Asher's eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld the man standing before him, his blood-stained clothes and penetrating gaze sending shivers down his spine. Fear and confusion mingled in Asher's voice as he stuttered, "You!? You're the one who killed me. Why did you bring me here? What do you want from me?"
The man's expression held a cold and stoic, his voice devoid of warmth as he replied, "It seems you've lost your memories."
Asher's voice quivered with a mix of fear and anger, "Memories!? Do you know anything about my memories?"
The man nodded. "Yes, I know."
A wave of emotions crashed over Asher. "You know my memories!... Wait, how can I trust you? You're a killer. You took the lives of my friends!"
The man maintained his calm demeanor. "I didn't kill them."
"What do you mean!? I distinctly remember you murdering my classmates, even me!" Asher's voice trembled.
"That was all an illusion. You were trapped in a simulation, and I had to make you face death to bring you back," the man explained.
"What!? Why should I believe your words?" Asher exclaimed, shocked by the revelation.
"You'll understand soon enough," the man replied, his tone unwavering.
Frustration etched on Asher's face. "Then if what you're saying is true, who are you?"
"I am the one who shares this vessel with you. Call me... Shadow." the man said,
Asher's brow furrowed, his mind struggling to process this revelation. "Shadow? What do you mean by sharing this vessel? Who... or what are you?"
Shadow took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Asher's. "It's complicated. It's better to wait until your memories return. You don't need to know everything right now."
Curiosity mingled with Asher's fear. "Can you at least tell me who I am?"
"It's also complicated, but you already know your name—Asher. That's all you need to know for now. Your questions will be answered when your memories resurface," Shadow replied.
Asher felt a sense of unease. "But wouldn't it be easier for me to regain my memories if you provided me with some information?"
"No, I want your memories to return naturally, not through forced explanations," Shadow stated firmly.
"What!? Why?" Asher protested.
Without answering, Shadow turned toward the zombie lurking in the room and gestured toward it. "You need to eliminate that creature."
"What!? Why? And what even is it?" Asher asked, his voice trembling.
"It's a soulless abomination, neither alive nor dead. It resembles the fictional concept of zombies, but it devours souls instead of brains," Shadow explained.
Asher's eyes widened in horror. "Souls? What do you mean?"
"We don't have time for all your questions. Find a weapon quickly to put an end to it," Shadow commanded, his voice devoid of emotion.
"But...!" Asher attempted to argue.
"I won't entertain further questions. Act swiftly and find a weapon. Time is against us," Shadow interrupted firmly.
Asher's fear and hesitation grew. "No, no, I can't. I can't do it."
Shadow remained unfazed. "We don't have a choice. I can't kill it myself. We need to find its ID card. It should be around its neck. It's the only way to get out of here. Now, focus, Asher. We can do this together."
Asher's fear and hesitation grew, but the urgency in Shadow's voice began to persuade him. Reluctantly, he nodded. "A-Alright, I will do it"
With newfound determination, Asher steeled himself and with his weak body began scanning the room for a weapon, his hands still trembling.
The distant moans of the zombie created an eerie backdrop, heightening the tension. As he sifted through the debris, the clinking of metal caught his attention. Asher's eyes lit up as he spotted a broken pipe, its jagged edges reflecting the dim light.
"I found something!" Asher exclaimed, holding up the pipe triumphantly.
Shadow nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, let's proceed with caution. Remember, aim for the head. We need that ID card."
The room filled with the sound of Asher's slow and tired footsteps and the low, guttural growls of the zombie in the background. Asher's heart pounded in his chest as he and Shadow approached the undead creature.
With a trembling grip, Asher clutched the pipe, his weakened muscles straining under the weight. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, a testament to the physical toll this ordeal had taken on his emaciated frame. Every movement felt like an uphill battle, his limbs protesting against the strain.
Summoning every ounce of strength he could muster, Asher steadied himself, his breath quivering with a mixture of fear and determination. The zombie lurched closer, its rancid breath filling the air, and a guttural growl escaping its decaying throat. Asher's heart raced a thunderous drumbeat in his chest, threatening to drown out all other sound.
CRACK!
With a shaky swing, Asher brought the pipe crashing down upon the zombie's skull, a resounding crack reverberating through the room. The impact sent a jolt of pain shooting up his arm, his weakened muscles screaming in protest. He stumbled backward, his legs wobbling beneath him, threatening to give way.
Gritting his teeth, Asher fought against the weakness that threatened to consume him. Shadows danced before his eyes as he struggled to maintain his balance. Sweat-soaked and gasping for air, he steadied himself against the wall, his chest heaving with exertion.
"Retrieve the ID card, Asher!" Shadow's voice cut through the chaos.
Asher, breathing heavily momentarily frozen by the sight of the struggling zombie, snapped back to reality. He cautiously leaned close to the dead body, his hand trembling as he reached out to snatch the card from the dead monster's neck.
Thus, clutching the ID card tightly, Asher leaned against the wall, his breathing ragged. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath, his body aching and protesting the exertion. The room seemed to spin around him, the sounds of the dying zombie and Shadow's urgent voice fading into a distant cacophony, actually killing the monster took a lot of energy more than Asher even expected.
As Asher caught his breath, his hands still trembling from the exertion, Shadow approached him, their voice resonating in his mind.
"We need that ID card to awaken the AI, the Boitec facility's central intelligence." Shadow
Asher nodded, his gaze fixed on the ID card clutched tightly in his hand. "Alright, But why do we need the AI?"
Shadow's voice grew somber as he explained, "The Boitec AI is responsible for controlling and managing this entire facility. It holds the capacity to navigate the complex systems within. If we can awaken it, it might be able to guide us and help us find a way out of this place."
" Then how are we going to wake it up," Asher asked
" We will need to use the computer panel " Shadow
Thus, Asher without having any other choice but with trampling steps he made her way to the nearby computer panel. Wires and cables snaked around the room, connecting the multitude of machinery that hummed with latent energy. Shadow guided Asher's to a specific panel, instructing him to insert the ID card into a designated slot.
As the ID card slid into place, the room seemed to come alive with a soft hum, the dormant systems stirring to life. A holographic display flickered to existence before them, projecting an image of a sleek, intelligent interface.
"An A rank access has been discovered," the AI's voice echoed through the room, an ethereal presence that filled the air. "Welcome. I am BOI-TEK, the Biotechnological Operations Intelligence. I oversee and manage all aspects of this facility. How can I assist you?"