Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace ( Dexter )

"Human desire is bottomless, like a black hole, devouring everything in its path..." Damian gazed out the car window, speaking again. "Some folks argue that humans aren't native to Earth but prisoners trapped here, doomed to a cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death."

"Do you actually buy into these fairy tales, Dr. Damian?" I scoffed.

"Fairy tales? The end of science is theology because anything that can't be explained by science can be explained by theology," Damian retorted with a smirk. "Take immortality, for instance. It seems impossible, right? But is it really?"

"Could the ancients imagine that one day, the average human lifespan would extend to 73 years? Advances in medical technology have nearly doubled our lifespans, leading to an aging society with its own set of burdens."

I frowned, absorbing Damian's words.

"The flip side of medical progress is an aging population, a declining birth rate, and the elite focusing on the 'quality' of their offspring: higher intelligence, superior physical strength, innate immunity to various diseases. A man-made 'evolutionary' advantage over the average Joe..." Damian chuckled.

Because this is what modern science and healthcare can achieve.

"Ever wonder why the wealthy can live so long? Ny, even a hundred years old, and still bursting with vitality. Do you really think it's just good genes? It's because they have access to things the average person can't even dream of... be it drugs or other exotic treatments."

There's too much darkness beyond our imagination.

All built on money and power.

"And you, Phoebe, your very existence is tied to the interests and destinies of many... You're like the protagonist in The Truman Show, with countless eyes watching every aspect of your life, including your 'rebirth' in Foebe's body - a ludicrous notion that's nevertheless caught someone's attention." "And the capital behind the scenes can amplify the value of your existence infinitely..." Damian said with a smirk. "Phoebe, you have no idea how valuable you really are."

A chill ran down my spine as I grasped Damian's implication.

If 'rebirth' were proven possible, the future would see more tycoons betting on this notion, with the Gene-Forge Collective's backers using 'me' as a guinea pig to attract more investment. Continuing the research on cloning and the transfer of souls and memories as a way to defy natural aging and death, perpetuating their existence indefinitely.

Achieving the so-called 'immortality'.

And with that, more sins and violations of nature and human decency would emerge.

"From the moment we're born, the world is divided into classes. Fairness? It's just a word." Damian laughed, a hint of madness in his voice. "Whether you're Phoebe or not... I hope you're not..."

There was a deep meaning in Damian's words. He wanted me to hide, to avoid detection.

"I've been working hard to prove you're not Phoebe... I'm trying to save your life." Damian spoke again. "Here we are, time to get out."

I frowned as I stepped out of the car.

Damian had brought us to a place that was the epitome of Western dread: a psychiatric hospital.

His father-in-law's psychiatric hospital.

"This place... it's riddled with sins." Damian looked at the psychiatric hospital's inpatient building and

spoke again. "Caleb, you're reallyet

smart, faking insanity to get in here, trying to unearth its secrets. You've made it this far, which is quite remarkable..."

Damian's voice was low, as if he genuinely admired Colin. "Too bad... those people are always more vigilant than you'd expect." "Follow me," Damian gestured for us to follow him inside.

"Dr. Damian, the hospital has a policy against bringing in outsiders..." The guard at the door stopped us with a wary look. "He's a patient, and this is a family member," Damian pointed at Colin.

The guard checked his tablet,

verifying the information, and seeing

that Colin was indeed a form seei

patient, he finally relaxed. "Alright, Dr. Damian, right this way..."