The days I spent here were nothing short of nightmares, each one worse than the last. Overnight, my life had flipped. I went from a scientist to a test subject in the blink of an eye. My dignity was stripped away, my humiliation knew no bounds. If hell was real, then it was here, and I had no doubt the devil lurked beyond these walls.
Three months.
Three months in this prison, this circus. Every second was like reliving my worst nightmare over and over again. I had tried to escape countless times, but each attempt only doubled the repercussions of my defiance. I was no longer allowed to eat at the cafeteria. I hadn't seen my parents in months. Did they even know where I was? Were they looking for me? Did they think I was dead?
But the moment that haunted me most—the one that made my chest feel like it was caving in—was Jamal.
The moment I finally opened my heart to someone, fate took him away.
"Life is so unfair," I whispered, pressing my forehead against the cold wall.
Tears streamed from my eyes as I slammed my palm against it, frustration and grief boiling inside me. Why did Jamal have to pay the price for my recklessness? I could still see his final stare, that mix of agony and determination, the words he wanted to say but never could.
"Jamal, how could you do this to me? Why leave me now?"
Our childhood memories flooded my mind, each one more painful than the last. My psychokinetic energy flared up as I lost control, sending the last bit of furniture in the room crashing against the walls.
These powers… If I had them before Jamal was blown to bits, I could have forced him away from the NBCR. What was the point of these abilities if they couldn't protect the people I loved?
"Jamal…"
I cried myself to sleep every night.
"If only I could go back to before we started this damn experiment… I'd toss everything into the lake."
Then something pulled me from my despair.
There were no windows or doors in this room except for the one that appeared when they brought my food, but I could hear everything happening beyond the walls. It was strange. I wasn't sure how, but sometimes I could pick up thoughts—like an eerie whisper at the edge of my mind. It was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't, but their inner monologues often gave me something useful.
And now, I was picking up something interesting.
"There's been a breach," I whispered, my grief momentarily pushed aside by a flicker of hope.
All I needed was for one human soldier to step within my reach. Then, I was out.
In the past month, I hadn't had any contact with them. The last time, I nearly cracked a soldier's skull open just by accident. I was still trying to control this… telepathy. I'd already killed three. Each time I entered their minds, blood would pour from their eyes and noses until they collapsed like lifeless dolls. I never meant to kill them—just get into their heads, find something useful, maybe get one to do my dirty work.
Then, I heard them.
"Avoid sector D27. That area is off-limits."
"Yes, sir!"
They were too far away. I needed one to come closer.
The entire facility was in chaos. I still couldn't piece together what was happening until—BOOM.
A massive explosion rattled the hall.
The soldiers scrambled in all directions, some rushing past my cell. They were desperate, trying to contain the situation. Unfortunately for them, a few of them crossed the threshold of my telepathy.
And that was all I needed.
Their minds opened to me like books, laid bare to my every whim. I twisted their deepest fears, warping them into paralyzing phobias. Some soldiers froze, unable to move or even breathe. Others turned on each other, their paranoia corroding trust like acid.
One, in particular, was especially weak. His terror was delicious.
"You can't trust them," I whispered into his mind. "They'll turn on you first. Strike before they do."
His grip on his rifle tightened. His breath came out in ragged, frantic gasps. His pulse pounded in his ears as panic took hold.
And then—he snapped.
Gunfire erupted as he fired wildly at his comrades. The others dove for cover, shouting commands, but the damage was done.
I pressed further into his thoughts, my voice slithering through his mind like a snake.
"Blow the walls apart. Shred them. Rip them open—NOW."
His body moved like a puppet on strings. Without hesitation, he raised his weapon, aimed at the wall, and fired.
BOOM.
The blast tore through concrete, sending dust and debris flying. He stumbled back, his mind unraveling under my control.
I stepped forward, inhaling the scent of destruction, a small smirk curling my lips. The soldier collapsed, shaking violently, eyes wide with terror. I released my grip on his mind, and he crumpled like a discarded doll.
I didn't look back.
The hallway was a maze, but I kept moving. I was the only prisoner in this sector—obviously too dangerous to keep with the others. The path was eerily empty, until—
A crackling sensation made my skin prickle.
Something was coming.
I braced myself as the ceiling above gave way, bricks and rubble crashing to the floor.
A man landed hard, a child curled protectively in his arms.
My heart clenched at the sight. The little girl, no older than six, was shivering, her tiny fingers clutching his shirt. The man looked battered, injured, barely holding himself together.
"What the hell is a child doing here?" I muttered, my mind racing. "Is she his daughter?"
Then I saw it—a massive chunk of debris hurtling toward them. He was in no shape to move, let alone shield the girl. His arms tightened around her, bracing for impact.
Something in me snapped.
With a flick of my wrist, the debris exploded into dust before it could touch them.
I exhaled slowly, watching them. "Well… I guess that's my way out."
Cautiously, I stepped forward, ready to fight if I had to. But the man lifted his head, exhaustion and relief written all over his face.
Then—
"Eliana?"
I froze.
That voice.
My heart skipped. My breath hitched.
I knew that voice.
His face was hidden behind a mess of unkempt hair and a scruffy beard. His uniform was the same as mine—he was an inmate. But those eyes… I'd know those eyes anywhere.
He wasn't a threat.
He wasn't a stranger.
My lips parted, a tremor running through me as I whispered his name.
"Jamal?