Chapter Two: We Are Pulling Out

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The elevator opened into a tunnel with cars parked along the sides. To Adrian's left was a doorway and a vending machine, but he ignored them and walked forward onto the road. Ahead of him, at the end of the tunnel, a large metal door was half-closed, beyond which he could see a single helicopter with its rotors spinning, preparing to take off.

A surge of urgency propelled Adrian into a sprint towards the helicopter. He needed to make it out of this hellhole. But just as he reached the end of the tunnel, the huge metal doors slid shut, blocking his path. Adrian grunted in frustration and slammed his fists against a small window set into the doors, watching helplessly as the helicopter took off, leaving him behind.

His anger boiled over, and he pounded the window with his fist again. As he did, he noticed a movement on the other side of the doors. The man in the suit stepped out from the shadows, his expression as inscrutable as ever. He had pressed the button to close the doors, effectively sealing Adrian's fate.

Adrian's eyes narrowed in fury and confusion. "You!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the tunnel. "What do you want? Why are you doing this?"

The man in the suit said nothing, his face a mask of calm detachment. He adjusted his tie and glanced at Adrian through the small window, his blue eyes cold and calculating. The briefcase he carried seemed almost like an extension of himself, always present, always mysterious.

Adrian's mind raced with questions and anger. This man had been a constant, haunting presence since this nightmare began. He was always watching, always one step ahead. And now, he had sabotaged Adrian's chance of escape.

"You can't keep running," Adrian growled, his voice low and menacing. "I'll find you. And when I do, I'll get the answers I need."

The man in the suit tilted his head slightly, as if considering Adrian's words. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows once more.

Adrian was left alone, the echo of the helicopter's departure fading into the distance. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. The encounter with the man in the suit had only strengthened his resolve. There was something more at play here, something bigger than the alien invasion and the chaos of Black Mesa.

He turned away from the closed doors and scanned his surroundings. The tunnel stretched out before him, lined with parked cars and dimly lit by overhead lights. To his left was the doorway he had passed earlier. Perhaps it would lead to another way out, or at least provide some clue as to where he should go next.

Adrian muttered a string of curse words under his breath about the suited guy, nicknaming him the 'G-Man' and making dry, sarcastic jokes to himself. "Sure, just what I needed, a creepy government agent playing puppet master," he grumbled. "Great job, G-Man. You're really making my day."

He walked toward the red doors he had passed earlier and pushed them open. The door creaked as it swung wide, revealing an office complex. The lights flickered slightly, casting eerie shadows across the room. The once orderly space was now in disarray, with papers scattered across desks and overturned chairs littering the floor.

Adrian's eyes scanned the room, and he quickly spotted a single headcrab skittering across the floor. His first instinct was to raise his rifle, but he thought better of it. Ammo was precious, and he needed to conserve it for more significant threats.

He pulled out his wrench, gripping it tightly as he moved toward the headcrab. The creature sensed his approach and turned to face him, its legs twitching in anticipation. With a sudden, grotesque leap, the headcrab launched itself at Adrian.

He was ready. With a swift, powerful swing, he bashed the headcrab in midair, the wrench connecting with a satisfying thud. The creature was sent flying, its body crumpling as it hit the floor, lifeless.

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