Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is related to House of the Dead. (No one is reading this anymore...)

Chapter 13

"Behind vile creations...

There were good intentions.

Behind this evil doer...

There was a good father.

Behind his aggressiveness...

He suffered loneliness.

Behind his insanity...

He longed for his family.

It was more than he can bear...

It was certainly unfair.

He's gone now...forever

Rest, my friend...good doctor."

September 17, 1985

'...I considered myself to be the luckiest and happiest man alive. I have a lovely wife and a beautiful son. A man couldn't ask for anything better than this...'

Back in the chamber, Daniel was pinned down on the cold floor by Rogan's commandos with their combat knives pointed at his neck. The Wheel of Fate glared at Daniel with fury. The entire room flared with electricity that almost looked like it had power surge.

"You are wrong, Daniel. Humans are nothing but a thorn to the side of this new world. Their pathetic existence will be wiped out from the surface of the world so they will not repeat their foolish mistakes to the world again."

"Overpopulation or not, you can't just destroy everything! They are not the threat here. The actual threat to this world...is YOU!" Daniel hissed. One of the commandos pressed the knife at Daniel's neck. "...wwrroooongg..." it groaned.

December 11, 1985

'We stayed inside the mansion the whole day, thanks to the snow. Daniel was so glad that I did not left to work. He was bouncing on my lap, begging me to read the "Basic Biology" book that he found in those old bookshelves. Imagine how I reacted to that. It was still early in the morning so a few pages won't do any harm.

Katherine found us dosing off on the sofa in the afternoon. (She 'laughed'...) How embarrassing.'

January 24, 1986

'...sometimes I thought of resigning my career. However, Goldman insisted me to stay. He didn't tell me the reason why.

...Everything was pleasant. I'm sure that this is what every man wants. An easy life with his family. Daniel always makes me proud and always brings joy to my life...just like Katherine. I always tell him that...'

"You disappointed me, Daniel. I expected you to understand this. You already saw the problems caused by humans...saw their mistakes...and yet you kept one alive." the Wheel of Fate spoke with a menacing tone. Death came in the chamber with the giant club in its hand. Its eyes went wide at the sight of blood at Daniel's neck.

"You call me a monster...have you ever stop to think for just one moment just who is the real monster on this world? Humans are nothing more than a greedy and destructive specie. They thought that they're so perfect. They thought that they control everything. Look at them... Look at what came after that. Natural disasters, new diseases and wars. Disasters after disasters hit them and who do they blame? They fought each other to claim whatever they thought they own. They destroyed the world...and they will get what they deserved..."

March 11, 1986

'...took me a few minutes to calm Daniel down after he had nightmares. I'm glad that I was close by. Last time, it took Katherine a while to calm him down. The other night he couldn't sleep. I decided to take him to the balcony and watch the stars. He was so lucky that he spotted a shooting star so...as silly as this sounds...I told him to make a wish. To my surprise, he didn't make any wishes. He told me "I have everything I need here.". I could swear I almost cry. That was some long night...but it was a good one.

This made me wonder...what would he wish for in the future...?'

"I'm not...going to let you...or your mindless monsters...have him!" Daniel paused for a moment. Actually, the Wheel of Fate could send anything in and dragged the injured man out from that room anytime they want like the bats. If that was the case...then why didn't the Wheel of Fate just do it. What was it waiting for?

"You are making this complicated for me, Daniel." the Wheel of Fate growled. The metallic spikes around the room rattled, making some of the dead commandos looked uneasy. "That man...particularly him...will give you nothing but pain. Do not make this anymore complicated and give him to me."

September 11, 1988

'...Genome codes. What was Goldman thinking?! He must be out of his mind or something. He called me and other scientists to a meeting. Those incompetent fools didn't even know how dangerous it is to tamper with this subject. I was the first to decline the invitation to this project. He claimed that this will help humanity to 'understand' the world better. He is an expert alright but human genome codes? Forget it. One slight mistake and it would be no different from committing a murder...What even surprised me though was that he weren't the only one...'

Never. If it demanded for submission, he won't give in. There would be no one would stop its malicious plan. "I'm trying to help you, Daniel. If you know what is good for you-"

"No. I won't let you get him!" Daniel blurted. The commandos slowly backed out when Death came closer. The spikes started to vibrate violently and spark of electricity flashed around them. "Daniel...you don't even know him." the lights flared from the Wheel of Fate's eyes with fury.

November 29, 1988

'...something wasn't right. Daniel was sick for months. MONTHS. The most frustrating thing was that those doctors kept telling me the same answers that they have no clue what was wrong with him. Andrew was getting worried about me. I could tell that from the way he approached me the other day. Katherine was also worried for both of us... She even went out to town to get some meds...'

The commandos were close to the door, still staring at the rattling metallic spikes that threaten to impale anything that get too close. Death wasn't scared of them though. It stood there between Daniel and the containment with unreadable expression on its face.

"Do you?" Daniel asked back. The Wheel of Fate looked very stiff like a statue with its cold gaze at Daniel. "He...is among those humans who are here to stop me." it answered bitterly. "...then we're on the same page." Daniel smirked. That enraged the silver being.

"For the last time, Daniel! If you do not-"

"No! You don't have the power over me! You don't tell me what to do! You're not my father!" Daniel blurted out at the being. The Wheel of Fate looked disappointed. The metallic spikes around the room ceased to rattle and the lights dimmed.

"Am I not, Daniel?"

Daniel froze. He recognized that voice very well...

February 24, 1989

'Katherine, I'm so sorry. I should have been there...'

Daniel stared at the Wheel of Fate, confused. Part of him screamed that he shouldn't believe it...but that voice, he recognized it very well. The same voice that happily greeted him when he was young, the same voice that assured him that he will get well soon and that he shouldn't be scared. Now, it was just confusing him.

"Is...is that really you?"

"...you don't recognize me, Daniel?"

...no.

February 26, 1989

'Why, why, why, why...'

"I...don't understand." there were lots of questions in his mind but he wasn't sure which one he should asked.

"Soon you will, Daniel. For the time being, just know that I-"

"-did all of this for me?!" Daniel snapped. This was getting sick but it became clearer. Why he ended up here, why the Wheel of Fate kept him alive... He was sick...dying...and millions of people were killed because of him. His father...if that silver being really is his father-no. His father was better than that. He wouldn't... If he really loved his son...he should have...

"...you should have let me go..."

March 26, 1990

'...Daniel...He was so scared...and cold. His condition... I've never see anything like this. There was nothing I can do...'

"That was not meant to be your fate."

"That's not for you to decide what my fate will be!" Daniel stared coldly at the being. It stared back.

"Daniel...I-"

"Stop! Just...stop it! I should have realized this long ago! I should have never trusted you!"

October 13 ,1990

'...Louisiana. The warden there showed us the lab. To be frank, I was quite surprised to see it still standing after the cold war. The equipment around here was terrible but that was not why we were there.

What the warden did here was beyond disturbing. Countless bodies littered around and the prisoners were in bad shape. Prisoners...he used prisoners! I doubt that he was going to stop there. Variety is important, he said, to get the best results. So far, his 'results' ended up dead or in a miserable state due to the condition of the lab. He didn't tell us what would be his next move to do with the formula but he said that he will find a way to make the formula perfect. Goldman seemed to be interested in this formula so much that he asked to see the files.

Unfortunately, the warden didn't have all of it. Some files were missing and he asked his accomplice to help him figure it and refine it. Dangerous, I have to say. This would bring science in to a whole new level.

The Formula X...I once told myself that I won't be involve in the most dangerous subject...but this time was different. I had no choice...'

"You cornered the survivors, took their chances of escaping, sent the monsters to kill them all and wiped off civilization...just for me?! You cold-blooded killer!"

"Daniel..."

"I HATE YOU! I swear I'll be the one to destroy you!"

February 18, 1994

'...Andrew was missing and I couldn't find him or contacted him.

...Goldman promised me that he will keep this project a secret although I have a bad feeling about this. The researchers did their job pretty well...except this particular woman called Sophie Richards...

...I brought Daniel to the EFI facility. Technologies are more advance there and I hoped that he will recover soon. He would be safer there...'

The Wheel of Fate was shocked. Its eyes went wide and still couldn't believe what it heard. The shock...was replaced by an intense fury. The commandos now stared at Daniel with a creepy grin on their decayed face. Death turned towards Daniel and went berserk.

"GET HIM!" The Wheel of Fate roared.

October 24, 1995

'...mas Rogan! I never thought that I would see him again. I...was glad to see him. It had been a while since we met. I couldn't remember the last time I met other people aside from Goldman and his associate... I forgot how long the conversation was...Rogan told me that he was engaged. ENGAGED! I saw the ring. It...looked exactly like what I gave to Katherine...'

(Rogan was shocked.)

'...and the look on his face. Damn. He was happy. Damn it! Damn it all-...'

Daniel ran down the hall way. Death was chasing him like a mad cow, swinging the club around. The commandos were trying to avoid being hit and chased Daniel with an alarming speed. The dead around the hallway even chased him when they saw Daniel. Groans and growls filled the air. Commandos threw their combat knives at Daniel but they missed. Death swatted the commandos aside and ran after Daniel.

'Fine. Just you and me then...' Daniel ran to the west wing of the facility. Death was still following him, roaring its head off. The lights in the corridor blinked rapidly as Daniel ran. All of the sudden, Death ran through the walls and grabbed Daniel. It raised him to its eye level and opened it mouth wide.

'Sorry, Robert...' Daniel pulled the knife out and plunged it in Death's white face and slit the jaws open. Death howled in pain and cupped his now bloody red jaws. Its skin dropped on the floor and attracted other undead that were following. Death furiously swung its club, trying to hit Daniel but it hit an Ebitan instead. The end of the corridor was the door leading out to the bridge between buildings.

When Daniel swung the door open, the vultures swooped down immediately. "What the-?!" Daniel avoided the talons. Death's frightening roar echoed behind the door and without a warning, Death tore the door and the wall open. The debris flew in all directions and hit most of the vultures. What a bad timing. Daniel was in the middle of the narrow bridge when Death rushed forward. In the opposite direction, the vultures went frenzy and swooped down towards Daniel. He had to act fast.

'I must be crazy...' Daniel frowned as he ran towards Death. Before Death reached out its hand to snatch him, Daniel slid through its legs. At the same time, the vultures swooped down but they hit Death in the face, causing it to lost its balance and tumbled down from the narrow bridge. Its roared faded for a moment, followed by a loud thud that sound metallic.

Daniel glanced down from the bridge. Death seemed to fall in to the tubes that led to the sewers outside of the building. It won't bother Daniel and the injured man for a while-... Daniel almost forgot about him. He ran back inside the building...

November 19, 1997

'I missed them so much. Katherine, I really missed you. I wished that our son will recover soon... I really want all of you to see my work. It was...brilliant.'

February 24, 1998

'We'll be a family again. I promised.'

...Rogan closed the notebook. He sat there in silence, still stunned by what he just read. What should he feel about this? His friend wasn't a complete lunatic. He was like any other man who would do anything to protect the one he loves. This made Rogan felt ashamed a bit that he didn't spent more time with his family...but he have to do his job to protect them.

'Wait...Roy mentioned about his son, Daniel that he brought to this facility...' Realization hit Rogan. 'So that young man is-...!'

Daniel came in and shut the door. Rogan looked alarmed at first but then he sighed. "Well? Care to explain what happened to you?." "Ghh...give me a minute." Daniel was panting hard. "Take your time. I can't leave anyway." Rogan muttered, still observing Daniel. 'I guess that was the reason why he looked like Roy...'

A few minutes later, Daniel sat down at the corner, exhausted. "You alright?" Rogan asked, cut the silence in the room. "Why care for me all of the sudden? Didn't you want to kill me a while ago?" "People change. I'm sure you know that well." Rogan smirked. "Now, where were you?" Right...straight to the point...

"I went back to place where I found you." Daniel answered. "I...know that you're here to destroy the Wheel of Fate. If you're asking me why I didn't destroy it before...It was because of the guard that hit you. He won't let me get near the controls. Other monsters also walked around the place like the guard." Rogan remained silent.

"The Wheel of Fate has to be destroyed. It's still in developing state. If it is complete, it will be free and worse...out of this facility and create the so-called 'new world' without humans. God only knows what that being is capable of with its full potential. I..." Daniel hung his head. "We're stuck in here."

"I don't think so. Soon or later, we'll be out of here." Rogan said. "How exactly are we going to get out of here? Your commandos are all dead, you're hurt and we're cornered." Daniel sighed. Rogan ignored that. "There're some people...waiting for me to come back. I lost contact with them a moment ago...They'll come looking for me. Then, you can get the heck out of here." He thought of his daughter, Lisa, and his wife, Sophie. They would be so worried about him now, especially his daughter. "Yeah, sure." Daniel didn't look convinced. He avoided eye contact with Rogan for a long time. Silence, again.

He probably heard that one many times before that he would get out of here. "Trust me, we'll get out of here, Daniel."

Daniel looked startled at first. A stranger knew his name. 'How did he-...? Unless...' Daniel glanced at the desk. 'Oh.' "Seriously, you don't think that my commandos and I were the last group of humanity, right?"

"I just don't want to see more survivors getting killed by those things again." Daniel muttered. "The last time I saw people trying to hold these things back was in 2003 when AMS agents were sent to stop a monster called Magician." That surprised Rogan. "What-? How did you know all of that when you're in here?" Daniel frowned. He didn't want to remember it. Towns burned, city in ruins, dead people all over the streets and ...monsters crawling everywhere. "I saw what the Wheel of Fate saw. Even in its early developing process, it can control other facilities far from here." Daniel paused. "...now, imagine if it get out of here." Rogan didn't want to think about it. The world's current state was already bad enough.

"Those AMS people...They all tried their best to stop the destruction. Too bad, they were all killed." The old and unwelcoming feeling of despair hit Daniel again. That statement made Rogan raise an eye brow. "All killed? Is that what that Wheel of Fate showed you? That's just ridiculous." That caught Daniel's attention. "Ridiculous? What are you saying? This is not a laughing m-" "Say that again that all AMS were killed." Rogan reached in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his old AMS badge. "Say that again." He showed it to Daniel.

Daniel gawked. "You think that it saw everything? Here's something for you to catch up, kid." Rogan put his badge back in the pocket and pulled another badge out and tossed it to Daniel. "We did try to stop them but we were outnumbered. They spread out faster than we can handle. We thought that we're done...until they came." Rogan pointed to the badge. "An organization called the Endurance sent their team, the SED, to neutralized those things and save the survivors. They hid them in the underground base, far from the devastation." Rogan sighed. "They no longer need us. Lots of things happened so...we all went separate ways."

"I ended up working with the SED while some of us stayed in the underground base with the survivors." anger seeped in Rogan's voice when he talked about SED. Daniel could tell that Rogan doesn't like them. "I...didn't know all of that." Daniel said. He was both happy...but sad at the same time. Humanity survived...but their lives were destroyed by the destruction caused by these creatures. "May I...May I ask you something, sir?"

Rogan was hesitant for a moment. Then he said, "...call me Rogan.". Daniel seemed to recognize that name. 'Father did mention him in his notes...so they really met before.' "Right. May I ask you something, Mr. Rogan?" "What do you want to know?" "...How did you meet my father?" Rogan turned slightly pale. How should he tell this young man here? "...we met each other at a bad place, at the wrong time." That place. That building filled with dead people where he met the scientist who would turn in to a madman. It was some memory that he won't forget. "I see..." Daniel weren't surprised to see the expression on Rogan's face.

"Don't get me wrong," Rogan continued, "…your father was a good friend. A good man." 'I know.' Daniel thought. "My only regret was that I wasn't there by his side when he needed help. None of this should have happen." Rogan muttered with a disappointed tone. He realized that Daniel didn't say a word. He cuddled himself at the corner of the room, staring on the floor. "Daniel?" he didn't answer. "Daniel, you okay there?" Daniel nodded slowly. "I'm fine." he answered. Rogan didn't believe that.

"I take it...You missed him." Rogan said. Daniel was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "The last thing I remember was that I was in my room with him." his voice shook. "When I woke up, I was not in my room. I was in a broken lab. I found myself in this place filled with creatures that wanted to kill me. I was confused. I was lost." Rogan could feel his heart sank slowly. "I ran...hoping to find my father somewhere in this place..." Daniel started to sob softly. "...only to find out from the survivors that he already died." Daniel sank his head in his hands and sobbed. "They called him a monster...they called my father a monster..."

Rogan ignored the pain in his torso when he pushed the desk behind him to let him move across the room on the wheeled-office chair. He stopped right beside Daniel and put his hand on his shoulders. "No, he's not. He did save you after all." He gently patted Daniel's back. "There, there...it's alright. Just let it out." Rogan started to wonder whether his daughter cried like this before when he wasn't around. Some father he was.

'This is going to be a long wait for someone to notice that I was missing...' Rogan sighed.

'Patience's a virtue...Patience's a virtue...' he kept telling himself over and over.

2 weeks later...

It was some miracle that there were people running in facility, shooting every creature down with their shot guns. A blond teenage girl and a gray haired man shot Death down and continued their way upward. The new intruders reached the top floor. One of them kicked the door opened.

"Dad! I knew you were alive!" the teen rushed to Rogan and hugged him. "Lisa...I figured G would bring you here." Rogan was glad to see his daughter and his old friend made it through. G walked in to the room, looked a bit relax...for a moment. When he heard footsteps behind him, G turned around and was about to pull the trigger when Rogan stopped him.

"Wait! G!"

Daniel was getting used to people pointing their guns at him so he didn't look so startled. He calmly approached them. "Please to meet you, Mr. G..." "What the?! Who the heck are you?". "My name is Daniel Curien." he introduced himself. G stared at him. "Dr. Curien was my father...I believe you knew him well."

G lowered the gun down but still staring at Daniel with suspicion. Lisa also gave Daniel a stare, still wondering whether she should trust him.

"It may be hard to believe but...he's the one who saved my life." Rogan explained when he saw doubts on their face. Lisa looked relax a bit but G's expression didn't change. 'Ah, well...that's G.' Rogan stood up. "He's the only one who can prevent the disaster. I have to go-" he tried to walk but he couldn't. G caught Rogan before he hit the floor.

"You can't! You're hurt." Lisa lifted her gun. "...I'll go. G, take care of dad for me." "Alright. I'll leave everything in your hands. Remember, Lisa...believe in yourself no matter what happen." Rogan said. Deep inside, he was worried that this mission would be too hard for her but when he saw confidence in her...that made him proud. "Believe in yourself, Lisa..." Lisa repeated to herself. "I...think I finally understand what that really means now." She walked out from the room.

Daniel followed her. "Daniel." G called. He tossed his gun at Daniel. "Never go in to a fight empty handed." he spoke sternly. "...and Daniel...keep her safe." Daniel nodded and left the room. Finally, the moment that he had been waiting for has come. He and Lisa were on their way to the chamber.

"The accursed Wheel of Fate...Just wait!"

Author's note: Sorry for late update. This chapter is a REAL pain in the...hands and brain. (I'm not crying, I swear.)

So it finally reaches the main storyline...check. Making the story predictable...check. Making a few more chapters...check. Putting stuff that I'm not supposed to write...double check. Spoiling the ending...scratch that. I know we hate spoilers.

...to those who are biologists...I'd like to say sorry for making up silly nonsense.

Thanks for reading and viewings...plus the reviews.