It's not fun here. Grandpa will take you to have fun, okay?" Carrying Galen, Dominic departed.

Austin, embarrassed and startled, remained. "Uncle Dom, what about the virus?"

"What virus? I said you have no virus!" Dominic impatiently left without looking back.

Austin stood dazed for a long time, then entered the ensuite bathroom. Before the large mirror, he examined his nearly naked self, clad only in shorts. Having just removed his shirt, he saw his body clearly for the first time in days. He'd have been shocked by his weight loss had he not been somewhat prepared. His cheeks were deeply sunken; dark circles under bloodshot eyes betrayed sleepless nights. But his physique was unexpected. He wasn't skinny; his muscles were firm and well-defined. His biceps bulged when he flexed. He looked like a lean, intensely trained kickboxer. Yet, Austin knew he rarely exercised and would struggle to jog three miles. His life in the laboratory had honed his mind but left his body weak. Despite his appearance, he felt profoundly weak, and knew that feeling was genuine.

He felt like he was looking at a stranger, as if his soul were detached. Dominic could detect tiny tumors invisible to X-rays; he wouldn't miss something so obvious. But the torment, the drugs… it was real. How could I explain that? He touched his wrist, feeling his pulse. Doctors rarely treated themselves, often missing something, but he felt compelled. Aside from weakness, he detected nothing.

No virus? Puzzlement, confusion, shock, and anxiety warred within him. It felt like a dream, unreal. "No, no… how could it be? How could it be…" He stepped back, seeing his flustered reflection. He felt insane.

Later that night, Lily rechecked the child's pulse, confirming stability and sound sleep. "Yes, she's asleep! Not in a coma or poisoned; exhaustion." Though Debbie looked pale, her breathing and pulse were steadier—good news, confirming Lily's assessment.