The Fugitive's Touch

CHAPTER 8 : BECOMING WHO?

CHAPTER 8 : BECOMING WHO?

Evening approached inside the cave that had become their hideout for the past few days. The air grew damper, carrying the scent of earth and moss that spread along the stone walls. A small fire burned in the center of the room, casting just enough light to reveal the weary faces of the eleven men gathered within.

Rey sat in the corner of the cave, silent as always. He observed his men, each busy with their own tasks. Some were dividing the simple food they had obtained from hunting, while others spoke quietly, discussing possible next steps.

For the past two days, there had been no signs of the police pursuing them. But Rey knew well that they couldn't hide in this place forever. Sooner or later, they would have to leave the forest and find safer shelter.

Among the group, one man had caught his attention from the start—a bald-headed man with a sturdy build and a deep voice that often stood out among them.

Rey stared at him intently.

"Plontos," he called.

The man lifted his head, turning toward Rey with slightly narrowed eyes. "What is it, Boss?"

Rey crossed his arms over his chest. "You're not really bald, are you?"

The room suddenly fell silent. Everyone in the cave turned, watching the two with curiosity.

A tattooed man sitting near the fire raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Boss Rey?"

Rey didn't answer immediately. He studied Plontos' expression, which had tightened slightly, though the man tried to remain calm.

"I'm not sure how this happened," Rey continued, "but after healing your broken arm, I started to see glimpses of your past."

Plontos remained silent, his lips pressed together, his jaw clenched.

"I saw something strange," Rey went on. "A different face… thick hair… and someone who wasn't you—or at least, not the you that we know."

The other men began whispering among themselves, exchanging puzzled glances.

Plontos finally sighed. He stared at Rey for a few seconds before slowly raising his hand to his head.

With careful movements, he peeled something off his scalp.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the cave shifted dramatically.

What they had assumed to be real skin was actually a thin layer that could be removed. As Plontos pulled it away, thick black hair cascaded down his shoulders, and his rough features softened. No longer did he look like an older man, but rather a young, handsome individual with sharp facial features and a confident expression.

The other inmates were stunned. Even the tattooed man, who had remained the calmest so far, widened his eyes in shock.

"Holy…" one of them murmured.

Rey remained calm, though inwardly, he admitted the sight was beyond his expectations.

Plontos—or whoever he really was—looked at them all one by one before offering a faint smile. "Well," he said, "I guess the secret's out. My name is Beng."

Rey nodded slowly. "Beng, huh?"

Beng nodded. "I disguised myself on purpose. This hair… this face… I can change it whenever I need to. I never wanted people to know who I really was."

Gerald, the tattooed man who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "So you're a disguise expert?"

Beng smirked. "Something like that."

Rey studied Beng more closely. Now, the fragments of memories he'd glimpsed started making sense. Beng wasn't an ordinary prisoner. He had an extraordinary talent for disguise, and he had likely lived a life full of deception before landing in prison.

"I knew there was something different about you," Rey said. "From the start, you've been more cautious than the others. Now I understand why."

Beng narrowed his eyes at Rey. "And I know there's something different about you," he said quietly. "You saw my past, didn't you?"

Rey didn't respond right away.

Beng let out a small chuckle, then sat back down. "Whatever. At least we know one thing now—I can disguise myself. And that might come in handy."

Rey nodded in agreement.

He then turned his gaze to Gerald, the tattooed man who had seemed the most composed and influential among them.

"Gerald," Rey called.

Gerald looked up.

"Do you have anything you're hiding as well?" Rey asked, half-joking.

Gerald chuckled. "Unlike Beng, I don’t have any special disguise skills. But I know how to fight, and I know how to survive."

Rey observed him for a moment, then gave a slow nod.

Beng and Gerald.

These two stood out the most among the ten men with him.

Beng had his disguise skills, and Gerald had his combat experience and level-headedness.

They could be the key to survival out there.

Rey smirked.

"It's getting dark," he said. "Tomorrow morning, we move. We can't stay here forever."

Gerald nodded. "Have you decided where we’re going?"

Rey exhaled softly. "Not entirely. But I have a few ideas."

Beng grinned. "If you need someone to disguise themselves, I can do it."

Rey met his gaze, then nodded.

He still didn’t fully understand how far his own abilities would evolve, or how much the side effects of his power would affect him.

But one thing was certain—he couldn't survive alone.

And with Beng and Gerald by his side, their chances of survival in the outside world would be much greater.

—

Rey looked at Beng with curiosity. The man's ability to disguise himself was no ordinary skill. That lifelike bald head and convincingly altered face must have required special techniques and materials.

"How do you do it?" Rey finally asked.

Beng studied him for a moment before offering a small smile. "You want to know how to make one?"

Rey nodded. "If we can replicate your technique, it could be very useful."

Beng sighed, then reached into the pocket of his ragged clothing. From within, he pulled out a thin sheet of something that looked like rubber. He tossed it toward Rey, who caught it swiftly.

"This is the main material," Beng said. "Synthetic latex. I got it before I went to prison. It's flexible enough to mimic human skin quite well."

Rey examined the sheet closely. It felt soft and pliable in his hands.

"Where can this material be found?" he asked.

Beng crossed his arms. "In Crex City, there are a few stores that sell disguise supplies. They're mostly used for films or theater performances. I used to get mine from there. But this alone isn’t enough."

Rey eyed him intently. "What else is needed?"

Beng held up two fingers. "First, a special adhesive to attach the layer to the face or head. When applied correctly, it’s almost impossible to tell it’s fake. And second, pigment paint to adjust the color so it blends with the wearer’s skin."

Rey listened carefully. A disguise like this would be invaluable, especially in their current situation. If they could obtain these materials, they could change their identities and move more freely without being recognized.

"How long would it take you to create one?" Rey asked.

Beng thought for a moment. "If I have all the materials, I can complete a full disguise in under two hours."

Rey gave a slow nod before looking around at the others in the cave. They still looked exhausted from days in the forest, but their eyes held a spark of determination to survive.

"Tomorrow morning, we move," Rey finally said. "Our destination is Crex City. We need to find the materials Beng needs for disguises."

Beng watched Rey with interest. "So you’re really going through with this?"

Rey nodded. "If we want to survive, we need to blend in. We can’t keep hiding in the forest. The police are probably expanding their search by now."

Gerald, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "How do you plan on getting into the city without being caught?"

Rey met Gerald’s gaze and smirked. "We’ll sneak in. Tonight, we make a plan. Every step we take must be careful and leave no traces."

Everyone fell silent, realizing this plan was a turning point—one that could mean life or death.

Beng leaned back against the cave wall and grinned. "Alright, then. I hope you’re all ready to play with new identities."

Rey simply stared at him, his expression cold. He wasn’t joking.

Tomorrow, they would move toward Crex City.

###