Isabel saw red.

She wanted to see more red.

Every muscle inside of her was screaming, compelling to tear the man in front of her apart one limb at a time. The man whom she now knew was her father. She shook her head in disbelief, turning to her mother who looked to be on the verge of tears herself.

''It's not true,'' Isabel said breathlessly. ''Tell me he's not…''

Helen wanted to speak. But, she couldn't because she knew that her answer would only hurt Isabel more. Her eyes glanced back to Gabriel kneeling before them. Though he looked ghastly, she recognized him instantly. Despite her emotions on full display for everyone to see, Gabriel remained stoic when facing her. He didn't even smile as he eyed the room, noting the number of people glaring at him with revenge in their eyes. However, their hunger for vengeance was dwarfed by the burning fury that was exuding from Isabel.

''You knew…'' she growled, clenching her fist tightly. ''When I told you my name…you knew who I was.''

''I wondered if my eyes were deceiving me,'' he replied. ''But, I knew right away that you were my daughter when I saw…''

''Shut up!'' Isabel screamed, rattling his bones. ''I'm not your daughter!''

A smile slowly formed across Gabriel's face. ''Yes, you are. My child. My blood. My creation.''

In any other situation, Isabel would have lashed out in anger and coated her hands in blood. However, she was so furious that she couldn't move. She remained rooted as she tried to process what was happening. ''What kind of father experiments on his own daughter?''

Helen gasped. ''You did what?''

''I'm a man of science,'' he answered blankly. ''I can't let personal attachments stifle my achievements.''

When their eyes locked, Helen's body began to move of its own accord. She marched up to him and before anyone could stop her, slapped Gabriel against the face with enough force, she almost knocked him to the ground. His face hit the floor with a loud thud. The outburst was enough to even shock Isabel out of her blind rage. She stared at her mother towering over the man, ready to strike again if he looked up at her. The crowd sounding around cheered at the historian's actions and looked ready to jump in at any moment.

Suddenly, Cruise stepped between the two of them, carefully pushing Helen to the side. ''I think it's time we called an end to this happy family reunion.''

''I want to know why!'' Helen hissed, ignoring Cruise as she spat at Gabriel. ''I want to know why you left the colony. I want to know what you were doing helping Drakes. And I want to know why you hurt our…my daughter!''

Gabriel pushed himself up onto his knees. His eyes flickered back and forth between Isabel and Helen as a trickle of blood oozed down from his nose. ''Do you want the honest truth? I couldn't stand being with any of you.''

The room fell silent as Gabriel's glare shifted not only between his blood family but also with those who recognized from the colony, including Jon and Sir Lucan. But, eventually, he returned his gaze back to Isabel and Helen.

''We were dirt. No, we were lower than dirt. We were ants waiting to be exterminated. All we ever did was eat and breed so that we could survive. I knew that we could do so much more. I needed a way out. I needed to go to the surface where my intellect would truly change the world. I couldn't afford to have anything or anyone holding me back. So, I guess you could say that I banished myself. I never looked back from the day I left.''

Before Helen could give a response, Cruise interjected to keep the topic on track. ''That still doesn't explain how you came to find yourself in the Drake's good books.''

Gabriel snorted cynically. ''They looked down on me with pity. I amused them. I hated the feeling. But, it kept me alive long enough for me to propose my vision to them. I had overheard them talking about how Dragons were growing tired of mating with humans to create Drakes. They wanted an easier way to increase their numbers. I offered them my services. I promised them that I would find a way to infuse Dragon blood with that of a human to create a brand new super-species. The Drakes accepted my offer. They believed I was creating allies for them. But, I wanted to reach higher. I wanted to create a new species of Dragon. And I succeeded.''

Isabel could feel the eyes of many gazing upon her. The fact that Gabriel was proudly proclaiming her as one of his creations left a repugnant taste in her mouth. She felt Jess's hand on her shoulder, holding her from behind to comfort her. But, Isabel's anger was steadily growing again. Her body was beginning to burn. Jess refused to back away. She kept holding onto Isabel to comfort her, fighting through the pain of Isabel's body growing hotter against hers.

Helen grit her teeth. ''You tried to play god?''

''I became a god.''

''Not quite,'' Cruise stated. ''Why didn't you use the formula on yourself? You seem like someone who would be mad enough to make themself the test subject.''

''We didn't get the formula correct immediately. There were many test subjects over the years. None had survived.''

The crowd looked ready to break away to swarm over him like a raging tsunami. The memory of all the people that had been experimented on while they slaved under Albatox and Baerock fuelled their fire. It seemed like at any moment they would attack. If Cruise wanted to get more information from Gabriel, he would have to do it quickly.

''Alright, Doctor Herbert West, there's still one thing I don't understand. How did your formula find its way to your daughter if she was still buried under the earth and you were living the high life as a pet for the Drakes?''

Surprisingly, Thane stepped forward. ''Yeah, that doesn't add up. She only got the powers when we were attacked by a skeleton. What does that have to do with this formula?''

''Your old lab partner,'' Isabel said quietly as she fitted the pieces together in the back of her mind. ''You mentioned him before. Who was he?''

Gabriel swallowed the lump in his throat before he spoke. For the first time, he appeared to be genuinely annoyed by the question thrown in his face. ''Abraham. A scientist who was almost my equal. Albatox and Baerock had captured him and when they saw his mind at work, they believed he would aid me with my experiments so that I could finally perfect my formula.''

''What happened to him?'' Isabel asked.

''He wanted to use my formula against the Dragons.''

Helen glared at him. ''And you wanted to help them? You could have created something that would have defeated them?''

''Even if that is what I wanted…what then? We go on living on this rock until we find a way to destroy it ourselves. You and I know what the old world was like before the Dragons came. Genocide. Global warming. Disease and famine. We would have all died eventually. But, with the Dragons, the chosen few can ascend to new worlds with them. I knew that I could be a part of that. Haven't any of you wanted that?''

As he glanced around the room, he noticed the one who recognized as Thane, son of Sir Lucan, look away with a guilty expression.

Cruise clicked his tongue. ''So, what happened next? You killed this partner of yours?''

''I should have,'' Gabriel whispered. ''We had come the closest we'd ever been before to creating the right formula. When I suggested testing it on a child, Abraham snapped. He stole the formula…and used it on himself.''

Those words triggered something within Isabel. Her head began pounding heavily. She buckled over, screaming in pain as it felt like a scalpel was pulling her brain apart. As Helen rushed over to see what was happening, Isabel's vision began to drown away like she was slipping away into a dream. However, it didn't feel like her own dream.

There was a blinding flash of light as Isabel found herself in a different room. It was the room within the stadium that she had been experimented on by Gabriel. However, things appeared different. Everything was still in order and Isabel found herself walking around freely, although she wasn't in control of her actions. She was watching events play out in the eyes of another person. She was inside of someone else's skin watching as Gabriel, back in his Doctor attire, dragging a moveable table into the room with a young boy strapped to it. Isabel's body walked over to the table, gazing down at the unconscious boy.

''We have it right this time,'' Gabriel spoke, grabbing the syringe with the red formula bubbling inside. ''I can feel it.''

''Dear God, he's just a boy.'' The words coming out of this person's mouth didn't belong to Isabel. They turned to watch Gabriel walk closer to the table. ''How many more have to die like this?''

''As many as is needed to create a new lifeform,'' Gabriel stated. He glanced down at the boy. ''Hello, little one. You're next.''

''I can't allow this.''

Gabriel stared at Isabel's host. ''Abraham, this is what we've been working towards.''

''No, this is all on you. I want no part of this.''

''Very well,'' Gabriel turned back to the boy and grabbed his arm. ''I already promised myself I would not let anyone hold me back. This creation is mine alone.''

Suddenly, Isabel watched through the eyes of Abraham as he grabbed the syringe from Gabriel's hand, pushing the sadistic doctor away to give himself some space. Abraham clutched the syringe in his hand and raised it up above his head, preparing to throw it to the ground. However, the doors of the room burst open, and Abraham was frozen with fear as Albatox and Baerock stepped inside.

''What is going on here?'' Albatox questioned.

Baerock cackled. ''Oh dear, looks like one of our doctors has lost their marbles.''

Behind them, Gabriel rose to his feet and pointed at Abraham. ''Go ahead. Throw it to the ground. You'll burn here and I'll one day re-create the formula without you. Then, there will be no one who can stop me.''

As Abraham thought of his next course of action, Isabel could read his mind like it was her own. They knew that Gabriel was right. Abraham destroying this formula, which might not even be perfected, would do nothing in the grand scheme of things. Gabriel would attempt to make another one. He was close to perfecting it. Abraham could do nothing. Although, there was one thing that he could do with the formula in his hand to give him a fighting chance.

Without a word, he injected the formula into his arm.

The next few minutes were Isabel being riddled with flashes as she watched the events unfold before her very eyes. Abraham's whole body was shaking and burning up as his body seemed to reject the formula aggressively. He was jumped on by Albatox and Baerock. They pummelled him to the ground, refusing to give him any chance to retaliate. Isabel couldn't feel the pain. But, she was still horrified to watch Abraham's body being broken and burnt as the Drakes made short work of him. They tossed his charred body around like a rag doll. He was sent hurtling through the walls and out into the open world. Much to Abraham's shock, he was still conscious. Using what little strength he had, he ran into the distance before Albatox and Baerock realized what he could do with his new speed. He ran until his feet bleed and didn't look back. His ears throbbed painfully as he could hear the Drake's roars dwindling behind him. Hoping to lose them for good, Abraham changed course and ran down a dark tunnel.

Before long, his legs would no longer function properly. He looked down to see the flesh melting off him, leaving him as a walking corpse. Raising his arm, he could see the bone underneath his melting muscles. He couldn't even scream in pain any more. His body thrashed around the tunnel, convulsing until he vomited black liquid. He spewed the substance which burned and sizzled like molten lava.

''The formula wasn't ready…'' he mumbled to himself weakly. ''It was too much.''

He lunged up against the wall with enough strength to cause the rocks to fall on top of his weakening body. Abraham was buried deeper into the earth, too weak and scared to even free himself.

Memories of his life flashed before his and Isabel's eyes. Growing up in a colony of his own, he loved to study and learn. He wished to see the world as it was before. He devoted himself to science to help future generations, including his two children that he loved dearly. Their silhouettes danced happily with a woman that Abraham adored. However, a shadow overwhelmed them, making them disappear in a sudden burst of flames, leaving Abraham alone and plucked into a world of pain and misery by Gabriel's side.

The pain was too much. Abraham burst from the ground…and was barely able to see two individuals standing before him. A young man and a young woman.

Abraham didn't want this pain anymore. The formula rejected him. It needed another host. He wanted to pass this onto someone else. He wasn't sure if it would be the abelites as well as the pain and anger he felt that would pass on, but he no longer cared.

''You're next.''

He charged at the man. He looked physically stronger than most. Perhaps he would be a good host?

The woman jumped in the way to save him. She grabbed Abraham and they were both pulled into the liquid.

This young woman sacrificed herself…she was mentally strong. Abraham died smiling, feeling that she may be a good host.

Everything was consumed by fire as Isabel came crashing back to reality, panting and sweating heavily as she looked up to see Helen and Jess comforting her while everyone else was watching on. Gabriel looked more curious than concerned with what his daughter was experiencing.

''Sweetie, what happened?'' Helen asked.

Isabel fixed her glare towards Gabriel. ''Abraham was the skeleton. He passed the abilities to me. The formula worked on me indirectly.''

Gabriel frowned. ''You are still my creation.''

Punching her fist into the ground to leave a dent, Isabel turned around and stormed off before she could listen to anything else that he had to say. Jess quickly gave chase, though she would need a miracle to catch up to her. Helen rose to her feet but didn't run after them immediately. Instead, she turned her head and locked eyes with Gabriel one final time.

''You're going to rot in hell for what you've done.'' She snarled before running after Isabel and Jess.

Cruise shrugged and pulled a handgun from his pocket to point it at Gabriel's head. ''Guess we don't need you anymore.''

''Wait…'' someone called out. The crowd dispersed as Sir Lucan stepped forward. ''I do believe he should be punished. But, he may still have more information for us about the Drakes. We can use him.''

''That's not a wise decision,'' Cruise replied. ''I've been at this longer than you dirt-walkers. It's never a wise move to keep the prisoner alive.''

''I understand that you have your way of doing things, but this man was once part of our colony. I will take full responsibility. Once we have learnt everything we can from him, he shall be banished to the outside world. He will not survive.''

''Did you say that when he disappeared from your colony the first time?''

Behind Lucan, Giovanni approached the elder councilman nervously. ''Sir Lucan, I may have to agree with Cruise. It could be dangerous to keep Gabriel alive…''

''We cannot allow this opportunity to pass. We have someone with potential inside knowledge to how the Drakes hunt. We may even learn of their next move. He will be kept alive for a few more days. Do I make myself clear?''

Giovanni took a long time to answer. It was longer than he had even taken to answer his superior before. Eventually, he grit his teeth and nodded. ''Yes, sir.''

Cruise sighed and placed his gun away. ''I can already tell this is not going to end well.''

XXX

HELLO MY SWEET SUPERSTARS! I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE ALL KEPT WELL. I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY WITH THIS JOB. WORK HAS BEEN CRAZY BUSY AND OTHER THINGS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE HAVE KEPT ME AWAY FROM WRITING AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE. BUT I AM BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED IT. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BACKSTORY THROUGH ABRAHAM'S EYES? WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BECOME OF GABRIEL? IT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP HIM AROUND, BUT WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT VERY SOON. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO SEE PEOPLE'S REACTIONS TO THE CLIFFHANGER IN THE LAST CHAPTER AND THE REVEAL ABOUT ISABEL'S FATHER. YOU ALL MAKE WRITING THIS STORY SUCH A FUN EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. STAY SAFE. WEAR YOUR MASKS. TA-TA FOR NOW.