The air inside the facility was cold—artificial and sterile, untouched by the outside world. The metallic corridors stretched endlessly, dim overhead lights casting sharp shadows against the walls. It was a place built for control, calculated in its design, meant to ensure that no one ever truly felt free.
Axel and Cyrus walked in silence, their footsteps echoing against the steel flooring.
Cyrus barely contained his irritation, his gray eyes burning with something unsettled. "This whole thing is a joke," he muttered under his breath.
Axel remained quiet.
Cyrus scoffed at Axel's lack of response, shaking his head. "You think this is some noble cause, don't you? Some grand mission." He glanced at Axel, waiting for a reaction. "You really believe they've got it all figured out?"
Axel exhaled, his gaze fixed ahead. "I believe it doesn't matter what I think."
Cyrus gritted his teeth, fists tightening. "That's your problem, Sage. You just go along with it. Like you don't have a choice."
Axel finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "We don't."
That was the truth neither of them could deny. No matter their anger, their frustration, or their personal motives, the mission was set. They were being thrown into the unknown.
Neither spoke again as they continued walking, the silence between them thick with unresolved bitterness.
---
After separating from Cyrus, Axel took the long route back to his quarters, needing the time to gather his thoughts. The facility was unnervingly quiet, the artificial hum of machinery the only constant sound. His mind buzzed with unanswered questions.
**The red vial.**
A bypass to experimentation—power granted without the years of conditioning, the surgical enhancements, the painful trials. But at what cost? Had Cyrus already paid it?
**The higher-ups.**
How many secrets were buried within these walls? How many truths were erased before the recruits ever learned them? Victoria's words lingered in his mind. "Your father was with us before." What did that mean?
**The enemy outside the Frontline.**
What would they be facing beyond the safety of these steel walls? How many soldiers had already died fighting whatever awaited them out there?
And then—Mara.
Axel hesitated near an empty corridor, leaning against the wall, exhaling slowly. "Mara…" he murmured under his breath. "You once said none of this was real. That everything in this facility is built on lies. Were you right?"
His fingers curled slightly against his palm. "I wish I could ask you now."
He shook off the thought and continued walking, finally reaching the door to his team's quarters.
---
As Axel stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. His team—Kaid, Ava, Atlas, Lila, and Eli—were waiting, their gazes sharp with curiosity and unease.
Ava was the first to speak. "Well? What happened?"
Axel exhaled, running a hand through his hair before speaking. "It's time. We're setting foot outside."
A brief silence followed, his words hanging in the air. Then, Kaid narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Axel met their gazes evenly. "We have our first mission. We're being sent to the Frontline—to defend against an enemy we've never seen before."
Shock rippled through the group.
Lila straightened, her rifle resting against the wall beside her. "You're joking."
Atlas sighed, folding his arms. "No, he's not."
Eli rubbed his temple, exhaling sharply. "They're actually throwing us into battle? After all this time?"
Ava frowned deeply. "What are we even supposed to be fighting out there?"
Axel shook his head. "They didn't tell us."
Kaid let out a low chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "Of course they didn't."
Atlas, ever the pragmatic one, remained composed. "We knew this day would come."
The team exchanged glances, tension thick in the room. They had trained endlessly, conditioned for combat. But none of them had truly expected their first assignment to be thrown into a war against an unknown force.
"We need to prepare," Axel continued, his voice firm. "They'll provide weapons, armor, and… the red vial."
Lila stiffened. "They're giving us the vial?"
Axel nodded. "They said soldiers have been dying too fast. They need stronger fighters—now."
Eli let out a slow breath. "So, what? They expect us to just drink it and suddenly be capable of taking down whatever's out there?"
Atlas spoke carefully. "That might be exactly what they expect."
Ava leaned forward slightly, her tone sharp. "And what about you, Axel? What do you think?"
Axel was quiet for a moment before finally answering. "I think we don't have a choice."
The silence stretched, each of them processing what came next. **The unknown enemy. The Frontline. The truth about the red vial.**
But they had made their decision. And there was no turning back.
---
In the depths of the facility, beyond the research labs and restricted zones, a dimly lit chamber held something—**someone**—within an immense, liquid-filled containment unit. **Mara.**
Her form remained suspended within the fluid, wires connected to her, monitoring every vital sign, every shift in her physical state. **She had been asleep for a long time.**
The doctor responsible for her creation stood outside the chamber, expression unreadable as he studied her through the thick glass. Slowly, he lifted his tablet, eyes scanning the latest reports—the battle status at the Frontline.
The data displayed casualty rates. Tactical shifts. The upcoming deployment of **Axel's team.**
His lips curled into a smirk. "Now's the time to make history, my creation."
He placed the tablet down and turned, his footsteps echoing against the polished floor.
As he exited the lab, a low, sinister laugh escaped him—one filled with anticipation, satisfaction, and something far more dangerous.