Aria awoke to the sight of Ethan's head thrashing violently from side to side on the operating table, his body convulsing as if in excruciating pain. He was clearly in agony, his face contorted with the intense struggle he was experiencing. She stepped forward, intending to wake him, her heart pounding with fear for her friend.

Just as she was about to call out to him, Dr. Klein gently but firmly grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Shh, not so loud. Your actions could cause his surgery to fail and lead to a catastrophic mental breakdown," he whispered, his voice grave and full of warning, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that conveyed the seriousness of the situation.

Dr. Klein led Aria into another room, pointing to a transparent glass window through which she could see Ethan's every move.

"Aria, listen to me. Once the surgery begins, any external interference could drive him insane. Whatever your friend is experiencing in that memory, he must face it alone. All we can do is wait and hope he wakes up,"

Dr. Klein explained, his eyes reflecting both concern and professionalism. The tension in the air was palpable, and Aria could feel her heart aching for Ethan, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.

Klein asked Aria what she had seen in the memory. With a heavy heart, Aria described the images that had flashed before her: the original Ethan, her own childhood, her growth, her love, and her work as an actress. After their conversation, they both turned to look through the transparent glass, watching Ethan's every move. Aria prayed silently, her lips moving in a barely audible whisper, hoping that Ethan would wake up smoothly and unscathed.

In Ethan's dream, he found himself in a dimly lit room. The room was small, with no windows and a tightly closed door. The air was stuffy and oppressive, and the old decor gave off an eerie vibe. Ethan cautiously scanned his surroundings, noting every detail.

"Maybe this is the home of my original self," he murmured, searching the room for any clues. The only source of light in the room came from an old-fashioned lamp on a nearby table. Under the lamp was an antique pocket watch with a heavily worn strap. It looked like a precious relic from a bygone era. Intrigued, Ethan picked up the watch and opened it. Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed him, transporting him to another scene.

Ethan found himself in a church. As he wondered why he was there, the church doors opened, and a beautiful bride walked in escorted by the officiant. She wore a pristine white gown with a long veil. As they approached, Ethan felt a wave of warmth and happiness. The officiant placed the bride's hand in Ethan's, and Ethan looked at her, only to be shocked—the bride had no face. Her features were indistinct and blurred.

He glanced at the officiant, only to see his face was also a blank slate. He quickly scanned the pews, packed with guests, but their faces were also featureless. Confusion and fear enveloped him. "Ethan, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the officiant's voice echoed through the church. When Ethan turned back, the officiant's face had morphed into something grotesque, a monster with long arms and a wide, jagged mouth filled with sharp teeth. The bride and the guests also transformed into hideous creatures, advancing menacingly toward Ethan.

Panic surged through him like a tidal wave. He stumbled backward, his heart racing, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Desperately, he turned and ran toward the church doors, only to find them locked. The monsters closed in on him rapidly, their grotesque forms twisting and contorting in a nightmarish dance. In a frantic attempt to escape, he opened the pocket watch again, and another flash of light transported him away.

Ethan found himself in a nursery. The room was softly lit and filled with toys and pastel colors. From outside, he heard a woman calling his name as she entered. He recognized her as the bride from the church, though her face remained obscured.

"Ethan, darling, please take care of the baby. I'll be back soon," she said, kissing him gently before leaving. Ethan turned to the crib and saw a baby inside. Like the others, the baby's face was featureless. He picked up the baby, trying to soothe its cries. Suddenly, the baby's head transformed into a terrifying face, baring sharp teeth and lunging at him. Ethan's scream caught in his throat as he stumbled backward, barely managing to open the watch again. A flash of light carried him to another scene, his heart still pounding from the terror.

Ethan now stood in a high-rise office building. Strangely, it was completely empty. The silence was eerie, the air thick with a sense of foreboding. "What are these creatures? Where am I now?" he thought to himself, his mind racing. He walked towards the lobby and noticed the company name "Karma," a biotechnology firm specializing in genetic engineering.

He continued forward, looking for more clues, his senses on high alert. Without warning, he was ambushed by a man in black. Instincts kicked in, and Ethan gave chase, adrenaline surging through his veins. He followed the man into an underground parking lot, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the enclosed space. The man stopped abruptly, and just as Ethan reached out to grab him, the man dodged and counterattacked.

A fierce struggle ensued, each move calculated and precise. Ethan skillfully countered, using his strength and agility to pin the man to the ground. As he moved to remove the attacker's mask, a cloud of smoke enveloped him. Shielding his eyes, Ethan saw the man escape. In the dissipating smoke, he found a piece of paper with an address: "967 Oakland Street."

Back on the operating table, Ethan woke up, panting and drenched in sweat. Aria rushed to his side, her face etched with concern. "Ethan, what happened? What did you see?" she asked urgently, her voice trembling slightly.Ethan took a moment to catch his breath, his body still shaking from the ordeal.

"I had a strange dream. I was being chased by a group of monsters," he replied, his voice hoarse and his eyes wide with lingering fear.

Dr. Klein, having heard their conversation, approached them.

"You only saw monsters chasing you? Nothing else?" he inquired, his expression serious, his brow furrowed with concern.

"That's all," Ethan confirmed, his mind still reeling from the vivid and horrifying images.

Dr. Klein turned to look at Sherry, who had just entered the room. "It seems the chip was tampered with, possibly by the original owner himself," Klein speculated, his tone heavy with suspicion and frustration.

Klein refocused on Ethan, adding, "Someone erased the original memories. It's a miracle you survived the dream." His voice softened slightly, reflecting a mix of admiration and relief.

Sherry looked at Ethan and Aria, her concern evident, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and determination. "Ethan, was there any other useful information?" she asked, her voice steady but gentle.

Ethan thought for a moment, trying to recall every detail of the dream. "Yes, while fighting that man in black, he dropped a note with an address: 967 Oakland Street," he said, his voice gaining strength as he remembered.

Sherry nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing with possibilities.

Sherry was thoughtful, her mind quickly filtering through the possibilities of modifying the chip. Defeating Caesar was a lot more complicated than they thought, and she had to be ready for anything that came next.

"Take these," Sherry handed over two cell phones and some cash, "I'll keep you posted."

Ethan and Aria took the cell phones and cash, a determined glint in their eyes. They knew that every step of this mission would be fraught with risk, but they had no choice but to go forward.

"You must find the original person. Only by finding him can you locate Caesar. That's all the help I can offer. Be wary of Smith," she warned, her tone grave and full of urgency.