The night air felt like ice against Crimbark's skin as he stumbled out of the lab. His legs were heavy, his vision blurred, and every breath felt like it was being filtered through a dense fog. The green liquid from the dart was coursing through his veins, attacking his body from within. He had never felt so vulnerable, so close to defeat.
The streets of metropolis were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos he had just left behind. Crimbark knew he couldn't stay out in the open for long. The Syndicate might have agents nearby, and in his weakened state, he wouldn't stand a chance against even the lowest of their operatives.
He needed help. But who could he trust? Most of his old allies were either gone or had moved on with their lives, and the few that remained wouldn't be able to get to him in time. The city had changed, and Crimbark felt like a relic from a past that no longer existed.
His mind raced, trying to think of someone—anyone—who could assist him. Then, through the haze of his thoughts, a name came to him: Dr. Selena Warren. She was a brilliant scientist who had worked with him years ago on various cases. Although she had left the public eye to pursue her research, Crimbark knew she would have the knowledge and resources to help him.
But getting to her lab was another matter. It was on the other side of the city, and in his current condition, Crimbark wasn't sure he could make it. The poison was spreading fast, clouding his thoughts, making it harder to focus. Every step felt like a monumental effort, his muscles screaming in protest as he forced his body to move.
He kept to the shadows, avoiding the main streets as best he could. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself. Even in his weakened state, Crimbark's instincts were sharp, guiding him through the alleys and side streets of metropolis. But with each passing minute, his strength waned, the poison taking its toll.
Just when he thought he couldn't go any further, he saw it—a small, unassuming building tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. It was Dr. Warren's lab, disguised as an old, run-down clinic to avoid unwanted attention. Crimbark had been there before, long ago, and he hoped she still operated from the same location.
With the last of his strength, Crimbark stumbled toward the door, his vision narrowing as darkness crept in from the edges. He raised a trembling hand and pounded on the door, each knock weaker than the last.
"Selena… I need… help…" he gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Crimbark's heart sank as he feared the worst—that she wasn't there, that he had come all this way for nothing. But then, he heard the sound of locks being undone, the door creaking open.
"Crimbark?" a voice said, filled with shock and concern. "Oh my God, what happened to you?"
Dr. Selena Warren stood in the doorway, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the battered hero before her. She was in her early forties, with sharp features softened by years of kindness and compassion. Her lab coat was stained with various chemicals, a testament to her relentless work. But at that moment, all she could see was the man she had once known, now barely able to stand.
"Selena…" Crimbark croaked, reaching out to her before collapsing into her arms.
Dr. Warren caught him, her heart racing as she felt the weight of his body. She quickly dragged him inside, shutting the door behind her. She laid Crimbark on a nearby examination table, her mind racing as she assessed his condition.
"What happened to you?" she asked again, grabbing a syringe and a vial of clear liquid from a nearby cabinet.
"Poison…" Crimbark managed to say, his voice weak and strained. "Syndicate… doctor…"
Dr. Warren's eyes narrowed as she filled the syringe with the antidote she had on hand. "Hold still," she instructed, injecting the serum into Crimbark's arm. "This should help slow down the poison, but it's not a cure. I'll need to run some tests to create an antidote specific to whatever they used on you."
Crimbark nodded weakly, his body relaxing slightly as the serum took effect. The immediate pain began to subside, but he knew he wasn't out of danger yet. The doctor's poison was designed to be lethal, and Crimbark could feel it still lurking in his system, waiting to strike again.
Dr. Warren moved quickly, drawing blood and preparing samples for analysis. Her lab was small but well-equipped, filled with state-of-the-art technology that she had painstakingly gathered over the years. As she worked, she glanced back at Crimbark, worry etched across her face.
"I'll need some time," she said, her voice steady despite the situation. "But I promise I'll find a way to counteract this. You're going to be okay."
Crimbark tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. "I trust you, Selena. You've always been the smartest person I know."
She shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "And you've always been the bravest. Hang in there, Crimbark. We'll get through this."
Hours passed as Dr. Warren worked tirelessly, analyzing the poison and searching for a way to neutralize it. Crimbark drifted in and out of consciousness, his body battling the toxin with every ounce of strength he had left. He could feel the fight slipping away from him, the darkness threatening to consume him completely.
But then, just as all hope seemed lost, Dr. Warren let out a triumphant cry. "I've got it!" she exclaimed, rushing to Crimbark's side with a vial of glowing blue liquid. "This should neutralize the poison. Hold on, Crimbark."
She carefully injected the antidote into his bloodstream, watching anxiously as the liquid spread through his veins. Crimbark winced as the antidote burned through his body, attacking the poison with an intensity that made his head spin. But slowly, the pain began to fade, replaced by a sense of warmth and relief.
"It's working," Dr. Warren whispered, her eyes shining with hope. "You're going to be okay."
Crimbark let out a shaky breath, his strength slowly returning as the antidote did its work. The poison was being purged from his system, and for the first time since the battle in the lab, he felt like he might survive.
"Thank you," he murmured, his voice filled with gratitude. "You saved my life, Selena."
Dr. Warren smiled, her eyes filled with relief. "You saved mine more times than I can count. It's the least I could do."
Crimbark closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over him. He knew there was still much to be done, that the Syndicate was still out there, planning their next move. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace, knowing that he had friends who would stand by him in the darkest of times.
And as sleep claimed him, Crimbark knew one thing for certain: the fight wasn't over. Not by a long shot. But with allies like Dr. Warren, he was more determined than ever to see it through to the end.