As the soldiers of The Golden Apple moved to apprehend Jack, Patrick intervened, halting their advance with a wave of his hand. "Stand down," he commanded, his voice carrying an air of authority that brooked no argument. "There's no point in chasing him now. We lack the necessary tools to restrain him. But we now know who he's allied with—Jilliane Chung."Patrick's words hung in the air like a ominous portent, the implications clear to all who heard them. With a grim determination, he declared that they held the trump card to draw Jack out of hiding when the time was right. "He will return," Patrick asserted with a steely resolve. "And when he does, we'll be ready."His subordinates nodded in silent agreement, their expressions a mixture of resignation and determination as they reluctantly acquiesced to Patrick's orders. Meanwhile, Jack and Jill raced away from the scene with all the haste they could muster.As the adrenaline of their escape began to wane, Jack became acutely aware of

Jack turned to Jill, the weight of their predicament evident in his furrowed brow and determined gaze. "Sooner or later, another attack is inevitable," he began, his voice edged with urgency. "Patrick won't sit idly by after what happened in the lab. He'll be gearing up, preparing for his next move, and we need to be ready."Jill's expression mirrored Jack's seriousness as she absorbed his words. "You're right," she affirmed, her tone resolute. "We can't afford to let our guard down, not even for a moment. We need to anticipate his every move and be one step ahead."With a deep breath, Jack delved into a detailed account of the lab's layout and contents. He painted a vivid picture of the experiments conducted within its walls, describing the eerie atmosphere and the chilling precision with which The Golden Apple operated."There was a section dedicated to genetic manipulation," Jack explained, his voice tinged with a mixture of concern and determination. "They were tampering with DNA,

Ashley stood her ground, meeting Patrick's penetrating gaze with a steely resolve that belied the turmoil churning within her. The weight of Patrick's scrutiny bore down on her, threatening to expose the tremor of uncertainty that flickered in her eyes before she managed to mask it once more."I understand the severity of the consequences for betrayal, Patrick," she declared, her voice firm, yet tinged with a hint of desperation. "You can trust me. I would never betray you."Patrick's response was a slow, sinister smile that crept across his lips like a slithering snake, his eyes alight with a dangerous gleam. It was a smile that sent shivers down Ashley's spine, a silent warning of the treacherous waters she was navigating."Good," Patrick purred, his tone dripping with honeyed malice as he nodded in approval. "Trust is paramount, especially in times like these."With a subtle nod of acknowledgment, Ashley seized the opportunity to extricate herself from Patrick's scrutinizing gaze.

The soft hum of machinery filled the air as Jack slowly emerged from his slumber, the gentle rhythm of Jill's movements resonating in the laboratory. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he turned his gaze towards Jill, who was already engrossed in her work, her movements fluid and purposeful."Rise and shine, sleepyhead. It's time for you to join the land of the living," Jill greeted him with a playful smirk, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I need your help with some brainstorming."Jack yawned and stretched, feeling the weight of the impending tasks settling upon him like a heavy cloak. "What's the plan?" he asked, his voice still tinged with drowsiness as he sat up and gave Jill his full attention.Jill's eyes gleamed with determination as she launched into an explanation of the necessity for a tracker device that could evade detection by their adversaries. "Jack, we need a failsafe in case things go south. We can't risk you getting caught or lost in the chaos," she began,

As Ashley teetered on the brink of consciousness, her senses dulled by the relentless onslaught of pain and exhaustion, she felt as though she were adrift in a sea of torment. Every breath was a struggle, each heartbeat a painful reminder of the ordeal she had endured. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by the bruises that marred her skin and the ache that permeated every fiber of her being.The dim light in the room seemed to flicker and dance before her eyes, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls like specters of her own despair. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and blood, mingling with the metallic tang of fear that clung to her like a suffocating shroud.The henchman of Patrick's approached with an air of calculated menace, his footsteps echoing ominously in the dimly lit room. Ashley strained to lift her head, her muscles protesting against the effort as she braced herself for whatever news he bore.With a glance over his shoulder to ensure they were alone, t