Somewhere else, in front of a Tv, the woman named Evelyn was sitting at the edge of the couch. Her eyes were glued to the screen, her left hand on a remote, rewinding and replaying a certain scene again and again. Her right hand moved at blinding speed as a backlog of exploit rewards, clearly withheld for some time, were finally claimed.
Her face had a visible blush. The remote clicked again. The Tv kept replaying the moment Numen broke. She gushed over his eyes and the hatred they radiated. The precise hands that grabbed and stabbed the man looked a little... too experienced.
At the end, she looked ready to burst into laughter all over again— or an applause— or both. But a deep breath in and a cheeky smirk replaced all that thirsty atmosphere she radiated.
"Oh, how I've missed you."
◃───────────▹
I should've gone by now. Leaving is simple: find and insert the right key and pull open the door.
— but my hand has been stuck holding the door for seconds now.
My heart; I could hear it. Its pulses felt more prominent like they were strong enough to break through my ribs. I questioned whether it was still fear. Wondered if I didn't swallow hard enough. If the step I took wasn't long enough.
My right hand felt shaky. The revolver felt heavier than before. I glanced down at my skin. The hairs stood as if to pull me away from the door.
I heard a shift to my left. The rustling was alien enough to warrant a twist of my body, right hand stretched, revolver pointed at a certain mass.
It was then I saw who froze: it was her. Along with her I saw my right hand. It wasn't that it felt shaky: I was shaking.
I looked over at the cages. The ragged people inside them were going feral. All of them, even the ones that felt so dormant they were comparable to having no soul.
'The noise. Why couldn't I hear the noise they were making?'
It was then my ears felt like they were underwater. Everything sounded muffled no matter how loud. Though, I gathered all I needed with my sight alone. Many reached towards the body sprawled on the floor. A couple looked at the gun in my hands. Others looked at the keys and the woman.
The thought pressed upon my mind: They would rather keep feeding—or kill themselves—than risk freedom.
'Better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don't.'
My eyes wandered downward. The man died because of me.
'No.'
'My survival was at stake.'
'He looked at me as if we were brothers.'
The blackout... I remember it. To wake up and find the man dead in his tracks solely because of me.
'What if I black out and never wake up?'
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
First Blood
Most people remember their first kill.
You remembered half of it.
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
?????? rates your emotional breakdown:
8/10
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
I froze. Mind blank as a white canvas.
All of this was a game.
The revolver in my hands.
The mental breakdown.
The noise, the screaming, the terror...
all of it is nothing more than a game.
'And I willingly stepped in,' my mind concluded.
I won't back out— I can't back out. I suggested this madness so I have to live with it.
I took a precious deep breath. Inhaling all the evil in the air. Familiarizing it into the depths of my core.
With a satisfying exhale, I worked on my resolve.
"This world wants crazy," I mocked aloud. "I'll give it my sanity."
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Grow a Pair
You finally stopped staring at the door.
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Reward Hoarder
Rewards unclaimed: Excessive.
Evelyn approves.
Reward: None
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Knight in Shining Armor
The lady has been rescued.
The survival rate remains questionable.
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Here's a Gun, Now Do a Crime
A war crime preferably
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
S.T.E.A.L
Strategically Transfer Equipment to an Alternate Location.
Legal definitions may vary.
Reward: Gone
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
You Made Me Wet
Subject: Evelyn
I love it when you're drunk on killing
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Commitment Issues Resolved
You chose a path.
Unfortunately, it was violence.
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x3
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
The silhouette visible through the panels slowly brought me back to reality. Still, my revolver pointed center mass at the woman. Visible fear etched on her face. A trace of content behind her eyes.
'In the end,' I concluded in my head, 'a part of her expected me to threaten, maybe even squeeze the trigger.'
I caught her looking at me as if I'd done something that wasn't in the script—her script.
'Mine's just barely beginning,' a small smirk I couldn't help but feel form on my lips.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Exploit acquired:
Boo! Scared ya
Did you see her face
I saw her face
immaculate
Mild amusement appears on ??????'s face.
Reward: Hyper Card Draw x1
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
'Another one?' I thought, 'maybe picking naked was the right call with massive rewards coming through.'
Though some of them granted no rewards, the exploits still carried passive effects. My gaze lingered on the woman, then the prisoners, then finally the door. My mind churned with calculations.
'I'm going to need all the help I can get,' I gazed back at the panels.
'System, organize exploit passives.'
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Packaging exploits... Listing passives:
Fool's Gambit
Passive: Odds Are Merely Suggestions
You gain increased rewards when willingly entering situations where failure, injury, or death are probable outcomes.
The greater the risk accepted before success becomes apparent, the greater the reward.
Retreating before the gamble concludes counts as failure.
"Most heroes have plans. You had faith and poor decision-making."
◃───────────▹
Prison Logic
Passive: Improvisation Under Pressure
Objects not intended to be weapons become significantly more effective in your hands.
The less prepared you are for a situation, the faster your mind adapts to solve it.
Planning remains recommended.
The passive does not guarantee you will follow that recommendation.
"Every prison escape begins with finding something sharp."
◃───────────▹
First Blood
Passive: Violence Clarifies Things
Your first successful act of violence against a hostile opponent grants a temporary increase to reaction speed, focus, and combat efficiency.
The effect intensifies if the target was physically stronger than you.
The first kill is always the hardest.
Good thing you barely remember yours.
"The body remembers what the mind rejects."
◃───────────▹
Grow a Pair
Passive: Refusal to Fold
Fear, intimidation, torture, despair, corruption, and psychological pressure are less effective against you.
The greater the pressure exerted against your will, the stronger this resistance becomes.
Breaking is permitted.
Remaining broken is not.
"Your soul was never unbreakable. It was simply too stubborn to stay shattered."
◃───────────▹
Reward Hoarder
Passive: One More Before I Leave
Unclaimed rewards subtly improve future rewards.
The longer rewards remain unclaimed, the greater the effect.
Excessive hoarding may result in reward quality improvements.
Excessive hoarding may also result in Evelyn calling you a loot goblin.
"What if the next reward is better?"
◃───────────▹
Knight in Shining Armor
Passive: Not My Problem Anymore
You gain increased effectiveness when acting to protect, rescue, or shield another individual.
Bonuses scale with personal risk.
The person being protected does not need to appreciate your efforts.
"Congratulations. You now have a hero complex."
◃───────────▹
Here's a Gun, Now Do a Crime
Passive: Criminal Proficiency
You learn weapon handling significantly faster than normal.
Firearms, explosives, and instruments of violence become easier to understand through practical application.
The first time using a weapon receives a substantial proficiency bonus.
Legality has no impact on effectiveness.
"The machine spirit approves of your enthusiasm."
◃───────────▹
S.T.E.A.L.
Passive: Acquisition Specialist
Items obtained through theft, looting, scavenging, battlefield recovery, questionable ownership transfers, or technical misunderstandings become easier to use and maintain.
Inventory interactions are more intuitive.
Ownership is a philosophical concept.
"If nobody can stop you, was it really stealing?"
◃───────────▹
You Made Me Wet
Passive: Patron's Favor
Evelyn finds your actions particularly entertaining.
Hidden rewards appear more frequently.
Reward quality is slightly improved.
Minor coincidences may occasionally favor you.
This passive becomes stronger when Evelyn is actively invested in your success.
Do not think too hard about the title.
"She's watching."
Commitment Issues Resolved
◃───────────▹
Passive: Follow Through
Once you consciously commit to a goal, objective, enemy, ideology, or course of action, you gain stacking bonuses toward accomplishing it.
The longer the commitment remains active, the stronger the bonuses become.
The bonus is lost only if the objective is abandoned.
Changing objectives is allowed.
Running away from them is not.
"You finally picked a direction. Unfortunately, it was violence."
◃───────────▹
Boo! Scared Ya
Passive: Predatory Presence
Fear caused by your actions lingers longer than it should.
Surprise attacks, intimidation, sudden appearances, and acts of unexpected violence have increased psychological impact.
Those who fear you are more likely to make mistakes.
You gain no bonus against things too stupid to feel fear.
"Did you see their face?"
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
I blinked slowly at the passives, calculating a summary in my head.
'In short: Fool's Gambit is risk scaling, Reward Hoarder is reward scaling, Commitment Issues is long-term scaling, Grow a Pair is mental defense, First Blood is combat momentum, Knight in Shining Armor is protector bonuses, Boo! Scared Ya is intimidation, Here's a Gun, Now Do a Crime is weapon mastery, S.T.E.A.L is scavenger/loot, and lastly is You Made Me Wet, which amounts to patron favor.'
'These passives alone are more than I need... but just in case— System, show draw amount—'
The Request died in my head—
—BANG!
—the ground shook beneath me.
Not only did it shake, it groaned, threatening to crack at any moment's notice.
—BANG!
—BANG!
Neither sound was that of metal on metal. Not something I can attribute to outside clanging or roughhousing among the scum outside the door. This was different, enough to not only shake the ground I stand on, but enough to rattle the dust accumulated through the years of dilapidation in this room.
Something faint enough that I couldn't identify its source, but loud enough to shake this place. My eyes floated towards the woman— a second after— towards the prisoners. They too were caught off guard by the sound. Judging on the prisoners alone, this impact was new to them.
So new that some shook inside their cages, almost strong enough to shake their metal walls and bars.
I noticed that fear, it reminded me of something.
'A fear of the unknown— classic.'
I paid them no mind. Whatever is happening, I need to prepare— stat!
'System— Draws— NOW!'
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
You have eleven draws remaining.
I'd recommend drawing two cards to keep some of your passives active.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
'Do it!'
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Sending relevant data... gaining Admin permissions... granted:
Draws succeeded.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
The finality of the words on the panel made my hairs stand up. This was different compared to my breakdown. This felt supernatural— out of my control. I looked up from my arm; the prisoners, they seemed... statue-esque. Then the woman before. Her eyes were still on me but... the life behind the fear in her eyes looked so stagnant.
Then it hit me as I found a small drop of water in the middle of the air. Gravity irrelevant to itself. As if wanting to keep my focus, a dark void of aura manifested at the exact area around the water droplet. Looking like the darkest color of cotton candy, it amassed itself largely, about the size of a human head.
From within held colors. Colors that grew not due to their size, but due to the proximity to my sight. They came into my halted reality as if someone or something threw them.
Six of them floated in rows of three, matching the description previously mentioned. The glows varied in color. The highest being rare— which is blue.
'Good thing I wasn't hoping for the impossible.'
I can only pick one out of three— two out of the six. The fact that I have a blue one was lucky enough. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this is reminiscent to something that I utterly despised. It feels like a gamble— what the hell— it is a gamble. But something felt... pitiable about this.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
?????? Smiles
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
My eyes and mind ignored the obvious confirmation that my thinking was correct. The first row first; one green, two grays
— it's obvious which one I should pick.
The cards themselves had intricate glyphs etched on to them. Those glyphs were the ones I looked out for as they depicted the color of the card. No fancy light show, that would make these cards feel divine or relic-like. Instead, aside from the glyph, their black color made the neon colors of the glyphs take similar inspirations from single color RGBs.
'Looks like the link to my past life is slowly making me know of past concepts.'
The card was solid to the touch. Like I had just touched a pane of glass. Which made me handle it with care. As I gently yanked the card out of the top row, the rest disappeared, racing back towards the void they came from.
My focus shifted from the top row to the bottom. It was a slightly harder choice. Two rares and one green. Not hard— really— but the thought kept nagging at me.
'50/50 chance that the card I choose is shit or not.'
I didn't dwell on it. I reached out to one and hoped that the rarity made the card well enough no matter which one I chose. The remaining two retreated; my eyes going from my left hand that held the blue card to the right that held the green between the thumb and pinkie finger as that was the same hand that held the revolver. Both disintegrated into motes of light. That which steadily entered my body. Two new prompts coincided with the motes of light, presenting themselves as panels like any other.
But before I could read them, a sudden pain made my vision blur. Like a knife found new housing at the base of my neck. Worse, it dug deeper. I found myself kneeling, unable to scream— I couldn't— like how I couldn't will a single muscle to move my legs. Deeper, down to my spine. The pain amplified as a drilling sensation made my body spasm. Pain turned to agony. Agony turned to numbness— a numbness the object didn't manifest— but my own biological response. Metallic and mechanical: two words I'd use to describe the coldness within me. It replaced something, a warmth of humanity.
It grew longer, slithered like a snake underneath my skin. Suffice to say all motor skills were no longer in my control. Not moving my head— I couldn't— I looked down with my eyes only; and sure enough, the revolver I held was on the ground. My eyes flashed towards the only free individual in this room. Alongside the pain and numbness, relief washed over me as I saw the woman unmoved by the revolver on the ground.
The pain slowly subsided. Along with it, the violation in the back of my neck and alongside my spine. I watched my finger flinch, then my hands and arms. Motor functions returned gradually. I reached behind my neck, a foreign object protruded from my skin. Cold to the touch, small, and rectangular. Interwoven with unknown metals, it has left its mark.
But not without answers. I looked over at the panel before I was painfully interrupted.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
ARS Accelerator Module
Installation Complete
Neural Synchronization: Successful
Combat Enhancement Functions: Online
Warning:
Repeated use may cause dizziness, migraines, nausea, impaired judgment, and overconfidence.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
"What the fuck?" I said wholeheartedly.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
ARS Accelerator Module
Type: Item (Uncommon)
A damaged military-grade reaction accelerator.
The original owner is unavailable for comment.
Active — Accelerated Reaction State
Duration: 3 Seconds
Effects:
• Perception dramatically accelerated
• Reaction speed dramatically increased
• Firearm recoil feels significantly reduced
• Target tracking enhanced
• Fine motor control improved
• Adrenaline response stabilized
Cooldown: 90 Seconds
Warning:
Repeated activations may result in:
• Dizziness
• Migraines
• Temporary hand tremors
• Questionable confidence
• Additional poor decisions
• Increasing neural strain
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
"This feels like an item," a question I blurted out in disbelief, "It did mention hidden functions. I guess skills and evolutions aren't the only dishes on the menu."
Reading the specs, this felt borderline uncommon; a slight decrease in cooldown then it'd enter rare territory. Immediately, my field of view filled with numbers and statistics. The ARS finally booted up. The numbers disappeared... but they weren't gone. I could still feel them calculating behind the scenes. Instead, a faint holographic symbol flickered into existence in the corner of my sight. A stylized hexagon surrounding a single dot. Beneath it, a thin progress bar crawled forward with mechanical patience.
I stretched out my arms, moved my body— twisted left to right— intended to feel for any discomfort.
I found none.
A seamless installation. Something that should've been done while I was under— sedated— the pain could've been avoidable.
A small panel caught my eye. Suspiciously appearing as I completed my thought.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
?????? Forgot.
?????? Offers no apologies.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
I let out a sigh, "far be it for me to have a considerate patron."
Feeling my legs again, I bent to stand up; only to find myself woozy. No pain, not like the ARS installation— if at all. A simple mental discomfort. Then came my heart, I felt it. I sensed every beat, or at least close to every beat. It quickened— simultaneously— a warmth spread like an infection in my head. It furthered the mental discomfort. Everything around me, I sensed their nuances. Little details, subtle tells I couldn't before. The discomfort came not because the information process was slowing down, but it was increasing instead. It touched my senses. My sight, my touch— hearing and smell— all five of them enhanced at an alarming rate. As the warmth subsided, the information remained above standard moderation. Though the discomfort itself no longer existed. Something within turned on, matching the increase of information, my brain processing at a faster rate.
Before confusion molded my face, a panel caught my attention. It had replaced the panels before.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Neural Overclock
Type: Evolution (Rare)
Your nervous system has adapted to operate beyond standard human limitations.
Forced integration with artificial neural acceleration has triggered an evolutionary response.
Effects:
• Increased neural transmission speed
• Improved sensory processing
• Faster combat adaptation
• Enhanced hand-eye coordination
• Reduced reaction delay
• Reduced mental fatigue during high-stress situations
• Accelerated proficiency gain with weapons, equipment, and combat techniques
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Synergy Detected:
ARS Accelerator Module
Additional Effects:
• ARS cooldown reduced by 25%
• ARS neural strain reduced
• ARS activation latency removed
• Accelerated Reaction State duration increased to 4 Seconds
The body adapts.
The mind survives.
The nervous system learns.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Synergy Detected:
ARS Accelerator Module X Neural Overclock
Compatibility: Perfect
Reason:
The ARS Accelerator Module artificially accelerates neural activity.
Neural Overclock increases the host's biological capacity to process, transmit, and withstand accelerated neural signals.
The evolution compensates for weaknesses present within the damaged ARS hardware.
Results:
• Thought-to-action synchronization improved
• Neural stability increased
• Recovery after ARS activation accelerated
• Adaptation to reaction-based abilities accelerated
Warning:
Future upgrade pathways detected.
Further neural modifications may unlock additional compatibility options.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Warning:
Combination is irreversible.
Proceed?
Y/N
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
'Time is still stopped, so why the hell not?'
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Y/n
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
The moment I agreed to the combination, the installation made itself known. The ARS installation was invasive and brutal. The Neural Overclock was a biological enhancement that forcibly changed my being.
The warmth that came with the Neural Overclock turning on was notably absent.
"—AAAAGHGARGHGHAHH!"
My voice strained to its furthest limit. Beyond my ability to judge as the insurmountable agony held my full attention.
My muscles, nerves, veins, and bones felt as though they were extending into tiny roots. Like hands grabbing and reaching from the base of my neck where the ARS Accelerator Module was installed. All the way down my spine did they intrude. A parasite suddenly being active after being dormant, I tossed and turned and spasmed, feeling as if my back and neck would burst at any moment. My being weaved itself into the implant. A heat indescribable to me permitted itself entry. Upon that heat did I feel ragged— but I also felt a change.
The ARS was something I had. A thing I can hold despite it being installed forcibly. I felt the tendrils... feed on it. From my skin to my bone did I feel this itching ache. With it followed clarity that swam in an ocean of pain. Minutes... hours... I don't know how long it has become. But the itching feeling gave me more than just clarity. An improvement; every itch felt like renewed vigor. My biology ate at the technology inside me, turning its digits to bioengineering. My body becoming more than just flesh and blood. Numbers felt as if they ran through my veins. Mathematical predictions measured in my head.
My body becoming more machine than flesh.
The itch subsided gradually. The ocean of pain drained. My closed eyes opened, and within the light, I saw every minute detail. Instincts mechanically driven alongside my humanity. Dexterous power ran through my body, like I had holographic hydraulics reinforcing every move. Organs like my lungs drew in more air than should have been possible.
Rejuvenated; drenched in sweat never felt more freeing.
A system panel presented itself with lessened transparency, making the words easily visible against the dim light behind it.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Combination complete...
Activation... success...
Stability... green:
Ready for full use.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
The words alone were confirmation enough, if the fading pain wasn't already.
I felt it too, I processed information faster. My decision making felt clearer. Mind ready to decide and body ready to make that decision a reality. No second delay; the seconds felt smaller— therefore— faster. No lag as I moved my fingers against the light, illumination coming in and out as they did with intention— no breath in-between.
I sat up, really feeling the sensation. From simple WI-FI to being plugged into an ethernet cable, I felt like a machine wearing flesh.
I smiled at the thought, completely knowing that that's a trade I'm willing to make.
More as I stood, information passively being analyzed. The woman before, her bone structure, the skin exposed on her, the paused emotion on her eyes. Before this, I would've guessed she was in her mid-twenties. With the additional data, I narrowed her age down to twenty-six.
To test myself, I gauged the men and women in cages. The prisoners had varying degrees of info I swiftly swept through. Between the ages of 39 to 43, their dilated eyes signified some form of drug within their system— or other factors. Severely malnourished, hinting around a year or so.
I subconsciously raised an eyebrow. This was simply absurd.
'If this is a combination of an uncommon card and a rare card, what about mythic or even absolute?'
I couldn't help but dread the answer. Not because I was afraid— no— far from it— but because strength came at a price— and going from zero to a hundred too fast usually means something in between ain't going anyone's way.
╒════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
Violence Processing Unit
Classification: Why Would You Allow This
Type: Integrated Evolution
Grade: Composite Rare
The machine adapted to the body.
The body adapted to the machine.
Neither side won.
You lost.
Passive Effects:
• Improved reaction speed
• Enhanced sensory processing
• Accelerated combat learning
• Reduced hesitation during combat
• Increased synchronization between thought and movement
• Neural stability improved
• Reduced recovery time following neural stress
Integrated Active Skill:
Accelerated Reaction State
Duration: 4 Seconds
Effects:
• Perception dramatically accelerated
• Reaction speed dramatically increased
• Target tracking enhanced
• Fine motor control improved
• Firearm handling optimized
Cooldown: 60 Seconds
Future upgrades available.
Evelyn's Notes:
You have successfully weaponized your nervous system.
Congratulations.
╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
Reading the last line released the hold on the world. Time resumed, and the air weighed on me once more. The silence broke as the prisoners shouted and banged against their caging. The ever-feeble woman seemed more alive.
Seeing that everyone started becoming animated again, I reached down towards the revolver. But that wasn't my end goal. I followed the downward motion, allowing gravity to pull me into it instead of fighting it. My left hand clasped around the pistol grip. Fingers all around like a clamp, I committed through. I kept up my momentum by first twitching my shoulder. A slight rotation of my hips, enough to control my rotation. All done under my newfound instinct. Body already in motion before the process of thinking it even finished. The world tilted as my feet left the ground.
Neither practiced nor graceful; every adjustment automatically calculated in my head— from the tension in my core, the angle of my legs, and the momentum carrying me through the rotation.
Despite being so... it was controlled. It was all attributable to my newfound strength. My new abilities shining through my own intended movement.
'Shit wasn't a lie at least,' I mused.
I landed low, my boots scraping against the floor and balance forced me to adjust— my inexperience showing. A part of me simulated what would've happened if I attempted the same aerial flip before the implementation of the rewards.
'Leaving the prison would be the least of my problems.'
The revolver firmly in my grasp, I hugged the wall once again. I glanced at the woman— completely ignoring the prisoners— I offered no words. She wouldn't even understand me.
She held my gaze, fully confused. An inference would be that she didn't register that the weapon wasn't in my hand for a couple of seconds.
Still... can't risk having her armed.
A desperate animal will bite if given the smallest advantage.
My eyes floated upward, noticing loose dust and debris as small as a thumb falling from above.
—THOOM!
A rumbling soon came after.
—WHUMP!
—KRA-BOOM!
More followed.
My mind worked through the possibilities. The impacts came in intervals, distant enough to arrive distorted yet powerful enough to shake the room. The prisoners and the woman looked up, fear playing across their faces like a repetitive slideshow.
An earthquake was a possibility—but no, the impacts were too deliberate and consistent.
—THOOM!
I felt the vibration beneath my boots. A shift of my vision put the reinforced door in view. Beyond it lay countless possibilities.
For this place to shake like that, whatever caused it had to be heavy. A lot of firepower assuming it's some weapon.
'A tank? No no no— so far all I've seen is underground terrain. A tank is impossible.'
But any further explanation doesn't sit right with me. Because it may not be a tank, but grenades were still possible. Collapsing structure is also a possibility.
No, an industrial collapse would be irregular—too consistent to be natural.
—KRA-BOOM!
I resisted a flinch as another explosion echoed through the distance. The woman— as well as the rest— crouched, making themselves instinctually small.
'Good thing I pulled myself together,' I gave a second to acknowledge.
The previous blast had another tang to it. Metallic, would've lost that distinction if it weren't for the new me.
But the noise sent a sense of foreboding through me, a sub-conclusion popped in my head.
'A fight broke out.'
Not a simple one. A simple fight would be against one another— or more— with fists. Violent intent, enough that all of them wanted to hurt one another.
But the metallic reverberation behind the explosion—it could've been falling pipes or some other metallic noise. Still, a part of me is adjusting for the worst.
Because either way, none of those possibilities were friendly.
A deep breath, hand steady as I turned the key. The door unlocked with a click. Mind steady, ready to meet the outside world expecting it to present me with a bullet with my name on.
'I'm not dying here. Haven't even spent my sanity yet.'