As the weight of the woman's revelations settled upon me, I felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins. Plans began to form in my mind, shifting and evolving as I processed the newfound knowledge of my purpose. I needed to escape... Cadmus. It felt strange to even think the name seriously, but there was no denying the urgency of the situation.
My gaze shifted down the hall, focusing on the elevator at the end. The numbers above it began to descend to our floor, signaling the imminent arrival of whatever awaited us. But this time, I didn't feel the same sense of panic. Instead, a singular goal burned brightly in my mind.
Turning my attention back to the scientist, I spoke up once more, my tone softer this time. "What's your name?" I asked, a hint of kindness coloring my words.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice barely above a whisper. "Amanda Spence," she replied, her eyes darting nervously between me and the approaching elevator.
Seizing the opportunity, I extended a hand to her, an invitation in the midst of chaos. "Amanda, will you come with me? Leave Cadmus behind?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me.
Her expression was one of disbelief, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggled to find the words. But I didn't falter, offering her a reassuring smile as I explained my resolve. "I refuse to become a slave for someone like Lex Luthor," I stated firmly. "If you'll follow me, I promise to protect you. And I hope you'll tell me more about my origin."
Seconds ticked by, each one stretching out in tense silence. With a fleeting glance at the approaching elevator, I knew our time was running short. Finally, Amanda met my gaze, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "Yes," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'll help you escape. And I'll tell you everything I know about Project Omega once we're out and safe."
As our hands clasped together in agreement, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. It was a risky bet to trust someone like Amanda, especially considering her ties to Cadmus, but there was something in her demeanor that told me she harbored some resentment towards Lex Luthor. And if there was one thing I could use to my advantage, it was someone with a grudge against our captors.
The handshake didn't last long, my icy touch prompting Amanda to quickly release my hand. But with a new goal in mind, I focused my thoughts on our next move. Recalling Amanda's emergence from the elevator on level thirty-two, I knew that was the floor they had placed me on. But my memories of this place, tinged with childhood nostalgia, hinted at something more—a labyrinth of sub-levels hidden beneath the surface.
Turning to Amanda, I asked her a question that had been nagging at the back of my mind. "How many floors does Cadmus have?" I inquired, hoping she held the answer.
Her response wasn't surprising. "The public thinks it's just two stories," she explained, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But there are fifty-two sub-levels hidden from view."
With my mind beginning to clear, I pressed on. "Are there any more subjects like me in this place?" I asked, already formulating a plan in my mind.
Amanda's expression shifted, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features. "Down at the fifty-second sub-level, there's one more." she replied hesitantly.
Nodding in gratitude, I thanked her for her assistance before we set off, the elevator doors sliding open just as we moved out of sight. Amanda led the way, guiding me down a corner and pointing towards a vent high up on the wall. She explained that it likely had motion sensors, but it was a risk we had to take.
As we crawled inside, Amanda helping to navigate through the maze of vents, I couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation building within me. With each step forward, we were one step closer to freedom, and I was determined to see it through to the end.
----------
As Mark Desmond and Guardian sprinted down the corridor towards Project Omega's containment room, the urgency of their footsteps echoed through the silent halls. Ever since Lex Luthor had deemed Project Omega a top-secret venture, security measures had been tightened, but the alarms weren't the blaring kind that would alert the entire building. Instead, they were designed to discreetly notify select individuals.
The alert had been triggered when the subject somehow woke up and broke out of the cryogenic chamber. Reviewing the camera footage, Mark was at a loss for words. The subject had never shown such human-like behavior before. Its desperate attempts to escape, the primal sounds that tore from its throat—it was unnervingly human. Mark knew Lex Luthor would have a meltdown when he saw the footage. He dreaded the inevitable confrontation.
Ahead of him, Guardian's expression was tense beneath his helmet. As they rounded the final corner, they were met with a scene of destruction that took their breath away. The massive metallic doors, several inches thick, had been blasted apart with incredible force. Carefully stepping over debris and onto a floor that was still encased in ice, they surveyed the aftermath of Project Omega's unleashed power.
The room bore the scars of its occupant's struggle for freedom. Ice shards littered the floor, and remnants of the cryogenic chamber lay scattered around like discarded puzzle pieces. The walls showed signs of impact, dented and cracked from the force of the escape. It was clear that Project Omega's lack of control over his abilities had wrought havoc on the containment room.
Guardian's gaze swept the room, his mind racing with the implications of what they had been left with.
----------
As the elevator descended towards the fifty-second sub-level, Amanda stood anxiously beside me, her unease palpable in the tense set of her shoulders. Turning towards her, I felt a pang of uncertainty, unsure of how to comfort her in such a dire situation. Nevertheless, I made an attempt to ease her nerves, assuring her that she would be safe with me. "You're going to be okay," I said, my voice surprisingly smooth yet carrying an echo that seemed to resonate within the confined space.
Her gaze met mine, uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she processed my words. For a moment, she seemed to relax slightly, though her body language still betrayed a lingering sense of apprehension. With a quiet thanks, she conveyed her gratitude, though her response was subdued.
As the elevator doors began to slide open, revealing the fifty-second sub-level, both Amanda and I were caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Dubbilex on the other side. The light blue-skinned G-Goblin stood calmly, but there was a cautious glint in his eyes as they met mine. Amanda, startled by his unexpected presence, seemed on the verge of panic, but before she could voice her distress, I raised a hand to silence her.
Maintaining my gaze, I spoke in a measured tone. "Hello, Dubbilex," I greeted him, the name rolling off my tongue with a sense of familiarity that caught both him and Amanda by surprise. Her shock was evident on her face, a testament to the significance of my acknowledgment of the lab-grown creature.
Dubbilex took a moment to respond, his expression unreadable as he processed my words. When he spoke, his voice held a note of warmth as he returned the greeting. "I'm glad to see you've broken out of your cage," he said, his words carrying a deeper meaning that resonated with me on a fundamental level.