"…Run."
The word slices through me.
Not shouted.
Not panicked.
But torn from Serafin like something dragged through broken glass.
I don't move.
Because I can't.
Because my brain refuses to accept what my eyes are seeing.
Serafin staggers backward — STEP… STEP.
The glow in his eyes fractures — flickering violently — SHHT… SHHT…
The air pressure shifts again — HHHHMMMMMMMMM…
"Serafin?" My voice sounds small. Fragile. Useless.
He grips his skull harder — GRASP. Fingers digging into his hair like he's trying to tear something out.
"MAKE IT STOP!" he roars.
The sound is not human.
It slams into the walls — BOOM! — rattling equipment violently.
Monitors explode into static — BZZZZZT!
Medic 2 collapses against a cabinet. "WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?!"
The Doctor shouts over the noise. "Neurological overload!"
"No shit!" the Tactical Officer snaps, weapon raised but visibly unsure.
The intruder watches.
Still pinned moments ago.
Still barely breathing.
But now…
Calm.
Observing.
"…Fascinating," they murmur.
Rage detonates inside me.
"You fucking psycho!" I scream. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"
The intruder's masked face tilts toward me.
"We didn't do anything."
Serafin screams again — AAAAAAAGH!!
The lights burst into violent flashes — FLICKER-FLARE-FLARE-FLICK!!
Glass cracks along the far wall — SKRRRRK!
The Tactical Officer shouts. "Containment breach imminent!"
Serafin's body convulses — THUD! — slamming onto one knee.
The floor trembles — KRRRRRMMMMM…
I rush to him.
"I told you to run!" he snarls.
"I'm not leaving you!" I fire back.
His head jerks toward me.
Those flickering eyes—
Jesus Christ.
They're terrified.
Not angry.
Not monstrous.
Terrified.
"You don't understand…" he gasps.
"Then explain!"
"I can't control it!"
Another violent pulse erupts from him — BOOM! — knocking over a tray — CLATTER!
The Doctor stumbles. "His neural activity is off the scale!"
Medic 2 sobs. "He's going to kill us!"
The intruder's voice cuts through the chaos like ice.
"Yes."
Every sound in the room dies for half a second.
I spin toward them.
"…What?"
Their voice is clinical.
Emotionless.
"When the breach completes."
Serafin freezes.
"…Breach."
The intruder nods slowly.
"Memory reintegration."
My blood runs cold.
Serafin's breathing turns ragged.
"…No…"
"Yes."
The glow in his eyes destabilizes violently — SHHHHT!!
"I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER!" he roars.
The room detonates.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A shockwave blasts outward — CRASH! CLANG! SHATTER!
I'm thrown backward — THUD! — pain exploding through my shoulder.
The Tactical Officer slams into a wall.
The Doctor collapses.
Medic 2 screams.
Smoke curls through the air.
Alarms reignite — WEEEEEEEEOOOOOO!!
Through the haze…
Serafin stands again.
But something is horribly wrong.
His posture.
Rigid.
Unnatural.
Like he's being held upright by invisible wires.
"…Serafin?" I whisper.
Slowly…
He lifts his head.
Those eyes.
No flicker.
No struggle.
Pure, steady luminescence.
Empty.
The Tactical Officer gasps.
"…Oh no."
Serafin's voice emerges.
Flat.
Detached.
"…Containment protocol engaged."
My stomach drops.
That's not Serafin.
That's—
That's something else speaking through him.
I scramble to my feet.
"Serafin, listen to me!"
His gaze locks onto me.
But there's no recognition.
Nothing.
Just cold evaluation.
"Primary emotional trigger identified."
Fear crawls up my spine.
"Serafin…"
The intruder's voice drips with satisfaction.
"There it is."
I whirl toward them.
"What did you do to him?!"
"We unlocked him."
Serafin takes a step forward — STEP.
The floor cracks beneath his foot — KRRRSH.
The Doctor whispers hoarsely. "Impossible…"
I back away slowly.
"Serafin. It's me."
His head tilts slightly.
"Attachment acknowledged."
Hope sparks desperately inside my chest.
"Yes. Yes, that's right."
"Attachment deemed destabilizing."
My heart stops.
"…What?"
Serafin's glowing eyes intensify.
"Correction required."
The Tactical Officer shouts. "CAOIMHE MOVE!"
Serafin moves.
WHOOSH.
He's suddenly in front of me.
The sheer force of his presence steals my breath.
His hand lifts.
Not striking.
Just hovering near my face.
"…Serafin?"
His voice remains cold.
"Emotional disruption source."
My pulse screams.
"…What are you saying?"
For the first time…
Something flickers.
Deep in those glowing eyes.
A fracture.
A crack.
Serafin's voice trembles — layered, conflicting.
"…Cao…"
Relief slams into me.
"Serafin! Fight it!"
His expression twists violently.
Pain.
Rage.
Terror.
"I CAN'T—!"
The glow surges — SHHHHT!!
He grabs my arm — GRAB!
Not crushing.
But firm.
Desperate.
"You have to—"
The lights explode.
Darkness swallows the room.
BLACKOUT.
Silence.
Then—
A whisper.
Right beside my ear.
Not Serafin.
Not anyone I recognize.
"…Now you understand."
And something cold presses against my spine.
To be continued...