Chapter 286: The Night Had Finally Arrived

Deep controlled breaths came from Isaac who was performing a push-up exercise with his mother seated in a meditative pose on his back.

"Are you okay!" She asked. He had already crossed two hundred and twenty. It was frightening to her as she feared her son could collapse at any moment.

Isaac smirked. "It’s nothing. You should eat more, I can barely feel your weight."

His mother chuckled. "Why are you at home so often, Isaac? You clearly loved being at the camp, training. Be honest with me, is it because Lucy confessed to Percival that she likes him?"

Isaac collapsed, his cheek pressed against the floor. "She never did that!" He retorted loudly.

His mother chuckled at his red face. "I was just teasing you." She rose to her feet.

"Enough exercise." She strolled toward the kitchen.

Isaac turned, lying on his back. The rotating ceiling fan reflected in his bright eyes. "What are we having for breakfast?"

He knew the true reason and it wasn’t Lucy. After what happened to Godfrey, he understood that being and building good memories with his loved ones was the best part of living.

Godfrey must have felt heartbroken for not being there for Isolde. Isaac knew he had not really paid attention to his mother, all he knew was that she would and should provide since he was her son.

But she was also a human being. She could laugh if he joked with her, they bonded over little moments like when she sought his approval over her outfit.

They had gone to the market, casual day and night strolls, and watched live shows at the Central Park.

Isaac’s sweet thoughts collapsed when a hand towel fell on his face.

He heard his mother’s giggle. "Join me in the kitchen."

"What?" Isaac sat up. Even the neighborhood knew his disasters in the kitchen.

"We will be cooking together from today. You should learn how to cook. It’s an extremely attractive trait for a man." She winked at him.

"You honestly stand no chance against that blue-haired friend or yours. He’s simply too good-looking and his temperament is a cherry on the top. Cooking will be your advantage, that’s how your father caught my eye." She placed one hand on her hip and the other on the kitchen island.

"So what are you still doing on your butt?!" She widened her eyes deliberately to look aggressive.

Isaac slapped his forehead. Maybe... he should consider going back to camp.

Right then, there was a knock on the door. Isaac went, opened and blinked several times at the sight of Arden standing right outside his door and Oliver leaning against the pick-up truck they came in.

"The captain wants to see you. It’s urgent." She said softly.

Isaac looked at his mother and back at Arden. "As much as I would love to respond to his request, I’m not available. I’m not the strongest around and I also applied to leave for a while. The captain also signed that I won’t be disturbed until my break is over."

"This isn’t a request, Isaac." Oliver’s voice rang as he slowly ascended the short staircase.

Arden sighed. "Please follow us."

Isaac frowned. "What’s this about?"

"We’ll talk at the camp." Arden replied with a soft, comfortable smile.

Isaac exhaled heavily, spoke to his mother and followed them. The moment he entered the pick-up truck, Oliver cuffed him with suppressors.

Isaac’s eyes widened. "What are you doing?!"

"I hate to break this to you but you’re a clone. And Cain has somehow gained access to you. He’s planning to take over your body, destroy the camp and weaken paradise. It’s best you stay far away from your mother." Oliver replied with a cold gaze.

"This is bullshit! What a load of crap!" Isaac hurtled curses with enraged eyes. "Get these suppressors off me!" He yelled angrily but Oliver didn’t respond.

He simply looked out the window.

"Calm down, Isaac. He’s being cautious. We’re going to make sure you’re safe. We’re not your enemies." Arden said as she drove the truck.

***

Almost thirty minutes later, the truck drove down a dusty road with grass on both sides into the tall metal walls of the camp.

Arden and Oliver were stunned to see hundreds of Regulars gathered out, they were shouting.

"Wasn’t this supposed to be a secret." Oliver muttered.

A Regular pulled off the door right off its hinges and dragged Isaac outside. One moment he was in the truck, the next he was swallowed by the crowd who launched punches, kicks at him. Some clawed at him, their eyes filled with hate.

They weren’t seeing Isaac but Cain. The same man whose Fanatics had caused them a lot of losses.

Oliver’s summon, the four-armed skeleton wielding different weapons appeared, pointing its weapons at the Vagabonds, forcing them to distance themselves from Isaac.

Arden’s summon appeared above. The Harpy flapped its wings once and a gale blew everyone further back, leaving Isaac groaning with an almost unrecognizable face, swollen from the attack of the rage-blinded mob.

Leanna stood on one of the buildings in the camp, watching the ordeal. She held the metal railing and began to speak.

"Word came from the Watchman. An exposed clone of Cain cannot be tolerated. The cohort, protectors of paradise, must know. ALL OF THEM."

At her words the Regulars began to approach once more. This was Cain they were talking about, once he finally saw through Isaac’s eyes, paradise was doomed.

Their families, everything was gone. To protect that, they were ready to kill Isaac.

"I say we kill him!"

"Kill him!"

"No!" Arian’s voice echoed as he stood above Leanna, right on the third floor. "He will be locked away and suppressed until the next day. Then, we shall begin proper judgment."

Leanna squinted. She could see that Arian was trying to counter her prophecy. If Isaac was suppressed and imprisoned, how then would he be able to attack the cohort?

The prisons here were made from steel forged by Elder Orion’s summon. It was impossible to damage once suppressed and that was with the consideration of Mastery.

A few minutes later, Isaac found himself behind bars in a dark place facing a hallway. They were underground, he was cuffed with suppressors and was still reeling from his wounds since Arian was against him being healed to at least appease others a little.

And to make sure he was too weak to do anything.

Arden stepped into his cell and gently caressed his swollen eyes and cheeks. "Isaac, it will be okay."

He didn’t respond, his face was dark and his eyes barely visible. Even if he had an expression they couldn’t see it as his face was almost deformed.

After a while, Arden finally left while Oliver looked at Isaac with pity. He was in charge of watching him so even after Arden left, both of them sat there, one behind bars, one outside of it.

Isaac clenched his teeth, tears filling his eyes. Him, a clone? He wanted to say these people would regret it when Godfrey or Percival showed up but if these accusations were true didn’t that mean he was all alone.

Of course Godfrey won’t trust him and neither would Percival.

Isaac burst into laughter but tears fell down his face, splattering on the ground.

Hours passed and the sun gave its place to the moon.

The night had finally arrived.