Brain Transplant? 8 Godmothers Strike!

The day my wealthy biological parents finally took me home, my eight godmothers stood at the gate with tears in their eyes as they watched me leave. I had barely been back for two days when everything changed. It was all because I scored one hundred points higher than the fake heir on our final exam mock test. My own parents took me to an underground black market hospital. They were going to cut out my brain and transplant it into the fake heir. "You've already taken Braxton's place as the center of the family," my mother said coldly. "Giving him your brilliant brain is the least you can do to make it up to him." "Don't worry," my father added with a smile. "We'll find you an ordinary brain afterward. We'll take care of you for the rest of your life." Braxton grinned as he leaned close. "Let me tell you a little secret. I bribed the surgeon. The brain they're putting in your head belongs to an idiot. "Your life is over." I struggled with everything I had, refusing to give up. Then they dragged me out of the car. The moment I looked up at the building, I almost laughed. Was this not the hospital owned by my eight godmothers? When I left home, my eldest godmother — the CEO — had sent me off with red-rimmed eyes. She vowed back then, "If anyone in the Long family dares lay a finger on you, I'll bankrupt them before they know what hit them." My second godmother, a renowned surgeon, had said nothing at all. She had simply continued wiping down her scalpel. It seemed like Braxton and the Long family had walked straight into a trap they would never escape from. Chapter 1 At the entrance to the black market, I spotted my youngest godmother, Joyce Smith, from a distance. Excitement surged through me. I rushed toward her, ready to call out her name. Before I could, my father, Austin Long, grabbed me from behind and held my arms tight, tying me up so I could not move. My mother, Daniela Cobb, pried my mouth open. A bottle of medicine was forced down my throat, and searing pain ripped through me. I coughed up a mouthful of blood, only to realize I could no longer speak. Daniela wiped the blood that had splattered onto the hem of her skirt, her face full of disgust. "Trying to get someone to call the police? Don't blame us. This is what happens when you refuse to behave." Before I had a chance to catch my breath, an icy iron mask was clamped tightly over my face. Austin, Daniela and Braxton Long each put on a mask as well. I had almost forgotten. Joyce had once told me that wealthy people loved doing terrible things, but they hated letting anyone find out. This was why the black market had one strict rule: every customer had to wear a mask before entering. So, Austin and Daniela knew what they were doing was wrong after all, I thought. "Enough. Let's get moving. The sooner the surgery's over, the sooner you'll stop suffering." Joyce walked over to greet us. She was tall and slender, always wearing a gentle smile that made her seem completely out of place in a place like the black market. "Guest Number Nine? This way, please." As we followed her, rows of rooms made from corrugated metal lined both sides of the passage. Screams echoed endlessly from inside. Thin streams of blood slowly seeped out from beneath the doors. Austin shoved me forward and deliberately lowered his voice. "Hear that? If you keep refusing to listen, you'll end up locked in one of those rooms too. "The woman up ahead runs this place. She's famous for smiling while she destroys people. She’s as ruthless as they come. Every person here was brought in by her. You'd better behave." I almost laughed. A smiling tiger? Was he talking about Joyce? The same Joyce who had chased human traffickers across thousands of miles to rescue an entire truckload of kidnapped children? The same Joyce who had personally taken every rescued child back home after the traffickers were arrested? The only people who got beaten in the black market were the truly evil ones. I stared calmly at my father, my mother, and Braxton. 'If you ask me, it won't be long before the three of you are the ones getting beaten', I thought to myself. The moment Austin looked away, I jerked free and slammed myself into the wall beside me. If I could scrape off this iron mask, Joyce would recognize me! Austin charged after me in two long strides. He grabbed my head and shoved my face straight into a nearby fire pit. "Ahhh!" The flames heated the iron mask almost instantly. Blinding pain burned across my face. The sickening smell of scorched flesh filled the air. The mask fused directly to my skin. "Who gave you permission to take off your mask? If you break the black market's rules, you won't even know how you died!" "Oh, my goodness! What are you doing? You're scaring the child!" Daniela hurried over, yanking Austin away while scolding him. Then she turned and covered Braxton's eyes. "It's okay, Braxton. He's only being punished because he wouldn't behave. "You're the best boy in our family. We'd never treat you like this." A sharp ache spread through my chest. Growing up, I had only ever had my eight godmothers. They loved me more than anything. However, there were always kids who teased me and laughed at me. "They're not your real moms! My mom says kids without their real mother's love are just unwanted little losers. Sebastian, that's you! You're the unwanted one! Hahaha!" I had always wondered what it would feel like to have a dad like Austin and a mom like Daniela. When the Long family came looking for me, I was so excited. I carefully combed my hair and put on my favorite shirt, hoping Austin and Daniela would like me. I never imagined that this was what they would be like. My face hurt and my throat burned, and even my eyes felt like they were on fire. I looked at Joyce, tears streaming down my face as I whimpered silently. Joyce... I do not want to be reunited with them anymore. I just wanted to go home. Chapter 2 Joyce glanced at me, and a look of pity crossed her face as she frowned. She stepped between Austin and me. "You booked a surgery, didn't you? If you beat him half to death, how is the operation supposed to proceed? Come with me." The doctor had not arrived yet, so we could only wait in the hospital room. Joyce looked through the appointment form, her eyes widening in surprise. "A brain transplant? Did this young man actually agree to this?" She looked at me. I shook my head as hard as I could. In response, Austin immediately slapped me. I crashed into a metal cabinet, and bright stars exploded across my vision. Daniela quickly jumped in with a smile. "Of course he agreed. He's our biological son. "It's just that he was switched at birth. The one who grew up with us for over ten years is our precious boy here. "Now that our real son is back, naturally our precious Braxton is going to be upset. We have to make it up to him somehow." Daniela wrapped an affectionate arm around Braxton. The warmth between mother and son was almost blinding. Joyce shot them an icy look before muttering under her breath. "So, he's another child who was switched at birth. I wonder how Sebastian's doing these days..." At those words, I struggled even harder. 'Joyce, it's me! I'm Sebastian!' I screamed the words over and over inside my head. Joyce hesitated. She stepped closer, trying to get a better look at my face through the mask. Austin suddenly drove his foot into my side. I slammed onto the floor, curling up in agony. My vision blurred with tears. I thought about how life used to be. My eight godmothers had always surrounded me. They spoiled me from the day I was little. I had never even gotten a paper cut. Who could have guessed that reuniting with my real family would set me on a path straight to hell? Unable to bear it any longer, Joyce helped me to my feet. Then she turned to Austin and Daniela. "Enough. You're willing to be this cruel to your own son just for the child you raised? You even want to take your biological son's brain and give it to someone else. What kind of parents are you? "Everyone has their own fate. Even if you risk a dangerous surgery to replace someone's brain, there's no guarantee it'll make him smarter. My advice is to cancel the operation." Austin and Daniela both looked embarrassed. They exchanged uncertain glances. For the first time, they seemed to hesitate. Then Braxton suddenly burst into tears. "I knew it. Dad and Mom still love my brother more. I never really belonged in this family. "My brother's smarter than I am. He'll be better than me at everything. I just wanted a smarter brain so I could make lots of money one day and take care of Dad and Mom..." Before he could finish, his body went limp. He collapsed onto the floor. Daniela's eyes instantly filled with tears. "My baby! Braxton! "He must not have eaten before the surgery. His blood sugar's too low. Hurry! Get him some glucose!" Austin and Daniela hurried out, supporting Braxton between them. Even as she left, Daniela turned back to warn Joyce. "That brat will be fine. He's suffered his whole life. Missing one meal won't kill him. Don't you dare give him anything to eat. We can't let it interfere with my baby's surgery!" The room finally fell silent. Joyce crouched in front of me, her eyes full of sympathy. "I have a precious boy at home whose story is a lot like yours. "So, whose precious child are you?" As she spoke, she untied the ropes around my wrists. "Run. I can buy you two hours." Tears poured down my face. Out of my eight godmothers, Joyce had been the first one I ever met. After Braxton's biological mother switched us at birth, she raised me for only two years before growing tired of me. She dumped me beside a garbage bin and left me to fend for myself. That was when I met Joyce. She was homeless too. Later, we begged for food together. She always laughed and said, "Ever since I met you, people have been giving us more food. Sebastian must be my little lucky charm!" Not long after that, we met my other seven godmothers. Joyce always reminded them about the same thing. "Sebastian's our little lucky charm. We have to take good care of him!" I remembered those days. Every time we headed out to beg, Joyce would bend down. With one small jump, I would land on her back. She carried me through street after street while the setting sun stretched our shadows across the road. If I jumped onto Joyce's back one more time... she'd recognize me, wouldn't she? With that thought, I took a deep breath... ...and leapt with all the strength I had left. Chapter 3 The wounds on my face hurt too much. I missed my jump and crashed hard onto the floor. Joyce stared at me, momentarily stunned. Just as she reached down to help me up, the door suddenly burst open. Austin and Daniela walked in with Braxton. "Sweetheart, as soon as the surgery's over, I will take you out for a huge feast!" Their voices were dripping with affection. However, the moment they looked at me, their smiles vanished. Their faces turned icy. "So, you were trying to run? You stole your brother's place as the heir of this family and you stole the love that should've been his. What's wrong with giving a little of it back? Why are you so selfish?" Austin lifted his foot and stomped down on my left leg with all his strength. Crack. The sound of my bone breaking echoed through the room. A scream was caught in my throat. The pain curled my whole body into itself, and I shook uncontrollably. "Still thinking about running?" He raised his foot again, aiming for my right leg. Joyce stepped in front of me, frowning. "The doctor's here." At the end of the hallway, a tall, slender figure in a white lab coat was walking toward us. My eyes lit up. Zara Smith! My second godmother! She was the smartest person I knew. She would recognize me. Austin and Daniela hurried over with Braxton, smiling from ear to ear. Zara accepted the appointment form and flipped through it casually. Her expression immediately turned icy. "A brain transplant? Who approved this case? Have you people lost your minds? "This operation is incredibly difficult. There hasn't been a single successful case anywhere in the world. I can't do it." Daniela hurriedly pulled a black card from her purse. "Dr. Smith, you're the best surgeon in the world. We've spoken to so many doctors, and every one of them said you're the only person who can perform this operation. "The price isn't an issue. As for the risks, we only need you to make sure our precious son stays safe." She glanced at me before lowering her voice. "As for him... it doesn't matter what happens." Every inch of my body burned with pain. However, my heart felt even colder. Zara lowered her eyes to look at me. I quickly stretched out my fingers and tapped the Morse code she had taught me. 'Help me. I'm...' Zara frowned slightly. However, before I could finish, Daniela noticed what I was doing. Without a second thought, she ground the heel of her high shoe onto my fingers. A heart-wrenching scream tore from my throat. She still was not satisfied. One by one, she crushed all ten of my fingers beneath her heel. "I knew something was off about you the moment we entered the black market." "So, you were trying to ask someone for help. "Don't waste your energy. We've spent enough money here to become one of their biggest clients. Nobody's going to help you. "You'd be better off behaving yourself and giving your brain to Braxton. If you do, maybe we'll treat you a little better afterward." Braxton walked over, his face glowing with smug satisfaction. "That's right, big brother. I even picked out a really good brain for you. "I know you're jealous of me. If you're obedient, Dad and Mom will like you too." He pretended to help me up. Instead, his fingernails dug hard into the tender flesh at my waist. However, by then, I was already numb from the pain. I let out a harsh laugh. Then I threw myself at him with every ounce of strength I had left... ...and clamped my teeth down hard on his ear. Chapter 4 Braxton let out a bloodcurdling scream. I bit down with every ounce of strength I had left, then jerked my head hard. Rip. His ear tore clean off. "You little b*stard! How dare you!" Daniela charged at me like she had gone completely insane and shoved me away with all her strength. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the change in Zara's expression. She was the one who had taught me that if I was losing a fight, I should go for the eyes or bite the other person's ear. The pain would make them let go, giving me a chance to escape. I looked at her one last time. I no longer dared hope she would recognize me. I turned and ran. Joyce only made a token attempt to stop me. Dragging my broken leg behind me, I rushed through a small door at the end of the hallway. It was the secret my godmothers had told me about. "Sebastian, remember this. If anything ever happens at the black market, run through here. Keep running, and don't look back." Behind me, both Zara and Joyce froze. "How does he know about the secret passage...?" I ran as fast as I could. Everything familiar flashed past in my peripheral vision. My legs had long since gone numb, but I kept forcing myself forward. Behind me came Austin and Daniela's furious shouts, followed by pounding footsteps closing in. "You little brat! Get back here! "Where the hell did he go? He's got to be in here somewhere. If we have to, we'll burn the place down and smoke him out!" Then Daniela snapped angrily, "What kind of stupid idea is that? What if he burns to death? "It wouldn't matter if he died, but then my precious baby's surgery can't happen! You know how much Braxton's been looking forward to this!" A wave of bitterness washed over me. For one brief moment, I lost focus. My injured left leg caught on something and I pitched forward and landed face-first in the wet mud. The footsteps grew closer. Zara stopped behind me. She picked me up in her arms. She was far stronger than I was. No matter how hard I struggled, I could not break free. I desperately tried to tell her. 'It's me, Sebastian! No! Please don't! Don't take me back! They'll kill me!' I screamed the words over and over inside my head. Years ago, when I had taken a bullet for Zara, she had sworn she would protect me for the rest of her life. However, she still carried me back... ...and laid me on the operating table. "I'll perform the surgery. "Bring your precious son onto the table." Austin and Daniela were overjoyed. With tears in their eyes, they insisted on staying to watch the entire operation. Braxton and I were placed on two operating tables side by side. He turned his head and glanced at a nearby glass container. Floating inside the clear tank was a human brain. It was the brain he had specially prepared for me: the brain of an idiot. A smug smile spread across his face. Then the anesthesia took effect. He drifted into unconsciousness as his skull was opened. I stared at the bloody scene before me. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. Despair swallowed me whole. Then, the very next second... Zara suddenly stopped. She set down her scalpel, removed her gloves, and pulled her phone from her pocket. Austin and Daniela immediately exploded. "What are you doing looking at your phone during surgery? If anything happens to our precious son, can you take responsibility?" Zara ignored them completely. Instead, she looked at me. Her eyes were bright red. She pressed the voice message button. "Still busy making money? You've got ten minutes to get yourselves to the black market. "Our precious Sebastian has been bullied until he's barely recognizable." The moment the message was sent, the deafening roar of motorcycle engines erupted outside. The thunderous sounds came rushing in from every direction.