Niel was sitting in a small training room, surrounded by holographic screens projecting martial arts movements. Since waking up in Silver Ridge, his brain seemed to function differently. He processed information at a superhuman speed, as if every neuron were directly connected to a computer. Attack patterns, defense techniques, ways to leverage an opponent's strength—all of it was etched into his mind as though he had always known how to do it.
At that moment, he was observing a simulation of a mixed style of kung fu and krav maga. The images showed how a practitioner could neutralize a larger opponent using precise and rapid movements. Niel didn't need to physically repeat the moves to learn them; simply seeing them once was enough. His body already knew how to respond.
"If the opponent attacks from above, deflect it to the side and use their momentum against them," he thought while analyzing the movement. "A quick strike to the radial nerve can temporarily incapacitate them."
Since beginning hand-to-hand combat training, Niel had noticed something strange: his strength and reflexes had drastically increased. He was no longer just a scared kid trying to survive; now he was a perfectly calibrated machine for combat. But despite his enhanced abilities, something inside him still felt incomplete. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
When his training session ended, Niel left the room without rushing, his steps softly echoing against the metallic floor. As he walked through the sterile hallways, he saw a group of people dressed in black combat suits heading toward a restricted area of the facility. Their faces were covered with tactical masks, and they carried military gear loaded with weapons and unknown devices.
Niel paused briefly, tilting his head slightly as he watched them pass. He said nothing, not even blinking when one of them momentarily glanced his way. Only after the last agent disappeared behind a reinforced door did Niel resume walking, his hands in his pockets and his posture relaxed but controlled.
He knew who those agents were. He had heard rumors among the other subjects in the facility—children and adults like him, survivors of attacks similar to the one in Silver Ridge. They said that those who passed all the tests were called "agents." These agents were sent on secret missions around the world. No one knew exactly what they did, but everyone knew the statistics: they always went out in groups of five, but almost never returned complete. Sometimes two came back, other times three. Rarely all five.
As he walked toward his room, Niel stopped in front of a fake window—a polarized glass panel simulating an urban landscape. He looked at his reflection for a second before continuing. There was no emotion on his face, but his fingers tightened slightly on the edge of his pockets, as if silently evaluating something.
Shortly afterward, someone knocked on the door.
Niel opened it without saying a word. Ariadna entered with her usual tray of medical instruments, but this time she wore a more serious expression than usual.
"Time for your check-up," she said as she placed the tray on a nearby table.
Niel extended his arm without hesitation, allowing her to take blood samples. As she worked, Ariadna stared at him intently.
"I saw you watching the agents today," she commented, carefully adjusting the needle. "What do you think of them?"
Niel didn't respond immediately. He simply looked away, his eyes fixed on an undefined spot on the wall. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but firm.
"I don't think anything."
Ariadna frowned slightly, as if expecting a more elaborate response.
"Nothing? Don't you even wonder where they go? Or what they do?"
Niel shrugged minimally, barely altering his posture.
"It doesn't matter what they do. Whether they come back or not, it changes nothing."
Ariadna finished labeling the test tube and stored it in her case. Then she sat across from him, her expression filled with concern.
"Listen, Niel... I know you've been changing. I know they're molding you to be something more. But I want you to remember something important."
Niel glanced at her sideways, barely interested.
"What?"
"Don't lose your humanity," Ariadna said, her tone firm but kind. "No matter what they tell you, no matter what they promise. If you forget who you are, if you forget what makes you human... then you won't be yourself anymore. You'll just be another tool in their hands."
Niel didn't respond immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze to his right hand, slowly flexing his fingers as if testing his own strength. Finally, he spoke, his voice as calm as ever.
"My humanity? What does that even mean?"
Ariadna sighed deeply.
"It means remembering why you fight. Remembering what makes you different from them."
Before Niel could respond, Ariadna continued, her voice quieter.
"Listen, I know you've been thinking about Silver Ridge. I know you wonder why no one talks about it. The higher-ups from various countries silenced the news. Bribes, threats, manipulation—they did whatever was necessary to keep the truth from the world."
Niel clenched his fists slightly, but his face remained impassive. After a long silence, he asked, his tone flat but with a faint trace of uncertainty.
"So... who decides what's true and what's not? Who decides who the good guys and the bad guys are?"
Ariadna didn't answer. She simply looked at him with sadness before standing up and heading toward the door.
"Think about it, Niel. And remember... don't let them make you forget who you are."
When she left, Niel remained seated in silence, his thoughts swirling. Who were the real villains? The creatures that destroyed his home? Or the people who brought him here, promising revenge in exchange for his humanity?
Suddenly, that familiar voice echoed in his head, clear and cold:
"Don't trust them."
Niel closed his eyes for a moment, his breathing barely perceptible. It was the second time he had heard that voice. He didn't know where it came from or what it meant, but something inside him knew he shouldn't ignore it.
He slowly opened his eyes and stood up from the bed. Without saying a word, he approached the fake window and looked at his reflection again. This time, his lips curved into a slight smirk, barely noticeable, as if considering something he wasn't ready to accept yet.
He decided to keep it a secret. For now.
------------------------
Meanwhile, in another part of the facility, Ariadna walked quickly but calmly. Her white coat fluttered behind her as she headed toward a door marked with a sign that read: "Restricted Access - Authorized Personnel Only." She pulled an access card from her pocket and swiped it across the security panel. The light blinked from red to green, and the door opened with a soft hiss.
She entered quickly, closing the door behind her. The room was dimly lit and filled with servers and holographic screens projecting real-time data. Ariadna looked around, ensuring no one had followed her. The constant hum of the servers filled the space, but there were no signs of other scientists or security personnel.
She pulled a small device from her pocket: an artifact the size of a USB drive, but with a unique and futuristic design. She connected it to one of the main servers and activated a holographic interface that floated in front of her. Her fingers moved swiftly over the virtual commands, entering a series of encrypted codes.
A warning flashed on the screen: "Unauthorized access detected. Close connection within 10 seconds to avoid automatic lockout."
Ariadna didn't flinch. She knew exactly what she was doing. With one final command, she sent an encoded message through a hidden network, ensuring it couldn't be traced back to her. The message contained only a few words, but they were enough:
"Subject Niel shows critical advancements. Experiments proceeding as planned. Continuous surveillance required."
Once the message was sent, she removed the device and stored it back in her pocket. She erased any trace of her activity on the server, making sure no evidence of her intervention remained.
Before leaving, she took one last look around the room, ensuring everything was as she had found it. Then, with the same calmness with which she had entered, she exited the room and returned to the main hallway. No one seemed to have noticed her absence.
She walked toward the main laboratory, where other scientists were busy analyzing samples and discussing results. Ariadna joined them as if nothing had happened, her expression neutral and professional.