LOVE PROMISES

There was a secret hidden away, one that had likely already claimed many victims. All the citizens cried for help—what was really going on?

As the truck sped through the devastated streets of Nanjing, Fen couldn’t stop thinking about Han and the cryptic message he had left behind. Ahead of them lay the hidden laboratory, now their destination—a place that raised more questions than it answered. In her mind, Fen tried to piece together the clues Han had given her, though they all seemed vague.

Suddenly, the radio crackled, breaking the silence around them. An anxious officer’s voice came through.

“This is Alpha Team; we’re on the eastern side of Nanjing, but the situation is out of control. We’re facing an enemy stronger than we expected. They seem focused on attacking the area we suspect houses the laboratory.”

Fen and Chen exchanged glances. This was no coincidence; the Japanese seemed to know exactly what they were after.

The commander seated in front of them adjusted the radio connection, his tone firm. “Alpha, hold your ground. We’re on our way and will join you shortly. Do not let the enemy enter the lab at any cost.”

Fen sensed something more in the commander’s tone, as if he were hiding an even deeper secret. But now wasn’t the time to ask. As the truck approached the specified location, gunfire sounded closer, and explosions began to shake the ground beneath them.

“Let’s move quickly,” the commander said, hopping out of the truck and signaling his team to prepare. They ran toward a large concrete building, almost invisible from the outside, shielded by the ruins.

Upon entering the building, Fen felt a different kind of chill. The dark corridors with walls covered in cables and thick pipes felt like a never-ending maze. The soldiers moved cautiously, weapons ready for any threat.

At the end of the corridor, they found a large room with a securely locked steel door. Chen tried to open it, but the mechanism was locked from the inside. They would have to find another way in.

“Fen, do you hear that?” whispered Chen, pressing his ear against the wall. Fen realized that from beyond the steel door, there was the faint hum of machinery and a steady flow of electricity. The lab seemed to be active, and whatever was being researched there was clearly highly classified.

Fen took a deep breath. “What’s going on here, Chen? Something so big that the enemy is willing to destroy an entire city to stop it?”

Chen looked at her with a determined gaze. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Suddenly, the steel door opened slowly, and a man in a lab coat emerged, looking frightened as he saw Fen and his team. “You shouldn’t be here!” he shouted, his tone panicked.

“We’re here to save people and find answers,” replied Fen, no longer concerned about protocol. “What are you hiding here?”

The man hesitated, but the fear on his face showed he knew something crucial. “They forced us to develop something... a biological weapon that could alter human genetics. They said it would end the war, but the consequences were unforeseen. We lost control of the experiment.”

Fen was stunned. A weapon that could alter genetics? This was beyond anything she had anticipated. She looked at the man with blazing eyes, “What happened to Han? Was he one of your test subjects?”

The man looked down, unable to meet Fen’s gaze. “Han... he was a test subject in the early stages. But there were unforeseen side effects. We never intended…”

“Never intended?” Fen almost shouted, anger and despair boiling inside her. “You’re not just playing with lives, but with this entire city!”

Before the man could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, followed by shouts getting closer. They had to leave before enemy troops caught up with them.

“We can’t stay here. This place will be destroyed,” urged the commander, pulling Fen and the others to quickly move out.

As they ran out of the building, Fen kept thinking about what she had just learned. Nanjing was not just a battleground, but also the stage for an experiment that spelled disaster for everyone, but what about Harbin?

Their journey wasn’t over. Fen needed to find out who was responsible for all of this and stop them before more lives were lost.

Nanjing was no longer just about survival—it was about uncovering the truth and seeking justice. No matter what, Fen swore she would continue this fight.

After traveling several kilometers, the truck finally stopped at a hidden location on the city’s edge. Fen, Chen, and the commander quickly gathered to plan their next move. Squatting next to the truck, the commander unfolded an old map and pointed to the spot where they had found the lab.

“That place... it seems to be part of the secret network of Unit 731,” the commander said in a low voice, his expression turning tense and worried.

Fen stared at the commander, shocked. Her eyes widened, and even her breathing grew ragged. The name Unit 731 was not unfamiliar to her—that group was notorious for conducting cruel biological experiments during the war. They were accused of horrifying human experiments, with innocent people as test subjects. But until now, she had thought it was nothing more than baseless rumors.

“Unit 731?” Chen muttered, as if in disbelief. “I thought it was just a liar. I heard their experiments were stopped long ago. But you’re saying they’re active here, in Nanjing? That’s crazy!”

The commander nodded, his gaze grim. “No.. No.. It's not here. Listen to me, it’s not active in Nanjing but in Harbin. Many don’t know, but they’ve extended their operations far beyond what we imagined. Some Japanese scientists who survived continued their research in secret places like this. They’re performing horrific experiments on humans, especially biological weapons that can spread deadly diseases.”

Fen felt nauseous hearing that, images of Han and her dire condition haunting her thoughts again. Han, who was once so lively and full of life, now a victim of unimaginable human cruelty. She could see the connection between Han’s wounds and Unit 731’s notoriously brutal methods.

“I can’t let this continue,” Fen declared, her resolve hardening. “If they’re really using Harbin as an experimental ground, we must stop them. Many lives will be lost, and we can’t just sit idly by. Look, Nanjing is already destroyed. I don't want Harbin to be destroyed too.”

Chen nodded in agreement, his face resolute even though fear was evident. “I’m with you, Fen. But we need evidence. Without proof, it’s hard to expose this dark secret to the world.”

The commander reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sealed folder. He placed it in Fen’s hands, revealing the documents inside. “This is the information we managed to steal from that place. Proof of their presence here, and data on the experiments they’ve conducted.”

Fen held onto the documents tightly, feeling the weight of the information she now possessed. This was no longer just about saving Harbin from Unit 731 and also Nanjing.

This was an opportunity to expose the entire brutal operation of Unit 731 and end their horrific experiments once and for all.

They returned to the truck with a newfound urgency. They knew their journey wasn’t over; they still had to reach the base, spread the information, and work hard to stop the Japanese operations.

Now they carried a heavy burden, not only because of the dangers of war but also because of the dark secrets that could change the course of history.

As the truck sped towards the shelter, Fen steeled her heart. She knew they were on a dangerous mission.

But she vowed to do whatever it took to save innocent lives and ensure the world knew about the horrors hidden in Nanjing and something crazy happens in Harbin now.

Horrors that went beyond mere warfare but were bioweapons experiments that shattered human souls.