On the other side of the country, deep within the confines of an underground bunker, being held captive was Agent 1. The cold, sterile environment was lit by harsh fluorescent lights that flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows on the concrete walls. The air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and the faint hum of ventilation systems.
“Stupid system, there’s no way I just imagined all of it” Alec said under his breath, his voice echoing slightly in the small, cell-like room. He paced back and forth, his frustration evident in the clenching and unclenching of his fists.
“You can’t just keep me here! I’m not crazy!” he yelled, his voice hoarse from repeated shouting.
A disembodied voice crackled through the intercom, its tone cold and clinical. “Alec, you need to stop. There is no system, your body was not forged by magic, and you don’t have super powers” the voice repeated for probably the hundredth time.
“As soon as we figure out what substance you took that allows your body to heal so fast, we’ll let you go. Are you ready to tell us what really happened when you disappeared for the week?”
The question hung in the air, thick with skepticism. Alec’s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together. His patience had worn thin, and the anger he had been holding back erupted.
“Screw you! I’ve been one of your operatives for years, and all of the sudden you treat me like this? Who gave the order? Was it Cookie? Get her down here! LET ME TALK TO MY SISTER!” Alec screamed, directing his rage at the small speaker box mounted high in the corner of the ceiling.
There was a brief silence, punctuated only by the distant hum of machinery. Then the voice returned, slightly softer but no less resolute.“Cookie’s the one who fought for you to be released once we have the information we need. She is under orders to get the info first. You know as well as I do that we have to follow orders.
We know you took something or someone injected you with something because your blood has traces of it that we can’t identify. It keeps destroying our equipment. Just tell us where to find more, or the person responsible, and you can leave.”
Alec’s shoulders sagged, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The stark reality of his captivity, coupled with the betrayal he felt from his own organization was almost too much to bear. He slumped against the wall. Sliding down until he was sitting on the cold, hard floor. His thoughts raced, each one more frantic than the last, as he tried to make sense of everything that had happened.
The room felt colder, the walls closing in on him. Alec knew he had to find a way out, but for now, all he could do was wait and hope that Cookie would come through for him. The minutes stretched into hours as he sat there, his mind a whirlwind of memories and unanswered questions.
Off to the left was a cot that Alec had reluctantly used after about a week of being held. The thin mattress provided little comfort, and the rough blanket offered minimal warmth against the chill of the underground bunker. How he had stayed awake for that long without any substances was another question they kept asking, but Alec didn’t have an answer. He believed it was the systems doing, but the system had just disappeared and wouldn’t respond anymore.
On his right was a metal jailhouse toilet-sink combo, the kind you'd expect to find in a high-security prison. The stainless steel surface was cold and uninviting. He sat there staring at it, realizing that he had not had to use it once since he was incarcerated. This only added to the mystery and his growing unease.
The walls were a painted brick, the color a dull, institutional gray that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. The only way in or out was a solid metal door that looked to be as thick as a bank vault. There was no window, not even a small one to allow a glimpse of the outside world. He had no idea how long he had actually been captive. Time had lost all meaning in the featureless, claustrophobic cell. He knew he had to find a way to either get them to believe him or bust out.
Alec tried to remember everything that happened when the system took him to the island. It said it had to bring him there for his own good because of some genetic anomaly. His memory was fragmented but he recalled the system's calm, almost soothing voice. It explained that it needed to fix something that made him prone to violence and needed the seclusion in case he lost control. Once it started something it called convergence, a 32.11% popped into his vision. He then heard the computerized voice say something about being an inadequate candidate. It said “Sub admin rejected due to genetic abnormality,” and then it just disappeared. He tried to ask what it meant but the system was just gone.
The confusion and frustration gnawed at him. He clenched his fists, the knuckles turning white. How could he explain something that sounded so insane? He had been taken to a mysterious island, subjected to some kind of transformation process, only to be abandoned by the very system that initiated it. And now, here he was, trapped and disbelieved by his own organization.
Alec knew he had to keep his wits about him. He needed a plan, a way to prove his story or find an opportunity to escape. The room’s oppressive silence was broken only by his steady breathing and the occasional drip of water from the sink. He closed his eyes, trying to focus his thoughts, to piece together a strategy. The odds were against him, but he had survived worse. He would find a way out of this, somehow.
Alec contemplated everything, searching for a solution. After all, that’s what he was trained to do. “I might end up with aggression issues after the convergence?” What the hell did that mean? The system had told him he should meditate to help get my anger under control if he experienced overwhelming aggression. But he didn’t know how to meditate.
At this particular moment, he kept having the same thought. What if deep down he didn’t want it under control? What if he just wanted to break the damn door off and smash someone in the head with it.
As Alec sat there, attempting to meditate, his frustration grew. The dim light of the cell seemed to press in on him, amplifying his sense of confinement. Ten minutes went by, with his self control waning with every passing moment. After many futile attempts to calm down and think rationally, a strange feeling started coming over him. His skin felt like it was getting harder and harder, as though it was transforming into some unyielding substance. He could feel his strength increasing with each passing second..
As he squeezed his hands, the sensation of power coursing through his veins became more pronounced. The longer he focused on his captivity, the tighter his hands clenched, his knuckles turning a deep shade of red. His breathing quickening, and his heart pounded faster and faster, each beat resonating in his chest like a drum. Strangely, he started to emit a deep crimson glow throughout his entire body, the light pulsating in rhythm with his accelerating heartbeat..
The glow illuminated the cell, casting eerie red shadows on the walls. Alec could feel the energy building inside him, a raging torrent of power and anger. The door, the walls, the entire bunker seemed to tremble in response to his fury. The realization hit him – this was the system’s doing, a manifestation of the convergence it had mentioned. But instead of feeling fear or confusion, Alec embraced it. He allowed the anger to flow through him, knowing that this newfound strength might be his only ticket out of captivity.
“Something is happening," the guard relayed throughout the station intercom, his voice tinged with unease.. “All guards to cell 1.”
As the guards took formation in the dimly lit hallway, their apprehension grew palpable. They exchanged nervous glances, gripping their batons and firearms tightly. Why would they need to be outside of the cell? It was a massive titanium door, reinforced and built to withstand any imaginable force. Escape seemed impossible. The door had purposely been designed to handle anything thrown at it, but the unknown terrified them.
Inside the cell, a surge of power coursed through Alec, threatening to burst from his veins. His muscles tensed, and his vision narrowed, turning the white walls into a blur. "How dare they turn on me? My own sister!" he roared, his voice thick with indignation and betrayal. "You can't keep me here just because you don't believe me!"
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The room seemed to vibrate with his fury. The world dissolved into a haze. Alec's vision narrowed even further, filtering out the white walls and focusing solely on the door blocking his escape. A primal roar, raw and dangerous, clawed its way out of his throat, filling the cell with a deafening sound. The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils, a counterpoint to the pounding in his ears, a relentless drumbeat driving him forward..
With a surge of adrenaline, Alec's eyes locked onto the cot frame bolted to the floor. He ripped it up with a force that sent bolts and metal shards flying. The frame was now a weapon, an extension of his rage. He hurled it at the door with all his might. When it struck, it crumpled into a mess of metal and springs, as if it had been flattened by a freight train.
Next, Alec's eyes fell on the metal toilet-sink combo. With his strength growing by the second, he tore the unit from the ground, the sound of ripping metal and concrete echoing through the cell. He swung it wildly, smashing it into the floor. The concrete shattered under the impact, sending fragments flying in all directions. The toilet crumpled, its metal turning to powder under his assault.
The crimson glow enveloping Alec intensified, casting even more eerie shifting shadows on the walls. The ground beneath him trembled, cracks spiderwebbing out from where the toilet had shattered. His hands, densened and as hard as stone, glowed with an otherworldly crimson light.
Alec began smashing against the door. Each attempt becoming more and more fierce. With his anger increasing his strikes became more and more powerful.
Outside, the guards could hear the chaos within. The sounds of destruction was unlike anything they had ever heard. Their faces paled as they exchanged worried glances. The once unyielding titanium door began to show signs of strain, the edges buckling slightly with each thunderous impact from inside.
"Hold your positions!" barked the commanding officer, trying to maintain order amidst the growing fear. The guards braced themselves, weapons at the ready, hearts pounding in their chests. The metallic door, designed to be an impenetrable barrier, now seemed like a fragile dam holding back a raging flood.
Inside the cell, Alec felt invincible. The raw power surging through him obliterated any rational thought. He was a force of nature, unstoppable and furious. With one final, earth-shattering roar, he charged at the door, his body a blur of crimson light and unbridled rage.
The titanium door buckled and groaned under the onslaught. The guards outside took a step back, their fear transforming into outright terror. The door, their last line of defense, seemed ready to give way at any moment.
The tension was palpable as they awaited the inevitable. The air was thick with anticipation and dread, every guard acutely aware that whatever was behind that door was far beyond their control.
In Alec’s final strike the door exploded outward. Smashing through the hinges and six feet into the concrete wall on the far side of the hallway.
He stepped through the mangled opening, a predator entering the hunting ground. The air hung heavy with the smell of fear, mixed with the acrid scent of burnt metal. The guards, five of them, seemed to materialize out of the haze. Their movements were jerky, like marionette puppets controlled by unseen strings of tension. A strange red aura pulsed around each of them, a beacon highlighting their silhouettes in the dimly lit corridor. A predator, with a sight marking its prey.
A cruel smile twisted Alec's lips. "No more," he rumbled, his voice a gravelly echo that reverberated through the sterile corridor.
The first guard, quicker than the others, fired a dart. It flew towards Alec, a silver blur against the dark backdrop. Time seemed to distort again. Alec didn't flinch, didn't dodge. Fear was no longer a factor. The dart struck his chest with a dull thud, then skittered harmlessly off, clattering to the floor.
The smile on Alec's face widened, a terrifying transformation that spoke of a power beyond human conception. He was a force of nature, a hurricane in a confined space. The closest guard lunged back, but Alec was already there. The guard instinctively swung at Alec, but Alec met the blow with a forearm to the head, shattering the guard's skull with a sickening crunch. The man crumpled, a choked scream dying in his throat.
Alec was a whirlwind of controlled fury. Fueled by rage, his movements were swift and precise, each blow was devastating. He snatched another guard by the throat, the man's desperate gasps swallowed by the echoing crunch of his windpipe. The body was tossed aside, a discarded ragdoll in the chaos of the fight.
The remaining guards hesitated, fear paralyzing them as they watched Alec's onslaught. The crimson glow around him intensified. One guard managed to draw his baton, but Alec was upon him before he could strike. With a swift motion, Alec disarmed the guard, the baton clattering uselessly to the floor. He drove his fist into the guard's chest, feeling the ribs crack under the force of the blow. The guard collapsed, gasping for breath before his eyes went pale. A lifeless remnant of the fear shown moments before.
Alec turned his attention to the last 2 guards, who were now backing away, their faces pale with terror. The red aura around them flickered, reflecting their fear and uncertainty. Alec advanced on them, his steps measured and deliberate. The guards, realizing they had no chance, dropped their weapons and bolted down the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. Alec, with no visible humanity left, was now a monster of pure rage.
Alec stood amidst the wreckage, his breathing heavy, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The crimson glow slowly faded, leaving the corridor in a somber half-light. The remnants of the fight were scattered around him—broken bodies, twisted metal, and the smell of fear lingering in the air. He was free, but the cost of his freedom was etched into the very walls of the bunker.
He hesitated, a sliver of his old self battling the rage. But the red haze pulsed, a constant reminder of his captivity, his torture. The flicker of humanity vanished, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes. His breathing grew heavier, each exhale a testament to the struggle within..
With a final, bone-chilling snarl, Alec ended it. The rage returned and all sense of humanity disappeared. His movements were swift and brutal. Grabbing both remaining guards by their necks, he smashed their heads together with a sickening crunch, creating a jumbled mess of absolute carnage. Blood sprayed, and the guards' bodies went limp, crumpling to the floor. The fight was over, as sudden and brutal as its beginning. The hallway echoed with the ragged gasps of his own breath, a stark contrast to the chilling silence that remained.
Alec's heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs as he bolted for the end of the hallway. Each echoing footfall seemed louder than the last, a beacon in the tense silence. He burst through the doorway into the stairwell, a narrow concrete cylinder smelling faintly of damp mop water. The cool air was a welcome reprieve to the oppressive heat of the hallway.
Just as his hand grasped the cool metal railing, a voice, distorted by the acoustics of the stairwell, sliced through the air."Alec, it's Cookie. Please!" The desperation in her voice was clear.
He froze, mid-stride. Every muscle in his body tensed. "Don't hurt anyone else," the voice continued, laced with a strange urgency. "We just need to understand what's happening to you.”
“Go straight up the stairs”, she continued. “Exit through the door marked 'Ground.' Then down the hall, there's another door identical to the one you… broke. I've unlocked everything. Once you calm down, you know how to reach me."
Alec hesitated. Doubt gnawed at him. Was this a trap? With the promise of freedom, the chance to escape this prison, was too tempting to ignore. With a surge of adrenaline, he propelled himself upwards, taking the stairs two at a time, then three at a time. His breath scraped in his lungs, a harsh counterpoint to the pounding of his feet.
He blurred past each landing, a desperate animal seeking an escape route. Time seemed to distort. What should have taken minutes to ascend took mere seconds. The final exit door loomed ahead, a beacon of hope framed by the fluorescent light. He lunged, throwing his entire weight against the heavy steel barrier.
There was no resounding clang, no resistance. The door swung open, slamming against the wall behind it as effortlessly as if it were made of paper. He stumbled out into the deserted hallway, the cool night air blasting against his sweat-slicked skin. He didn't dare look back. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to run.
He sprinted down the corridor, his legs burning with a power he had never experienced. The walls became a blur as his speed increased, accompanied by the rhythmic pounding of his own heart. He reached the final door, identical to the one he'd demolished, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. This couldn't be real. It had to be another trick.
He slammed his fist against the metal, bracing for another futile struggle. Then, to his utter astonishment, the door swung open. Relief flooded him as he caught the door on its backswing after bouncing off the concrete wall.
He didn't hesitate. He was out. Free. He burst through the doorway and into the be night, leaving this god-awful prison and its unanswered questions behind. The night air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and freedom. The stars overhead were unimaginably beautiful compared to the artificial lights of the bunker, a reminder of the world beyond his confinement.
Back in the bunker, Cookie stared at the monitor of the doorway, her mouth agape. The scene replayed in her mind: Alec's raw power, the terrifying ease with which he had decimated the guards, and the sheer will that drove him to escape. Her hand trembled as she picked up the phone. "Get me Oleander," she rasped, her voice laced with fear and awe.
There was a pause, then a click.
"Sir," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "Agent 1… he's gone. I had to release him."
Silence. Then, a voice, cold and hard as steel, crackled through the receiver. "Explain."
Cookie swallowed, her throat dry. "He… he was… different, stronger, faster. He ripped through the vault door like it was paper. And the guards… they… they're gone."
Another beat of silence. Then, a single, ominous word. "Damnit."
The line went dead. Cookie stared at the phone, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. What had she done? Had she caused this? To her own brother? The weight of her actions settled heavily on her shoulders, a burden she wasn't sure she could bear.