My body transformation left me unrecognizable, not just in appearance but my mentality as well. I had finally let my weak self-die, all I had to do was embrace my inner demon. The betrayals and all the hardship I endured molded me into someone indifferent to others' opinions or feelings. With my new form, sleek hair and deep red eyes, I took on a rather menacing appearance. A mysterious infection had altered my body, bestowing me with unnatural strength and agility. It pulsed beneath my skin, merging with my inner demon and the mysterious creature, turning my blood into a conduit of power. Truly, it was a blessing in disguise.

I stood there, marveling at the raw energy coursing through my veins. Emerging from the trash pit, I crouched low, feeling the ground tremble beneath me before launching myself skyward. With a single inhuman leap, I soared through the air, the walls of the bunker blurring past as I bounded from wall to wall. My movements were a symphony of power and grace, each muscle working in perfect harmony, shattering the confines of human ability.

Reaching the maintenance shaft, I landed lightly, almost effortlessly, on the metal platform. My feet found their rhythm on the cold steel, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridors. The distant hum of machinery grew louder with each step, a menacing soundtrack to my comeback.

Not so long after, I had caught up with Jackson, Ajax, and Blaze standing in the corridor, their laughter abruptly ceasing as they caught sight of me emerging from the shadows, transformed and unharmed. Goosebumps rose on their skin as they stared in disbelief.

Jackson's voice wavered, trying to mask his fear with bravado. "How in the-" he started, but he didn't get the chance to finish. I disappeared and reappeared instantly in front of him, my hand clamping around his neck and lifting him into the air with effortless strength.

I remained silent at first, letting the tension build. My red eyes bore into him, a menacing grin forming on my lips. The infection within me swirled ominously, its presence oozing out in a black, smoke-like aura. The very air seemed to thicken with dread, making it hard to breathe.

"Pathetic," I finally said, my voice cold and emotionless.

Blaze took a step back, his bravado crumbling. "What the hell is this? What the fuck happened to you?"

Without a word, I swept my gaze over them. I tossed Jackson to the wall with only a fraction of my strength. He flew through the air and collided with the steel wall, the impact echoing through the corridor. In a flash, I was in front of Ajax. Startled him as i confronted him face to face, he threw a punch at my face. Time seemed to slow down as I watched his fist travel slowly aimed right at my face. I caught it effortlessly, my grip tightening like a vise.

Ajax's eyes widened in terror as my fingers crushed his hand. The bones snapped and crunched under the pressure of raw strength, sending waves of excruciating pain through his arm. His scream pierced the air, raw and guttural. "Ahhh, my fucking hand!" He tried to pull away, but I held him firm, watching as tears streamed down his face.

He fell to his knees, clutching his mangled hand against his chest. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his face contorted with pain. The agony was written all over his features, his eyes darting around wildly as if searching for a way to escape the unbearable torment.

"Please... stop," he whimpered, his voice barely a whisper. But there was no mercy in my soul. I looked at him in the eye, my expression unchanging. Blaze stood and watched in terror as Ajax pleaded for help, his face turning red as a dark stain spread down his pants. I laughed, the sound of my voice devoid of humanity, as I saw him piss himself. Satisfied, I hurled him beside Jackson. He hit the steel wall hard, blood splattering as he coughed violently.

I then turned around as i did my evil grin meet Blaze. He backed away terrified of what I had become, shaking his head. "No, please," he begged, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Then the voice whispered to me "Have you forgotten what they said to us? what they did to you? They think you are weak! Let go, let go of everything! Prove them wrong! KILL OR BE KILLED"

With one swift motion, I was upon him. My hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground. His eyes bulged, and his feet kicked uselessly in the air. "Because of you," I hissed, my voice a venomous whisper, "I died once. Now, it's your turn." His face turned purple as I tightened my grip. The sickening snap of his neck echoed in the still air. His body went limp, and I felt the life drain out of him.

I let him fall, and his body seemed to hang in the air for a moment before crashing to the ground with a grotesque thud. The sound was wet, bones crunching against the cold concrete. His lifeless eyes stared up, wide and empty, while a pool of blood spread slowly from beneath his head, seeping into the cracks of the floor like dark fingers reaching out. The room seemed to grow colder, shadows lengthening and whispering, as if death itself had taken residence in the corners, watching with satisfaction.

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Jackson and Ajax lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies twisted and their eyes wide with horror. They stared at Blaze's lifeless body, the grotesque angle of his neck and the blood pooling around him. The silence was thick and suffocating, broken only by their ragged breaths.

Jackson's voice trembled as he spoke, barely more than a whisper. "D-Did you see that? He...he just snapped his neck like it was nothing." His hands shook uncontrollably as he tried to push himself away from the horrifying scene.

Ajax, equally terrified, scrambled back, his eyes darting between Blaze's corpse and me. "We...we're next," he stammered, his voice cracking. "This...this can't be happening. Please, we didn't mean to—"

I stood over them, the weight of finality heavy in the air. "You made me like this," I said softly, almost a whisper. "Blame yourselves." I leaned closer, a sinister grin spreading across my face. "Don't worry though, I'll take my time with you both. In due time."

The voice said "What are you doing? this is your chance to end them both! No mercy.

I ignored it, without another word, I turned and walked away with no remorse, leaving their broken forms behind. The corridor echoed with the sound of my footsteps, growing fainter as I disappeared into the darkness. The air was thick with the stench of blood and fear, a fitting end for those who had wronged me.

Then a sudden sharp, piercing ring filled my head, drowning out all other sounds. Memories surged forward, crashing over me like a relentless tide. I screamed, a primal, guttural sound that seemed to shake the very walls around me. My throat burned, but the pain was nothing compared to the agony of my memories. My screams turned into maniacal sobs; my body wracked with the force of my grief. I collapsed to my knees, clutching my head as if I could physically tear the memories from my mind.

Ethan's face appeared first, his eyes wide with terror, the moment of his death playing on a loop in my mind. His final, desperate cries echoed in my ears, a haunting symphony of guilt and regret. The sight of him being torn apart by that monstrous creature, his blood splattering the ground, was etched into my memory, a permanent scar on my psyche. Ajax's father's brutal demise intertwined with these visions, creating a grotesque montage of horror. It was my fault; I had convinced them to join me that day. Their blood was on my hands.

I recalled everything; manic laughter bubbled up from deep within me. The memories, once buried, now surged forward with relentless force. "Your games end now," I whispered, my voice growing stronger with each word. "You thought you could deceive me? Think again." My tone carried a newfound authority as I addressed the voice within me. "From now on, you serve me. I am not your vessel but your master. Try to manipulate me again, and I'll end myself—and you with me."

The voice, dripping with mockery, retorted. "Oh, how amusing. You think you can command me now? After all these years of slumber, you suddenly awaken and declare yourself master? How nice, little boy."

My teeth clenched as the weight of years of torment and manipulation bore down on me. "I'm not playing games with you. This ends now."

The voice snickered; its tone laced with sinister delight. "End it if you wish. But remember, I am woven into your very being. Destroy yourself, and you destroy me. Is that a risk you're truly willing to take?"

The voice had hidden these memories to protect me from emotional ruin. If I had known back then, I would have broken down. But now, having grown stronger, the memories had returned to me. The images of Ethan's terror-stricken face and Ajax's father's brutal demise played over and over in my mind. Amidst my agony, a chilling realization dawned on me. "I'm done being your puppet. You shielded me once because I wasn't strong enough. Now, I am. That means you follow my rules or face oblivion with me."

The voice hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty breaking through its derisive tone. "You think you can control the darkness within you? How quaint."

I ignored it, knowing this conversation would lead to nothing more than a waste of my energy. I decided to continue on my journey through the bunker. Each person I passed felt an icy chill, instinctively stepping aside. I was no longer the same boy they had once mocked and beaten; I had become a force of violence, untouchable and terrifying.

Faith stood frozen in the market, the last person I expected to encounter. Her eyes widened in disbelief as I closed the distance between us, the atmosphere around us turning icy. Her voice shook as she managed to speak.

"Keinan, what... what happened to you?" Her words barely audible, filled with confusion.

Strangely, I felt hollow inside. It was as if my deep love for her had perished alongside my old self buried in that dark pile of trash. Yet, a faint smirk tugged at my lips as I approached her. Swiftly, I pulled her close, capturing her lips in a sudden kiss. Shock flickered in her widened eyes before she forcefully pushed me away, her palm stinging my cheek with a resounding slap.

I looked down at the ground, my silver hair falling across my face masking my expression. Then, I grinned. Meeting her conflicted gaze, she stammered, "I-I didn't mean—" Grinning, I met her conflicted gaze. "I knew it," I cut in sharply. The silence hung heavy. With a cold edge to my voice, I uttered, "Goodbye, Faith."

With those words hanging in the air, I walked past her, leaving her to contemplate the meaning of my words as whirlwind of emotions engulfed her.

I didn't even blink her way after. I walked past her as if she were invisible, my gaze fixed ahead like ice, showing no recognition or emotion. Faith's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her heart sinking as she realized I was no longer the person she once knew. As she turned to say something else, it was already too late, I had vanished from her sight, leaving her with unanswered questions.

As I ventured into the forbidden zone, a surge of power coursed through me. I felt unshackled, liberated from my former self, embracing newfound strength and my new transformative form had reshaped me into the new Keinan—a version of myself unrecognizable from the past.