The blood from my scalp was seeping into the rug. My body felt hollow but the adrenaline was still there.
"Fascinating" a voice said
I forced my head up seeing a bald man pouring himself a drink. He leaned over the massive desk. He was smiling at me. He looked at me like he had won a lottery ticket. He took a sip of the drink.
"A complex as destructive as that. The serum really did a beautiful job with you" he wrote something on a notepad.
Anger welled up in my chest. I wanted him to melt as the nightmare did to see his face a pile of goo on the floor. I pushed myself on one arm. I put my arm forwards a faint orange glow appears on my veins. Before the spark could catch, Miller let out a disappointed sigh.
Pressing a key on his laptop as the same cursed song starts to play again. The faint glow in my hand died instantly grabbing my head. I curl into a ball gasping for air.
"Come on David think for a second do you really think you could have killed me when I have a firm leash on you" Miller pressed another key on the laptop the song stops. "Your power is a gift I bestowed that I can take away just as quickly"
He stood up straightening his lab coat taking a sip of his drink "You are an unpredictable asset sure. But you are an A grade Asset. So I can give you certain privileges. If you comply with us. I'll give you time to think it over."
He snaps his finger the mask guards coming in the room grabbing me by the armpits dragging me to the cell throwing me inside like a sack of garbage.
I laid there shivering from the coldness of the cell. A bloody cough ripped through my throat.
My vision was turning dark It felt like I was dying.
A shadow fell over me.
"David?"
I forced my eyelids to open. Amy was kneeling besides me. Her usual calmness was gone replaced with a shocked expression. She reached out cupping my burnt cheek. I wince from the touch.
"You survived... The awakening" she whispered
I tried to speak but only a wet wheeze came out.
She grabbed one of the bedsheets ripping it to make makeshift bandages. Bandaging my burnt side.
The coarse fabric dug into my skin. My head lolling back and forth against the wall. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest even if I moved a little.
"Don't move to much" she whispered leaning in close her hair falling like a curtain around us. "And don't believe any lie he told about privileges"
"How do you... know?" I asked my throat feeling like sandpaper.
"He offered it to me too when I awoke my complex" she said slightly shivering "I didn't trust him so I refused"
"I'll accept it." I said my voice hardening "I'll get into his confidence. I'll act as a double agent maybe we can escape."
She looked at me like I was joking her eyes piercing me. After a moment she spoke up "Promise me you will not betray us. Promise me"
"I promise"
Her face gets a glint of hope a genuine smile cracks her face "Please do not betray us. You promised."
After a long time the guards came in again this time instead of dragging me across the hallway. They let me walk instead.
I was back in his office the rug had been changes gone was the blood soaked rug was not there.
"So have you reached a conclusion David" His voice had a hint of anticipation. "I hope you have a positive response"
I sigh steeling myself for the words I was going to say "I accept"
A cruel smile spread across his face "Excellent choice David" he leaned forward "I have to say I wasn't expecting you to make this choice but yet again you exceeded my expectations. I have something important to tell you Tommorow the guards will escort you to your room" He snapped his finger.
The guards escorted me through the halls the room was pristine and grandiose. The room was almost comparable to the Miller office.
I sat on the edge of the bed the mattress dipping with my weight. The mattress was soft
Softer then the beds in the cell.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, my paranoia flared. I immediately got up, ignoring the burning in my side. I checked the vents. I ran my fingers under the mahogany nightstand. I checked behind the framed abstract paintings on the wall and inspected the light fixtures.
I was looking for wiretaps, cameras, anything that could be used to spy on me.
I found nothing.
I sat back down on the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hand. Breathing a sigh of relief.
I heard a knock on the room it startled me I slowly opened the door there was a maid carrying a plate of food. It looked delicious more delicious than the slop in the cafeteria.
"Can I come in Master" her head was bowed
"Come in" I replied.
She walked in her steps were measured "I have been asked to take care of you" putting the food on the table. "Today's menu consists of Steak and potatoes with a side of apple juice. That's all can I help you with anything else"
"Why is this floor completely empty" I take a bite of the food the meat melting on my tongue the potatoes were nice too I had no recollection of eating something this expensive.
"The entire has been allotted to you" she replied keeping her head low.
"The entire floor for me" I take another bite of the food.
"Yes Master" her voice was completely devoid of emotion. She was like the kids in the cafeteria her eyes were distant "Dr. Miller insists that prime specimens must be put in perfect condition to ensure no contamination"
I swallowed the food "Leave me" I muttered under my breath.
"Ring the bell if you need anything Master" she said bowing before slipping away from the room just as quickly she entered.
I was alone.
I walked towards the window in the room looking at the moon shining brightly. The Facility was somewhere in a mountain. The tall mountains covered the entire view. I could see the stars in the sky. So it must be somewhere around the countryside. Because stars were almost extinct in the city.
I looked at my hands taking a deep breath thinking of that burning sensation Push it out I thought.
A spark ignited on my index finger. It didn't hurt. It felt like a part of my body. The flame started to rage turning into a purple colour as the room's temperature spiked immediately and immensely. I quickly closed my hand into a fist snuffing out the flame before It could trigger any fire detector.
I lie down on the bed on the plush mattress. But sleep doesn't come easily after the conditioning the song keeps on repeating in my dreams. The visage of the monster eating me alive or the scientist injecting me again and again. The night was long.
I ring the bell The maid comes quickly.
"What do you require Master" she said her voice as monotone as ever.
"Sleeping pills" I replied wincing from the headache
She left quickly bringing a vial of pills and water. I take them going limp on the bed. I woke up when the Sun was rising the Maid was standing where she stood last night.
"Why are you still here" I asked my voice groggy.
"You haven't dismissed me Master" she replied her
"So you have been standing here all night" Rubbing my eyes
"Yes"
"You are dismissed"
She left as I hear a knock the guards were standing there instead of grabbing or shoving me like usual. I walk up to one of them punching him.
He doesn't do anything just takes it.
One of them spoke up "The Doctor is waiting" his voice was heavy he handed me sleek black set clothes they were silk and comfortable far better than the ripped scrubs I was wearing.
"Wear this" he grunted
I took of my clothes looking into the mirror the burns were completely gone. My body had gotten leaner more muscular.
I slipped into the clothes the guards escorting me to the office.
"Ah david" Miller said walking in. He was standing infront of a hologram of the Nightmare I fought. Sipping from a cup of coffee. "How was the accomodation were they to your liking?"
"They were fine" I said keeping my voice as neutral as possible
"You probably think I am some psychopath right abducting children doing inhumane experiments" taking another sip "But this facility is a necessary evil"
Anger welled up in my chest how dare he try to justify this. I mean there could be no justification for such inhuman acts. But I had to remain calm to escape.
"How so" I ask trying my best to keep a neutral expression even though there's a storm brewing inside me.
"You see there's a secret that the world is hiding desperately" His voice getting serious "The rifts"
"What are these rifts" my tone getting curious
"Gates to another world. We call this world The «Crucible» the monster you faced it was a inhabitant of that world. Do you remember the call of Carcer city"
"Yes" my tone was sceptical what does a city have to do with this
"On paper it was a virus outbreak that caused it but the reality is a rift opened there. All sorts of monsters poured in the military couldn't do anything to them" He took a sip of his coffee "So this facility was established to combat against them. We kept this under wraps to not let the public panic"