Ahead, the tunnel suddenly split into two paths.
To the left—the faint glow of light seemed to lead to the surface. Fresh air flowed in, but it was mixed with a strong smell of blood, making one's stomach churn. The ground was scattered with broken bones, as if something had carelessly discarded them there.
To the right—deep and dark, like the gaping maw of a beast. Strangely, the ground was unusually dry and clean, without a trace of mud. But the faint low growls, like those of a beast, or something else, could be heard.
"Which way?" Mo Wen asked, frowning.
Jerry almost didn't hesitate, his tone confident,"Of course, the left! Don't you see the light? That's definitely the exit!"
But Sima said in a deep voice,"No, we go right."
The air instantly thickened.
"Are you crazy?" Jerry's face changed, looking at him in disbelief.
Sima's gaze was cold, with an inexplicable chill,"The left is a trap."
Mo Wen's heart jolted, staring into Sima's eyes, remembering the expression he had when he saw the corpse. That momentary change in emotion... it wasn't just surprise; there was something deeply hidden.
He suddenly realized—Sima knew more than he let on.
But who should he trust?
The light on the left, was it hope or a dead end? The darkness on the right, was it danger or a chance for life?
Before Mo Wen could decide, water sounds suddenly echoed behind them—slow, stiff footsteps resounded in the damp tunnel, as a figure in a military uniform approached step by step.
Sima didn't hesitate, turning to run toward the right path.
Jerry let out a scream, freezing for a moment, then bolting toward the left path.
Only Mo Wen remained, heart pounding, staring at the two completely different paths like forks in fate.
Which way should he go?
---
In a cold, silent, all-metal lab, bright, shadowless lights cast a pale glow. Stainless steel dissection tables were cold and hard, with several naked volunteers lying on them, still unconscious, their chests rising and falling as if they were in a dreamless abyss.
A scientist in a white lab coat, mask, and goggles moved among them, skillfully operating various complex, precise instruments. He gently adjusted an injection device, slowly injecting a transparent liquid into the volunteers' veins. It was unclear whether it was an anesthetic, nutrient solution, or some unknown reagent. Another robotic arm steadily cut open the skin, creating a small incision to carefully insert a dark chip, then meticulously sutured it, leaving only a barely noticeable mark. Another volunteer's lips were pried open, and a slender tube was gently inserted into his trachea, with an unknown gas slowly blown in, making his chest rise and fall slightly, like fine-tuning a newly activated machine.
The experiment proceeded in an orderly manner, without any panic. Soon after, several heavily armed soldiers in thick protective suits entered with steady steps.
The man in the white lab coat ordered,"Take these experimental waste to the incubation room!" The soldiers nodded and efficiently moved the unconscious volunteers onto mobile stretchers, each with a number tagged on their chest, as if marking a newly tested experimental product.
If Mo Wen were here, he would recognize many familiar faces among the pale ones being pushed away—Joe, Hai Ying...
The lab returned to silence, only the occasional faint hum of instruments breaking the stillness. The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant. Everything proceeded as planned, without any questions or pauses, as if it were just another routine, cold, efficient operation in a long line of experiments.
Suddenly, the lab door opened, and two men in white lab coats walked in.
"Alright, your shift is over. Dr. Tanaka will be taking over!"
A young man, clearly unfamiliar with the environment, looked around curiously.
"Please introduce Dr. Tanaka to your tasks and the lab."
"Sure, it's my pleasure!"
-----------------
An hour earlier in the underground tunnel.
"Plop—"
A corpse splashed into the filthy water, sending up a foul-smelling spray.
Then, another"plop! plop!" as if Death was throwing down victims one by one, cold and precise.
The tunnel echoed with beastly roars, a sound that was neither human nor zombie, filled with a chilling brutality and madness.
"Help!"
Jerry spun around, his voice distorted by fear. Ahead of him was a tightly locked iron gate, and behind, corpses continued to fall from above, as if death was closing in, cutting off all his escape routes.
This was a deadly trap, and he realized it too late.
His body stiffened, curling up under the gate, arms wrapped tightly around his head, as if that could shield him from the invisible shadow of death.
Suddenly, the gate"clang" swung open! Several mercenaries rushed in, dragging him out and locking the gate behind them. Almost simultaneously, the claws of those creatures frantically scratched at the gate, mere inches from Jerry. Had they been a second slower, he would have been torn to pieces.
At the same time, the splashing footsteps gradually receded in the dark, as Mo Wen and Sima moved silently, heading in the opposite direction. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and strange ripples disturbed the water surface, hinting at unseen things lurking in the darkness.
Suddenly, Sima whispered,"I know you have questions, but I can't answer them."
Mo Wen raised an eyebrow, his tone calm,"So, tell me what you can."
"First, tell me why you chose to escape with me?"
"You know more than the rest of us. Like people trapped in a tunnel, you follow the rats, right?"
Sima paused for half a second, then laughed,"Haha, I like your dry humor."
"So now you'll share something?" Mo Wen pressed.
Sima's smile faded, his voice serious,"I can tell you that the news about an animal virus? It's just a story for kids. This is far more complicated than you think."
Mo Wen's heart raced as he stepped closer, staring intently at Sima,"What do you mean?"
Sima's eyes narrowed, his tone deep,"Certain government officials have colluded with a dark organization, using leaked 'black spores' for secret experiments. The emblem you saw is their symbol."
Mo Wen's mind exploded. His father's notes had vaguely mentioned a"dark organization." He'd thought it was an urban legend, but now... it was real?!
"What do they want?" Mo Wen's voice trembled.
Sima scoffed,"Don't ask too much. The more you know, the less likely you are to survive."
Mo Wen wanted to ask more but was cut off by Sima's gesture,"If you want to live, keep a low profile. We'll talk about the rest once we're out!"
Deep in the drain, two shadows trudged through the murky water. Mo Wen's thoughts churned—memories of the car accident surfaced. He realized, those who arrived first acted too quickly and calmly, their attire too tight, even their breathing was unnervingly suppressed...
"Could it be... everyone here..." Mo Wen muttered, a shocking theory forming in his mind—they were all caught in an inescapable conspiracy?
A chill ran down his spine as he turned abruptly, staring at Sima,"Who are you really?"
Sima sighed in the dark, his eyes glimmering,"I just want to survive."
After a moment of silence, he patted Mo Wen's shoulder, his tone meaningful,"You're braver than I thought, but remember, courage won't change your fate. For now, we must act quietly and wait for the right moment."
Mo Wen's heart pounded, a sudden thought striking him,"That journalist Jerry might be in danger! His camera... it might have captured crucial evidence, that's why he wanted to escape through the tunnel."
Sima's expression was hidden in the darkness, but his voice carried a hint of coldness,"He's too naive. Organizations like this won't let such information escape easily."
Mo Wen swallowed, a sense of unease growing.
"Right now, our priority is to find an exit."
In the depths of darkness, the water rippled silently. If there were light, Mo Wen might have seen the faint, cold smile on Sima's lips...