Charles had been picked up by the Chester family years ago, and now he was basically their weapon. If he and this test subject really were brothers, the universe had yed a pretty cruel joke on them.


    One brother, raised to be a weapon-no one in their world wanted anything to do with him.


    The other one, dragged here, drugged since he was a kid, barely ever tasting real food.


    ra let out a long sigh. Despite the ache in her shoulder, she couldn''t help feeling sorry for them.


    The test subject polished off thest bit of steak, then leaned over his te, sniffing for more. His eyes lit up as he nced at ra, pointed at the fried eggs, then at himself. "Mine?"


    She nodded. Instantly, he grabbed an egg in each hand and devoured them in just a few bites.<fnaad7> This update is avable on find?novel</fnaad7>


    ra honestly hadn''t expected her cooking skills toe in handy in a ce like this.


    When he was done, the test subject looked at her again, opened the fridge, and handed her another b of raw meat.


    He was still hungry-message received.


    ra intentionally turned away. "I don''t feel like cooking anymore. You tried to kill me, and I''m supposed to make you dinner?"


    He frowned, thinking about it, and then set his knife aside. After a long pause, he managed, "No kill. I...won''t kill."


    ra finally let herself breathe. He was tough tomunicate with, but at least he seemed to mean what he said.


    So she fried up a few more steaks. Each time she finished one, he snatched it right off the te, not even caring if it was still hot.


    He ate six in a row, licking his fingers, still looking like he wanted more.


    With her arm aching worse than ever, ra paused and asked, "Have you ever been here before? Do you know a way out? The door we came through is trashed -we''ll need to find another exit."


    "Never been," he replied, sitting at the table, wiping up thest bit of sauce with his fingers and licking them clean.


    ra sighed. He really was just a kid in some ways.


    "We''ve got to find a way out, or we''re both done for," she said.


    He nodded. "Okay."


    Without another word, he headed down the hallway.


    ra already knew there wasn''t an exit there-she''d checked. He took a look around, then came back and pointed up. "There. Inside."


    She got up and followed him into a back room. He climbed up to the highest spot and pried open a venttion duct.


    It was a tight squeeze, but just big enough for a person.


    He went in first, crawling ahead, and ra followed, every move making her shoulder throb.


    They crawled all the way back to where they started and found the they''d seen before.


    They dropped to the ground. ra took a look around.


    The test subjectnded right beside her. They were in a valley, and there was a breeze-there had to be an exit nearby.


    ra got to her feet and started walking toward the direction of the wind.


    He followed her without a word. After about five hundred meters, the hills finally came into view.


    ra flopped onto the grass, totally spent. Her whole body felt useless.


    He was spinning his knife in his hand, lost in thought, and ra couldn''t help but worry he might suddenly attack her again. She was out of strength.  s


    But then he crouched in front of her, turned his back, and said softly, "Get on."


    She blinked, surprised. Was this really the same guy who''d wanted to kill her not long ago? Now he was ying nice?


    Still, she climbed onto his back. He was young, but tall and steady, carrying her like it was nothing.


    He walked for two hours straight before stopping at a small stream.


    With all the raintely, the water was high and clear, and she could see fish swimming around.


    Without even rolling up his sleeves, he waded in, caught a fish with his bare hands, killed it, andid it in front of her.


    That''s when ra finally got it—he wasn''t sparing her out of kindness. He just wanted someone to cook for him.


    If she wasn''t here, he''d probably just eat the fish raw, guts and all.


    How had this guy even survived this long?


    ra took a deep breath, cleaned the fish, built a small fire, and skewered the fish on a branch to roast.


    He caught another dozen, then sat next to her, eyes glued to the fish as they roasted over the mes.


    That was the only time he looked truly alive-when there was food.


    So he was a foodie. That made things easier.


    ra got all the fish roasting and finally took a moment to check her shoulder.


    Her arm had been dislocated, and cleaning the fish had nearly been too much.


    The test subject shot her a nce walked over, and without warning, popped her shoulder back in ce. He was rough about it, and s almost screamed.  fo s


    She sucked in a sharp breath, telling herself not to get mad at someone like him.


    She got up and set about exploring. The area was full of wild berries and garlic,


    some with natural vor strong enough to make up for missing spices.


    She stuffed the fish with berries and garlic, and as soon as the smell drifted out, the test subject started wiping drool from his mouth looking at her like she was a magician.


    s


    ra couldn''t help but feel a little proud. She grinned. "Bet you''ve never had anything like this before, huh?"


    He nodded, thinking hard before finally managing, "You...amazing. I...admire."


    ra burst outughing.