I struggle to keep my breathing even as I stare at the closed elevator doors. My chest tightens and my heart thumps harder and faster, sending a wave of nerves throughout my body. The familiar feeling is like a close companion now. It's always with me before stepping into the ring. However, this time couldn't be more different. I'm not fighting to win.
I'm giving up control.
"So at your fight..." Fred begins babbling. His voice fades away as the floor numbers flash on the door. We dive deeper, much deeper, into the underground labs of the research hospital. With every new flashing number, the more I feel like I'm being swallowed by an evil beast.
Get a grip. You can do this.
By the time the elevator stops dozens of floors into the earth, my fists are clenched into tight balls.
The doors open.
A long corridor stretches ahead of us, with dozens of doors lining our path. Fred leads the way and I follow a pace behind him, taking long looks inside the glass windows of the labs. Scientists work over tables, microscopes and other devices. As we pass, each window suddenly darkens. After a moment, every window is blacked out.
I wait for him to stop, but he doesn't. We keep walking.
After passing every single room, we reach the end of the corridor, just before a wide, metal door. Fred grunts as he leans his body against it and pushes it open.
A wave of ammonia immediately hits me, almost making me gag.
A bright, two-story laboratory circles around a translucent and glowing surgery table. My surgery table. Above it, high in the center of the room, a hologram displays images of the human anatomy. Wrapping around the second-floor in a circle, a balcony with at least a hundred seats sits empty.
A dozen scientists, all in lab coats, work in different areas of the lab. No one looks up at us.
Directly next to the surgery table, stands a smaller table with pieces of metal placed on top. I approach it to get a better look. Before I can, though, someone steps in the way.
"Ray, how are you feeling today?" Dr. Perres nods with an empty smile.
"Fine. Let's just get this done and over with." I shrug.
"I understand your urgency. This way to get you changed and prepped."
She leads me to a small room off the side of the lab where I change into a matching white top and bottom set. I frown at the odd choice of clothing and the exposed skin on my stomach and legs. Most of my skin is bare.
Another doctor brings me back into the lab and instructs me to lie down on the surgery table. As my head reaches the cold headrest, I suck in a deep breath. Goosebumps erupt over my arms and legs.
Circling around my body, a pair of scientists slowly hook me up to dozens of cables and monitors. I nearly gasp when my heart rate appears in the hologram high above me. An automated voice announces it to the room, echoing off the bare, metal walls. I swallow the knot in my throat.
73 beats per minute and climbing.
In the corner of the lab I notice a single soldier leaning heavily against the wall. He yawns and closes his eyes.
Why is he here?
79 beats per minute.
"Just a reminder." Dr. Perres appears and stands over me in shadow, blocking the bright light behind her. "Your recovery period is quite long. You'll need to stay here for about a week after the surgery so we can monitor you."
YOU ARE READING
CRONUS
Science Fiction[5X FEATURED] After discovering she's been turned into a cyborg assassin by her government, Ray Lovas - a sixteen-year-old fighter with impulsive anger problems - must survive in the enemy country, The Mhinto Empire, to save her family and keep the...
