Realising he couldn't remember his surname, Alex's heart raced, and his breath quickened. He desperately tried to recall other details about himself, but his mind was blank. Panic surged as he realised he couldn't remember anything else—not family, not friends, only his current age and school, and his last memory in the classroom. Silence stretched out, a heavy fog of uncertainty, as he struggled to piece together fragments of his identity.
Dr. Caesar continued. "Is 'Alex' your full name?"
Alex didn't respond, still reeling from his failed attempts to remember his identity. Dr. Caesar paused, his eyes flickering with a hint of something Alex couldn't quite place, glancing at the figures around him.
"How old are you, Alex?" Dr. Caesar asked.
"Seventeen," Alex replied, his voice barely above a whisper. A brief commotion erupted among the figures, quickly silenced by Dr. Caesar's authoritative gesture for silence.
"Are you a student?" Dr. Caesar continued.
"Yes, Discendi High," Alex answered briefly. This revelation sparked a controlled but palpable excitement among the figures, their movements careful yet charged with anticipation.
Dr. Caesar's voice softened slightly, a subtle shift that sent a shiver down Alex's spine. "Amazing. Thank you…Alex. We'll speak again soon." He turned to the others, his tone commanding. "Everyone, you may continue the procedures as we discussed. Please continue to monitor his vitals and immediately inform me of any changes, no matter how slight. Thank you and good work, people... as you were."
As Dr. Caesar walked away, Alex's gaze followed him. For a brief moment, Dr. Caesar turned, allowing Alex a clear view of his face, which bore a strange, eerie smile.
The bottom half of Dr. Caesar's face bore a noticeable scar from the side of his lip to his chin. Alex committed this detail to memory, determined to remember the face of the man who held the key to his current predicament.
The figures resumed their work, their excitement palpable yet contained. Alex remained still, his mind racing. The image of Dr. Caesar's scarred face lingered, symbolising the resolve he would need to find answers and reclaim his stolen identity.
The image of Dr. Caesar's scarred face lingered, etched into Alex's mind like a haunting spectre. A storm of emotions surged within him—frustration gnawed at his resolve, anger burned hot in his chest, and a deep sense of desperation threatened to consume him. Each feeling swirled together, creating a tumultuous inner landscape that mirrored his situation's chaos.
The days that followed were a blur of strange and eventful occurrences for Alex. Some experiments were relatively painless; the now more visible figures, clad in recognisable scientist uniforms, drew his blood and monitored his vitals. He began to try noticing and identifying their features, trying to remember any detail that might help him later.
However, other experiments were pure torture. Electric currents surged through his body, eliciting screams of agony that echoed in the sterile chambers. The scientists showed no remorse for their actions, sometimes making deep cuts into his flesh to test his "healing abilities" for fun and giggles.
After what seemed like uncountable days, one day, while confined to his chamber, Alex decided to piece together the fragments of information he had gathered so far.
First, he considered his own identity. Most of his memories before high school and up till that injection were a void, and he couldn't recall anything significant about himself other than generally being an outcast and a quiet person.
However, some of his classmates' names had started resurfacing, though they were still fuzzy and incomplete. Amidst the chaos of his captivity, Alex's mind drifted back to the familiar faces of his classmates. Two names stood out in particular: Sarah and James.
Sarah was a diligent and studious student, always at the top of their class. Her passion for learning was evident in every subject, from science to literature. She often sat near Alex in class, and their desks were sometimes side by side during group projects. While they weren't close friends, Sarah always treated Alex with kindness and respect, even when others didn't.
On the other hand, James was the class clown, known for his quick wit and mischievous grin. He sat in the back of the classroom right next to Alex, always cracking jokes and occasionally getting into trouble with the teachers. Despite their differences, Alex and James had formed an unlikely friendship. They shared a love for video games and occasionally spent lunch breaks discussing strategies and new releases. While they weren't best friends, Alex considered James, the only person he could call a friend.
As Alex reminisced on his classmates, worry gnawed at him. He knew that Sarah and James had also been part of the genetic program, injected with the same experimental serum that had transformed him. The thought of them enduring the same torment filled him with a sense of urgency. He had to find a way to escape, not just for himself but probably also for his classmates. For now, he had to continue piecing his information.
Next, he reflected on his body's transformation. During one of the experiments, he had caught his reflection. His skin was shiny and red from the neck down, with muscles so defined he could see each fibre. Most disturbingly, a bright cyan core pulsated in his chest, radiating life and energy. While the defined muscles were somewhat welcome, the glowing core filled him with dread.
As Alex grappled with the unsettling changes to his body, he gradually became aware of new abilities that had manifested due to the experiments conducted on him.
The first discovery came during one of the painful procedures when he realised that his body could shapeshift. With a focused effort of will, he found he could alter the shape and size of his limbs, stretching and contorting them in ways that defied natural limits. It was a strange and unsettling sensation, but it offered him a glimmer of hope—a potential means of escape from his captivity.
In addition to shapeshifting, Alex discovered that his skin had undergone a remarkable transformation. It could change colour and texture at will, allowing him to blend seamlessly into his surroundings like a chameleon. This newfound way of camouflage offered him another measure of protection and potential means of escape, allowing him to evade detection and slip past his captors unnoticed.
However, the most disturbing revelation came when Alex realised the extent of his body's regenerative abilities. His wounds healed at an astonishing rate, knitting themselves back together with unnatural speed. While this rapid healing should have been a blessing, it instead became a curse as he was subjected to countless cuts and injuries for the amusement of his captors. Each time his flesh was sliced open, he felt a surge of pain and despair, knowing that the torment would only continue as long as he remained their captive.
Despite his captivity's physical and emotional toll, Alex realised his senses were keenly attuned to his surroundings. His heightened awareness allowed him to anticipate danger before it struck, which Alex often took advantage of to brace for the incoming experiments that were particularly painful. From the faintest whisper to the subtlest shift in the air, he could sense the presence of others and discern their intentions with uncanny accuracy. It was a gift and a curse—a constant reminder of the dangers lurking around every corner and a beacon of hope that someday, somehow, he would find a way to break free from this prison.
Finally, Alex contemplated the identity of his captors. The scientists' uniforms bore the mark of "Ascension Labs," but the logos were either torn in half or vandalised on most of the uniforms. From this, Alex inferred that these individuals were likely ex-employees of Ascension Labs, now conducting unethical experiments in secret.
Dr. Caesar's name loomed large in his thoughts. Despite the enigmatic figure's absence since his last "conversation" with Alex, Dr. Caesar's presence was felt in every whispered conversation among the scientists. They spoke of him reverently, their voices tinged with admiration and regret.
According to the scientists, Dr. Caesar was a visionary—a genius whose intellect and leadership had propelled their experiments to unprecedented heights. They lamented the decision of Ascension Labs to push him away from leadership, believing it to be a grave mistake that had cost the company dearly. With fervent zeal, they spoke of their allegiance to Dr. Caesar, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work under his guidance once more.
In their eyes, their experiments were not just a means to an end but a chance to reclaim their former glory. They spoke of Dr. Caesar's grand vision of a future where their research would revolutionise the field of genetic manipulation and elevate humanity to unparalleled heights of success. Each breakthrough and each discovery brought them one step closer to realising that dream, and they approached their work with a sense of purpose and determination that bordered on fanatical.
Alex recalled their fervent declarations, and unease settled over him. Dr. Caesar may have been absent, but his influence lingered like a spectre, guiding their every move with unseen hands.
As Alex's mind whirled with thoughts and information, he knew that he needed to formulate a plan to escape the confines of his prison.