Shadow of the Beautiful World

You are innocent.

Ten minutes later, Merlin, who had completed the site survey, was sitting in the confinement room of the Central City Police Station.

He looked at Henry who looked haggard, painful and hopeless in front of him. This man suddenly looked ten years older than a few years ago. He was sitting on a chair with no expression in his eyes, like a walking dead who had lost his heart.

You're innocent! Henry. I'll get you out of here, you don't belong here, you're not a criminal.

Merlin stretched out his fingers and grasped the handcuffs in Henry's hands. With just a little force, the handcuffs would be torn apart inch by inch.

But the next moment, his hand was held by Henry.

Henry looked at Merlin, his eyes were full of pleading:

No! Don't do that!

Why? Henry. My agent told me that you are not willing to accept the 'Supernatural Contact Protection Regulations'.

Merlin replied:

But you know, you didn't do that. You still have kids, you still have Barry. Don't you want to grow up with him? I can take you out of here, rest assured, it's legal. You and Barry can Change to another place and live under the surveillance of SHIELD, I can guarantee that no one will bother you.

But there's no evidence of that.

A plea appeared on Henry's painful face:

I can't just leave like this. I know you can take me out, but Merlin, I can't just leave.

Why? Henry!

Merlin frowned deeper, and he asked:

Unless you can convince me, I will not let my benefactor spend the rest of his life as a prisoner! You were wronged, and your son saw it, and believe me, Barry will not misunderstand you nor hate you .”

But others will!

Henry lowered his head and said in a heart-wrenching voice:

Others will, Merlin. They'll talk about my son. They'll say my Barry is the son of a murderer. They'll say he's an ominous man. I know how heavy those rumors are on a kid. That label will be on Can you change everyone's memory on him? Even if you can do it, I won't let you do it.

He looked at Merlin, and the haggard man said softly:

Because my son knows I'm innocent, I can't just walk away.

Nora and I have been teaching Barry to let him see the beauty and justice of the world. I don't want to destroy my son's cognition with my own hands. I don't want him to see that we adults can act in disregard of the rules. I don't want him Knowing that there are people outside the rules in this world, I don't want him to see it with his own eyes, and my father is one of them.

The man in yellow, the man in the lightning, has already taken away too much from our family. I can't let him take away my son's belief. I won't let him succeed.

If you really want to help me, Merlin.

Henry looked at the young man in front of him. He seemed to see the downcast Merlin back then. He said:

Just protect Barry for me, and I will stick to it until the day the truth comes out.

You Henry, why are you bothering?

Merlin looked at the man in front of him, he didn't know how to persuade the stubborn Henry.

I know it makes you passive, Merlin. I also know it's stupid.

Henry sat on the chair, he looked at the handcuffs on his wrist, and he said softly:

I failed to protect my lover, failed to protect my family, failed to do what a man must do, and must do well. I can't get rid of my frustration. I am in pain. I just I'm left with my Barry, and I want to do something for him.

I told my son that good is good and bad is bad, and Nora and I did our best to teach him what is good and what is evil. I want him to be a good person, to be a kind person, to follow the rules. I hope he can Make the world a better place by being someone who helps other people, not a rule breaker.

Maybe, that's the only thing I can leave to my son.

But have you considered it, Henry.

Merlin looked at his friend, who was making a last-ditch effort to convince him.

Little Barry grew up without your company. When everyone else told him that his father was a murderer, he grew up in that situation. Barry, can he maintain the belief you gave him?

Barry knew I was wronged, and Joe was a great friend, he was the sheriff here, I grew up with him, he was a trusted friend.

Henry seemed as if his heart was ashamed. He stroked the ring on his finger and said softly:

I am sure my Barry will be a good man under Joe's care.

But a kid lives with his father, Henry. You'll have enough time to teach him what you want to teach him, and you can enjoy watching him grow up and mature. It's not your sin, you don't have to pay for it with your life!

Merlin stood up, and he scolded:

Tell me, is it your creed that matters, or your children?

Of course it's Barry. I could do anything for my kids.

Henry raised his head and said to Merlin:

So I have to stay here until the truth comes out.

you!

Merlin was a little angry, he never knew that Henry was still such a stubborn person.

Maybe I should take you by force.

The irritability that has been accumulating for a while weighed on Merlin's heart. He suppressed his anger and said:

I've had a terrible time, Henry. I've seen too much misery, and I want to do something good. Either you just follow me and leave this place that doesn't belong to you, or I'll kill you Knock you out and take you away by force.

The police outside couldn't stop me, and they didn't have the power to stop me.

You have no idea how difficult it is to find out about this matter. Even sl.d. can't do it in a short time. I went to the scene and the murderer didn't leave anything. If I didn't know your As a human being, I would think you did all of this, let alone these ordinary police officers.

You may have to spend more than ten years in prison, and you will actually be sent to court for crimes that you should not bear.

Merlin's voice became heavier:

Most importantly, Barry knows you were wronged, but what do you think he'll think when he sees the law sending an innocent man to jail? Do you think he'll grow up believing what you tell him? Is it? Your insistence will destroy Barry!

Merlin said sharply:

Henry, I have experienced that kind of life. It was a dark experience that a child could not survive. And what I am giving you now is the best solution.

I trust my child, Merlin.

Henry was silent for several minutes, and he said:

He's a good boy, he'll understand. Maybe to you, laws and rules are just a tool. But to ordinary people like me and Barry, that's the basis of belief. You think you're helping me , actually not

I'm a doctor. I've seen it with my own eyes. It's too easy to destroy a person. Most importantly, Merlin, I've already been destroyed. I can no longer destroy my son with my own hands.

Merlin's persuasion came to an abrupt end at this moment.

He knew that Henry expressed his true thoughts without reservation.

And Merlin also knew that it might not be the right thing to let Henry and Barry just move to another place and start their lives again.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Supernatural Affairs Contact Protection Regulations are specially set up for ordinary people like Henry who are involved in supernatural affairs. In sl.d., it is confirmed that there are supernatural elements in a certain event, and the participants are innocent case, this regulation will come into force.

S.H.I.E.L.D. will provide these people with new identities and allow them to start a new life in a new environment.

It sounds good, but in fact, most people who accepted this regulation had a difficult new life, and many people who had the same experience as Henry left a serious psychological shadow.

S.H.I.E.L.D. can help them cover up their past misery, but they can't pass the level in their hearts.

Merlin could guess why Henry was so persistent in sending himself to prison.

Henry is a doctor. Because of this, he knows how much a child's experience in childhood will have a great impact on his life.

And Henry also lost everything in this disaster. He worried that he would be affected by his wife's death, and that his character and life would be changed as a result, thus leaving a bad example for his children.

There is a devil in everyone's heart. When they are hurt, people will not hesitate to wake up the devil. When something cherished is taken away, people's first reaction is revenge.

Henry knew this, and he didn't want the pain and despair in his heart to affect his children. Even if the price is that he may need to stay away from him, for several years, or even ten years.

Facing such a stubborn, even a bit old-fashioned father, but he was always thinking of his children, Merlin felt that all his persuasion was so feeble.

The Henry in front of him reminded him of Jack who died for his child three days ago.

They are all qualified fathers.

Sitting with Henry under the dim light, some real voices echoed in his mind:

Some people are responsible for having wonderful families, while others are responsible for protecting them.

Henry raised his head and looked at Merlin, who also looked at him, and Merlin said softly:

I'm sorry, Henry. I'm sorry I failed to protect your wife, I failed to protect your life.

It's not your fault, Merlin.

Henry, the victim, comforted his friend at this moment, saying:

Don't take all the responsibility on yourself, you'll be crushed. It's just, just fate.

destiny?

Merlin savored the word, he shook his head, and said to Henry who had already made up his mind:

I'll help you, Henry, not only because you helped me, but because we're friends.

You don't want to go out, I can understand, I will use my method to make your life in prison more comfortable, but you have to be mentally prepared to clear your grievances, it will be a very long process Now, tell me, promise La’s death, what’s the secret behind it?”

He looked at Henry, and he said:

I know it hurts, but you have to remember every detail! If you can't, I can help you, but you have to let go of all your defenses and open your soul to me.

Um?

Henry raised his head, looked at Merlin, and said doubtfully:

How are you going to help me? Hypnosis?

No, not hypnosis.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, he rubbed his forehead, and said to Henry:

Relax, relax and don't resist, then, look into my eyes!

Henry didn't think that Merlin would hurt him, so he did as Merlin said, and the next moment, he saw Merlin take off his eyes, revealing those weird eyes that exuded dark red embers.

There was light in Merlin's eyes, like two whirlpools, pulling Henry's consciousness closer and closer, like a hooked fish.

hum

In the slight vibration of the spirit, Merlin entered Henry's memory.

Without Henry's resistance, the Dementia Curse this time went very smoothly, and Merlin quickly found the memory.

He looked at that memory like a third party watching the scene.

In the living room of Allen's mansion, a strange storm of light was beating. The light was so intense that even with Merlin's perception, he could only vaguely see two figures dancing in the light.

One red and one yellow.

The man in yellow!

Merlin narrowed his eyes, he saw Henry being hit, he flew up into the air, and then smashed to the ground in embarrassment, and saw Nora lying helplessly on the carpet, following the eyes of Nora and Henry Go, Merlin also saw the figure of a little boy walking down from the second floor.

That's Barry!

A boy with black hair, brown eyes, and blue pajamas.

He was looking at all this in horror.

Barry! Run! Barry, run!

Merlin heard Nora's desperate scream and heard Henry's angry roar. The next moment, he saw the yellow figure stop suddenly, and there was already a fruit knife in his hand. He didn't even see how that guy cut Henry's fingerprints were on the knife.

but he saw

That knife, the scene where it pierces Nora's chest.

swish

Merlin's consciousness exited Henry's mind at this moment. Before his eyes, Henry covered his head and wailed in pain, as if returning to the moment when he lost his wife a few hours ago.

Merlin patted Henry on the shoulder.

He felt the pain of that despair.

Henry, you are innocent.

Standing in front of Henry, Merlin said to Henry:

I will help you find out all this. I will let the murderer who killed Nora be brought to justice. I will return to him ten times and a hundred times what he did.

Um.

With hopeless pain in Henry's eyes, he nodded, looked at Merlin, and said:

Help me take care of Barry.

Thank you for everything, my friend.