Chapter 1469

Austin raised his head and sighed, then laughed at his own stupidity, innocence, and self-righteousness. He opened the vial, brought it to his nose, and sniffed gently. The faint, refreshing fragrance calmed his anxious heart. This was the supposed result of the experiment, though he hadn't expected to be the first test subject. Besides soothing his mind, it also reduced the pain. Seeing no other use for the vial, Austin almost considered drinking it, but quickly replaced the lid as the light faded from his eyes.

The door opened again, but no sound of high heels followed. Whoever entered moved silently and swiftly toward him. Austin pressed himself against the wall, squinting. "Who's there?!"

"Hush!"

He finally saw the figure. "Professor Thompson?"

"Austin, are you hungry? I brought you some food and a drink. Quickly, eat up," Thompson whispered, producing a small piece of bread and a bottle of water.

"You..." Austin, though thirsty, hesitated to drink. He stared suspiciously at Thompson; after all, he was one of them.

"I..." Thompson sighed helplessly, noticing Austin's apprehension. Without explanation, he took a sip from the bottle before offering it to Austin. "Drink it!"

This eased Austin's mind. Parched, he drank the water quickly, emptying the bottle. Although his throat felt a little better, he remained thirsty. Still, the water had alleviated his discomfort, and he felt more recharged.

"Eat this," Thompson said, offering the bread.

Austin ate it immediately, finding it the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted. Previous attempts to provide him with delicacies had failed to compare. After finishing one piece, Thompson offered another, and another, until Austin had eaten five.

Thompson looked at him guiltily. "I'm sorry."

Austin shook his head and smiled bitterly. He knew Thompson was coerced, but he couldn't entirely excuse his participation. Regardless, Thompson had chosen to be one of them.

"Professor Thompson," Austin said, "Let me go."