Uni swiped the keycard the nurse left behind and the massive door began to slide open, revealing a pitch-black room beyond. The faint light from the hallway could barely penetrate the shadows within, creating a menacing atmosphere that made it hard to see what lay inside.
As the three girls entered the room, they found themselves surrounded by near total darkness. The only source of light was the red glow of an emergency sign above the door, casting eerie shadows on the surrounding walls. They were immediately hit with a rank stench, like rotting flesh and ammonia. The metallic scent of blood hung heavily in the air, making it difficult to breathe.
They saw various medical equipment and tools sprawled across the floor…alongside dead, headless bodies. The source of the bloodshed became clear - a small, human-like figure was strapped to a medical exam table in the back of the room, the figure barely visible in the current lighting. Out of the blue, a tiny flash of light appeared, barreling towards Esther. Esther narrowly avoided the incoming projectile by jumping to the side quicker than the naked eye can see. The sound of the projectile burying itself into the wall behind them echoed throughout the room. The girls pressed on until they reached the end of the dark room, and came face-to-face with Subject 0, who was…a little white-haired girl in a brown dress?!
The girl's hazel eyes glimmered with dark mischief, a sick grin on her face as she observed the intruders.
Esther's eyes widened as she realized the source of the projectile she had just barely dodged - Subject 0, the little white-haired girl in a torn brown dress, who was now looking at them with dark mischief in her pitch-black eyes. The room around them was filled with medical equipment and tools, along with the dead bodies of the researchers who had worked in this terrible place.
Uni carefully scanned the room, her senses on high alert. "Who are you?" she asked the little girl, her voice firm but calm.
Subject 0's sick grin only grew wider as she looked at Uni, her eyes glittering with a dangerous intensity. "I'm Subject 0," she said, her voice a low, chilling whisper that sent shivers down the girls' spines. "And you're not supposed to be here.”
Esther and Trixie looked to Uni for guidance, unsure of what to do next. Uni took a step forward, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why were those researchers killed?" she asked, gesturing towards the bodies scattered around the room.
Subject 0 laughed, a twisted, sardonic sound that echoed in the small room. "They were weak," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "They couldn't handle the experiments. But I can. I'm stronger than they ever were.”
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Uni's eyes flickered to the medical equipment and tools sprawled across the floor, then back to Subject 0. "Experiments?" she asked, her mind racing. "What kind of experiments did they do to you?”
Subject 0's grin turned even more sinister. "Oh, all sorts," she said. "They poked and prodded me with needles, sliced me open and put me back together, and pumped all sorts of chemicals into my system. But I survived it all. They couldn't break me. I'm too strong for that.”
Trixie and Esther grimaced and they listened to the experiments that Subject 0 had been subjected to. Uni steeled herself, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Why are you still here?" she asked. "Why haven't you escaped?”
"Escape?" Subject 0 laughed again, her voice full of bitter amusement. "They wouldn't let me leave. They thought I was dangerous. They wanted to keep me here forever, to use me for their twisted research. They didn't realize that I was the one who was truly in control.”
Uni's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, in control?" she asked, sensing that there was more to Subject 0 than met the eye.
Subject 0's grin twisted into a wicked smile. "I have abilities," she said, her voice low and sinister. "Abilities that they didn't realize I had. Abilities that make me stronger than they could ever imagine. They thought they were controlling me, but in reality, I was the one controlling them.”
Uni took a deep breath, trying to hide her own unease. "What kind of abilities?" she asked.
Subject 0 chuckled darkly. "I can control people's minds," she said, her eyes glimmering with wicked intent. "I can make them see whatever I want them to see, make them do whatever I want them to do. They thought they were in control, but they were just puppets dancing to my tune.”
Uni's eyes widened, realizing the full extent of Subject 0's powers. "So you've been controlling them this whole time?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"That's right," Subject 0 said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "They thought they had control over me, but they were nothing more than my playthings. I made them do whatever I wanted, made them work on their foolish research and experiments. And when they outlived their usefulness..." Subject 0 trailed off, the sick grin on her face speaking louder than words.
"What was that thing that came at us when we entered this room?"
"My scythe, of course."
Uni swallowed hard at this answer, pressing on with another question. "Can we uh...can we at least get a name from you?" she asked.
Subject 0's smile twisted into a cruel smirk. "...Stephanie.”
Uni nodded, storing that away. "All right then, Stephanie." She took another step closer, careful to keep some distance. "So what happens now? Is this where we end up like those scientists?”
Stephanie's grin widened as she saw the fear in Uni's eyes. "That depends on you," she said, her voice dripping with menace. "Are you going to be weak and helpless like they were? Or are you going to be strong like me and get me out of here?”
The girls all exchanged a glance, unsure of what to do. Uni took a deep breath, bracing herself. "And if we help you, what would you do then?”
"Oh, that's simple," Stephanie said, her eyes gleaming with dark excitement. "Once I'm out of here, I'll be free to do whatever I want. And trust me, I have big plans. But first," she looked directly at Uni, "I need your help.”
Uni hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Got it, we'll help you. On one condition..."
“What is it?“
Uni took a deep breath, steeling herself for the deal. "You promise that once we get you out of here, you won't harm us and you won't use your powers on us.”
Stephanie's eyes flicked between Uni and the other girls, then she chuckled wickedly. "All right," she said. "I promise I won't hurt you...as long as you cooperate.”
Uni nodded, accepting the deal even though she was not completely at ease. "Sounds like a deal," she said. "Let's get you out of here.”