As they ventured deeper into the facility, the two men finally halted before another door. This one bore a stark warning: 'Highly Restricted, Do Not Trespass.'
Dr. Crowe stepped forward, swiping his access card. The door slid open, granting them entry to the facility's most restricted zone—a place few were authorized to enter.
The door opened into a vast hall. Rows of reinforced glass enclosures, like transparent prison cells, lined the space. Inside these cells, various creatures were contained, some clearly alive and others not. Some tanks held dismembered animal parts, a gruesome display. But the most unsettling sight of all was a group of humans, confined in a corner enclosure, their bodies eerily still.
At first glance, they appeared lifeless. Yet, as the echo of approaching footsteps reached their ears, they stirred. Weakly, they raised their heads, fixing vacant gazes upon the newcomers. The spark of life flickered within them, but barely. It was clear they clung precariously to existence, their bodies ravaged and their spirits broken.
"Are these the last group of volunteers?" Wan Yu asked, his voice hushed as he observed the pitiful figures.
"Yes," Dr. Crowe confirmed, his face etched with sadness.
"It seems they've all developed severe mental deterioration after receiving the serum. They reject food, refuse supplements...it's led them to this."
Suddenly, one of the subjects shot upright with unnatural speed. She lunged towards them, slamming against the glass wall of her enclosure. Her desperate cries were muffled by the barrier, but her fury was evident as she pounded her fists against the reinforced glass with impossible strength. The entire structure shuddered under her assault, yet it held firm.
Wan Yu's eyes narrowed with interest as he focused on the violent outburst.
"What about her? Why isn't she like the others?"
Dr. Crowe paused, his gaze lingering on the enraged woman for a moment. A flicker of emotion crossed his face.
"Ah, Anna. She's... a special case," he replied, gently placing his hand on the cool surface of the enclosure. His touch only seemed to intensify the woman's rage, her attacks growing even more frantic.
"Special? How so?" Wan Yu pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"Unlike the others, Anna wasn't part of the last volunteer group. She was on the research team. One of our best, in fact," Dr. Crowe explained, a hint of pride mingling with sorrow in his voice.
Wan Yu's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"You mean she was a scientist?"
"Yes, one of our best, brilliant mind. But...reckless. Driven. Obsessed, even," Dr. Crowe continued, his gaze distant as if recalling a painful memory.
"When the last batch of volunteers showed such devastating side effects, she refused to accept defeat. She was convinced she could fix it, make the serum work." He paused again, watching as Anna threw herself bodily against the glass, a guttural growl escaping her throat.
"She spent days, weeks, working tirelessly. And she succeeded...in a way. She created a new batch, a version she truly believed was perfected. And then," he sighed, "she injected herself with it."
"Despite warnings from you and the rest of the team, I presume?" Wan Yu surmised.
"Vehement ones. But Anna was never one to be deterred," Dr. Crowe replied, his voice barely a whisper.
"And then what happened?"
Dr. Crowe let out a humorless chuckle.
"For a while, it seemed she was right. She seemed perfectly fine, even enhanced. But it was fleeting. A few days, that's all it lasted. Then...she became what you see now. Stronger, faster, yes, but at a terrible cost. Whatever that serum does, it unravels the mind. Destroys everything that makes us human."
Wan Yu shifted his attention back to Anna. She continued to slam herself against the walls of her prison, her growls echoing through the hall. A wave of unease washed over him.
"Let's move on," Dr. Crowe said, his voice heavy. With a sigh, he resumed his path down the hall, Wan Yu following closely behind.
They continued until they reached a large platform situated in the center of the hall. A complex mechanism occupied its center, its most prominent feature a glass cylinder that housed a single vial filled with a luminous blue liquid.
"Is that the new serum we discussed?" Wan Yu inquired, his gaze fixed upon the vial as they reached the platform.
"Indeed," Dr. Crowe confirmed, gesturing towards the cylinder.
"After Anna's...transformation, we managed to isolate the elements responsible for the mental degradation. This," he emphasized.
Wan Yu's brow furrowed.
"Have you conducted any tests to determine its effectiveness?"
"On animal subjects, yes," Dr. Crowe replied.
"The results were remarkable. Enhanced strength, speed, agility—precisely what we aimed for. However..." his voice trailed off, his head bowing slightly, "no human trials have been conducted yet. We lack volunteers."
Wan Yu absorbed this information, his expression contemplative.
"Leave the matter of a volunteer to me," he finally declared.
Dr. Crowe nodded in response, and together, they retraced their steps, leaving the platform behind. As they walked, Dr. Crowe filled Wan Yu in on the finer points of both projects, outlining their progress and strategizing for the future.
Their journey back led them past several staff members who, as before, scurried out of their way. Wan Yu, engrossed in conversation, paid them no heed.
They soon arrived at the elevator that had transported Wan Yu into the depths of the facility. With a curt farewell to Dr. Crowe, Wan Yu stepped inside. The elevator whirred back to life, carrying him upwards.
With a soft 'ding,' the elevator doors parted, revealing the familiar corridor. The path behind him sealed shut as the room seamlessly reverted to its previous state.
Wan Yu sighed and removed his sunglasses, activating his unique ability. The shadows receded as his vision pierced the artificial darkness, illuminating the spiral staircase before him.
He ascended the stairs, his pace measured and steady. Reaching the top, he pushed open the door, finding himself back in the dilapidated church's interior.
Pausing for a moment to collect himself, Wan Yu deactivated his enhanced vision. Color flooded back into the world as he replaced his sunglasses. Reaching for his phone, he dialed a number. The recipient answered with undue haste.
"Hello, boss," a crisp, deep voice resonated from the other end.
"We require replenishment," Wan Yu stated, his voice devoid of emotion, chilling in its flat delivery.
A beat of silence followed, heavy with anticipation.
"How many, boss?" the voice finally asked.
"Twenty," Wan Yu declared.
A sharp intake of breath was audible on the other end. Silence descended once more, this time thick with the recipient's struggle to process the request.
"Very well, boss," the deep voice finally conceded, a tremor of strain in its depths. "I'll need two months to gather that many."
"Three weeks," Wan Yu cut him off, his tone sharp and uncompromising. "Time is a luxury I cannot afford."
The unspoken protest died on the man's lips, silenced by the weight of Wan Yu's command.
"Consider it done, boss," he finally agreed.
"Good, good," Wan Yu responded, his voice softening slightly. "By the way, how is my…good-for-nothing brother holding up?"
"He's doing well, boss. Handling things here as best he can."
"Hmm. Anything I need to be aware of?"
"Nothing urgent, boss. Everything is running smoothly. He's holding on quite well… Although," the voice hesitated, "I've heard he's seeking someone to…deal with some classmates of his. Other than that, no problems to report."
"Very well," Wan Yu replied, ending the call.
"Tsk," he muttered to himself, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Typical spoiled brat. Can't seem to handle anything himself."
By the time the call ended, Wan Yu had reached the entrance of the dilapidated church. Stepping outside, he was momentarily blinded by the midday sun. The air hung heavy with humidity, a stark contrast to the sterile environment he left behind.
He adjusted his sunglasses, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he brushed imaginary dust from his impeccably tailored suit.
As Wan Yu approached his waiting car, his driver rushed to open the door. He slid into the plush leather interior, grateful for the cool air conditioning that offered a temporary escape from the oppressive heat.
"Where to, sir?" the driver inquired. "Shall we proceed with your visit to…"
"No, not today," Wan Yu interrupted, his gaze distant. "I have other matters to attend to. I'll see my...brother...another time, when I have nothing more pressing to do."