Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 2044

Estelle continued, her voice a wisp of concern in the dimly lit room.

"Have you met Evelyn? She came to Citadel to find her boyfriend. I've saved her twice now. She has this red birthmark on her back-just like Grandpa described, though it's a bit off to the side. She told me she was adopted, and the ages match up. Running into her here, maybe it's fate! I want to bring her home. If she really is his granddaughter, that would be perfect."

Jonathan arched an eyebrow in surprise. What were the odds?

"Her boyfriend works in Zion as a pharmacist, but he's got a serious addiction. Doesn't want to go back." Estelle murmured softly, "With Triceratops and Wolf gone, Zion's not what it used to be. If you find Lynn, ask him if he's willing to return. If he does, it'd be doing Evelyn a favor."

Jonathan gently brushed her hair back from her face and said, "I got it. Don't worry about that now. You need to rest."

"Mhm!" Estelle closed her eyes with a faint nod.

They chatted quietly until Estelle, drained, drifted back to sleep.

Jonathan watched her peaceful face for a moment before standing up and leaving the room.

Gab was in the living room, waiting. When he saw Jonathan, he stood up and asked, "Hasn't Estelle woken up?"

"She did, but she's asleep again. Keep an eye on her for me, will you? I need to make a trip to Zion!" Jonathan said, his voice firm. "What happened?" Gab asked.

"Estelle was experimented on by Raiden. I need to find out exactly what they gave her," Jonathan said gravely.

Gab frowned slightly and asked, "Was Estelle drugged?"

He suddenly remembered, "Before Wolf died, he gave Estelle something. Said it was an antidote."

At the time, he hadn't understood what Wolf meant, planning to ask Estelle when she woke up. Now, it clicked.

"Where is it?" Jonathan asked immediately.

"Estelle had it at first!"

"It's with me!" Josiah quickly searched behind the couch and handed a white bottle to Jonathan. "When Estelle passed out, this bottle fell to the ground. I picked it up." Jonathan took the bottle, opened it, and found ten white pills inside.

He was still uneasy-not just about Wolf, but about the medication.

"I'm going to check the drugs used on Ella, then test these pills to make sure they're safe before letting her take them."

Evelyn spoke up, "Take me with you. I can help you find Lynn. He'll know what drugs were used on Estelle." She also wanted to go back to Zion to see how Lynn was doing.

"Okay," Jonathan nodded curtly. "Let's go."

Evelyn hurried after him.

Zion was unrecognizable—a shadow of its former self. After the previous night's assault, the fortress was in shambles.

Gab's men had taken over Zion, demolishing the many labs studying bacteria and viruses, and had detained the researchers. People at the bar and maids had already scattered in panic, leaving Zion nearly in ruins.

In just one night, all its splendor was gone.

Jonathan found Lynn and brought that professor to ask about the substances injected into Estelle.

Professor Bill, looking disheveled, confessed that Raiden wanted to trap Estelle in a cycle of torment with a drug that controlled her mind, but Estelle's will was too strong; she wasn't completely subdued, only falling into nightmares when she slept.

Jonathan questioned Bill about the experiments conducted on Estelle and showed him the supposed antidote from Raiden. "Is this really the cure?"