CHAPTER 4_THE MACHINE IN THE BASEMENT
"Hey calm down Ethan. You're breathing like a person. The air here is bad enough so try to relax."
Elena doesn't look back at me. She swipes her ID card through the reader. Her hand is steady. I can see her shoulder blades are tense like shes ready to run. The scanner light changes from red to green. The steel door opens with a loud click.
"My teeth hurt, Elena. It feels like someone is poking me with a needle."
"That's the radiation or whatever " she says, checking her tablet. "The official plans say this level is for heating and water but the power usage here could power a small town."
We move fast down a hallway that smells like burnt wires and old metal. The walls seem to shimmer at the edges of my vision. My head. My blue screen shows warnings flashing fast.
DIMENSIONAL INSTABILITY INCREASING. WARNING: SPATIAL INTEGRITY AT 42 PERCENT.
"Follow me " Elena says, ducking behind a concrete pillar.
We stop in front of a reinforced glass window looking into a lab. It's a mess of cables and fans that hum loudly. In the center of the room is a chamber made of lead and glass. The light inside. Bends, making my stomach turn.
"There it is " I say, pressing my forehead against the glass. "The thing that kills everyone."
PROTOTYPE DIMENSIONAL BORE. CURRENT STABILITY: 34 PERCENT. ESTIMATED TIME TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE: 181 DAYS 19 HOURS.
"God hes really doing it " Elena whispers, taking photos. "Look at those cooling rigs. They're made from junk. It's a ticking bomb."
Marcus is in there standing at a console with his back to us. He looks different like a man who hasn't slept in weeks. Hes talking to himself. The machine noise drowns out his words.
"Hes making a hole " Elena says, her voice shaking. "Hes trying to bridge the gap without safety measures. If that bore opens fully the air pressure will suck the air out of our lungs."
"He knows " I say, watching Marcus smile at his screen. "He doesn't care, Elena. He wants the power more than he wants the world."
I look at Marcuss tablet. See a folder titled Subject Zero. My heart stops. I lean closer. My breath fogs the window.
There's a photo on the screen. It's a person. It looks like one. They're strapped into a chair with tubes in their arms and their skin has a shimmer.
"Elena, look " I whisper, pulling her toward the window.
She. Her camera almost drops. "What is that? Is that a person?"
DIMENSIONAL ANCHOR DETECTED. STATUS: CAPTIVE. IDENTITY: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: THIS FACILITY LOWER LEVEL.
"It's another one " I say. "He's already got one. He's been using someone to fuel this thing."
"That's why he killed my brother " Elena says, her voice cold. "Mateo found out he was experimenting on people. He wasn't just building a machine, Ethan. He was building a cage."
Marcus. We duck below the window. My heart is pounding. I hear his footsteps and a door opening.
"We need to go " I say, grabbing Elenas arm.
"Not yet " she says, trying to peek back. "I need to see where that folder is stored."
"Elena, the guards " I point down the hallway.
We scramble back to the stairs. I focus on the door. Feel the familiar pull in my gut. I reach out. Twist the air around the lock. There's a pop and the light on the door goes dead.
"Did you just do that?" Elena asks as we take the stairs.
"I'm learning " I pant as we burst into the night air.
We don't stop running until we reach her SUV. She throws the car into gear. Peels away from the curb.
"He has someone, Ethan " she says. "He has a captive in that basement. Someone like you."
"Subject Zero " I mutter. "The System called them an anchor."
Elena pulls over. Kills the lights. She pulls out her laptop. Starts scrolling through photos. She zooms in on a page of notes and her eyes go wide.
"Look at this " she says. "Phase one extraction eighty-five percent complete. Subject Zero viability declining. Initiate Phase two within thirty days."
I read the line and I feel like I've been plunged into ice.
Acquire Subject One.
"Subject One " I whisper. "That's me. He's not waiting for the apocalypse, Elena. He's waiting for me to get strong enough so he can harvest me."
"He knows you're the replacement " Elena says. "He's been watching your stability levels. He knows Subject Zero is dying. He needs a fresh battery."
I look at my hands. They're glowing faintly in the dark.
QUEST UPDATED: SURVIVE THE HARVEST. TIME REMAINING: 30 DAYS.
"He's going to come for me " I say. "He's going to use Morgana to do it."
Elena takes my hand. Her skin is warm.
"He's not going to get you Ethan " she says. "Because we're going back there and we're taking everything from him."
I look at the university buildings and feel the cold creeping back in.
"Elena he's been doing this for years " I say. "He killed your brother. He's killing Subject Zero. What makes you think we can stop him?"
She leans in. I see the fire in her eyes.
"Because this time he doesn't know we're coming for him too " she says. ". I've spent six years learning exactly how to break his toys."
My phone buzzes. It's a message from Morgana.
Ethan, where are you? Dr. Vance said he saw you on campus tonight. He said you looked confused. Are you okay?
I stare at the text. Realize the trap is closing.
"He's testing the waters " I say, showing Elena the phone.
She looks at the screen. Then back, at me. "What are you going to tell her?"
I delete the message. Toss the phone onto the dashboard.
"I'm going to tell her what she wants to hear " I say. "I'm going to tell her I'm coming home."
Elena stares at me. "You're going there. To that apartment. With her."
"I have to, Elena " I say. "If I run now he'll just accelerate the plan. I need those thirty days to get strong. I need him to think I'm still his little puppet."
"Ethan if she finds out you're lying she'll kill you while you're sleeping." Elena says.
"Then I guess I just won't sleep." I reply.
As we drive back to my apartment the System gives a message.
Stability: 68 Percent. Warning: Emotional interference detected. Focus on the mission.
I glance at my buildings windows and see a figure standing by the glass. It's Morgana. Shes waiting for me. I see something shiny in her hand.
"Shes waiting for me, Elena." I whisper.
"Then give her a show, Ethan." Elena says as she pulls up to the curb. "Because if you mess up we're both dead."
I get out of the car. Walk to the lobby. My heart feels heavy. As I reach the elevator I hear a voice in my head. It's my voice from a long time ago.
Don't miss this time.
I open the apartment door and the smell of peppermint tea hits me hard.
"Ethan you're late." Morgana says from the kitchen shadows. "I made you a drink to help you relax."
I look at the mug on the counter. Then at her eyes. They're wider than usual. Her pupils look strange.
"Thanks, babe." I say, picking up the mug and pretending to drink. "I really need this."
I don't actually drink it. I use my ability to hide the liquid while I pretend to swallow.
"Better?" she asks, stepping closer.
"Much better." I say, leaning down to kiss her. "Now tell me everything Dr. Vance said today."
She. For a second she looks like the woman I love. Then she leans in. Whispers.
"He said you're almost ready Ethan. He said you're going to be perfect, for the machine."