Prototype 13

Chapter Twelve: The Call to Action The blaring siren jolted me awake, tearing me from Zack’s memories. My heart pounded as I sat up, disoriented and unsure of where I was. The vivid images of Zack’s final moments lingered in my mind, but there was no time to process them. The siren’s wail grew louder, its urgency impossible to ignore. A voice crackled over the intercom. "All personnel report to your designated stations immediately. Core instability detected in Sector 5. Repeat: core instability detected." Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, the door to my room slid open, and Lena burst in, her face pale but determined. “Get up,” she said sharply. “We’ve got to go.” “What’s going on?” I asked, still struggling to shake off the remnants of the dream. “The core,” she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet. “It’s been unstable for a long time, but something’s triggered a critical failure. We need to fix it before the whole sector collapses.” Her wo...

Chapter Ten: Isolation The hum of the chamber still resonated in my ears as we stepped out of the main meeting room. The Overseer’s piercing words and Dr. Egan’s clinical tone churned in my mind like an endless echo. Each step felt heavier than the last as Lena guided me back toward the bustling walkways. The vibrant world around us, once awe-inspiring, now felt like a blur—a dream I wasn’t part of. Every smile, every laugh, every purposeful movement seemed distant, as though I were watching it all through a screen. “We need to talk,” Lena said, her voice steady but tinged with concern. I didn’t answer right away, my thoughts too tangled to respond. My mind kept circling back to Zack—his life, his choice. “Come on,” she said, tugging lightly on my arm. “Let’s find somewhere quiet.” She led me down a side corridor, away from the crowds and noise. The walls here were lined with panels displaying maps and readouts, their faint glow barely illuminating Lena’s face. The air felt colder here...