The room was dimly lit, the only light filtering in through a narrow slit high on the steel-plated walls.
Adam's eyes fluttered open, groggy and disoriented.
His hands were bound to the cold metallic arms of the chair, and the chains dug into his wrists.
The faint hum of the machinery around him was the only sound accompanying the eerie silence.
Looking down, he noticed the broken table lying in pieces nearby.
How long have I been sleep? Adam thought, trying to shake off the stiffness in his muscles.
His mind raced as he recalled the last moments before his capture—a confrontation gone horribly wrong.
Just then, the sound of the heavy steel door creaking open interrupted his thoughts.
General Core entered the room, his stern face flanked by several armed soldiers clad in black tactical gear.
Their weapons were drawn, and their eyes were fixed on Adam.
"Why the guns?" Adam asked, his voice hoarse but laced with sarcasm. "Do I look that dangerous?"
The General approached without a hint of emotion. "It's a precaution," he replied tersely, signaling one of the soldiers.
Adam watched as a young soldier nervously stepped forward, the keyring jingling in his trembling hands.
The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, and it was directed squarely at Adam.
This guy looks like he's about to wet himself, Adam mused, suppressing a smirk.
He remained still as the soldier cautiously reached behind him and unlocked the chains binding his hands to the chair.
The metal clattered loudly onto the steel floor, the sound echoing through the chamber.
Before Adam could stretch his stiffened arms, another soldier approached with a strange vest.
Without explanation, the soldier strapped it tightly around Adam's chest. The vest emitted a soft, rhythmic beep.
"What is this?" Adam asked, his tone sharp as he turned to face the General.
The General crossed his arms. "This is your leash. We don't know how compromised you are, nor how much influence the enemy has over you. This vest ensures you don't try anything... irrational. It's equipped with a failsafe. If you attempt to escape or harm anyone, we'll detonate the bomb inside. It's powerful enough to take out a tank, let alone you."
Adam felt a cold sweat form on his brow. His fists clenched at his sides as he tried to suppress the surge of anger rising within him. "I'm the son of your ally, your friend," Adam protested, his voice cracking slightly.
The General's expression didn't waver. "I serve my country, not personal ties," he replied. "Emotions have no place here."
Adam's jaw tightened, and his thoughts boiled with resentment. To hell with your emotions, you stone-faced bastard.
The soldiers freed Adam's legs next, the final chains dropping to the floor.
He stumbled slightly as he stood, his boots scraping against the steel floor.
The soldiers around him instantly tightened their grips on their weapons, their fingers hovering over the triggers.
Adam stretched his sore limbs, glaring at the General. "You might as well unlock these cuffs too," he said, pointing to the smaller restraints still attached to his ankles.
The General turned his back on him. "Not yet," he said coldly. "Follow me."
Adam considered punching the man square in the face but thought better of it. With no other options, he began walking, flanked by soldiers on all sides.
Their weapons remained trained on him, their faces unreadable.
"If you're here to protect me," Adam joked bitterly, "shouldn't your guns be pointed outward? You know, at the actual threats?"
The soldiers remained silent, their expressions as cold and unyielding as their General's. Adam shook his head, muttering under his breath. What a world I've landed in. I thought I'd find something better here, but this… this is worse than hell.
The steel doors opened, and Adam stepped out into the open.
The sight that greeted him was a stark contrast to the confined room he'd been held in.
Soldiers filled the area, all of them stopping their tasks to stare at him. Fear was etched into their faces—fear so palpable it felt like a tangible weight in the air.
Their gazes darted away when Adam's eyes met theirs. Sweat dripped down their foreheads, and not a single one dared to make direct eye contact.
So this is what it feels like to be a celebrity, Adam thought wryly as he stretched his arms.
The ache in his shoulders from being restrained for so long lingered, but he relished the movement.
He glanced back at the building he'd been held in, its crumbling exterior telling a story of violence and chaos.
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. I did this. All of this… just because I was angry.
A grim smile crept onto his lips, but before he could dwell on it further, one of the soldiers behind him barked, "Move forward, sir."
Adam turned to see three soldiers still pointing their weapons at him.
He sighed heavily, walking ahead as instructed. The stares from the other soldiers followed him like a shadow.
The General led Adam to an open field where dozens of soldiers were already assembled. The sight confused him. "Can I ask what we're doing here?" Adam inquired, raising an eyebrow.
The General turned to face him, his gaze piercing. "We're here to test your physical capabilities."
Adam frowned, his confusion deepening. "Physical capabilities?" he echoed.
The General offered no further explanation. Instead, he signaled to the soldiers surrounding Adam to step back.
A sense of foreboding settled in Adam's gut as he noticed the soldiers retreat behind a series of sandbags at the edges of the field.
From his position, Adam could hear the soldiers' racing heartbeats. He squinted at the General, who stood safely behind the makeshift barrier.
A soldier handed the General a small remote with a single red button. Adam's eyes narrowed. "Wait—"
Before he could finish, the General pressed the button.
A sharp, high-pitched noise erupted from the vest strapped to Adam's chest. His eyes widened in horror. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, his voice laced with panic.
In the next instant, the vest exploded.
The force of the blast hurled Adam backward with such intensity that he crashed into the sandbag wall behind him.
His clothes were incinerated in an instant, and the chains that had bound him were obliterated.
Shrapnel flew in all directions, embedding itself in the ground.
As the dust settled, Adam pushed himself to his feet, his skin unmarred by the explosion. His breathing was labored, but his body remained intact.
The soldiers peered cautiously from their cover. "Target status?" the General demanded.
One soldier, equipped with high-tech thermal goggles, scanned the field. "Subject is unharmed, sir," he reported. "But… all restraints are gone."
The General's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Adam, standing amidst the wreckage, his unyielding form radiating defiance.
---
To be continued...