Cyber Chronicles 1: Crimson's Effect

Chapter 15 : Lincoln (Past)

Terrifying screams that were not Lincoln's own, invaded his mind, accompanied by an overwhelming headache.

Consciousness reluctantly dawned, yet his surroundings were an incomprehensible collage of distorted memories. The taste of bile lingered in his throat, intensifying as his mind whirled, and distant cries echoed. Amidst the disorientation, the incessant beeping of the heart rate monitor grated on his ears, exacerbating the throbbing in his head.

Blinking open his eyes brought little clarity. Blood adorned the walls, casting an ominous red aura over the room. Tables lay overturned, and gruesome scenes unfolded with lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor.

Bodies?

Squinting at the bloodied figures, Lincoln's mind recoiled at the vivid recollection of spikes impaling them, triggering an involuntary retch. He strained against unyielding restraints, his attempts to break free proving futile.

Turning his gaze inward, a guttural scream escaped him as he observed a dark red aura enveloping his form, mirroring the eerie ambiance of the room and the lifeless figures within. The horrifying realization that he might be responsible for these deaths intensified his anguish, his screams escalating until he found himself transported to an alternate realm.

In this desolate expanse, he stood alone with distorted versions of familiar faces, their cries for help reverberating. Yet, their unblinking smiles and blood-drenched eyes created a disconcerting picture. Abruptly, a void swallowed his once joyous friends, and Lincoln jolted awake, screaming in agony.

His surroundings shifted once more. The throbbing ache in his throat indicated his return to a familiar room, its haunting familiarity laced with dread. It resembled a hospital chamber, and he wasn't alone. Two figures in white coats regarded him with an unsettling intensity. Memories of the preceding day flooded back – his capture, his forced relocation.

Tubes protruded from his body, eerily empty. "Where am I?" Lincoln inquired slowly, fear subtly etched in his voice as one of the figures left the room

The remaining man spoke ominously, "We're still in Canada, for now. You are our experiment."

"Experiment? What are you going to do to me?" he pleaded, the fear in his voice unmasked.

Dread consumed Lincoln as the grim reality unfolded before him. He wasn't dead, but a new horror awaited – experimentation. "You'll see soon," the man sneered, and Lincoln, attempting to move, discovered he was chained to the bed, his freedom stripped away.

A taller figure entered the room alongside the second man. "Hello, Lincoln, was it?" the towering man greeted.

Lincoln offered no response but countered with his question, "Where am I?"

The tall man, with a hint of superiority, explained, "You are in a German organization hideout in Canada. We'll move during your procedure, anyway, so telling you won't make a difference. But leaving us? That's not an option."

Curiosity gripped Lincoln, "How was I captured? Wasn't it the police force who nabbed me?" His inquiry elicited a cold laugh from the captors.

"No, they were too incompetent. We dispatched our own team. Your extraordinary strength caught our eye. Captured you right as you stepped out of your house. We've experimented with hundreds and failed every time. We believe you might give us more hope," the tall scientist revealed, his words hanging heavy in the air as Lincoln processed the gravity of his situation.

"Let's cut to the chase. We unlock unknown abilities through genetic transfusion – uncharted territory for humanity," the tall scientist disclosed with unsettling calmness.

"Our first attempt was the only successful one. A lone survivor, later expelled due to memory issues. Forgot his past while failing to awaken his powers. He's likely dead by now," he explained, painting a bleak picture of their previous endeavors. "Never a successful one after him, they're all dead, but I have a good feeling about you. At least, I'm being told you're the one,"

Fear and uncertainty clouded Lincoln's mind. "What are you going to do to me?" he demanded, a tremor in his voice.

The taller man leaned in, a smirk playing on his lips, "You've got two options. Accept your role as a vital specimen and become our military's special weapon. You're strong as it is, I wouldn't want to lose you just like that. Or, we can enhance your powers. If you survive, you become more powerful. The choice is yours."

The burden of his decision weighed heavily on Lincoln, causing him to question his determination. He realized that there was no going back now; he wouldn't be permitted to return home either way. The thought of using his newly discovered abilities to flee crossed his mind, but he was uncertain about when or how his strength or speed would manifest – it was too unpredictable.

Yet, another option unfolded—a path paved with the promise of more power and an uncertain future. The dilemma played out in Lincoln's mind: submit to the mysterious experiment or be stuck with these people forever with no hope of escaping. 

Conflicting thoughts tugged at Lincoln. The allure of newfound strength suggested a potential escape from captivity, a glimmer of hope in a grim situation. He envisioned using his powers for the greater good, serving his country in a way he hadn't imagined.

However, a haunting fear lingered—the risk of succumbing to brainwashing, becoming a pawn in the hands of those with sinister intentions. Loyalties clashed within Lincoln—loyalty to his country, allegiance to his friends, and the deep-seated fear of betraying them under the sway of external control.

In the crucible of decision, Lincoln's determination solidified. He wouldn't yield to manipulation, wouldn't betray his homeland, or forsake his comrades. A steely resolve overcame him as he embraced the weight of his choice—a sacrificial stand against the encroaching darkness.

He'd rather die than betray his home.

Within the shadows of uncertainty, a plan took shape. If he survived the transfusion, an unyielding spirit would guide him. He'd train hard, escape the place, and reunite with his friends.

Yet, an unsettling question lingered—what if he didn't survive the experimentation?

Finally, breaking the silence, Lincoln uttered his decision, "I'll take the second option then." The words hung in the air, a decisive choice made amidst the tumultuous sea of doubt and contemplation.

A gasp escaped the captors. "Wise choice," the tall scientist managed to say, moving towards a menacing-looking machine. 

Lincoln, however, wasn't done. "But at what cost? If I survive, what happens to me?" he pressed, searching for any hint of the impending consequences.

"You become our weapon. However, misuse of this power damages neurons, erasing random memories from your past. But, that's just a theory," the tall scientist admitted, the uncertainty apparent in his explanation.

 "That's it?" he responded, the weight of his decision settling in.

The tall man shrugged indifferently, "Depends on how much you value your memories."

Suddenly, a burning sensation erupted in Lincoln's pocket. He winced, whatever substance coursed through the tubes eliciting an unconsciousness that engulfed him.

But before the darkness claimed him, he heard the chilling words, "This will also come at the cost of your parents." A sinister truth echoed in his fading consciousness as he succumbed to the void.

But his parents were already dead, weren't they?