Sector 9 was a madhouse. The alarms wailed continuously along its endless, chill corridors, with red lights flashing in demented succession along them and casting everything in a jerky crimson red. Scientists dashed to and fro, their lab coats fluttering around them like phantoms, their words and shouts ringing out in mad succession. Shouts shouted back, they competed to out-shout each other.
"Containment's breached! Escape now!" a cry sounded, barely above the cacophony.
"Heads down! Move on!" another yelled as a tray of shattered vials tilted, glass shattering under scurrying feet.".
The hallways of Sector 9, so barren and gleaming in steel and warning labels—**BIOHAZARD LEVEL 4** and **AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY**—now strewn with debris. Wires ripped from ceiling tiles, ripped free from their insulation. Gear scattered in pieces, their opened interiors emitting wisps of smoke. Further back in the complex, a shattering crash shook the walls, followed by a low, unnatural bellow that seemed to ripple the air itself.
It's not working! We can't turn it off!" a scientist yelled, dashing past a cluster of shocked guards.
"What do you mean, 'it's not working'?! It must!" the frantic response came from another as the scream drew near.
The metallic odor of blood was combined with the antiseptic odor of chemicals. Something awful was on the loose.
***
In the barracks of the recruits, Team Alpha was on edge. The constant wailing had shattered any fantasy of peace, and the blazing red light that streamed through the gaps in their closed door made the tiny room stifling.
"What in the name of all that is holy is happening?" Kaid growled, perched upright on his bunk. His tone was acrid, harsh.
"Sector 9, wasn't it?" Lila gasped from her bed. She wrapped her arms around her knees, her big eyes flashing with the lights. "What do you think it is?"
"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Eli replied, folding his arms and leaning against the wall. "No way they'd lock us in here for spilled coffee."
"Relax, it's most likely a drill or whatever. Alarms blaring, scientists running around—it's all for show," Ava dismissed, her voice weak.
Axel was standing by the door, rigid. His eyes were on the control board, but his brain was a thousand miles away. His chest was constricted, fists clenched at his sides.
"Axel?" Kaid asked, sensing his teammate's stiffness.
"I'm going out there," Axel said suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension.
"What?!" Kaid jumped to his feet.
"You heard the announcement! We're supposed to stay here!" Eli added, stepping forward.
"What if this has something to do with Mara?" Axel turned to face them, his eyes fierce. "I have to know."
"And what if it doesn't?" Kaid retaliated. "What if it's a breach or something even more serious? You'll end up getting killed out there."
"Then I'll handle it. I cannot just sit idly by and do nothing." Axel's voice was firm, resolute.
Kaid was incredulous, pushing his hands through his hair in frustration. "Axel, this is insanity—
"Stay here if you wish to," Axel broke in, heading back to the door. "I'm going."
The door creaked and hissed open, allowing the fiery red light of the corridor outside to enter, as if invited. The team stood stock-still, gazing at the open doorway.
"Well, that's just not creepy," Ava grumbled.
Axel didn't question it. He went on through without blinking.
"Shit, Axel!" Kaid growled, racing after him. "Fine, but if this leaks out, it's on your head."
The rest of the team looked at each other nervously before racing after them.
***
The corridor passage was clear, other than the indistinct shout of pandemonium further inside the complex. Macabre shadows danced off the walls through the red glow of emergency lights. Slowly proceeding further down, the drumbeat of pounding feet grew louder, and panicked scientists ran past.
"Hey! What is going on?" Kaid thundered, gripping the shoulder of one of the frightened men.
The scientist tossed his arm to the side, his eyes crazed. "Get out of here! You don't want to know!" he screamed before he took off running down the hallway.
"That's not good," Eli said quietly.
They kept going, listening to the distant rumbling sound that seemed to get louder and louder with every step. Making a turn, they stood facing a scene of complete devastation.
A lab was leveled. Steel walls were dented and cleft in two as if by titanic hands. Equipment was smashed and smoldering, its innards splattered on the floor. Walls were smeared with blood and pooled around bodies of guards lying on the floor, their weapons twisted and destroyed.
A figure stood amidst the devastation.
It was a woman, but there was something strange. Her hair was long and matted around her head, and her bright red eyes pierced the smoke and gloom. Her limbs were stiff, animalistic, and her breathing was harsh, rasping. There was blood seeping from her clenched fists, and her torn clothing was just barely recognizable as a hospital robe.
"What… is that?" Lila's pant was almost a whisper.
The woman let out a half-scream, half-shriek and flung herself at the guards in rage. She slapped one guard into a wall with brutal force. He fell to the ground, motionless. The other guards shot at her, but the rounds only seemed to infuriate her.
"Is that what it feels like when an experiment goes wrong?" Atlas growled, his face dark.
Axel watched the woman. His chest constricted again, and his fists shook. He couldn't get out of his head the idea that was going through it: *If something like that were to happen to Mara…*
With a sudden rush of speed, the woman rushed at a second guard, ripping the gun from his hand and slamming him across the room like a ragdoll. Bone breaking and metal clashing echoed through the wrecked lab.
"Fall back! Fall back!" one of the soldiers cried out, but to no use.
These super-soldiers entered the room, with rapid, militarylike unity. They leveled their stun rifles skyward, electricity churning at the end.
"Fire at will!" their commando officer shouted.
The woman whirled, spewing out a second hot roar, and lashed out at them. The soldiers fired, streaks of blue lightning hitting her squarely in the middle. Her body contorted in agony, the inner fire of her eyes dying as the lightning gained possession of her. She screamed once more before she collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
The laboratory was still except for the crackling of electricity and the heavy gasps of surviving soldiers.
Axel's team remained transfixed, their brains reeling as they tried to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
"They… they halted her," Lila breathed, trembling.
Atlas's expression was still shrouded as he looked at the unconscious woman. "If that's what it takes for their testing, we're further along than we thought," he growled.
Axel's eyes were on the woman, his fists clenched. His thoughts were a whirlpool of emotions—fear, anger, and resolve. Whatever had just occurred, he knew one thing for sure: *I have to find Mara.*