My heart seems to want to come out of my mouth and my entire body trembles. If they killed us right now, no one would ever be able to find out. Why did I let Donna come with me? 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGNTA8395u
With a flick, the lights thud and hum, turning on section by section. The place is a warehouse. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyNj8XNhD1
“Welcome,” an automated voice says. The walls are all made of steel, bolted down with multiple Self Drilling SMS. The televisions blink on, and one of the broadcasts on display is my living room. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu4kpESmNz
Donna clutches my arm. “Are you okay?” her face reads. Neither of us would dare utter a word.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGxR0hYQCb
I can’t reply, so I shake my head. Not necessarily in a way confirming or denying, just moving on to another topic. I ask her with the same expression, and she just shrugs her shoulders. That’s about what I’m feeling too. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwHTTgAphy
“Gentlemen,” someone says. His voice is definitely one of a male’s, and it’s crisp and clear. “I am happy to announce Mackentire passed the test!”538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBEhmw7B7y
While he is enthusiastic, and the other scientists seem to be happy, they applaud unenthusiastically. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEariRwUktF
“I could tell you about the experiment, but why not show you instead?” He walks over to the computer, typing in a long password, then clicking a few buttons. The screens all combine to stream one giant video. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IWnAMeez3
“Here, we can see Mackentire’s progress,” he flips between two pictures, one of a muscular man, and another of a thin and sickly one. “He metabolized at dangerous rates, thus completing the initial part of the process.” Again, the unenthusiastic applause. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbYObPcIYu
“Now, if you’ll see this clip, you’ll notice how his body reacts to air in a regular human atmosphere. For comparison, next to him is our very own Blythe.” They turn to face the man shown in the video, clapping once more. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepylcQh3C4
“So, what are the checkups for today, sir?” At first, I thought Mackentire was an adult. But he just sounds like a teenager. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWsdwnURxJ
“Just seeing how you’ll react to an input environment,” Blythe smiles. Cruel. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dYo3YvvmG
The room shown in the screens is gray and heavily soundproofed, with mirrors next to Blythe. Mackentire seems to choke, even though there was nothing to choke on. He drops to the ground, gasping and pleading for air. He, shakily, grabs on to Blythe’s jacket, who can kick Mackentire off with nearly no effort. Blythe connects a heart rate monitor to him.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92IzSDbVbU
He continues to cough, rolling around the floor in despair, only in his underwear and a surgical dress. Horrible way to go out. They watch until he is passed out, then for another two minutes, until it is shown that he flatlines. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHqWzkK1D5
They clap monotonously once more. I look over to Donna, who has her hand over her mouth. She looks squeamish, and shakes her head “no”. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBiun2DNVU
I move to readjust my position, and my shoe makes a terribly loud squeaking sound on the floor. They turn their heads almost simultaneously, synchronized in nearly robotic perfection. Their gaze sears deep into me. I grab at Donna’s arm to tell her to stay down, before coming out with my hands up. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEBxLGsEd7
“Athena Wright,” the man with the clear voice says. “Your mother has been looking all over for you, until just about a few days ago.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHZ6HR0V1q
He won’t speak about my mom like that. I charge at him, only to get kicked and knocked down by two of his henchmen. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N0Q7OP0I2
“Now, I’m sorry,” he cocks a gun and extends his arm to my forehead. “But you understand. We can’t let anyone with such sensitive information leave.” 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNv6Y0lFor
“Athena!” Donna yells from behind me. She uses the taser we got from the cop in the alley and strikes him on the neck. While he convulses, I’m able to take the gun from his hand. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f3zdM2JoT
His expression changes from smug to the one of someone seeking revenge. All of the men in white coats charge forward, but tightening my hand on the gun makes them retreat. They’re unarmed. I move back to the orange beaker, the one closest to the stairwell, and Donna seems to know what to do. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YdHSCYRwS
She kicks it from behind with surprising ease. The liquid oozes everywhere as we make a run for the staircase and shut the door behind us. The men try to stop it from getting to their equipment, yelling curse words. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6toRZTi0K
We walk the few yards that brings us back to the cement pathway and are greeted by warm welcomes and cheering. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQSRdxUuS0
“What took you so long?” Hugo asks. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuBO0bfGKv
“We found out their plan,” Donna answers.
Penana
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