia. "And that is why I'm concerned: he's in it already too deep, and he needs help if he's going to get out unscathed.

The phone rang again before they could further their discussion. This time, it caught Elena off guard. She fetched it, and her heart sank when she saw the same unknown number blinking on the screen.

"What is it?" Marcus asked, noticing a change in her expression.

"It's another text," she said, shaking. "It says, 'Stop digging. You're already in too deep.'"

Mia's eyes went wide, and she inched a little closer. "Who is that?

I don't know," Elena replied, starting to panic. "But obviously, someone is following us."

"This just went from annoying to serious," Marcus replied as he turned around, peering over his shoulder in all directions. "We should get out of here. Now."

Elena stood up, her mind going a mile a minute. "What if they find out we talk to you?

"They won't, provided we are careful," said Mia reassuringly. "Just follow the plan and keep your wits about you. I will keep in touch about the details. But be careful.

As Elena walked away from the diner, cool air stroked her skin, but a fire of urgency was brewing inside. Something that might be greater than either of them had ever thought, Lucas was entangled in, and they knew they had to find some way of pulling him out without losing themselves in that process.

Let's head back to my place," he said as they turned a corner. "We can work out what to do next there.

Elena nodded, her face set, even though fear varnished her insides. They were entering the unknown, and everything they would decide counting further from that moment on, mattered. Irrevocably, with every passing second, their familiar world moved them further away, entwining them into a web of danger and secrecy that was always looming with the question if they would ever find the truth about Lucas without any scrapes along the way.