eternal sunshine | X-Men [ SLOW UPDATES ]

xvii. 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥

The imposing structure of the Labyrinth loomed ahead, its cold, metallic walls reflecting the overcast sky. Eden and Logan stood at the tree line, the dense forest providing temporary cover as they surveyed the facility. The air was tense, filled with the anticipation of the impending confrontation.

"Security looks tighter than before," Logan noted, his sharp eyes picking out additional guards patrolling the perimeter.

Eden nodded. "Matt's probably expecting me to come back."

"All the more reason to be careful," Logan replied. He glanced at her. "You ready for this?"

She took a deep breath, her eyes hardening with determination. "Yeah. I have to be."

They moved silently toward the facility, using the shadows and natural cover to avoid detection. Eden extended her hand toward the ground, and roots began to emerge, subtly disrupting the surveillance equipment and creating blind spots in the security cameras' fields of vision.

They reached a side entrance, a heavy steel door with a biometric scanner. Logan plunged his claws into the seam between the door and the frame. With a grunt of effort, he leveraged his formidable strength to pry the door open. Metal groaned and screeched in protest as the locking mechanisms gave way under the pressure.

"Subtle," Eden remarked with a hint of amusement.

Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the facility, red lights flashing as the security system detected the breach. "We've got company," Logan said, his senses on high alert.

"Follow me," Eden said urgently. She closed her eyes briefly, tapping into her connection with the plants inside the building—the Green. Through them, she could sense the layout of the facility and the positions of the guards.

"This way," she directed, leading him swiftly down a side corridor. They moved quickly but cautiously, the hallways eerily empty. The usual bustle of activity was conspicuously absent.

"Something's not right," Logan muttered, his eyes scanning every shadow.

Eden nodded. "Mastermind could be manipulating what we see."

They approached a large set of double doors marked "Research and Development." Eden hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the handle. She exchanged a glance with Logan, who gave her an encouraging nod. "He's in there," he told her.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open. Inside, the lab was bathed in harsh white light. Monitors lined the walls, displaying complex data and DNA sequences—her DNA.

"Welcome back, Eden," a voice echoed through the room.

They turned to see Matt stepping out from behind a console, a smug expression on his face. Mastermind stood beside him, his gaze cold and calculating.

"I knew you'd come," Matt continued. "Couldn't stay away, could you?"

"Let this end, Matt," Eden said firmly. "Destroy the samples. It doesn't have to be this way."