STONE-COLD:REMASTERED

Whispering Voices

Marshall woke to the gentle chime of his smartwatch, its glow casting soft shadows in the dimly lit room. For a moment, he wasn't sure where he was. The unfamiliar surroundings, the cool mountain air filtering through the cracked window — it all felt strange. Then, as the fog of sleep lifted, he remembered. EMAS Academy. His new life had begun.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and glanced at the clock on his smartwatch. It was still early, barely dawn, but he was too restless to go back to sleep. His mind was buzzing with thoughts of his upcoming classes, the faces of the students he had seen yesterday, and the feeling of being on the cusp of something monumental.

His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten much the day before. He decided to head to the cafeteria and grab something to eat before the day officially started. The academy's digital guide on his smartwatch indicated that the cafeteria was located in a separate building, not far from his dorm. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, slipped on his shoes, and quietly left his room.

The hallways were empty at this hour, the only sound the soft hum of the academy's energy systems and the occasional click of his footsteps against the polished floor. The old stone walls of the dormitory seemed to absorb the sound, creating an almost eerie silence. As Marshall made his way through the corridor, he couldn't shake the feeling that the academy was watching him, its countless sensors and cameras tracking his every move. It was both comforting and unsettling.

He rounded a corner, the entrance to the cafeteria just ahead, when he heard voices. Marshall froze, instinctively stepping back into the shadow of the corridor. The voices were low, urgent, and coming from a side hallway that led deeper into the building.

He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but something about the tone of the conversation drew him in. Curiosity got the better of him. Glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby, he carefully crept toward the voices. At the end of the hallway, just before the entrance to what appeared to be a storage area, he spotted a stack of boxes. It was the perfect spot to hide and listen.

Crouching behind the boxes, Marshall strained to hear the conversation.

"...you're sure the data's secure?" a man's voice asked, his tone clipped and authoritative.

"Yes, but it's getting more difficult to keep things under wraps," a second voice responded, this one female, with a hint of tension. "There are too many variables. The students are starting to notice things. If word gets out about Project Genesis..."

Marshall's heart skipped a beat. Project Genesis? He had never heard of it before, but the name alone sent a shiver down his spine.

"They won't find out," the man said firmly. "We've worked too hard to let this slip now. The Faunons are almost ready. Once the next phase begins, it'll be too late for anyone to interfere."

Faunons? Marshall's mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. He had no idea what these Faunons were, but whatever Project Genesis involved, it sounded dangerous — and secret. The academy, with all its prestige and history, suddenly felt like a very different place. A place where shadows lurked beneath the surface, hiding things that were never meant to see the light of day.

"Still," the woman replied, her voice lower now, almost a whisper. "We should consider the contingency plan. If something goes wrong, we need to be ready to—"

Before she could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Marshall's breath caught in his throat. He could hear more people approaching, their voices a dull murmur in the distance.

"Someone's coming," the man hissed. "We'll continue this later."

Marshall heard the soft rustle of clothing and the faint click of a door as the two figures slipped away. He stayed perfectly still, his heart hammering in his chest, listening as the footsteps drew closer. The voices were clearer now, but they were just students, talking casually as they made their way down the hallway toward the cafeteria. Marshall realized he had to leave — now.

He waited until the students had passed before carefully standing up and slipping back into the main corridor. His mind was still reeling from what he had overheard. What was Project Genesis? Who were those people? And what in the world were Faunons? Marshall knew he had to be cautious. The academy was clearly more than it seemed, and whatever secrets it held, they were not meant for students like him.

He continued to the cafeteria, but his appetite had all but vanished. He grabbed a tray of food mechanically, his thoughts consumed by the conversation he had overheard. As he ate, he kept glancing around, half-expecting someone to confront him, to ask why he was sneaking around. But no one did. The cafeteria gradually filled with students, their chatter a backdrop to his swirling thoughts.

When breakfast was over, Marshall made his way to his first class, "Introduction to Quantum Systems." The class was intense, just as he had expected, with Dr. Maddox diving straight into complex theories and equations. Marshall forced himself to focus, but the words "Project Genesis" kept echoing in his mind, distracting him.

The day passed in a blur of lectures and labs, but no matter what he did, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The academy, with all its brilliance and innovation, was hiding something dark. He just didn't know what — yet.

As the day drew to a close, Marshall returned to his dormitory. He had planned to spend the evening reviewing his notes, but the weight of the day pressed down on him. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. Deciding to call it an early night, he changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed, hoping that sleep would bring some clarity.

But before he could drift off, a distant sound caught his attention. It was faint at first, a low wail that grew louder by the second. Marshall sat up, his heart racing. An alarm. A shrill, mechanical sound that sent a jolt of fear through him.

The lights in his room flickered, then turned red, casting an ominous glow over everything. A voice crackled through the intercom system, cold and robotic: "Emergency lockdown initiated. All students are to remain in their rooms until further notice."

Marshall's pulse quickened as he jumped out of bed and rushed to the door. He tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge. The door was locked, sealed shut by the lockdown system. Panic began to set in. He was trapped.

He pressed his ear against the door, listening for any sounds outside, but all he could hear was the muffled wail of the alarm and the pounding of his own heart. What was happening? Was it related to what he had overheard earlier? Project Genesis? The Faunons?

His mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. He paced the room, his thoughts spiraling. What was going on? And why was the academy on lockdown?

Suddenly, the alarm stopped, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. The red lights continued to pulse, but there was no sound, no voice on the intercom, nothing to indicate what was happening.

Marshall backed away from the door, his hands trembling. He was alone, locked in his room with nothing but his thoughts and the creeping dread that something terrible was unfolding just beyond the walls.

The academy, once a place of wonder and excitement, now felt like a prison. And Marshall was trapped inside, with no idea what was coming next.

As he sat down on the edge of his bed, trying to steady his breathing, he knew one thing for certain: whatever was happening, it was only the beginning.