PROJECT: WONDERLAND

98. GIRL, SICK, and DARKNESS

Meanwhile, the government troops arrive at the SIF headquarters, threatening to halt Operation Havoc.

Anthony over the intercom: "Everyone, this is...." Static abruptly cuts off his voice.

Everyone is startled by Anthony's sudden silence.

Val: "Okay, we are now officially on our own."

Theona: "Good. Leave the red thread that keeps us connected... cut away the messy stitching of everything else."

Val: "Why did your father..."

Theona: "He's not my father! He is a false savior! The true savior left me crying... Grandpa!" She breaks down into a chilling sob.

Val: "I... I just wanted to apologize. So, whose side are you on now?"

Theona's sobbing slowly comes to a halt.

Everyone watches the video feeds connected to their monitoring devices, except for Roland, who's still grappling with Korvin.

Roland: "What's so funny?"

Suddenly, Korvin's face turns cold, emotionless.

Korvin: "Destiny..." He kicks Roland, sending him sliding across the floor.

Roland: "So, you're some kind of superhuman now, huh?"

Korvin: "Super? I like that word... but the other one, it's for scum."

Korvin charges at Roland, but Roland manages to block the attack.

Roland: "The 'scum' you're talking about... it's you, right?"

The two engage in a brutal one-on-one brawl: Korvin vs. Roland.

Meanwhile, M3 watches his surveillance team hacking into another video to display on the monitors.

M3: "Let's go, guys!"

Back at Wolf's cabin:

Greg: "What's happening to him?"

Wolf: "Look closer, kid."

Meanwhile, Kyle and his team are close to finishing their sweep of the abandoned high-rise building.

Kyle: "Team, scanning is almost done. Estimated time to find the key: 10 minutes."

The assault team cheers, with Val, M3, and Roland encouraging Kyle.

Wolf: "Wait, what? A key? Oh no... don't tell me they've fallen for that kid's gossip."

Jessica: "Hold on! You know something about the key, Wolf?"

Wolf: "The key... it doesn't exist!"

Everyone freezes, even Roland pauses mid-fight.

Roland: "What?"

M3: "Captain, should I connect this to your earpiece? I can tell your team at Wolf's shack to shut it down."

Korvin: "Oh, the cripple speaks at last."

Roland: "Go ahead, M3. Wolf, keep talking." Still fighting Korvin.

Wolf looks at the monitoring device Greg has.

Wolf: "Alright. That kid, Iron, he's been trapped in here for so long. Then came the rumors, probably spread by someone desperate... he swallowed them whole. This place was designed so none of its victims could ever leave."

Theona: "Victims of that sin, indeed."

Val is stunned by her words.

Roland: "How could you be so cruel? She's your own daughter!"

Korvin: "Depends on which horizon you're looking from."

Roland: "All of this... for those bio-weapons? You want genocide!"

Korvin laughs.

Korvin: "Hahaha. Fix your path, my wayward traveler."

The two continue their fierce combat.

Alex: "So, what now? The connection to HQ is down."

Wolf points to the monitoring device Alex is holding.

Wolf: "Him. That man is going to lead you."

Jessica: "How do you know our Captain?"

Wolf: "Oh, trust me, sweetheart. I've been watching you since you first landed on this facility island. Even if it was by coincidence, your captain... he must have figured it out."

Roland: "Yeah, Wolf, thanks. Take care of my team." Grunting as he blocks Korvin's punch.

Wolf: "As a wolf, yeah, alright. And don't lose!"

Korvin: "Courage amidst fear..."

Theona hears from Val's loudspeaker, still connected to her monitoring device.

Theona: "... it's better than false bravery in sin." She stomps her feet on the ground in frustration.

M3 over the intercom: "Kyle! This is M3! Where are you?"

Static.

Kyle: "Senior Sergeant... I'm..." The connection dies.

M3: "Shit!"

Korvin: "Oh, maybe my masterpiece is starting to play its role."

Roland: "Masterpiece?"

Suddenly, M3's team cracks the video. The feed displays across the monitors.

M3: "Guys... I... I don't know what to say."

Roland: "Explain it the best you can, M3!"

Korvin: "They'll know soon enough."

Roland punches Korvin hard, knocking him down momentarily.

Roland: "Shut up for a second, this is a grown-up conversation! Go on, bro!"

M3 gulps, ready to explain the situation to Roland.

Wolf: "It's the day of reckoning for all of you."

The entire team watches the video with intense focus.

Val watches the video as well, alongside Theona.

Theona: "... and that... do not let the seed of sin survive."

Val is shaken by her words.

Everyone watches the footage on their devices. The "It" is no longer just a fetus.

Korvin slowly gets back on his feet.

Korvin: "Its name..."

Floating upright, surrounded by black wings, the creature now fully formed inside the same liquid chamber. Its glowing yellow predator eyes open.

Korvin: "... is Hyper."

Korvin prepares for another round of combat with Roland. The next mystery is about to unfold...

To be continued...