Axel and his crew were paralyzed, watching the crumpled female form on the ground amidst the debris. The smoke and blood clung thickly in the air, and the wavering lights cast dreamlike shadows on the ravaged laboratory. Scattered around her lay the shattered machines, the pieces of glass, and battered bodies of the guards who had attempted—and failed—to halt her destruction.
"She was…" Lila began, her voice so low. "She was human, wasn't she?"
"She's not human anymore," Atlas snarled, his face dark. "That's what happens when they push one too hard."
Axel couldn't tear his eyes away. His heart clenched, his fists shaking at his sides. *If anything like that ever happened to Mara…* The mere thought shook him to his core, a shiver running down his spine.
What was she doing to her?" Kaid asked in a low voice.
Before others could answer, a new one pierced the hush—cool, silky, and deliberate.
"What a displeasing scene.
The group swiveled into a sudden turn. In the doorway of the ruined room stood a man in a crisp white coat. His neat, slick demeanor was violently at odds with the chaos behind him. His glasses sparkled in the light, his small smile detached and sinister.
"Don't you fret about her," the man—The Doctor—said to him, stepping further into view. "She's in good hands." His voice was nearly taunting, and his smile never faltered.
"Just what are you referring to? What is she?" Kaid asked, advancing, though his voice hid his discomfort.
The Doctor tilted his head slightly, his smile deepening. "That, I'm afraid, is none of your concern. Recruits shouldn't be here. You'd best return to your room before someone notices your little… excursion."
For a moment, no one moved. The Doctor's cold gaze swept over the group, lingering briefly on Axel. The weight of his stare made Axel's stomach churn.
We have to leave here," Atlas said resolutely, driving away the unease. "Now. He's right. If the guards find us here, it will not be good.".
Reluctantly, the team began to move towards the door. Axel lingered behind, still gazing at the woman. The Doctor's eyes remained fixed on his face, and when Axel turned to follow his team, he caught the faintest glimmer of a smile from the man. It wasn't a welcoming one. It wasn't a comforting one. It made Axel shiver.
Inside their room, the group lapsed into silence. The door creaked shut behind them, and the choking alarm finally fell silent, leaving only the quiet thrum of the facility's systems. None of them spoke for a time, each caught up in his own thoughts.
"That. woman," Lila whispered, ending the silence. "What did they do to her?"
"More like what didn't they do," Ava replied, resting back against her bunk. "She wasn't in control. That wasn't anger—that was… something else."
"That wasn't an accident," Atlas said, folding his arms. "That was intentional. Whatever they were doing to her, they pushed her into something she couldn't recover from."
It's savage," Axel breathed, his voice hushed. He braced himself against the side of his bunk, his head hung down. "Reducing someone into. into that. How many have they done this to?"
No one could answer before the door opened once more. A tall figure entered, accompanied by a guard.
"New recruit," the guard announced bluntly. "This is Cyrus Kane. He'll be joining you.".
Cyrus moved forward, his steps slow and deliberate. His gray eyes flashed around the room, locking with each pair of eyes for a moment before settling on Axel. He held there for an instant, his face impassive, before his lips twitched into the smallest suggestion of a smile.
Axel looked at him but said nothing.
Cyrus threw his gear onto an empty bunk and lay down in silence. The door hissed closed behind him, leaving an awkward hush in its wake.
"Well," Eli grumbled, "this is gonna be fun."
***
Several hours later, the overhead announcement boomed out of the building:
"All recruits report to the canteen for your meal. Line up in an orderly fashion."
"Finally," Eli complained, standing up arching his back. "I was starting to think they were going to starve us or something."
"Let's pray it's not something inedible this time," Kaid said as they walked out of the room along with the other recruits.
The canteen was bustling with noise and movement. Long lines of recruits shuffled toward the counter where workers handed out trays of food. Guards lined the walls, their sharp eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble.
"Guess it's stew again," Ava said, peering at the trays being served.
"Disgusting, but at least it won't kill us," Eli muttered as they joined the line.
When it was Axel's turn, he stepped forward—only to be pushed aside.
"Move," was a cold command.
It was Cyrus. He held a tray and scooped food out with no more than a passing glance.
"Hey," Axel snapped, turning to face him.
Cyrus stopped, glancing back over his shoulder with the same sly grin. "Oh, didn't see you there," he replied, his voice thick with sarcasm.
Axel's fists balled, his muscles coiling. But before he could react, Kaid caught his shoulder in a firm grip.
"Not here," Kaid whispered, nodding towards the guards standing at the edge of the room.
Axel took a hard breath, forcing himself to proceed and grab another tray.
They saw an unoccupied table and sat down in a group, their trays loaded with the usual revolting fare: a watery gray stew with the faint odor of burnt vegetables, served with a dry, rock-like piece of bread.
"Seriously, this again?" Eli grumbled, prodding at the stew with his spoon. "They're not even trying anymore."
Gross, but safe to eat," Ava replied, popping a tiny amount into her mouth.
Ava swallowed, and then they started talking about Cyrus.
"What's his problem?" Kaid growled, stirring his stew with a careless motion.
"You saw how he stared at Axel," Lila whispered. "It was. odd."
"Let it go," Axel said hard, with no option for argument. "Just drop it. There's a time and a place for that.".
The group nodded, though the tension still lingered. They had their dinner in silence before they went back to their room, their minds burdened by the events of the day.