I'm Grant Ward

Chapter 138: The Truth

The interior of the bus was quieter than ever as Coulson, Ward, Garrett, and Fitz prepared to storm the secret facility where Coulson had been treated after his death. The air was thick with tension and fear. Skye was still in critical condition, her vital signs stable but fragile, and the team knew their only hope of saving her lay in finding the mysterious drug GH 325.

"We have to hurry," Coulson said, adjusting his tactical vest as they approached the facility. "We don't have much time before the facility goes into self-destruct mode."

"Are you okay?" Ward asked, sensing the growing tension in Coulson. Ever since he had learned more about his own resurrection, something had changed in him.

"I'm fine," Coulson replied, not looking at Ward. "Let's focus on the mission."

Garrett, ever the superior one, glanced at Ward as he checked his own weapon.

"Don't worry, kid. We're here to make sure everyone gets out alive. And, of course, to get what we came for.

Ward ignored Garrett and looked at Fitz, who, despite being clearly nervous, was focused on accessing the facility's security system to clear a path for the team.

"I'm in," Fitz said finally. "The coast is clear, but we need to hurry. We have less than twenty minutes before everything in here turns to dust."

"Then let's go." Coulson led the team into the facility, a cold, sterile underground complex.

As they made their way through the long, fluorescent-lit hallways, Coulson couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. Everything here seemed strange and familiar at the same time. The team finally reached the lab where Coulson's files indicated the GH-325 was stored.

"Here it is," Fitz said, typing furiously on the keyboard of a security terminal. "I just need one more minute to unlock the compartment."

"Hurry up, Fitz!" — Ward shouted, who was watching the door, his gun ready for any threat.

Garrett, who was scanning the room for anything useful, looked at Coulson with a curious look.

"So, this is where they brought you back from the dead, huh?" Garrett said, with a mischievous smile. "I bet you didn't think you'd end up back here, much less because of a miracle drug."

Coulson ignored him, his thoughts growing more and more disturbed. He knew something was wrong, something that hadn't been told to him. He could feel it.

Fitz finally managed to unlock the storage compartment, revealing a small glass box containing vials of the glowing liquid of GH 325.

"We did it!" Fitz said triumphantly.

Ward took the box carefully, quickly checking the contents before putting it in his backpack.

"Now let's get out of here," he said.

But before they could move, a shrill alarm sounded throughout the facility.

— Self-destruct in 10 minutes — announced a robotic voice over the speakers.

"Damn it! We have to run!" Ward exclaimed, starting to head for the exit.

As chaos unfolded around him, Coulson stopped when he saw a door at the end of the hallway with the word "Tahiti" written in large letters. He hesitated, feeling an inexplicable pull toward that room.

"Coulson, we have to go!" Ward shouted, seeing that Coulson had stopped.

But Coulson didn't respond. His feet carried him toward the door, as if something was pulling him. He entered a code on the panel and the door opened with a low hum.