Wade was gone.
Even from tens of meters away, Ethan could still hear Wade's exaggerated laughter, the kind that sounded like he might actually die from laughing. Following Wade's retreating footsteps was Francis, wearing an expression like he'd just eaten something sour. Wade's voice had been so loud that every guard, scientist, and test subject in the hall had probably heard his mocking words.
For Francis, it must have been a moment of utter humiliation. Watching him storm away, Ethan let out a sigh of relief. He'd almost been caught, but Wade's antics had drawn Francis's attention, allowing Ethan to slip by unnoticed.
Inwardly, Ethan sent a little prayer of thanks to Wade. "Hope you're okay, buddy," he thought.
Time moved slowly in the institute. Ethan lay on his hospital bed, on high alert, waiting for the crucial moment to act. In this dark, enclosed environment, where days and nights blended into one, he'd lost track of how long it had been since Wade left. He was holding out for the one chance he'd set into motion, the one shot at freedom.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the silence.
The entire hall shook, and an ear-splitting roar filled the space, catching everyone off guard. The shockwave followed in a hot, blazing rush, sweeping through the hall and blasting Ethan off his bed. The force slammed him into the ground, and his hospital bed shattered upon impact, sending him flying into the corner of the hall where he finally skidded to a halt against the wall.
Burned, battered, and broken, his hospital clothes in tatters, Ethan 's skin was covered in burns, and his bones felt crushed under the pressure of the blast. For a normal person, these injuries would've been fatal, but Ethan was different. Trembling, he forced himself up, and as he did, his wounds began to close. The charred skin flaked off, fresh flesh grew in its place, and his broken bones knit back together.
He took a few steadying breaths, ignoring the hellish blaze around him. "It worked," he whispered to himself. "It actually worked."
Ethan 's escape plan was simple but risky: fast-track the plot by jumpstarting Wade's healing factor to cause an early explosion, creating the chance to break out. And, against all odds, the plan had succeeded.
The explosion was brief but powerful, leaving the hall a smoldering wreck. Debris scattered across the floor, and panicked screams filled the space. In the dim light cast by flickering flames, Ethan could see corpses and injured test subjects, many still strapped to beds, unable to move as the fire crept closer. The smoke filled the air, bringing with it the smell of burning chemicals. Ethan covered his mouth and nose, stifling a cough as he sprinted through the flames.
He knew he had only moments to escape. Every step burned his bare feet against the heated floor, but his regenerative abilities kept him moving. Without them, he'd be a goner in minutes.
Ahead of him, he spotted a guard limping along the wall, clutching his injured arm from the explosion. Their eyes met, and the guard, realizing Ethan wasn't supposed to be out, gasped in recognition.
"You…!"
"Not a word!" Ethan growled. Before the guard could react, Ethan swung his fist, striking him square in the face. The guard crumpled, stunned, and Ethan followed up with a series of powerful kicks, ensuring he wouldn't get up again.
Breathing hard, Ethan stared down at the bloody, unconscious guard. He felt a flicker of discomfort, but it vanished as quickly as it came. These people had shown him no mercy, so why should he feel any sympathy now?
Slowly, he crouched beside the guard, retrieving a rifle from the man's belt. The weight of the weapon in his hands was unfamiliar, but he quickly familiarized himself with it. Then, stripping the guard's uniform and shoes, he donned them, covering his burned skin.
As he finished gearing up, he heard the ominous crackle of crumbling walls. The fire was out of control, and pieces of rubble began to fall from the ceiling. Ethan knew he had to move fast; even with his regenerative abilities, he'd be trapped if the building collapsed on top of him.
Thick smoke billowed all around, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Gritting his teeth, Ethan steadied the rifle and sprinted blindly into the smoke-filled hall.