Ran looked at her notebook one last time while observing the factory. "The guards change every four hours. At midnight, four AM, and eight AM. Midnight should be the best time."
"Right." the man nodded. "During the midnight shift change, there's the most confusion. Everyone is tired and careless. Plus, the mist is at its thickest at night."
Ran asked anxiously: "What about those... sounds we heard inside? They seemed to get worse at night."
"We need to get inside to find the source of those sounds." the man said firmly. "We'll move just before the midnight shift change. The guards will be tired, and the new ones won't be fully awake yet. No one will notice us in the chaos."
Ran shuddered. "What if we get caught?"
"We won't get caught, but since we have to consider every possibility, I'll go in alone. It's too dangerous in there. You wait for me safely." the man said decisively. Ran had no chance to object. "The mist will help us. We'll use their weapon against them. Now listen, let's go over the plan again..."
As they both watched the factory through the window, the man began explaining his detailed plan. He would enter through the back door, move silently through the corridors, and find the source of that green light on the upper floor. Everything depended on timing. The slightest mistake could ruin the entire plan.
As the hours passed, they both continued to wait in silence. Each passing minute brought them closer to midnight.
As midnight approached, the man stood up and checked his equipment one last time. Ran watched him anxiously.
"Listen to me." said the man, keeping his voice low. "After I go inside, I'll signal you from where the green lights are on the upper floor. I'll flash the flashlight three times. This will mean everything is going well inside."
Ran nodded, but the worried expression on her face deepened. "What... what if something goes wrong?"
"If you don't get my signal within half an hour or if anything else happens, you'll leave here without hesitation. Go straight to Lotyana and find Zeta. Tell them everything. Understood?"
"But I can't leave you..." Ran tried to protest.
"This is an order, Ran." the man said sternly. "Promise me. If anything goes wrong, you'll go to Lotyana without hesitation."
Ran nodded reluctantly. "I promise."
The man checked the surroundings one last time, then quietly moved toward the door. He stopped by the door and turned to Ran. "Everything will be fine." he said with a slight smile. Then he opened the door and disappeared into the darkness of night.
Ran approached the window and watched as the man vanished into the mist. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Now all she could do was wait - she would either see the signal, or witness the worst fate.
The man carefully placed his steps as he moved through the mist. With each step, the gravel under his boots creaked, the sound seeming too loud in the night's silence. Fortunately, the thick mist somewhat muffled the sound. When he reached the factory's back wall, he stopped and listened. The guards' conversations could be heard from afar - the shift change was approaching.
As he moved along the wall, the mist danced around him in waves. Sometimes it became so thick that he couldn't even see his own hand. But this worked to his advantage. The thicker the mist, the less chance of being noticed.
He stopped when he reached the back door. He peered inside through the small window beside the door. The interior was dim and quiet. There was no movement except for the weak light at the end of the corridor. Only the distant hum of machines and the soft gurgling of liquids flowing through metal pipes could be heard. He looked carefully through the window once more, wanting to make sure there was no movement inside. This section of the factory seemed abandoned.
He slowly opened the door. The hinges creaked slightly. The man held his breath and waited for a while. When there was no response, he slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind him. The interior was filled with a metallic smell that indicated it was a factory. But there was another smell - sharp, chemical. Strangely, this smell reminded him of Aleah's infirmary.
As he moved along the wall, greenish light from above illuminated the corridor. The light moved in waves, creating strange shadows on the walls. With each step, the light's intensity increased, suggesting its source was somewhere at the end of the corridor. The metallic smell was stronger here, and there was a feeling of electrically charged particles in the air. His hair stood on end.
Suddenly he heard footsteps from afar. He quickly moved toward the nearest door. It was locked. He listened without panicking - the footsteps were approaching. Just then his eye caught the large metal cabinet beside him. Without thinking, he opened the cabinet door and got inside.
From inside the cabinet, he could hear the footsteps approaching. There were two people and they were talking:
"...same procedure tonight?"
"Yes, like always. The Doctor told us to be especially careful. The latest experiments are at a very sensitive stage."
As the voices faded away, the man waited motionless inside the cabinet. Experiments? What experiments? New questions began forming in his mind.
After waiting for the corridor to become completely silent, he came out of the cabinet. Now he needed to go upstairs. He had to find the source of that green light. He moved toward the stairs, checking his surroundings with each step.
He hesitated when he reached the stairs leading to the upper floor. The green light from above was more intense, and now he could hear a strange buzzing sound too. There was an odd feeling - as if something was waiting for him upstairs. But he couldn't turn back. He was too close to the answers.
He began climbing the stairs, stopping at each step to listen for sounds from above. The buzzing was getting louder, and now he could hear other sounds too - like human voices but something was off. Like the muffled screams of someone in pain.
When he reached the upper floor, he saw the green light coming from a laboratory-like room at the end of the corridor. The light was pulsing rhythmically. With each pulse, strange shadows danced on the walls.
He couldn't forget to signal Ran through the window. He took out the flashlight from his pocket and pointed it toward the window. He flashed it three times.
He took a few steps into the room. There was no one in the laboratory but it was filled with operating equipment. There were test tubes, microscopes, and strange devices on the tables. The source of the green light was a large device in the center of the room. The liquid rotating inside the device cast strange shadows on the walls.
He saw an open notebook on one of the tables. He quickly scanned it - the pages were filled with complex formulas. Some words caught his attention: "Transformation", "Catalysis", "Cellular Reconstruction". There was a note written in red ink on the last page: "Lower level ready. Can proceed to testing phase."
Lower level? The man looked around and noticed a narrow corridor in the corner. There was a metal staircase going down at the end of the corridor. This seemed like it would lead him to the depths of the factory.
As the man descended the stairs, the green light gave way to a dim green glow. The steps grew deeper, as if leading to the heart of the factory. The metallic smell in the air had intensified, becoming almost suffocating.
When he finally reached the bottom of the stairs, what he saw took his breath away. He was facing an enormous underground complex. The ceiling was so high that the steam leaking from the pipes above dispersed before reaching it. Massive machines lined up across the vast area, working with a rhythmic hum. Each was at least three stories tall and covered in countless blinking lights.
But the truly horrifying sight was the rows of large glass tubes. Each tube contained a human - or beings that were once human. The tubes were filled with dense mist, and the people inside seemed to dance with this mist. Their eyes were open, mouths stretched wide, screaming silently. The mist was entering through their noses, mouths, ears - every opening in their bodies. They seemed trapped in an endless cycle of drowning.
People were working throughout the complex. Some wore white coats and were recording things on their tablets. Others were working at the machines with their sleeves rolled up. In the corner was a large control panel, with dozens of indicators and buttons blinking. Next to the panel, a massive generator growled, occasionally producing electrical arcs.
Thick pipes ran along the walls. Some were transparent and carried a greenish liquid flowing through them. Cranes hanging from the ceiling were moving heavy metal barrels from one place to another. Steam was spurting from under the metal grates on the floor.
A large chemical storage area stood out in one corner. Stacked barrels were covered with hazard signs. A series of pressurized gas cylinders were lined up beside them. Each had different colored labels.
At the other end of the complex, there was a massive water tank. A series of pumps were working beside the tank, distributing water to the tubes and machines through pipes. A maintenance platform extended above the water tank, with rust-covered railings on its edges.
The man continued observing from behind a column. Most of the workers appeared to be engaged in routine tasks. Some were checking values in the tubes, some taking samples, others doing machine maintenance. Chains and cables hanging from the ceiling created ideal hiding spots in dark corners.
On the side was a large acid tank. The warning signs on it were quite prominent. Next to the tank, a series of barrels were stacked, each sealed with heavy metal lids. Near the acid tank, there was an eye wash station and emergency shower.
In the center of the complex, a tube larger than the others stood out. The mist inside was denser and had taken on an oddly reddish color. More scientists had gathered around the tube, and they all looked excited. They were taking notes, whispering to each other, and constantly checking the readings.
On the floor, there was a rail system used for heavy cargo transport. The rails extended from one end of the complex to the other, with various cargo carts stationed on them. Some carts were empty, while others were filled with covered containers.
As the man observed all this, a plan began to take shape in his mind. He needed to find a way to stop these horrific experiments. But first, he needed to understand exactly what was being done here.
His eyes noted the emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment. He also memorized the locations of the ventilation system on the ceiling and the electrical panels. This information might come in handy later.
In one corner of the complex, a large waste compactor was operating. Next to it was a series of waste barrels. The labels on the barrels bore biohazard symbols. The regular intervals of noise from the compactor created ideal moments for hiding.
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In the midst of all this chaos, the man felt both horrified and angry. He couldn't fully understand what was being done to these people, but he knew it had to be stopped. For now, he needed to retreat and report what he had seen. But he was sure he would return - this time he would be prepared.
Just as he was about to head towards the stairs, footsteps began to echo from above. The sound of steps on the metal stairs grew closer. The man quickly hid behind the nearest column.
Down the stairs came a tall, elderly man. He wore a gray suit and an ornate black fur coat. His silver hair was carefully combed back, and his well-groomed white beard was meticulously trimmed. Behind his metallic-framed, thick-lensed black sunglasses, his facial expression was ice-cold and distant. His thin lips were tightly closed. In his left hand, he carried an expensive-looking cane with a silver head.
Each step was calculated and controlled. The cane made a rhythmic tapping on the metal floor. The fur on his coat collar gleamed in the dim light, rippling slightly with each movement. The fabric of his suit looked like it had been crafted by the finest tailors - every fold, every stitch sat perfectly on him.
On his right hand's index finger, a large gold ring caught the eye. The ring had an intricate emblem - a pair of snakes coiling around a glowing crystal in the center. This ring seemed to be a symbol of authority for the workers in the complex. As the man approached, everyone stopped their work to salute and bow their heads.
As he descended the stairs, the complex's dim lighting accentuated the deep lines on his face. These lines carried the marks of experience and hardness from long years rather than age. Though his eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses, the weight of his gaze could be felt.
"What could he be hiding behind those sunglasses?" the man asked Geminga.
"His eyes." said Geminga. "But the real question is why he's hiding them."
"Maybe his eyes are sensitive?"
"No, it can't be that simple. He has a purpose. Look, he never takes off the glasses. He's wearing them even at this hour."
The man thoughtfully nodded his head. "Maybe there's a deformity in his eyes? Or maybe he just likes wearing glasses. Or..."
"Or there's something else he's hiding in his eyes." Geminga completed. "It could be related to the experiments being conducted in this complex. Maybe he's a test subject himself."
"Could it be... he's conducting experiments on himself?"
"Possible. But for now, we can only speculate. If we get the chance, we'll find out what's behind those glasses."
The woman descending the stairs behind the elderly man immediately drew all attention as she entered the complex. She had short, jet-black hair with carefully cut bangs falling over her forehead. Her facial features were sharp and distinct, with high cheekbones and a pointed, noble chin. Her eyes were a deep green that sparkled even in the dim light, and her gaze was piercing, almost threatening.
Her dress, made of deep black silky fabric, fit her body perfectly. The dress extended from her neck to her ankles, revealing red-soled high heels through the deep slit in her leg with each step. The upper part of the dress left her shoulders bare, with sleeves extending to her elbows. With its tight fit at the waist and décolletage, she looked mesmerizing.
The coat she wore over her dress was a true work of art. It was a long and luxurious design, completely covered in fur. The fur looked so soft and well-maintained that it shimmered like silk in the light. The coat's collar was large and ornate, with fur cascading down from her shoulders, rippling with each movement. She had draped the coat over her shoulders, not hesitating to display the dress underneath.
The choker at her neck was perhaps the most striking piece of her outfit. The choker, embroidered on a thick black velvet ribbon, wrapped gracefully around her neck. In its center was a single precious stone that gleamed with a reddish sparkle in the light. This stone seemed to dance with the red lights in the complex.
Every movement of the woman seemed calculated. The clicking of her high heels on the stairs even drowned out the hum of the machines. Her facial expression was as cold and distant as the elderly man's, but there was a dangerous glint of intelligence in her eyes. At the corners of her lips was a subtle smile, as if she were keeping a secret.
The complex workers approached her with the same mixture of respect and fear as they did the elderly man. The woman, with an indifferent attitude toward those around her, gracefully walked to the elderly man's side. With each step, her coat's fur rippled, and the fabric of her dress rustled around her legs. Her presence seemed strangely captivating in this dark and industrial setting.
"This woman..." said the man. "She looks very dangerous."
"Yes." said Geminga. "That look in her eyes... As if she could kill someone at any moment. But what really caught my attention is that choker around her neck. Did you see the stone in the center?"
"Yes, it had a red sparkle."
"That stone isn't an ordinary jewel." said Geminga. "It's like some kind of energy source. Maybe it has a connection to the experiments here."
"There seems to be something between her and the elderly man. They're both equally... frightening."
"Partners perhaps? Or maybe..."
A researcher immediately rushed to the elderly man's side, beginning to show him something on the tablet. The man examined the tablet with a brief glance, nodding his head slightly in approval. His voice echoed with a deep tone that drowned out the complex's hum: "Good. It's progressing exactly as we want."
He pulled out a silver case from his coat's inner pocket, taking out a cigar. The beautiful woman appeared immediately at his side, lighting the cigar. As the man inhaled the smoke, he fixed his eyes on the large glass tubes. A subtle smile appeared on his face - not a warm or friendly smile, but the smile of a hunter who had cornered his prey.
He pointed to the nearest tube with his cane. The figure inside was writhing in the mist. "How long can it endure?" he asked. His tone carried cold calculation rather than scientific curiosity. The researcher beside him answered immediately: "It's been in the system for three days, sir. Much more resilient than the previous ones."
The man nodded, appearing pleased. He took another puff from his cigar, slowly exhaling the smoke. The smoke rose, forming strange shapes in the greenish light. "Very good." he said again. "Very soon..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone in the complex seemed to understand what he meant.
Everyone in the complex was holding their breath, watching him intently. Scientists rushing from every corner of the laboratory silently and orderly arranged themselves in a semicircle around their boss. Their faces bore mixed expressions - both respect and slight fear could be read. Their white coats gleamed faintly in the dim light, their tablets and notebooks ready to answer any possible question from their boss.
"What's the status of that special subject?" the boss asked.
The woman who appeared to be the head researcher stepped forward. "We're almost ready, sir. The final tests are yielding better results than expected. The transformation rate has exceeded eighty percent."
The boss walked toward the large tube, examining the reddish mist. "When can we proceed with full-scale testing?"
"Within forty-eight hours at most, sir. We just need to make final calibrations. We can't afford failure this time."
The boss nodded. "Good. Very good." Then he raised his voice. "You're all doing excellent work. Soon, very soon, all of Equina will notice our presence!"
The man hiding behind the column felt sweat drops trickling down his forehead. Forty-eight hours... So that's how much time he had to stop this.
The woman suddenly stopped, tilting her head slightly. Her sharp eyes drifted toward the dark corners of the laboratory. Her expression changed, her eyes glinting dangerously. She seemed to sense something. The red stone in her necklace suddenly began pulsing with a brighter light.
"I believe." said the woman, her voice as smooth as silk but equally threatening, "we have visitors." She raised her hand gracefully, her elegant fingers dancing in the air. With this motion, the greenish light in the laboratory rippled, trembling as if an invisible wind was blowing.
The old man took a deep breath from his cigar, fixing his eyes on the woman as he slowly exhaled the smoke. "Yes." he said, his voice ice-cold.
At that moment, a misty figure emerged from the shadows behind the man. The entity, first appearing like a thin streak of smoke, condensed into human dimensions within seconds. This gray, semi-transparent being undulated like the mist in the complex's test tubes. It rapidly changed shape, surrounding the hiding man.
"The Mist Reaper…"
The man tried to escape, but the misty figure had already caught him. The entity's touch was ice-cold, a chill that penetrated to the man's bones. Suddenly he found himself in the middle of the laboratory, in front of everyone. The scientists stepped back, some holding their breath in surprise.
The woman approached the man with a dangerous smile on her face. Her heels echoed on the metallic floor with each step, her coat's fur rippling. "How brave," she said, slowly circling around the man. "Or perhaps... how foolish."
The man trembled, both from fear and the misty entity's cold touch. The greenish light in the laboratory danced in the sweat drops on his face. "I... I just..." he stammered, but couldn't complete his words.
"You never moved, never made a sound... I don't know how she noticed us."
"Just what?" asked the old man, striking his cane sharply on the floor. "Just trying to sneak into the factory? Just attempting to sabotage years of our work?"
The woman clasped her hands in front of her and narrowed her eyes at the man. A cold smile appeared on her face. "Perhaps we should place him in one of our tubes," she said thoughtfully. "A new subject is always useful."
The scientists began whispering excitedly. Some even prepared their tablets to take notes. The man trembled even more upon hearing these words, his eyes drifting to the large glass tubes. The figures inside were still writhing, appearing as if trapped in a misty hell.
"No, please!" the man cried out. "I'm just a messenger. Don't—" His words were suddenly cut off by pain. He couldn't say what he was here for. The thing Zeta had placed in his body continued to cause him pain.
The old man struck his cane forcefully on the floor. "A messenger, eh! Now you'll see..." His eyes gleamed with anger.
"We're not against you." said the man, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. "We're just trying to understand. These experiments... Turning people into mist... What's the purpose?"
The woman came to the man's side, stroking his chin with her elegant finger. "Don't worry, everyone will understand soon. Very soon..." The stone in her necklace suddenly emitted a bright red light, and the man groaned in pain.
At that moment, the man in the mists appeared again at the other end of the laboratory.
He was holding Ran. He suddenly pulled back his arm and threw Ran with all his might toward the center of the laboratory, next to the captured man. Ran flew through the air, rolled on the metallic floor with a harsh sound, and stopped.
"Ran!" the man whispered. "Why are you here!"
"I'm sorry, sir. I got caught..."
"A fish person! What a unique beauty you are." said the old man while touching Ran's scales.
Ran pulled back, her scales bristling. "Don't touch me!" she hissed, her voice trembling with anger and fear.
"Ah, so you have a rebellious nature." said the old man, his smile widening. "Don't worry little fish, very soon you'll be part of our family too."
He stood up and signaled to the woman. The moment the woman touched Ran, Ran lost consciousness.
The man attempted to stand, but The Mist Reaper suddenly appeared before him. The entity's gray, semi-transparent body undulated, the air around it vibrating. It slowly circled around the man, each movement fluid and threatening.
Suddenly, the entity extended its arms toward the man's body. The man began to levitate, his feet slowly lifting from the ground. He thrashed in panic, but an invisible force held him tightly. A scream mixed with fear escaped from his throat.
The Mist Reaper's body expanded and darkened as it absorbed the surrounding light. Gray waves of mist spiraled around the man, who struggled for breath—his chest heaving, his eyes wide with horror.
The entity suddenly lunged at the man's face, its gray body moving swiftly like a snake. Thin streaks of mist began curling like smoke and seeping into his nose and mouth, penetrating deeper with each breath. The man coughed violently, making painful, hoarse sounds as if his throat was burning. In desperation, he clutched at his throat, his nails leaving red marks as they scratched his skin. His eyes involuntarily filled with tears, the veins in his face bulging and swelling into blue-purple lines.
With each breath, more mist filled him, gray vapors penetrating deeper with every breath. His lungs were burning like a violent fire, every corner of his brain throbbing with pain. His lips slowly began to turn purple, his once-living skin taking on an ashen pallor. His initially wild and strong thrashing gradually weakened, his arms suspended in the air now falling heavily to his sides like weights. He tried to breathe in one last desperate attempt to survive, but the only thing filling his lungs was more dense, colder mist.
His chest rose and fell as he tried to take deep breaths. With each attempt to breathe, more mist filled his lungs. His throat was burning, his airways constricting. He opened his mouth wide, using all his strength to get air. His lungs struggled for clean air, his chest contracting violently. Gray vapors had completely covered his airways. He couldn't get oxygen. Breathlessness was beginning to take over his body. Each passing second, each failed attempt to breathe weakened him further. His struggle to stay alive was gradually diminishing. Now the panic of being unable to breathe had enveloped his entire body. He tried one last time, but it was futile. His lungs were burning, his brain clouding from lack of oxygen.
Gray mist began appearing at the edges of his pupils. With each passing second, more mist filled his eyes. The white part turned gray, his brown irises blurred. His eyelids trembled, his eyes rolling upward. A final tear rolled down his pale cheek.
With his last strength, he turned his head to look at Ran's motionless body. His chest tightened, a sob caught in his throat constricting his breath even more. Then his gaze turned to the old man and woman, anger and hatred flashing in his eyes. He wanted to curse them but no sound came out. His lips trembled.
His eyes blurred, his vision darkened. His heart began beating irregularly, each beat weaker, slower. He shuddered one last time, his head dropping forward. His body completely relaxed, signs of life extinguishing one by one. After sending the last particle of mist into the man's body, The Mist Reaper withdrew, and the man's lifeless body fell to the ground.
Everyone in the laboratory watched silently. The old man took a deep breath from his cigar, a cold smile on his lips.