Page 132 of Inside the Sun

Poor Sun.

What could I do to help him? If I try anything, the entire mission to save Summer could fall apart. We’d all be dead: Sun, Summer, me. Even if I transformed into myimago, I might not be able to protect them both. And I’m sure as hell couldn’t protect Sun’s family.

But the same question is ripping me apart again, only now it’s a hundred times louder: Do I blindly stick to the mission… or do I try to be a decent human being?

Something stirs within me.

I’ve lost my goddamn mind. That’s official.

As Mauro walks up to the door leading inside the building, the madness takes hold of me. I shut my eyes and focus like hell.

I hear those beeps, high-pitched, playing that familiar little melody I’ve heard a dozen times before, tapped into the keypad. My ears know it by now. I’ve got a pretty good musical memory. So when he steps inside, I follow, eyes twitching, watching everything.

I creep up to the panel.

Beep… beeeep… beep… beeeeep.

The simple tune plays in my head obsessively.

I stare at the softly glowing keypad. Some of the buttons are more worn than others. I try pressing the ones that look like they’ve been used the most. Some make off-key sounds, others feel like they fit.

Now I’ve got to figure out the right sequence.Beep-beep.No, not that.Beeep-beeep—

Wait. Got it. I think I’ve got the whole thing, just need to hit ‘em in the right order.

One more try. I’m fully aware that if someone’s watching the cameras, I’m fucked. I mean, what kind of gardener messes around with security keypads?

Beep, beeeep, beep, beeeeep.

BZZZZT.

Holy shit, it worked. The door clicks, I shove the door open and slip inside.

Now I’m in a large, empty lounge. I’ve seen people from the Ferro family come through here, so there's a good chance the staff stays away from this section.

The problem is, even though I’ve studied the blueprints of this building, there’s a hell of a difference between looking at a 2D drawing and navigating a goddamn three-dimensional maze. Takes me a second to get my bearings and figure out which way leads to the basement.

My heart’s racing, worse than it ever has, on any mission. I feel like my veins are about to explode, because this isn’t soldier work anymore, this is just pure insanity. No logic, no backup plan. Just reckless, suicidal instinct.

Me. The outstanding soldier. Always playing it by the book, now charging into the mouth of hell like a complete lunatic.

I finally find the door to the basement. Luckily it’s not locked, wide stairs lead down.

The layout reminds me of the first floor, long hallway, rooms branching off. My heart’s pounding harder. No idea why, but Iknowexactly where to go. It’s like something’s pulling me, like my whole bodyfeelswhere Sun is. Freaky as hell.

The hallway curves slightly; I simply know that the fourth door on the left after this turn is the one. The black room.

But as I round the corner and step into the view, I hear a sharp sound.

SLAM.

A huge shadow steps out of that exact door!

Luca.

I freeze. What the hell was Luca doing in there? What the fuck is going on?

Yeah, I know, I keep asking that question and still have zero answers.

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