The ride was long, and silence hung heavily in the air. The assistant didn't say a word, his presence more imposing than ever. The hum of the vehicle seemed to vibrate through my body, amplifying the tension coiled in my chest. I could barely focus on the road ahead—my mind was swirling with the conversation I'd just had with the Supreme Leader. The weight of Project Wraith was too heavy for me to carry alone, but then again, I had no choice but to move forward.
I hope he chokes on his cigar and dies.
As we neared the facility, my stomach clenched. The structure was nothing like the luxurious buildings I'd seen before. It was cold, industrial, and unwelcoming—just like the creatures it housed. We passed through several layers of security, each more fortified than the last, until we finally reached a large, metallic door. The assistant didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he unlocked it and led me inside.
The air shifted as soon as I stepped over the threshold. It was thick with something... unnatural. The harsh lights above flickered slightly, casting long shadows on the concrete floors. The hum of machinery was constant, a low, droning sound that seemed to vibrate through the walls.
I glanced around, taking in the cold, sterile environment. The walls were lined with holding cells, each one filled with creatures—monstrous, terrifying beings that I could barely comprehend. Some were hulking, their muscles rippling under skin that seemed too stretched to contain them. Others were smaller, but just as unnerving, with jagged features and eyes that seemed to pierce into my very soul. They were all silent, staring back at me with hollow eyes, their bodies moving in jerky, unnatural movements. They were caged, but I could feel the power in each one of them. They were nothing like the hybrids I'd seen before. These creatures were something else—something more dangerous.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away from the nearest cage. The assistant walked ahead, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space. I followed, keeping my eyes on the floor, trying not to think about what I had just witnessed.
"Do not look at them too closely," the assistant's voice was soft but firm. "These creatures are not like the others you've trained. They are weapons, not playthings."
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened with every step. Weapons. That's what they were. And I had been chosen to train them.
We continued through the maze of cells, the creatures staring at us as we passed. Some of them growled softly, others whimpered, and some just watched in eerie silence. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched by something far older and more intelligent than any of them.
Finally, we reached a large, reinforced door. The assistant didn't hesitate. He opened it with a series of commands, and I was greeted by a small room filled with monitors, control panels, and more guards. They barely acknowledged me as I entered.
At the center of the room, a massive screen flickered to life, showing several creatures in various stages of conditioning. Some were being trained to obey commands, others to fight. The sight of them was enough to make my stomach turn. They were being broken, molded into something they weren't meant to be.
"This is where you'll work, Rhea," the assistant said. "Here, you will help train them for their ultimate purpose."
I looked at the screen, my mind racing with the possibilities. Hundreds of creatures. Each one more dangerous than the last. And I was supposed to train them. My hands clenched at my sides. I had never felt more out of control than I did right now. These weren't hybrids. These weren't even animals. They were monsters.
The assistant watched me closely, waiting for my reaction. When I didn't speak, he turned away, motioning for me to follow him once more.
We passed through another set of doors and into a large, open area where dozens of creatures were being held. They were all chained to the walls, their bodies twitching, eyes wide and unblinking. Some were still, while others paced restlessly, their claws scraping against the floor. It was impossible to tell what they were thinking. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the pulse of the place, as though the very walls were alive with the creatures' suppressed rage.
"This is the facility," the assistant said, his voice betraying no emotion. "And these are your new... students."
I stopped in my tracks. I couldn't breathe. The creatures' eyes were on me now, their gaze unwavering and unsettling. I wanted to scream, to run, but my body wouldn't move. It was as though the room itself was pulling me into its dark embrace.
One of the creatures growled low in its throat, and I instinctively took a step back. The assistant shot me a glance but said nothing.
"They are dangerous," he added simply. "But you will learn how to control them. You have the skills, I assume."
I nodded, though I felt far from certain. How could I control something like this? These weren't creatures you could train with gentle hands. These were weapons, tools of destruction. And they were all looking at me like prey.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. What had I signed up for? Was I really ready to train these monsters, to turn them into something even more deadly than they already were?
The assistant motioned for me to follow, and we continued through the facility. Each room we passed held more creatures—some larger than others, some more terrifying, but all of them exuding an air of danger that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I kept my head down, focusing on each step, trying not to look at them for too long.
Finally, we came to a stop in front of a large observation window. Below, in a massive training area, I saw dozens of creatures sparring(?). Some were tearing each other apart, while others were being restrained by chains and shock collars. They were being forced into combat, into a violent, mindless frenzy that left no room for mercy.
The assistant turned to me, his eyes cold. "This is where you'll begin, Rhea. I trust you understand the importance of your task here."
I could barely breathe. My heart was pounding in my chest, and the walls seemed to close in around me. I was standing in the middle of something far darker than I had ever imagined. These creatures weren't just experiments—they were weapons in the making. And I was supposed to train them.
The assistant's voice broke through my thoughts. "You'll teach them to fight. To kill. To obey. You'll turn them into the tools they were always meant to be."
I didn't respond. There was nothing left to say. This was my reality now. I had to survive it, no matter how much it destroyed me.
I miss Nine.
I miss Mia - Heck, I miss Kade too.
I want to go back home.