Chapter Four: Unforeseen Crisis


Chapter Four: Unforeseen Crisis

The day started like any other, with the steady hum of the facility’s systems and the low murmur of voices echoing down the sterile corridors. I was in the observation room, running through another simulation designed to test my reflexes. Virtual enemies appeared on the screen in front of me, and I dispatched them with calculated efficiency. The numbers on the monitor climbed steadily, a testament to my progress.

Dr. Kane watched from the corner of the room, her arms folded and her expression unreadable. The man in the suit was absent for once, and the lack of his cold presence felt almost like a reprieve.

“Your response times have improved,” Dr. Kane said, her voice breaking the silence. “Faster than expected. You’re adapting well, 13.”

I didn’t answer. The simulations felt empty, a mechanical exercise that did nothing to ease the questions swirling in my mind. Who had this body belonged to? What was I really meant to become?

Before I could dwell on it, the lights in the room flickered, plunging the space into momentary darkness. The hum of the systems faltered, replaced by a jarring silence. When the lights came back on, they were dimmer, and the monitors around me flashed red.

Dr. Kane’s expression tightened. She stepped quickly to the console, her fingers flying over the keys. “What’s happening?” I asked, standing from my chair.

“A breach,” she said, her voice tense. “The facility’s external security systems are failing.”

“A breach?” My mind raced. “What kind of breach?”

Before she could answer, an alarm blared, loud and piercing. The red emergency lights cast the room in an eerie glow, and a voice crackled over the intercom.

“All personnel, report to lockdown positions. Unauthorized entry detected in Zone 3.”

Zone 3. That was close. Too close. Dr. Kane’s movements became more frantic as she pulled up a live feed on the monitor. The screen showed shadowy figures moving through the corridor, their faces obscured by masks. They moved with precision, their weapons raised.

“Intruders,” Dr. Kane muttered, her tone laced with fear. “They’re after you, 13.”

The words hit me like a blow. “Me?”

“You’re the prototype,” she said, turning to face me. “You’re worth more than anything else in this facility. If they take you…” Her voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

“What do I do?” I asked, my voice rising with panic.

Dr. Kane’s eyes locked onto mine, her expression firm. “You need to leave. Now. There’s an emergency exit in Zone 4. I’ll guide you there.”

“But what about you?”

“I’ll stay here and delay them as long as I can,” she said, already moving to the door. “You’re what matters, 13. You have to survive.”

Every instinct screamed at me to argue, but there wasn’t time. The intercom crackled again, and the sound of gunfire echoed faintly through the halls. My chest tightened, but I nodded. “Okay.”

Dr. Kane handed me a small device, no larger than a credit card. “This will guide you to the exit. Stay out of sight. Trust no one.”

I took the device, its weight feeling far heavier than it should have. “Dr. Kane…”

She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Go.”

Without another word, I turned and ran, the device in my hand lighting up with a soft blue arrow that pointed the way. The corridors blurred as I sprinted, my heart pounding in my chest. Behind me, the alarms blared, and the distant sound of conflict grew louder. I could hear metal screeching, sharp and grating, and loud noises like explosions ripping through the facility.

Reaching Zone 4 was easier than I expected, but the sight that greeted me was anything but reassuring. The emergency exit was sealed, a thick metal door with a keypad glowing red. I stared at it, my mind racing. The device in my hand blinked, and a small holographic interface projected into the air.

“Override sequence required,” a calm, mechanical voice said.

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. Then, almost instinctively, my fingers moved over the holographic keypad, punching in a series of numbers that I didn’t recognize but somehow knew. The door hissed and slid open, revealing the darkness beyond.

I stepped through, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap. For a moment, I stood there, staring at the sprawling forest that surrounded the facility. I was free. But the question lingered:

What now?

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