Chapter 110: Chapter110-Left with questions that remained unanswered

"I'm listening," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Good," he replied, the shadowy form of his face somehow conveying a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Then let's begin with the truth, Michael the truth about who I am, who you are, and the future that awaits us both." He continued, "So, Michael, I am @$@#&$&@. Did you understand?" What? What did he just say? I strained to hear, but it was as if his words were swallowed by the air before they could reach my ears. It wasn't just that I missed a few wordshis entire sentence seemed to dissolve into nothingness, like he had been speaking but no sound had come out. Confused, I asked, "What? What did you just say? I didn't hear a single thing." He stared at me, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "You really didn't hear me?" I shook my head, frustration creeping into my voice. "Do you think I'm joking?" "Alright, alright, don't get upset," he said, trying to soothe me. "Listen carefully, I am @$@#&$&@!" No, it happened again... Even though I heard most of his sentence this time, there was still one word that was missing. The moment he reached that crucial part of his sentence, it was as if the sound was snatched away, leaving me in silence. That particular word never made it to my ears. "What?" I asked, growing more confused. "I couldn't hear that word again. What did you say?" He looked at me, obviously puzzled. "What do you mean? Which word?" "The word after you said 'I am'I couldn't hear it," I explained, still trying to make sense of the situation. His expression shifted from confusion to sudden realization, as if a piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place for him. He immediately lifted his head, eyes narrowing as he looked up into the misty void above us. "Seriously, bro?" he said out loud, as if talking to someoneor somethingI couldn't see. "Now you're doing this on purpose? That wasn't part of our deal!" Huh? Who was he talking to? What type of deal? Curiosity getting the better of me, I also looked up, trying to see whator whohe was speaking to. But there was nothing, just the thick fog swirling above, offering no answers. I sighed deeply, the situation becoming more confusing by the minute. 'So, confusing...' My temples began to throb, and I found myself massaging them in a futile attempt to ease the tension. Lee, clearly frustrated, continued, "What do you mean 'It was'? I specifically got permission to come here and talk to him!" Permission to talk to me? From whom? After overhearing bits of their conversation, I realized one thing: whoeveror whateverwas up there had its own agenda, and I was just caught in the middle, trying to make sense of this strange encounter. Lee's frustration was palpable as he continued to argue with the unseen entity, his voice growing more agitated with every word. "Just shut up! Stop bullshitting! I came here because I wanted to talk with this dumb guy!" His tone was sharp, cutting through the fog that hung heavy in the air. I felt a flare of irritation rise in me. Dumb guy? Really? I had been pulled into this strange situation without any idea of what was happening, and now I was being insulted on top of it? He was really starting to get on my nerves... "Hey!" I snapped, interrupting his heated conversation. "You know I'm still here, right? And I can hear every word you're saying." Lee finally turned to face me, his expression a mix of surprise and mild irritation, as if he had genuinely forgotten I was there. "Oh," he said, his tone shifting as he acknowledged me. "Sorry, I forgot you were here." I stared at him, incredulous. "You forgot? I'm standing right here, man! I might not understand everything that's happening, but I'm not exactly invisible." He ran a hand through his hair, the agitation still evident in his movements, but there was also a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Look, Michael, this whole situation is complicated. I didn't mean to insult you. I'm just under a lot of pressure." I could see that, but it didn't make the sting of his words any less. Still, I tried to push past the insult and focus on the bigger picture. "Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "But if you want me to understand what's going on, maybe don't start by calling me dumb. I might not be a genius, but I'm here, and I'm trying to understand whatever I can..." Lee nodded, his expression softening. "You're right. I'm sorry, Michael. This isn't your fault. It's just everything is spiraling out of control, and I don't know how to fix it." His apology eased my frustration a bit, and I could see how much this was affecting him. Whatever he was going through, it was really breaking him down. I decided to focus on what he had started to explain instead. "You were saying," I said, "that you didn't mean to create a weapon. You were trying to fix the world." Lee's shoulders slumped, the weight of his burden clear in the way he carried himself. "Yes," he said, his voice dropping to a more somber tone. "I didn't set out to create a weapon, Michael. I was trying to fix a broken world, to make humanity stronger, more resilient. After what happened to my son, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." His gaze drifted off into the distance, lost in painful memories. "The world ignored my pain, dismissed my cries for justice. I wanted to give people the power to fight back, to survive in a world that chews up and spits out the weak." There was a bitterness in his words, a deep well of anger and sorrow that had festered for years. I could see now that his insult hadn't been personal; it was just the byproduct of his own suffering, a lashing out against a world that had wronged him so profoundly. "So you created the virus," I said, piecing together the fragments of his story. "But it didn't work the way you intended." Lee's face twisted in a grimace, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "No, it didn't. The first person I tested it on died. And the others they became something else. Something monstrous." "A zombie," I said, the word feeling surreal on my tongue. "Yes," Lee whispered, the word hanging in the air like a curse. "A virus that was supposed to make people stronger ended up turning them into the very thing I feared mostmindless, violent creatures driven by a primal urge to destroy." He turned to me, his eyes full of intense desperation. "I know I've made awful mistakes, Michael. I understand that. But I'm telling you this because I believe there's still a chance to fix things. To stop this before it's too late. You still have a chance to make a difference. Maybe maybe you can stop what I started." "Is that why you brought me here?" I asked, trying to keep the edge of fear out of my voice. "To tell me this? To warn me?" He hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the misty void above us before returning to me. "Partly," he admitted. "But there's more. You're not just anyone, Michael. There's something about yousomething they know. That's why they're keeping secrets from you, hiding the truth about who you really are." My breath caught in my throat. "Who I really am? What do you mean?" "I wish I could tell you," Lee said, his frustration resurfacing. "But it seems even I'm not allowed to say certain things. All I can tell you is that you're more important than you realize. And the future it hinges on you." "On me?" I echoed, disbelief coloring my words. "I'm just an ordinary person. What could I possibly have to do with any of this?" "As I said I can't tell as much as I like to" Lee said, his voice heavy with resignation. I looked up into the swirling mist, my mind reeling. "So, they won't let you tell me?" "Not directly," Lee replied. "But you have to figure it out. There are pieces of the puzzle everywhere. You just need to start putting them together." His words left me with more questions than answers, but I could see that he had told me all he couldor all he was allowed to. So, I have to handle this all on my own... I kind of expected that... Even so, I'm still unsure about a few things... By "a few things," I mean... I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. "No," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "I'm not doing that. You created this mess, Lee. It's on you to fix it, not me. And it's not my job to go around saving the world." Saving the people in this world... That's not my job... I'm just an outsider who ended up here for reasons I don't fully understand, and I plan to stay here to achieve my own personal goals. That's it... He tilted his head, thinking about what I said. There was a strange calmness about him now, like he knew I would say that. "Hmm, you're right," he said quietly, almost like he was talking to himself. "It really isn't your job but... But-" "But what?" I snapped, my patience running out. This whole conversation had been so confusing, and I just wanted some clear answers... Clear answers... He looked at me, his eyes glinting with a mix of certainty and something else I couldn't quite pin down. "But," he continued, "Who knows? Maybe you'll change your mind down the line" "You really think so?" I asked... He nodded with a expressionless face... "If that's the case, then sure, I'll change only in your damn dreams." I scoffed, completely unconvinced. "I'm definitely not going to change, that's for sure!" He smiled then, but it wasn't a mocking smileit was a knowing one, like he was aware of something about me that I hadn't yet discovered. What's with that smile? "We will see," he said, his voice carrying a finality that sent a chill through me. Huh? Before I could say anything, he turned away, his figure slowly fading into the mist around us. His silhouette grew dimmer with every second until the fog swallowed him completely. "Hey!" I shouted, feeling panic rise in my chest. "We're not done! Where are you going? I still have so many questions left! You can't just leave!" But my words were lost in the thickening fog, leaving me standing there alone. The mist wrapped around me like it was alivecold and unyielding, drowning out the sounds of everything beyond this eerie space. I'm not going to let you get away that easily. I tried to follow him, picking up my pace, but it was no use. The fog seemed endless, a wall I couldn't break through. My heart pounded, weighed down by all the questions that now had no answers, but there was no one left to ask. Suddenly, I started feeling sleepy again, just like before. What now? I felt fine just a few minutes ago. I tried to fight off the drowsiness creeping into my limbs, but it was becoming harder to stay awake. I glanced to my left to check my watch, but it was gone. Looks like I don't even have my watch anymore. I don't understand what's happening, but I guess I'll just sleep for now. Even though I should try to stay awake, the exhaustion from earlier had taken its toll. My eyelids felt heavy, like something was dragging them down. So, I closed my eyes and let my body rest. The surroundings around me blurred, my vision dimmed, and I slumped to the ground with a soft thud. Sleepy... Darkness enveloped me as I lost consciousness, leaving only silence and unanswered questions in the dark.