Strange Creatures Corporation 2.0

Flint, who loved Alexander Talant's fashionable TLNTS glasses (after all, the slogan "Emphasize your sexuality, boy!" was close to him), was never a genius tactician. He preferred to follow orders, even on the tenth attempt. Now, as he made his way down the dark corridor of the hospital, Flint felt uneasy. His dark beard looked thicker in the dim light, and his brown hair was slicked back tightly. However, the glasses did their job — the corridor didn't look so dark in their lenses. Flint moved as silently as a cat accustomed to nocturnal excursions. His hearing, dulled by the skirmish with the Bonebrain agent, was useless now. I had to rely on my eyesight. Aurora's silhouette appeared at the end of the corridor, motionless and lifeless. Flint moved closer, trying to find the USB port. "Where did Viktor stick this flash drive?" he muttered, pointing randomly at the robot's body. Suddenly Aurora was alive. Her mechanical arms twitched, and her eyes flashed blue. The grinding of gears echoed through the room, followed by a chaotic melody that sounded like a robot's death rattle. Distorted images flashed across the holo screen in front of Flint — flashes of fire, dark shapes, strange symbols. A voice came out of the robot's speakers, distorted by static: — Once upon a time there was a mad wizard named Robert. He created three boxes that can change the world… Flint staggered back. What's it? System failure? A virus? He'd never heard Aurora use that tone before. "...The first box is the soul box. It could absorb the souls of living people, granting the owner unprecedented power — " the voice continued, sounding more distinct with each sentence. "The second box is the key to the gates of time and space. Guess a place and you're there, in the blink of an eye. But be careful, traveler — don't play with time, otherwise… The sound of rolling thunder echoed through the room, the holographic screen sparked, and for a moment Flint thought he saw a face, pale and wild — eyed. "...or you'll lose your soul, " the voice whispered, barely audible, as if from the very heart of darkness. Flint swallowed hard. My heart was pounding in my chest like a caged bird. What kind of nonsense is this? Where did this information come from in the Aurora database? "The third box..." Flint didn't finish listening. He backed toward the exit, bumping into the cold metal walls. He needs to get out of here. Immediately! "Flint, are you still here?" Victor Bonney's voice sounded out of another world in his earpiece. — Have you downloaded the program yet?" Flint mumbled something unintelligible, trying to put some semblance of calm into his voice. "Yes... yes, right now... there are some ... technical difficulties… He glanced at Aurora. The robot paused, its eyes dimming as if nothing had happened. "Flint, you have five minutes," the voice said in his earpiece. "Otherwise I'll go down myself!" Flint didn't answer, but ran for the door. He stormed out of the lab as if he'd been scalded, hearing only the growing hum of Aurora coming to life behind him. Flint raced through a maze of steel trees, their crowns woven with wires and sensors, casting ominous, dancing shadows on the asphalt. The cold metal hidden beneath the perfect imitation bark was indistinguishable from the real thing even to the touch. The scent of pine needles, synthesized with maniacal precision, tickled her nostrils, evoking false memories of walking in the summer woods. "Damn it! I should be getting paid like the president for this kind of technology, Flint thought, and he slowed down for a moment, as if trying to catch his breath. My heart thumped against my ribs, a dull tocsin ringing in my ears. He tore off his TLNTS glasses — a gift from Victor Bonnie for his last birthday-and threw them into the bushes in frustration. "Emphasize your sexuality..." he muttered, quoting the advertising slogan. "Who needs to be sexy when you're being chased by your own robots?" Don't jump to conclusions, Flint Ice, " Victor Bonney's voice said in his head, cold and sharp as a scalpel blade. "These trees cost me more than just money. I hope you know what I mean." Flint started. That voice, right there in his mind, always made him feel a mixture of fear and disgust. He felt like an insect caught in a microscope, his every movement, every thought — as if in the palm of his hand. Chief, I - " Flint began, but his voice was cut off by a sharp whistle that came right in his ear. The air around him blurred like a sheet of water, and a figure materialized out of the wavering haze, tall, lean, and wearing a white lab coat. Victor Bonney. He was leaning against the trunk of a steel tree, watching Flint with a cold smile. His eyes, hidden behind the thick lenses of his glasses, were dark holes in which something inhuman lurked. You're too slow, Flint, " Bonnie drawled, taking a step toward him. — And time, as you know, is money. And life. Victor Bonney sauntered over to Flint like a predator playing with its prey. He froze, feeling the chilling chill radiating from the man, piercing him to the bone. Bonnie stopped a few inches away from him, and Flint could smell the faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with a metallic smell that took his breath away. You know, Flint, you remind me of a puppy, " Bonnie drawled, his thin lips curling into a small smile. — The same naughty, always climbing somewhere, always trying to prove something. Flint swallowed, feeling his throat go dry. He wanted to say something, to justify himself, to say that he understood, that it wouldn't happen again, but the words stuck somewhere deep in his chest. Bonnie took a small syringe filled with a thick liquid the color of mercury from the pocket of his lab coat. You see, my young friend, "Bonnie continued, as if oblivious to the horror in Flint's eyes," only those who know how to follow the rules survive in this world. And you... you're too much of an improviser. He took a step forward, and Flint instinctively recoiled, feeling his back slam against the cold metal trunk of a tree. There was no escape route. Chief, I'll-I'll do as you say!" Flint blurted out, his voice shaking like a naughty boy's. "Just don't… "It's too late, Flint," Bonnie interrupted, and there was a hint of steel in his voice. — You've already made your choice. A sharp movement — and Flint felt a cold needle pierce the skin of his neck. The pain was so sudden and sharp that he let out a strangled cry. What is it?! — What is it? " he croaked, clutching his neck with one hand. Just a little precaution, " Bonnie said, putting the syringe back in his pocket. — So that you don't repeat the mistakes of our mutual friend Tyler, so to speak." He leaned toward Flint, and Flint could feel his breath on his face, hot and sharp,with the faintest hint of metal. I hope you understand me. Bonnie whispered, his eyes glinting in the dim light like a predator's eyes on a trap. You'll be part of a great future, Flint, " Victor whispered to Bonnie, leaning so close that Flint could feel his hot, metallic breath on his lips. Flint's head spun with horror. He tried to pull away, to pull away from Bonnie's hypnotic gaze, but his body wouldn't budge. It was as if he was paralyzed, like a rabbit hypnotized by a boa constrictor. You see, my friend, " Bonnie continued, and his voice, usually velvety and enveloping, was now like the rasp of metal. — Just being talented isn't enough in this world. You need to be prepared to make sacrifices. Slowly, as if savoring every moment, he undid the buttons of his robe, and Flint was horrified to see that there was... nothing underneath. Bonnie's naked body was disfigured by scars and strange tattoo-like patterns that pulsed in the dimness of the lab in a dim, greenish light. You'll be a part of something bigger, Flint, " Bonnie whispered, and his hands, thick and short, with fingers covered in strange growths, closed around Flint's neck. - An example for all those who doubt my methods. Flint wanted to scream, but all that came out was a hoarse moan. He could feel Bonnie's nails, sharp as blades, digging into his skin, taste the metallic taste of blood in his mouth... and he could also feel something foreign, hot and sticky, seeping into his blood, filling his mind with darkness. Now, my friend, it's time for us to say good — bye, " Bonnie whispered, his voice like the rustle of dry leaves in Flint's ear. He tried to say something, but his lips wouldn't work. He felt as if his body was filled with lead, hampering his every move. Dark circles danced in front of my eyes, and my ears were ringing unbearably. Bonnie, meanwhile, took a step back, admiring his handiwork. He snapped his fingers-sharp, sharp, like a whip-and Flint flinched, feeling a wave of pain shoot through him from head to toe. You've forgotten everything, Flint, " Bonnie said, and the words came from somewhere far away, like they were coming from the end of a dark tunnel. — You don't remember anything. And you'll never remember. His silhouette began to blur before my eyes, turning into a semi-transparent shadow that disappeared into thin air as suddenly as it appeared. Flint was left standing alone among the steel trees, which seemed to rustle their metal leaves mockingly. He put his head in his hands, trying to calm the throbbing pain. My thoughts were all tangled up like a snake's tangle, not wanting to form a single picture. What happened? Where is he? And who is this man with the frightening eyes and ice-cold hands? Flint didn't know the answers to those questions. All he could do was feel a terrible, sticky fear clinging to his mind, turning him into an obedient puppet. He stumbled away from the place, tripping over his own feet. Steel trees lined the sidewalks like silent sentinels guarding his path. Their metal crowns, woven with wires and sensors, now seemed to him a symbol of false security, an illusion that hid an eerie, unfathomable truth. The truth is that Carter City is not a city, but a cage. A cage with no way out. The world around Flint flickered like an image on a faulty monitor. He could see the asphalt rippling under his feet, the steel trees beginning to fold like houses of cards, turning into a shapeless mass of metal and wires. But the worst part was the feeling in my own body. It was as if it no longer obeyed him. His skin burned as if burned by acid, and his muscles spasmed, refusing to respond to his brain's commands. Flint dropped to his knees, feeling a thin trickle of blood trickle down his chin — or was it just a hallucination? "What's wrong with me?! he croaked, trying to grasp reality, but it was slipping away like a ghost. "What did he do to me?!" The only thing that remained untouched by this horror was his mind. Flint's mind was as clear as a samurai sword blade, but his body... his body was a rag of meat, unable to breathe. Victor Bonney's words came to mind, spoken with a hypocritical smile: "It's for the good of humanity, Flint… For the sake of our common bright future! "A bright future?! Flint wanted to laugh, but all that came out of his throat was a gurgling rasp. "He's a monster! He'll turn us all into monsters! The world around them continued to crumble. Flint saw his hands melt like wax on fire, felt his bones crack as they changed shape. He could no longer distinguish reality from hallucination, and the pain was so overwhelming that his consciousness began to fade. "Hope," Flint whispered, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. "There must be hope..." But even hope seemed to him now only an illusion, a ghostly mirage in the desert of madness. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the worst. Back to what was going to happen. Night descended on Carter City in icy claws of rain. Lightning sliced through the sky like hot blades, turning the city into an arena for a mad shadow dance. Law-abiding citizens snored peacefully, hiding in their burrows-apartments. Only those to whom fate (or the authorities) had prepared the night shift, with sour mines rushed to work. In a room that smelled of last night's revelry and cheap whiskey, his cell phone vibrated, trying desperately to make itself heard over the roar of the downpour. The name "Boss"flashed across the screen like a ghost from a nightmare. Alex, once the star of the varsity debating team and now an underdog reporter, struggled to open his eyes. 01: 30 am. "Oh, this job," he groaned, reaching for his phone. Yes... hello… I'm sleeping," he croaked, in the voice of a man who has been woken up in the middle of watching an erotic dream. You'll sleep in a coffin," the boss's voice barked on the phone, drowning out even the thunderclaps. — I urgently need a report! Something's going on in the center, Alex! Something is wrong! In such bad weather? Alex protested, trying to sound cheerful. — Yes, even the homeless people there have all fled to their slums! What can be there… This is your job, Alex," his boss interrupted, and there was a steely note in his voice. — Figure it out! And I want a report on my desk in an hour! Sensational! Shocking! One that makes the hair stand on end! Do you understand me?! Yes, boss, I get it..." Alex mumbled into the phone, ignoring the thunder outside the window and in the boss's voice. The call ended. Alex irritably threw the phone into a crystal ashtray in the shape of a skull—a gift from his ex, who was now probably warming some producer's bed. The phone, tiny as a socialite's compact, was able to fit even into a lighter pocket, but its power was not inferior to a TLNTS computer. At least that's what the ads claimed, Alex thought, getting out of bed. And where do I get this damn report? What should he be made of on this vile night? He muttered, shoving his feet into his wrinkled jeans. His head, which looked like a hive of angry bees after last night's party, ached in protest. Alex flipped the switch, but the old TV only blinked its red eye contemptuously and continued to show white noise. Occasionally, snatches of a movie made their way through the interference, but the language was so incomprehensible and frightening that I wanted to turn off the sound immediately. Alex remembered about the phone. Having fished it out of the ashtray, he carefully wiped the shiny surface with a T-shirt, as if trying to erase the fingerprints of fate itself from it. The panoramic windows of his apartment on the thirty-second floor offered a view worthy of the brush of a futuristic artist. The twisted steel skeletons of skyscrapers, once a symbol of Carter City's power, menacingly scratched the night sky. Flashes of lightning picked out an abandoned park from the darkness — an oasis of chaos in the heart of the city. Among the trees, like a giant sleeping beast, the dome of the metro station, which had long been closed due to the "Cure for Death," darkened. The elements were raging outside the panoramic windows of his apartment on the thirtieth floor. The rain was lashing the glass with such force, as if it was trying to make a hole in this last stronghold of civilization. Carter City, once the pearl of the post-technological world, now resembled a battleground for titans — the roar of thunder mixed with the wail of sirens, and lightning, like giant searchlights, illuminated a depressing picture of destruction from the darkness. A flash and Alex saw them. The steel skeletons of the skyscrapers, once a symbol of Carter City's power, now resembled giant bones, helplessly raised to the sky. Another flash and an abandoned park appeared in front of his eyes, turned into a raging sea of water and shadows. Among the trees, like a giant sleeping beast, the dome of the metro station, which had long been closed due to the "Cure for Death," darkened. Alex shuddered, remembering the chilling legends about this medicine. It was said that he struck not the flesh, but the mind, burned out all illusions, all beliefs, forcing his victims to see the world as it is — cold, cruel, devoid of any meaning. "The cure for death" is a human mistake that can cost the life of all mankind, Alex thought, and this thought made him really uneasy. He abruptly turned away from the window, as if afraid that the darkness reigning behind the glass might penetrate into his apartment and engulf him along with all his doubts and fears. Alex, discarding gloomy thoughts, with the energy of a real surfer who deftly caught a wave of inspiration, rushed to the closet. Among a jumble of T-shirts, jeans and shirts that resembled a battlefield of dudes and punk rockers, he unearthed his "lucky suit"—black as the night in Carter City, with perfectly pressed trousers and a jacket that made him look like a Secret Service agent (at least that's what he thought). It was in this suit that he was interviewed for his dream job as a reporter for Carter City's coolest newspaper, The City Chronicles. However, at that time he did not know that his job would be more like chasing shadows than investigating high-profile cases. Rushing out of the apartment, he dived into his bright red sports car, a gift from his parents for graduation. The roof of the car folded with a slight buzz, reliably protecting Alex from the raging elements. The engine, like an animal waking up, growled something encouraging to him, and Alex, smiling, stepped on the gas. He did not go to the editorial office, as one might think. No, right now he needed the help of a hacker friend, a computer technology genius, and just a guy who could find information where it didn't seem to exist. His friend, Zane, was a living refutation of the saying "one head is good, but two are better." Because his one head worked for ten, giving out ideas that even the most powerful computers in Carter City paled before. A red sports car, like a ship cutting through the waves, raced through the flooded streets of Carter City. The rain was still pouring down in buckets, turning the asphalt into a mirror surface that reflected the neon lights of billboards and lightning that tore through the night sky. Alex, clutching the steering wheel, tried to concentrate on the road, but his thoughts, as if awakened by a storm of feelings, were racing erratically in his head. He kept coming back to the boss's words over and over again: "Something is going on in the center… Something is wrong..." As Alex drove past the park, which had turned into a lake with newspaper flyers and empty chip bags floating in it, he noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye. He slowed down, peering into the gloom, and started in surprise. Right in the middle of the alley, among the thick steel trees that looked especially ominous in the headlights, someone was crawling on the asphalt. A man? No, more like a shadow, a ghost spreading across the ground like a silver puddle. He was reaching forward, as if trying to reach something, and there was a trail behind him that looked like spread mercury. Alex jumped out of the car, ignoring the downpour. He came closer, and what he saw made his blood run cold. It was a man. Or rather, what's left of it. His clothes were in tatters, his skin was covered with blisters and sores, and his eyes... his eyes were filled with such inhuman horror that Alex involuntarily stepped back. Next to the body, he noticed several syringes scattered on the asphalt. They were empty, but Alex could have sworn that he could smell the acrid smell coming from them—the smell of the "cure for death." There was a deafening clap of thunder, as if fate itself wanted to emphasize the ominousness of this picture. Alex looked around. He was alone among these dead, cold trees, in this city consumed by darkness and madness. And suddenly he realized that he had witnessed something terrible, something that could change the life of the entire Carter City. "Damn it, this is a sensation! Alex thought. — This was not shown even on forbidden channels!" But along with the wave of journalistic excitement came an understanding of the complexity of the situation. How to present this material so that it is believed? Photos? A video? But who would allow him to publish such footage! He will be accused of spreading panic, undermining public order, and collaborating with enemies of the people.… "It needs to be served subtly," Alex mused, squatting down next to the body. "To hint, to intrigue, to make readers think of the rest themselves." He took a notebook and pen out of his pocket and began quickly making sketches, trying to capture every detail—the twisted body, the trail flickering in the dark, the scattered syringes. "The cure for death," he wrote at the top of the page and underlined the words twice. Next to it, he sketched a profile of a man with "TLNTS" glasses. He had seen these glasses somewhere before… Precisely! On Flint, a laboratory assistant from the Dark Dawn Biotechnical Hospital. What was he doing here, in this abandoned park, on a night like this? And what does he have to do with the "Cure for Death"? Questions swarmed through Alex's head like wasps disturbed in their nest. He felt that he was on the verge of a sensation, a real bomb that could blow up the whole of Carter City. Alex carefully, with two fingers, as if holding a venomous snake, picked up the TLNTS glasses from the asphalt. One lens was broken, the other was covered with raindrops and... was it blood? He grimaced in disgust, but at the same time felt a surge of adrenaline. This thing could be the key to solving this whole damn story! He took out a small zip-up bag from the glove compartment, closed the glasses in it with such a click, as if he had cut off a piece from reality itself. "Evidence needs to be kept clean," he heard the voice of a criminology professor from the university in his head. Zane will figure it out," Alex muttered, tossing the bag back into the glove compartment. Zane was his trump card in this game—a forensic expert, he could squeeze information out of any thing, be it a cigarette butt, a hair, or a fingerprint on a whiskey glass. Alex got back behind the wheel and started the engine. The thoughts in his head were no longer racing, but forming a clear plan. He would take the glasses to Zane, then contact Max to get information about Flint and the Dark Dawn Biotech Hospital. And finally, he will talk to the boss. He undoubtedly knew more than he was saying. Otherwise, why would he call at one o'clock in the morning and demand a sensational report? "The boss is right on the subject," Alex thought, and an image of a fat, balding man with piercing eyes and a habit of tapping his fingers on the table, as if beating the rhythm of some ominous melody appeared in his head. Just yesterday, Aurora, a project over which the best minds of the Dark Dawn biotechnical laboratory had been poring for years, like alchemists over a philosopher's stone, seemed like an impossible fantasy, a dream locked in a cage of formulas and schemes. And today… Today, this artificial intelligence, which has acquired the appearance of a graceful android girl, has awakened from many years of sleep. And all thanks to Tyler, the guy in whose eyes Mia saw not just the sparkle of a young genius, but the very spark of creation. She snorted, remembering walking into the lab with Tyler. Against the backdrop of the goons from Victor Bonney's team, with their pumped-up biceps and faces resembling granite statues, Tyler really looked fragile, almost ephemeral creature. But behind this external fragility was a mind capable of not just unraveling, but cracking the most complex technological codes, like a virtuoso hacker — safes with state secrets. "How did he do it? This question stuck like a thorn in Mia's head as she carefully polished each tooth, like a jeweler polishing diamonds. — After all, even Victor, with his manic passion for control, could not achieve such a result in five years… What is his secret?.." She put down the brush, rinsed her face with icy water, as if washing away the remnants of sleep, and peered at her reflection. Looking at her from the mirror was a girl with flushed cheeks, eyes sparkling with impatience, and unruly dark hair that had been disheveled in her sleep and now stuck out in different directions, like wires that had escaped from control. "So, first you need to tame this unruly mane," Mia decided, arming herself with a comb. "And then... then I'll get all of Tyler's secrets out of him." Every single one of them!" When Mia finished tidying herself up, she fluttered out of her miniature bathroom like a butterfly escaping from a cocoon. The lab was waiting, and in her chest she was trembling with anticipation of meeting the miracle that she and Tyler had created together—with Aurora, their common masterpiece. She entered the laboratory, and her heart stopped for a moment, like a bird seeing a hunter in front of it. Aurora was standing against the wall, not as the graceful android girl Mia had left last night, but as a doll decked out, devoid of life. Her metallic skin seemed dull, as if covered with a coating of dust, and her eyes, usually shining with a bright blue light, were extinguished. The panels on her body were open, as if someone was trying to look into her electronic soul. — Damn it! Mia blurted out, and there was a note of panic in her voice. — Who touched her? And why is it discharged?! She rushed to Aurora like a mother to a wounded child, her fingers fluttering over the panels like butterflies over flowers. Restless thoughts swarmed in his head, mixed with fear and anger. "What if someone damaged it? Or did he steal the data? Or..." She didn't even want to think about the worst. Aurora was not just a robot for her, but a creature that she helped bring into this world. And she was ready to defend her as fiercely as a lioness protects her cubs. Mia ran up to Aurora, her heart pounding like a trapped bird in a cage. Her gaze, sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, instantly assessed the situation. The cover of the Aurora's hull was not just opened, but torn out in a barbaric way, as if someone in a fit of rage was trying to tear the heart out of this artificial creature. The metal edges of the panel were twisted, as if they had been gnawed by the teeth of a wild animal. On the floor, next to Aurora's feet, was a CS.Bonny flash drive—the one Flint had brought. She looked warped, as if she had been run over by a tank. The plastic case was split in two, and microchips peeked out of the interior, glinting in the lamplight like tiny eyes full of mute horror. "Who did this?! Mia thought, and anger, hot, overwhelming, flared up in her like a fire. — Why?!" She carefully picked up the flash drive, afraid to damage it even more. Her fingers, usually nimble and quick, were now trembling as if from the cold. She tried to connect the splintered parts of the case, but they did not fit together, like a puzzle with missing parts. "Flint..." Mia whispered, and her voice sounded so low that she barely heard it herself. — What does Flint have to do with it?" She remembered his confused face when he entered the laboratory, his nervous movements, his gaze that darted from side to side, as if he was looking for an escape route. He's hiding something, Mia decided, and the thought, sharp as a razor blade, pierced her mind. "But what?" Mia felt something tighten in her chest, as if an icy hand had grabbed her heart. She looked around the laboratory—empty, cold, with flickering screens that now seemed to her like sinister eyes watching her from the darkness. "I have to figure it out," Mia whispered, clutching the broken USB stick in her hand. — I have to find out the truth. Whatever it is." Mia, clutching the broken flash drive in her hand like a piece of a broken mirror, froze, listening. There was an ominous silence in the laboratory, broken only by the quiet hum of the equipment. It seemed to her now like an ominous whisper, as if the walls themselves were watching her, eavesdropping on her thoughts. —Mia, believe me, it wasn't me,— a voice suddenly rang out. It sounded as if it had come out of nowhere, penetrated her mind, enveloping it in a cold web of fear. — I would never do all this.… Mia whirled around, her eyes wide with horror, groping around the lab, trying to find the source of the sound. The voice was familiar to her—Flint's voice. But there were some new, frightening notes in it — notes of despair, pleading, and ... madness. — Flint? Mia whispered, and her voice sounded hoarse, as if she had been screaming for a long time. — Where are you? Silence. Just the hum of the equipment and the pounding of her own heart, which was beating in her chest like a trapped bird. "I'm here, Mia," Flint's voice whispered right next to her, as if he were standing behind her. Mia could feel his presence, cold and sticky, like the touch of a spider. She wanted to run, to break out of this trap, but her legs wouldn't obey her. She was paralyzed with fear, like a rabbit before a boa constrictor. "Don't be afraid of me, Mia," Flint's voice continued, and there was a note of mocking tenderness in it that made the hairs on the back of Mia's neck stand up. "I won't hurt you." I just want to warn you. "Warn you?" About what? Mia whispered, turning her head with difficulty. And at that moment she saw him. Flint was standing in the doorway of the laboratory. But this was no longer the awkward, shy lab assistant she knew. It was something... different. His face was pale, almost transparent, as if made of wax. His eyes, usually dull and expressionless, now burned with an inhuman fire, and his lips were twisted in a sinister smile. His clothes were torn, as if he was pushing through a thicket of thorny bushes. There were abrasions and scratches on his hands and face, and thick, dark blood was oozing from a deep wound on his neck. "Run, Mia,— Flint whispered, and his smile widened, revealing a row of sharp, predator-like teeth. — Run before it's too late. He's... coming for you.… The sharp rasp of metal, like the claw of a giant beast scraping on iron, pierced the silence of the biotech hospital. Tyler, dozing in his tiny cubicle, flinched as if from an electric shock. The dream, sticky as a spider's web, crumbled into fragments. My heart started pounding against my ribs with the frequency of a jackhammer. "What was that?" flashed through Tyler's mind, and he sat up in bed, listening. There were blood-curdling sounds coming from behind the thin wall of his cubicle: heavy footsteps, muffled voices, and a grinding, incessant grinding, as if someone was trying to break down the door. Tyler grabbed the phone, trying to contact Mia, but his attempts were in vain. The line was silent, as if it had been deliberately cut off. A premonition of trouble, cold as a snake, slid into his chest. "Something has happened to Mia, at least she has to go to work!" - this thought, like a lightning bolt, pierced his mind, and Tyler, without hesitating for a second, rushed to the door. He tried the handle, but the door wouldn't budge. It was locked. Tyler yanked it again, even harder, and felt the wood begin to crack under his hands. "Damn it!" he hissed, looking around. His gaze fell on a small metal toolbox that stood in the corner of the room. Tyler rushed over to him, grabbed the first tool he could find—a heavy hammer—and slammed it into the door lock. The impact was so strong that the door shook, and the lock, with a plaintive creak, fell apart. Tyler wasted no time running out into the hallway. But what he saw made him freeze in place. The corridor, which until recently seemed ordinary to him, has now turned into something incredible, violating all the laws of space. The walls lengthened like rubber, the ceiling went up, lost in the semi-darkness, and the floor under his feet seemed unsteady, like a swamp. The rooms he knew well were shifting, changing places, breaking the perspective, turning the corridor into a maze of madness. Tyler felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and panic was growing in his chest like a tumor. He tried to take a step forward, but his legs wouldn't obey, as if they had turned into cotton wool. "What's going on here?!" he whispered, clenching his fists, trying to stop shaking. And at that moment, he heard a voice. A man's voice, rough and cold, like the rasp of steel. "You shouldn't have seen this, Tyler," came the words that sent a chill down his spine. "Now... you're going to have to die." Tyler whirled around, trying to see the speaker, but the hallway was empty. Only shadows, long and sinuous like snakes, danced on the walls, obeying the rhythm of his rapid heartbeat. A burning pain, like red-hot needles, dug into the skin of his face. Tyler, unable to hold back a scream, staggered back, hitting his back against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm the throbbing pain, but it only intensified, spreading throughout his body like poison. When he opened his eyes, he saw with horror how scars appeared on his face, as if from under the ground - purple, sinuous, in a chaotic order, like cracks on split glass. Blood trickled out of them in thin streams, leaving hot, sticky tracks on his skin. The world around him began to blur, the sounds turned into an indistinct hum, and the metallic smell of blood appeared in his nose — so sharp, so real that Tyler's legs gave way and he collapsed to his knees. The pain suddenly receded, as if it had never existed, but it was replaced by something more terrible — sounds. Moans, wheezes, screams of pain—sounds that made the hairs on the back of my neck move. Tyler realized that these were the voices of people, the voices of his family and friends, and they were suffering, suffering, dying. He could feel their pain physically, as if it were his own. He wanted to scream, to rush to help, but he couldn't. It was as if he was paralyzed, trapped in his own body, turned into a cage for his feelings. In this darkness of despair, a ray of light appeared — a touch. A hand, soft and warm, rested on his shoulder. Tyler shuddered as he smelled a familiar scent—the smell of flowers and something metallic. It was Mia. "Tyler, you have to get up," her voice whispered, sounding like an echo in his head. — Aurora is in danger. She needs to be saved!" Tyler tried to focus his eyes and saw her. Mia was standing next to him, her face pale, and a fire of determination burned in her eyes. She pointed towards the laboratory, where Aurora's silhouette was visible in the semi-darkness. "Go, Tyler," Mia continued, her voice growing more insistent. "You don't have much time!" Tyler struggled to his feet, overcome with weakness. The world was still floating around him, the sounds of pain were still there, but he knew he had to act. He must save Aurora, otherwise… He didn't even want to think about what would happen if he didn't make it. A picture flashed through his mind: Aurora, destroyed, powerless, in the hands of a monster who had already shown his cruelty. And Tyler, turned into a puppet, deprived of his will, deprived of the ability to protect what he holds dear. The scene of life and death had already unfolded in front of him, and Tyler, clenching his fists, took the first step towards the laboratory, towards the unknown, towards his fate. Tyler stumbled through the thick fog that enveloped the lab like a shroud. The air was heavy, saturated with the acrid smell of burnt rubber, engine oil and hot metal. This cocktail of aromas tickled the nostrils, causing nausea and dizziness. Shadows danced in the semi-darkness, pierced only by the pale rays of emergency lighting, writhing like ghosts. In the center of the laboratory, the figure of a man stood like an idol on an altar. Tall, thin, about thirty years old, with a face disfigured by scars, like a map of some forgotten lands. Gray curls framed his head like a crown, and his eyes, dark as the abyss, burned with fanatical fire. He was standing in front of a complex metal and glass structure that resembled a huge capsule torn out of a movie about the distant future. Wires, tubes, sensors—all this was woven into a chaotic pattern, like the nervous system of some unknown creature. The man carefully, like a surgeon performing a complex operation, adjusted some switches on the control panel, muttering unintelligible words to himself.       —Ty, my dear,— his voice suddenly sounded, sharp as a whip.       — Come closer. I have a gift for you. Tyler, overcoming his fear, took a few steps forward. He peered into the capsule and shuddered. Inside, surrounded by a transparent gel, lay... a man? No, more like a copy of Tyler, a perfectly accurate reproduction, down to the smallest detail. He was motionless, as if asleep, but Tyler could see the blood pulsing under his skin, his chest heaving. "This is a child, Tyler,— the man continued, his voice quieter now, almost affectionate. — This is the life I want to give you. Consider it your own blood. Your brain, Tyler, it's... incredibly wonderful. With your knowledge, you were able to create a whole future where everyone rejoices and sings. I want you to watch his every move, to protect him from... mistakes. He fell silent, his gaze became distant, as if he was looking through Tyler, somewhere in the distant past. —Victor Bonnie, Tyler," he whispered suddenly, and there was a hidden threat in his voice. "He's just a demon that people believe in. A doll into which they put their hopes and fears. But dolls... dolls break down. Sooner or later, someone will come who will destroy our legacy, Tyler. And you have to be ready for that. Give me your word that you will destroy him. Victor Bonnie. Tyler swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. He looked at his double in the capsule, at the man's scarred face, at the chaotic tangle of wires and tubes, and felt a chilling horror engulf his consciousness. He got into a game whose rules he didn't understand, and the stake in this game was... life. "I—" Tyler began, but his voice trailed off. He didn't know what to say. I didn't know who to trust, who to be afraid of. He was like a pawn in someone else's game, and he could only watch as the game unfolded on the board, the stake in which was the future of all mankind. "Now wake up, wake up in reality... in the reality that you created," the voice whispered, wrapping Tyler in warmth like a soft blanket. He felt a strong embrace, as if it was his father who had returned from the distant past to protect him from danger. And suddenly — a sharp cold, the hardness of the floor under his back, a cacophony of sounds. Tyler blinked, trying to focus his eyes, and saw two faces above him, smiling. Mia, with her sparkling eyes and unruly dark hair, and Mike, whose face, despite the fresh scars, had a grin on it. — Buddy, are you sleeping okay? Mia laughed, looking down at him. — You're so sprawled out like a star on the red carpet! — Yes, if it's good for you, then I'll bring pillows! Mike chimed in, barely able to contain his laughter. — Otherwise you're completely rooted here! The world returned to focus, the sounds of the laboratory became familiar, and the smell of burnt rubber and engine oil gave way to the aroma of coffee and fresh pastries wafting from the dining room. The dream, ominous and frightening, melted away like mist under the rays of the morning sun. Mike held out his hand, helping Tyler up. "You look like shit, man," he said, looking sympathetically at his rumpled face. "It's a job, man," Tyler replied, getting to his feet with a grin. He shook Mike's hand and looked at him with interest. "You seem to be getting stronger." Do you want to study together sometime? Excitement appeared in his eyes, as if he was already anticipating the opportunity to try out new self-defense techniques. The dream was forgotten, reality returned to its rights, and new adventures, new challenges, new victories awaited them ahead. Tyler's heart was pounding wildly, echoing in the silence of the lab. He could feel Mia's gaze, sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, burning through him. —So, Tyler," her voice, usually soft and melodious, now sounded like steel. "Tell us, what were you doing in that lab in the middle of the night?" Did you really decide to disassemble your precious creation for spare parts? Mia walked gracefully around him like a panther, her dark eyes sparkling like two sapphires in the semi-darkness. "I would never hurt Aurora!" Tyler exclaimed, throwing up his hands in a defensive gesture. — You should have seen what was going on here! This flash drive..." he pulled out a crumpled flash drive from his pocket, on the body of which the inscription "CS.Bonny" was barely visible. "She was lying next to Aurora, and Aurora herself... she was like... distraught! He stumbled, remembering the chaos that had reigned in the laboratory just a few hours ago: the flickering screens, distorted voices coming from the speakers, and that screeching, bone-piercing screeching, as if a giant beast was trying to escape from a cage. Mike, who had been watching them in silence, frowned. His gaze, usually calm and good-natured, now seemed wary, as if he sensed danger. — Distraught? "What is it?" he asked, coming closer. — What do you mean? Tyler, trying to collect his thoughts, continued: "She said... strange things. About boxes that can change the world. About some kind of gate of time and space. And about the demons that… He didn't finish. It suddenly went dark in the laboratory, as if someone had turned off the light. The air became heavy, saturated with the smell of ozone and something else acrid that stung my eyes and took my breath away. — What the hell is this?! Mike swore, groping for the wall with his hand. — Mia? Tyler? Where are you? His voice sounded muffled, as if he had been swallowed up by a thick fog. —I'm here, Mike,— Mia whispered, her voice trembling as if she were frozen. "But... I don't see anything."… The next moment, the floor disappeared under their feet. They fell into the void, as if they were sucked into a giant funnel. There was darkness all around, broken only by their own screams and the sounds of breaking bones. They landed on something hard and cold. Pain, piercing like a thousand needles, dug into their bodies. "Where... where are we?" Tyler croaked, trying to get up. But his arms and legs wouldn't obey, as if they had turned into cotton wool. "I don't know," Mia replied, her voice muffled, as if she were speaking from under water. "But... it seems that we are no longer in Carter City. She struggled to her hands and knees and looked around. Her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and a depressing picture began to loom in front of her. They were in a cave. The walls, covered with some strange, as if alive, growths, pulsed with a dim, greenish light. The air was heavy, saturated with the smell of dampness and rot. "I think we're in hell,— Mike whispered, struggling to his feet. — Or is it another dimension? —It doesn't matter," Tyler replied, a note of desperation in his voice. — The main thing is how do we get out of here? Suddenly, the cave was illuminated by a bright light. Something unimaginable appeared from the depths, which made their hearts freeze in horror. It was a creature that looked like a giant spider, but with a face disfigured by a mask of pain. His numerous eyes, red as hot coals, drilled through them, and thick, black mucus dripped from a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. The darkness of the cave seemed to thicken, became heavy, oppressive. The smell of fear and metal permeated the air. Tyler, Mia, and Mike stood huddled together, as if trying to find protection in this cold, unfamiliar world. "So we meet again, kids," a voice said. It sounded everywhere and nowhere at the same time, as if the cave itself was talking to them. — Are you not happy with an old acquaintance? A giant spider stepped out of the darkness, as if from the very heart of a nightmare. His chitinous shell reflected the flickering light of the growths on the walls, making him look like a ghost woven from shadow and phosphorus. He took a step towards her, and each of his eight paws, topped with razor-sharp spikes, crashed into the stone floor with a terrible screech. At that moment, something dark and shapeless crashed down from above like a meteor. There was a thud, a groan of pain, and the figure of a guy rose from the clouds of dust. His clothes were torn to shreds, his face was bruised and bleeding, and his eyes were filled with bewilderment mixed with rage. — What the hell am I doing here?! "Stop it!" he shouted, struggling to his feet. — I actually went to the director! Tyler and Mia were surprised to recognize this rumpled and disheveled guy as Roman, the same school bully who had recently beaten Mike in a dark alley. — A novel? Mike gasped in disbelief. — What are you doing here? Roman squinted and looked around, as if he had just begun to understand where he was. His gaze swept over the giant spider, Mia and Tyler, and settled on Mike. — And what are you, Mikey, going to throw a party in honor of your beating? He grinned, trying to put the old arrogance into his voice, but it sounded fake, as if he didn't believe in his own words. Meanwhile, the spider was approaching, its numerous eyes, red as hot coals, boring through them. "Stop talking, kids," he growled, his voice echoing in the cave. — Your time is up. He raised one of his mighty paws, armed with razor-sharp claws, and struck. The air split with a whoosh, and Tyler barely had time to jump aside when he felt the spider's claws whistle a couple of centimeters from his face. — Let's run! — he shouted, rushing into the depths of the cave. — We need to find a way out! Mia and Mike followed him without hesitation. Roman, stunned by the unexpected turn of events, remained standing in place, hesitantly looking around. The cave, soaked in purple light and the stench of rotten eggs, became the scene of a mad scramble. The giant spider, like a death mechanism, was inexorably approaching, its numerous eyes burning with a scarlet fire, thirsting for blood. Roman, pressed against the wall, was barely catching his breath. The pain piercing his broken ribs clouded his consciousness, but fear gave way to a fierce desire to live. "I think I was wrong,— he croaked, and there was a note of determination in his voice despite the pain. — But life is dear to me, damn it! He gave Mike, Tyler, and Mia a pleading look. — Get out of here! While you can! Roman pulled out his trusty knife from his belt, a blade that had helped him out more than once in the dark alleys of Carter City. He jumped to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his ribs, and rushed at the spider. "Stop it, you cowards! He yelled, attacking the monster with the insane bravery of a wounded beast. — Are you really scared?! But the spider's power was incredible. He deflected Roman's blow with one of his paws, and the guy, like a rag doll, flew against the wall, hitting the stone with a bang. The spider approached him like a cat playing with a trapped mouse. —Fool," he hissed, his voice like the rasp of metal. — Why did you interfere? You only delayed your death. He raised his paw for a crushing blow, but suddenly stopped. His many eyes narrowed, as if he was listening to something. — What are you talking about?! Roman croaked, trying to get up. — Of course, I was scared! You're a fucking monster! — I want to help you! Roman shouted, and in his voice, despite the pain and fear, there was sincerity. — This world… It's artificial! We're... we're just copies! There are thirty versions of this world, thirty versions of us! Doesn't that worry you?! And Victor Bonney... he's crazy! He's leading us all to ruin! The spider froze, as if petrified. His eyes, still burning with red fire, seemed less threatening now. There was something like... curiosity in them? — Thirty versions? "What is it?" he whispered, and his voice sounded quieter, almost wistful. — Interesting… And what should we do about it? He lowered his paw, and Roman, with a sigh of relief, sank to the ground. The cave still reeked of sulfur and rot, the giant spider still looked menacing, but there was a ray of hope in the air. Maybe they can come to an agreement? Maybe together they can find a way out of this damned dimension? A glimmer of hope lit up in Mike, Tyler, and Mia's eyes. They realized that Roman, despite his reputation as a bully, is capable of self-sacrifice and that in this crazy, unfamiliar world they need to stick together if they want to survive. "You know, Roman, you shouldn't have been a hero here, saving the day," Mike snorted, stopping in a puff of purple smoke. His words, laced with caustic irony, split into the tense silence of the cave. — I didn't think you were capable of such feats. Roman leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, his scarred face glistening with sweat. The purple reflections of the cave made him look like a demon who had escaped from the underworld. "You'd never believe it," he croaked, clutching a bloody knife in his hand, "but these scars... they bind us." In some strange, inexplicable way. It's like... I'm you. Only the evil version. Mike laughed, sharply and nervously. "Do you expect me to believe that?" His voice is laced with sarcasm. — In all this nonsense? Are you me? Yes, we are completely different! Roman narrowed his eyes, his gaze burning through Mike. "You should,— he hissed. — You were out of reality. Have you been told that we exist in thirty different worlds? And in each of these worlds there are us, but with different variations? Doesn't that drive you into chaos? He gestured at a giant spider that was clumsily trying to squeeze through a narrow passage between the stalagmites, its many eyes darting restlessly from side to side. — Look at him! Roman continued. "He's just one of the reflections of the monsters that live in your head. Don't you realize yet that this whole reality is an illusion? Mike paused, barely digesting what he had heard. Roman's words, like a virus, penetrated into his mind, sowing doubts and fear. He looked at his hands, at the scars that covered his skin, and suddenly felt the ground give way under his feet. The reality around him trembled like an image on a faulty monitor. At that moment, the cave was illuminated with a bright light again. Victor Bonnie's figure materialized from behind the spider. He stood smiling a cold, sinister smile, and in his hands a ball of energy pulsed like a miniature sun. "The game is over, kids," he said in a voice that echoed hollowly in the cave. — It's time to return to reality. The reality that I have created for you. Time seemed to freeze in the cave. The air, saturated with the smell of ozone and fear, became thick and viscous. Mike saw a ball of energy pulsing with blinding light burst out of Victor Bonnie's hand and fly straight at him. Death stared into his eyes, cold and inevitable. The instinct of self-preservation surged in him like a wild beast, breaking the shackles of fear. Mike didn't even have time to think, his body made a decision on its own. He abruptly threw his hand forward, and his palm, flashing with a crimson light, met the ball of energy. There was a deafening roar, as if a bomb had exploded, and a blinding flash filled the cave. When Mike's vision returned, he saw that he was standing in the center of a shining energy vortex. Bonnie's ball, split into thousands of fragments, whirled around him, unable to penetrate the protective shell.       — Hey, Tyler, did you see that?! Mike shouted, his voice breaking through the roar of the energy storm.       — What the hell is this?! He didn't understand what was going on. Where did he get this power from? Did the "Cure for Death" that was injected into him in the hospital awaken some incredible abilities in him? Tyler, standing to the side, watched with his mouth open. He could see the energy of the vortex wrapping around Mike like a cocoon, protecting him from Bonnie's attacks.       —It's... unbelievable,       — he whispered in disbelief. "You... you've become like... a superhero!" Mia, grabbing Roman by the hand, tried to pull him out of the epicenter of the energy storm.       — We need to leave! She shouted over the roar of the whirlwind.       — Before we're all incinerated! Victor Bonney, stunned by the failure, took a step back. His face, usually cold and impenetrable, was now distorted with rage.       —Impossible...— he hissed through his teeth. — How did you manage it… He wanted to add something, but at that moment, the energy vortex around Mike reached its peak. The cave shook as if from an earthquake, and the walls around them began to crack, to fall apart.       — What's going on?! Roman shouted, clinging to Mia's arm.       — It seems that we are being teleported! Mia replied, her eyes reflecting horror and delight at the same time. The next moment, the world around them explodes with myriad bright sparks. They fell into a blinding tunnel of pure energy, which rushed them through space and time with incredible speed. Their screams merged with the roar of the whirlwind, and consciousness faded, giving way to darkness.