The figures kept coming.
Slow.
Dragging.
Unnatural.
---
Teresa's pulse thundered in her ears as she backed up instinctively, her hand tightening around Lester's.
"They're getting closer," she whispered.
---
"I see that," Marcus muttered, raising his weapon.
---
The beam from his flashlight flickered again—
And this time—
It stayed on.
---
Just long enough.
---
To see everything.
---
Teresa's breath caught.
---
They weren't just injured.
---
They were… altered.
---
Skin too pale.
Veins too dark.
Eyes—
Empty.
But not lifeless.
---
Something moved behind them.
Inside them.
---
"What the hell are those?" she breathed.
---
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
---
But Lester did.
---
"…Experiments."
---
Silence fell.
---
Teresa's heart dropped.
---
"What?"
---
His voice was colder now.
Harder.
---
"My father's company had projects buried off the record," he said.
---
A pause.
---
"Medical trials. Human enhancement."
---
Her stomach twisted.
---
"That's not enhancement," she whispered.
---
"No," he agreed quietly.
---
"It's failure."
---
The figures twitched.
---
Then—
One of them lunged forward.
---
Fast.
---
Too fast.
---
Marcus fired immediately.
---
The shot hit.
---
But the man didn't drop.
---
Didn't even slow down.
---
"What—?!" Marcus cursed.
---
Lester grabbed Teresa—
Pulling her back—
---
"Head," he said sharply.
---
Marcus adjusted—
Fired again.
---
This time—
The figure collapsed.
---
Still.
---
But the others—
Didn't stop.
---
"They don't feel pain," Teresa whispered.
---
"No," Lester said.
---
"They don't feel anything."
---
The realization hit hard.
---
Trapped.
---
Between armed men behind them—
And whatever these things were—
In front.
---
"Options?" Marcus asked.
---
Lester's jaw tightened.
---
"None we like."
---
Another one charged.
---
This time—
Lester stepped forward.
---
Ignoring the blood.
Ignoring the injury.
---
Firing.
Precise.
Controlled.
---
Dropping it instantly.
---
Teresa's breath caught.
---
"Lester, you're hurt—"
---
"I'm still standing."
---
His voice was sharp.
---
But his movements—
Slower.
---
Weaker.
---
Marcus noticed.
---
"You keep pushing like that, you won't be for long."
---
Lester shot him a look.
---
"I don't need commentary."
---
"No," Marcus replied calmly.
"You need backup."
---
Tension snapped.
---
Sharp.
Immediate.
---
"Then do your job," Lester said coldly.
---
Marcus's eyes darkened slightly.
---
"I am."
---
A beat.
---
"Unlike you, I don't let emotions get in the way."
---
Silence.
---
Explosive.
---
Teresa's chest tightened.
---
"Enough," she snapped.
---
Both men looked at her.
---
"We don't have time for this," she continued.
---
Another figure moved closer.
---
"You can fight each other later," she added.
"Right now, we survive."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
Marcus nodded once.
---
Lester didn't respond.
---
But he didn't argue.
---
That was enough.
---
"Stay behind me," Marcus said.
---
"I'm not helpless," Teresa shot back.
---
"I didn't say you were."
---
"Then stop treating me like I am."
---
Another beat.
---
Then—
"Fine," Marcus said.
---
He handed her a small blade.
---
"Last line of defense."
---
She took it.
---
Lester's gaze darkened instantly.
---
"No."
---
Teresa blinked.
"What?"
---
"You're not using that."
---
Her chest tightened.
---
"I might have to."
---
"No."
---
His voice was final.
---
"You're not fighting them."
---
"And what am I supposed to do?" she snapped. "Stand there and watch you bleed out?!"
---
Silence.
---
Tense.
---
Dangerous.
---
Then—
"Stay with me," he said.
---
Her breath caught.
---
"I am with you."
---
"Then don't do anything reckless."
---
A beat.
---
"That's my job."
---
Despite everything—
Her lips twitched slightly.
---
"Idiot."
---
Something flickered in his eyes.
---
Almost a smile.
---
Gone just as quickly.
---
The creatures closed in again.
---
Marcus stepped forward.
---
"On my count."
---
Lester moved beside him.
---
Despite everything.
---
Still standing.
---
Still fighting.
---
"Three…"
---
Teresa's grip tightened on the blade.
---
"Two…"
---
Her heart pounded.
---
"One."
---
They moved.
---
Fast.
---
Coordinated.
---
Deadly.
---
Marcus took the left—
Lester the right—
---
Teresa stayed between them—
Watching—
Ready—
---
A creature lunged toward her—
---
Too fast.
---
She froze—
---
But Lester didn't.
---
He moved instantly—
---
Grabbing it—
Slamming it back—
---
Taking the hit instead.
---
"Lester!"
---
He didn't respond.
---
Just kept fighting.
---
Her chest tightened painfully.
---
"Stop doing that!" she cried.
---
"Not happening," he shot back.
---
Marcus fired again—
Clearing a path.
---
"Move!" he shouted.
---
They ran.
---
Through the opening.
---
Past the creatures.
---
Deeper into the tunnel.
---
Until—
---
The sounds stopped.
---
Suddenly.
---
Completely.
---
Silence fell.
---
Too fast.
---
Too unnatural.
---
Teresa's breath came out uneven.
---
"…Why did they stop?"
---
No one answered.
---
Because they didn't know.
---
Then—
A voice echoed through the tunnel.
---
Slow.
Calm.
Controlled.
---
"You always were persistent."
---
Teresa froze.
---
Her blood ran cold.
---
"No…"
---
Lester's body went rigid.
---
Marcus raised his weapon.
---
From the shadows—
A screen flickered on.
---
Old.
Dust-covered.
---
Connected to something deeper.
---
And on it—
---
A man appeared.
---
Victor Hayes.
---
Her father.
---
Watching them.
---
Smiling.
---
"Welcome," he said softly,
"to my work."
---
Teresa's breath shattered.
---
"You did this?" she whispered.
---
Victor tilted his head.
---
"I perfected it."
---
Her stomach twisted violently.
---
"They're people!"
---
"They were," he corrected calmly.
---
Silence exploded.
---
Lester's voice dropped.
---
"You turned them into this."
---
Victor's smile widened slightly.
---
"I improved them."
---
"That's not improvement," Teresa snapped.
---
"That's murder."
---
Victor's gaze shifted to her.
---
And something darker flickered.
---
"You were always too soft," he said.
---
Her chest tightened.
---
"You used me," she whispered.
---
"No," he said calmly.
---
"I prepared you."
---
Her heart broke.
---
"For what?" she demanded.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"For this."
---
The screen shifted.
---
New footage appeared.
---
Old.
Grainy.
---
A lab.
---
A younger version of her.
---
Teresa froze.
---
"No…"
---
Lester's gaze snapped to her.
---
"…Teresa?"
---
Her breath came out uneven.
---
"I don't remember that…"
---
Victor smiled.
---
"Of course you don't."
---
Silence.
---
Explosive.
---
"Because you were the first successful subject."
---
Everything stopped.
---
Teresa's world tilted.
---
"No…"
---
Her voice broke.
---
"That's not possible."
---
Victor's voice dropped.
---
Cold.
Final.
---
"You're not just my daughter."
---
A pause.
---
"You're my greatest creation."
---
Silence.
---
Total.
---
Devastating.
---
Lester stared at her.
---
Shock.
Confusion.
Something deeper.
---
"…Is that true?" he asked quietly.
---
Teresa's breath trembled.
---
"I don't know…"
---
And that—
That was worse than anything else.
---
The screen went black.
---
Darkness swallowed them again.
---
But this time—
It wasn't just the tunnel that felt dangerous.
---
It was her.
---
END OF CHAPTER 12