Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace (Dexter and Phoebe) novel Chapter 496

"No one knows about our secret little island," Colin mumbled, his voice growing more hoarse by the minute.

I stared at Colin for what felt like an eternity before whispering back, "Okay, I'll trust you."

...

Even if we can't touch.

Even if we're only inches apart.

We can still feel each other.

I guess, scientifically or medically speaking, this might be considered some form of mental illness, but I believe... those who've passed on still exist around us in another form.

Even if it's just a wishful thinking, at least, it comforts the lonely souls.

"Phoebe, you're here with me, right?" Colin asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm here," I replied with a smile.

Even though I can't touch him, even though he can't see me, even though he can't hear my words.

I still wanted to respond to him.

...

"The lab is hidden in the undeveloped woodlands near Cloud City, bordering the wilderness, a place most folks wouldn't stumble upon by chance. Officially, it's some kind of upscale retirement village, with wealthy retired scientists living above ground. But underground, it spans three levels, all dedicated to the lab," Robin said, his voice heavy with frustration.

"Naomi's the head of this lab. She calls the shots on everything. The Gene-Forge Collective operates many labs across the country, but this is the only one we've managed to uncover so far. We thought we could trace back from this one, unraveling the whole operation like pulling a thread, but... we underestimated the Gene-Forge Collective."

Outside the emergency room, Robin rubbed his temples in distress.

"Every lab in the Gene-Forge Collective operates independently, with no connections between them. Their subjects, researchers, medical staff—all of it—they groom from scratch, taken by human traffickers who kidnap those with special talents for training and brainwashing before sending them off to these labs. So, basically... there are only two ways to link all the labs together and pull them out of the shadows like uprooting weeds."

Finn looked at Robin. "One, through Naomi, and two, by tracing the human traffickers and organ smuggling rings, unraveling the network bit by bit."