Run With The Devil

The Awakening

Lyras pov

The alarms blare, a deafening wail that shakes the sterile halls. My heart races, but it's not the usual pounding I'm accustomed to. It's something else-a surge of adrenaline, a rush of clarity. I've never felt this alert, this aware.

The men-Deon and his friends-lead me through the chaos. Their movements are precise, controlled. They're professionals, and it shows. I can keep up with them easily, my speed still a blur compared to their calculated strides.

We move quickly through the building, my feet barely touching the ground as we navigate the labyrinth of white hallways. I glance around, taking in the clinical environment that has been my cage for so long. The walls, the cold metal beds, the glass windows-everything is designed to make you feel small, insignificant. And yet, here I am, running through it like a phantom.

Deon's voice cuts through the noise. "Stay close," he commands, his tone leaving no room for argument. His eyes are sharp, scanning every corner, every door. There's a sense of urgency in his movements, and it's contagious. I find myself matching his pace effortlessly.

We reach a junction, and Deon signals for a halt. He gestures to me with a nod. "You know the layout?"

I nod, though I'm not entirely sure where we're going. I've spent years running in circles, not learning the routes or the exits. But something in me clicks-an instinct, perhaps. I point down a hallway, leading to what I think might be a service exit.

Deon follows without hesitation. "Good. Let's move."

The sound of our footsteps echoes through the corridors, mingling with the alarm's relentless blare. We pass by empty rooms and storage areas. I catch glimpses of the lab equipment, the syringes, the vials-reminders of the hell I've endured. They mean nothing now. The only thing that matters is getting out.

As we approach the exit, the lights flicker and then go out. The emergency lights cast a dim, red glow over everything, turning the world into a shadowy landscape. It's eerie, unsettling, but it's not new to me. I've spent so many hours in darkness, this just feels like another layer of my confinement.

Deon's hand tightens around the handle of his gun as he pushes open the exit door. Beyond it, a narrow, metal staircase spirals down into darkness. He motions for us to descend. "We're taking the emergency exit. It should lead us to the outside."

I follow him down the stairs, each step a descent into the unknown. My breaths come easily now, my body adjusting to the speed and the pace. The pain is gone, but so is the familiar sense of exhaustion. I feel like I'm running on pure energy, an endless supply that's just waiting to be tapped.

Finally, we reach the bottom. Deon kicks open a door, and we step out into the night. The cold air hits me like a wave, sharp and invigorating. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the freshness of the outside world. For the first time in years, I feel like I'm truly breathing.

The night sky stretches above us, a canopy of stars visible through the haze of city lights. I look around, taking in the sight of the world beyond the lab. It's overwhelming, almost too much to process. But there's no time to dwell on it.

Deon pulls out a small device and presses a button. A car rolls up to the curb, sleek and dark, ready to take us away.

"Get in," he says, his voice firm. "We don't have much time."

I climb into the back seat, the leather cold against my skin. Deon and his friends join me, and the car speeds away from the lab, leaving the chaos behind. I look back through the rear window, watching as the building fades into the distance.

It's strange, leaving behind the only place I've ever known. I should feel relief, but there's a part of me that's still wary. What comes next? What happens when the adrenaline fades and I'm left with the reality of my new freedom?

Deon seems to sense my unease. He glances at me through the rearview mirror. "You did good back there. We'll figure out the rest once we're safe."

I nod, though his words don't entirely reassure me. I'm used to being a number, a subject-019. I've never been anything more. Now, for the first time, I'm free. But I don't know what that means.

As we drive through the night, I watch the city pass by. Each street, each building is a reminder of a world I've never truly been part of. But now, as the car speeds away from the lab, I'm on the edge of something new.

For the first time in my life, I'm not running in circles. I'm moving forward, into the unknown.