We ran, ducking into hallways and slipping past unsuspecting students who were still stuck in the mandatory meeting. The alarm wasn't audible outside the room we had broken into—whoever set up the security system had designed it to be discreet.
Who the hell were those guys? I had no doubt they weren't campus security. Their gear was too advanced, their movements too professional. Whoever they were, they were here to contain whatever secret we had just stumbled upon.
"Where are we going?" Elie whispered as we weaved through the corridors.
Evelyn didn't slow down. "Anywhere but here."
I was about to agree when we turned a corner—and nearly slammed right into a security guard.
"Hey! What are you three doing here?"
His eyes narrowed, instantly suspicious.
Think, Shin. Think fast.
Evelyn opened her mouth, probably to come up with some half-baked excuse, but I beat her to it.
"We got lost looking for the bathroom," I said, feigning an embarrassed grimace. "Took a wrong turn and ended up in some weird storage room."
The guard didn't look convinced. "Storage room?"
Elie nodded quickly. "Yeah! It was kinda dusty, nothing special. But then we heard this weird alarm and figured we should leave before we got in trouble.
I held my breath, hoping the lie would stick.
The guard exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Students aren't supposed to be wandering around during the meeting. Just get back to the main hall. Now."
We nodded quickly, walking away at a normal pace—until we turned another corner and sprinted.
"That was way too close," Elie whispered, her grip tightening around the flash drive in her pocket.
Evelyn shot me a look. "Bathroom? That was your best excuse?"
"It worked, didn't it?"
She didn't argue.
We finally made it back to our dorm, locking the door behind us. For a few seconds, none of us spoke. Then Elie pulled out the flash drive and held it up.
"This has everything on it."
Evelyn exhaled, leaning against the desk. "I can't believe we actually did that."
I ran a hand through my hair. "Yeah. And now we have a problem."
Elie frowned. "What do you mean?"
I sat down, rubbing my temples. "Think about it. That facility, those men, the video we saw—this isn't some normal research project. This is big. And we just got caught snooping."
Evelyn's expression darkened. "You think they'll come after us?"
I didn't answer right away.
But deep down, I already knew the answer.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "I think they will."
The weight of my words settled over the room like a suffocating fog. None of us wanted to admit it, but we had just put ourselves in serious danger.
Evelyn crossed her arms, her jaw tight. "So, what do we do now?"
Elie turned the flash drive over in her hands, her usual energy replaced by a rare moment of uncertainty. "I mean… we have proof, right? We could take this to someone. The police, the school—"
"No." I cut her off, shaking my head. "If this project is as classified as it looks, they'll shut down anything we try to expose. Or worse, they'll shut us down."
Evelyn gave me a sharp look. "So, what? We just sit here and wait for some men in black to drag us off in the middle of the night?"
I sighed. "I don't know yet." And I hated that. I hated not having an answer, not having control. But this wasn't like avoiding people or brushing off responsibilities—this was real, and the consequences were closing in fast.
Elie sat down on the edge of my desk, gripping the flash drive like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. "Then we figure it out. We're already in this, so we might as well see how deep it goes."
Evelyn let out a dry laugh. "That's probably the dumbest thing I've heard all week."
"Got a better idea?" Elie challenged.
Evelyn didn't respond. None of us had a better idea.
I ran a hand down my face. "Alright. First, we need to know exactly what's on that drive. We barely scratched the surface with that video."
Elie nodded, plugging the flash drive into her laptop. The screen flickered as the device loaded, revealing several encrypted folders. But one file stood out—"Z Evo: Restricted Logs".
Evelyn and I leaned in as Elie clicked on it. A list of documents and video files filled the screen, each labeled with dates and obscure project titles.
Then, a single word caught my eye.
"Subject 10 - Pending Activation."
My stomach twisted.
We had seen what happened to Subject 09.
And now, there was another.
I exchanged a glance with Evelyn and Elie.
This wasn't over.
It was just beginning.
A heavy silence filled the room as the implications of what we had just found sank in. My mind raced through every possibility, every worst-case scenario.
Subject 09 had gone berserk, slaughtering everyone in sight. And now, there was another one?
Elie hesitated for only a second before clicking on the file. A progress bar appeared, loading agonizingly slow. The second it hit 100%, the screen flashed, and a new video began playing.
The footage was grainy, like it had been recorded on an old security camera. A sterile, dimly lit laboratory came into view, similar to the one from the first video. A glass chamber stood at the center, fogging up from the inside.
Then, a voice spoke.
"Test Subject 10—Final Phase. Pending Activation."
My breath caught as Dr. Fatal himself stepped into the frame. He looked more exhausted than in the previous video—his lab coat wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes. He rubbed his temples before addressing the camera.
"The results of Subject 09 were… unsatisfactory. His mind couldn't handle the cellular regeneration beyond its initial success. However, with Subject 10, we have made necessary adjustments."
The camera zoomed in on the chamber. Inside, barely visible through the frost, was a figure. Unlike Subject 09, this one appeared calm.
Elie leaned closer to the screen. "Who is that?"
The fog cleared just enough for us to make out a person. A young man, strapped to the chamber's interior, his head tilted downward as if he were asleep. He looked… normal. No missing limbs, no obvious signs of injury.
Dr. Fatal continued.
"Unlike Subject 09, this one has shown remarkable stability. No violent outbursts, no irregularities in behavior. In theory, Subject 10 is the breakthrough we have been waiting for."
He turned away from the chamber, grabbing a clipboard.
"Pending activation in… 48 hours."
The screen went black.
A notification popped up—"End of File."
No one spoke.
Evelyn was the first to break the silence. "So, let me get this straight. They made another one. And they're waking him up in two days?"
Elie bit her lip, tapping her fingers anxiously against the desk. "If he's anything like the last guy, that means we have less than two days before everything goes to hell again."
I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. "And that's assuming this one doesn't turn out even worse."
Evelyn groaned. "Okay, so what do we do about this? If we go to the authorities, they'll cover it up. If we sit here and do nothing, we might be watching a repeat of what happened before—but this time, right under our noses."
She wasn't wrong. If Subject 10 went berserk like the last one, no amount of secrecy or security would keep it under wraps.
Elie's expression hardened. "Then we don't sit here and do nothing."
I frowned. "You're not seriously suggesting—"
She cut me off. "We have two days before this thing wakes up. We need to find out where this lab is. If we can get there, maybe we can stop it before it's too late."
Evelyn gave her an incredulous look. "So your big plan is to break into a top-secret lab? Just casually stroll in and what, unplug the machine? That's insane."
Elie met her gaze without hesitation. "Insane is watching another massacre happen when we could've done something about it."
Her words struck a nerve.
I clenched my jaw. She wasn't wrong—but she also had no idea what we were getting into. The men in that building weren't just scientists. They were professionals, enforcers. If we got caught, we wouldn't be getting a slap on the wrist.
I took a deep breath. "First, we figure out where this place is. Then, if we come up with a real plan, we go from there. No reckless moves."
Elie nodded, satisfied for now. Evelyn still looked like she wanted to throw me out the window, but she didn't argue.
I turned back to the screen. There had to be something in these files—coordinates, a blueprint, something
Because if we didn't find this place soon…
In 48 hours, we'd be too late."Alright," I said, exhaling sharply. "We need to watch every video and find out all the information possible before this."
Elie wasted no time, scrolling through the files and clicking on the next video. The screen flickered, revealing another dimly lit lab, but this time, the atmosphere was noticeably different. It wasn't the same cold, clinical approach as before. There was urgency—panic.
Dr. Fatal appeared again, but unlike the previous footage, he looked disheveled. His hair was a mess, and his hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the camera.
"This is log entry 47," he muttered, voice hoarse. "Subject 10's regenerative capabilities have surpassed all expectations. Unlike Subject 09, his body remains stable. No mutations, no loss of mental faculties—at least, not yet."
He sighed, rubbing his face.
"But there's something… different about this one. He isn't just healing—he's adapting."
The camera angle shifted, revealing a large containment cell. Inside, Subject 10 sat on the floor, arms resting on his knees, eyes closed. He looked eerily calm.
"Physical enhancements are evident. Strength, speed, reflexes—all heightened beyond human capability. But it's not just that. Subject 10 learns."
Dr. Fatal hesitated before continuing.
"We've observed rapid cognitive improvements. At first, we assumed it was just an increase in processing speed. But then, he started—"
A loud bang interrupted him, and the screen briefly glitched. The camera feed blurred before refocusing on the containment cell. Subject 10 was standing now, staring directly at the camera.
He wasn't supposed to know it was there.
Dr. Fatal's voice turned urgent.
"We reinforced the containment room after Subject 09's incident, yet Subject 10… he studied it. Within hours, he understood the security measures, the routines of our staff. He doesn't just react. He anticipates."
Evelyn shifted uncomfortably. "That's… not good."
Elie swallowed hard. "If he's this aware before they even wake him up completely—"
I didn't let her finish. "Keep playing it."
Dr. Fatal's voice dropped lower.
"If anyone finds this, know that Project Z Evo was not meant to reach this stage. We have gone beyond human limitations, and we are no longer in control."
He turned toward the containment cell. Subject 10 hadn't moved, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in his gaze.
We initiated shutdown procedures, but—"
Another loud bang echoed through the video, this time followed by shouting. Alarms blared. The screen flickered, distorting the footage. Dr. Fatal's voice became frantic.
"He knows."
The feed cut to static.
We all stared at the screen, tension thick in the air.
Evelyn was the first to speak. "Tell me we're not still planning on breaking into this place."
Elie was pale, but her grip on the laptop tightened. "We have to. If this guy wakes up fully… he won't just escape."
I ran a hand through my hair.
"No," I muttered. "He'll take over."
Somewhere else, far beyond the reach of this campus, something eerily similar was unfolding. And from the looks of it… only one person was pulling the strings.
You know what I hate most about people?
Ignorance.
The kind that's so thick it blinds you to the damage you cause — to yourself and to everyone around you. You've perfected it.
I've spent too long trying to convince myself you were different. But you're not. You gave up on yourself a long time ago. And me? I'm just collateral.
I can't do it anymore. You're better off with someone who knows less, someone who won't see through the performance. I know you too well. That's the real problem.
And the truth is, you've always been your own worst enemy. The rest of us were just background casualties.
I used to think change was hard for you. But now I know — it's not hard. You just never wanted to. Every word, every excuse, every choice you made… you meant it. You liked it. Maybe you still do.
I thought I loved you once. Thought you were the kind, soft-spoken, beautiful girl I could build a life with. But that version of you? That was a lie. A convincing one, sure. But still a lie.
This isn't some dramatic farewell. This is a final contract — a promise to myself. I'm done. I won't fall for the same trap again. Not yours. Not anyone's.
You don't just hurt people. You ruin them. You finish them.
And the company you keep? Even worse. You know exactly who I'm talking about, so don't bother denying it.
Being with you was a virus. But I've found the cure. And I'll make sure I never get infected again.
Three weeks later.
It still feels surreal. Like some messed-up lucid dream I can't wake up from. I never thought college would take such a sharp left turn — but I guess that's karma for getting tangled up in the first place.
I leaned back in my chair, staring out the window. "I made sure everyone knew about our breakup — all the twisted crap you pulled. Now? I might just regret that."
"Why?"
Lilly's voice cut through the quiet.
"You know why," I muttered. "It all started the moment I opened my mouth."
Before the conversation could go any further, a sharp shake pulled me out of the spiral.
"Kent."
I blinked. Alix stood over me, a hint of frustration beneath her tired eyes.
"It's 7 a.m. on a Thursday. Why aren't you up yet?"
I rubbed my face. "Because school's about to be canceled… right about now."
And as if the universe was listening, the PA system crackled:
Due to disturbances on the second and third floors, all classes are canceled for today. Updates will follow once the situation is resolved
Alix blinked, half-amused, half-concerned. "You actually called it."
I smirked. "You sound surprised. Thought a psych major would catch on by now."
She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Don't remind me."
"Relax. It wasn't that hard to figure out. Janitors were working overtime last night — probably covering something up. Upperclassmen were whispering about an 'incident.' Admin website went dark this morning. Do the math."
Alix folded her arms, giving me a sharp look. "So you just pieced all that together?"
"Pretty much." I stood, stretching. "And now I've got a free day."
She shook her head, a reluctant smile creeping in. "You're impossible."
"Maybe. But I'm not wrong."
As we stepped outside, the campus was wrapped in this strange, heavy quiet. No chatter. No students darting around to avoid being late. Just stillness.
"This isn't right," Alix muttered.
"Yeah." I scanned the paths, noting the absence of anyone. "It's too quiet."
As we rounded the corner toward the dining hall, something finally broke the silence — a group of students huddled at the end of the hallway, voices low and tense. A security guard stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes locked on the floor.
"That," I said under my breath, "definitely isn't part of the cancellation."
We approached, and fragments of conversation floated our way:
"…wasn't just an accident…"
"…third floor, early morning…"
"…he wasn't supposed to be there…"
I stepped closer. "Who wasn't?"
Noah — the quiet kid from philosophy class — looked up, his face pale.
"Alex Carter," he said. "They found him on the third floor. Unconscious. No one's sure what happened, but…" His voice wavered. "…it wasn't natural. It wasn't normal."
The air tightened around me. Alix leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You don't think it's connected, do you?"
I didn't answer right away. My stomach told me everything I needed to know.
"I think," I said quietly, "we just figured out the real reason they shut the school down today."