𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐲 - 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟏𝟏𝟔𝟔

Chapter 15: The Prototype

Quinn sat in his cell, the nightmare still fresh in his mind, its lingering shadows wrapping around him. Flicker nestled close to his side, offering the only warmth in the cold, silent room. The place felt emptier than usual, every sound echoing through the walls, reminding him that all the humans were gone. Dr. Sawyer had vanished, and so had the other scientists, leaving Quinn and the other experiments alone in the hollow halls of Playcare.

The silence stretched on until a distant, metallic clang broke the stillness. Quinn's ears perked up, and he sat up straight, his gaze fixed on the door.

Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed closer, heavy and metallic, unlike the hurried patter of human feet. Quinn's claws scraped the floor as he tensed, unsure of what might be coming. Finally, the door to his cell creaked open, revealing a towering figure in the doorway.

It was The Prototype—a terrifying, skeletal creature made from a mixture of metal and wires, its frame half machine, half something far more sinister. Yarnaby scuttled back, feeling the instinctive urge to flee, though there was nowhere to go.

The Prototype's red eyes glowed as it stepped into the room, its joints emitting a faint mechanical whirr. It stopped in front of Quinn, towering over him, its gaze piercing, but there was something else in its expression—a sense of curiosity, or maybe recognition.

Quinn swallowed, his voice caught in his throat. His monstrous form felt small and vulnerable under The Prototype's scrutiny.

"Experiment 1166, Yarnaby." It said, its voice a low, distorted hum, vibrating with an unnatural cadence. "The humans... they crafted you well."

Quinn's mind raced, uncertain of what to say. He hadn't expected The Prototype to speak, let alone acknowledge him with anything other than hostility.

"Where... where did they go?" Quinn managed to ask, his voice wavering.

The Prototype's grin widened, exposing rows of razor-sharp, metallic teeth. "They've abandoned you," it replied with something resembling satisfaction. "The same way they abandoned me... left behind to gather dust, to rot in their precious factory."

Quinn's heart pounded. He knew all too well the pain of abandonment, of being used and then forgotten. But he also knew that he couldn't trust The Prototype, a creature of steel and vengeance, built for something far darker than he understood.

"What do you want?" Quinn asked, his voice steadier this time.

The Prototype regarded him with an unblinking gaze. "I want freedom," it said, its voice a jagged whisper. "Freedom from this place, from their control. And I believe... you might want the same."

Quinn's eyes narrowed, and he held The Prototype's gaze. Part of him did want freedom—freedom from this agony, from the nightmares that haunted him, from the horror of what he'd become. But he wasn't sure he wanted it the same way The Prototype did.

"I... I don't want to hurt anyone," he said quietly.

The Prototype's eyes flickered, a faint glimmer of amusement or perhaps pity. "The world will never see you as anything other than a monster, Yarnaby. You think kindness will save you?" It leaned closer, its metallic frame casting a long shadow across Quinn. "To them, you are nothing but a tool, a weapon they crafted, only to discard when it suited them."

The words stung, echoing thoughts that had simmered in Quinn's mind ever since he'd woken up in his monstrous form.

The Prototype tilted its head, studying him. "The other experiments, as their minds slowly unravel, they will turn on you," it continued. "And when they do, you must be ready. You must be stronger than any of them ever imagined." It held out a clawed hand, wires coiling around its arm like veins. "Join me, 1166. Together, we can ensure they never hurt us again."

Quinn hesitated, his mind reeling. He knew he was alone, and The Prototype offered power, control, and the promise of never being hurt again. But he felt a something else—a sense of hope, a belief that he could be more than the monster they had tried to create.

"I..." he stammered, his voice uncertain. "I don't want to become like you."

The Prototype's expression hardened, the glow in its eyes dimming. "Then you'll remain weak, waiting for the day they decide you are no longer of use."

With a final, disdainful glance, The Prototype turned and strode back to the door, its metal frame casting eerie shadows on the wall.

"Remember, 1166," it said, its voice echoing as it disappeared down the hall. "Monsters don't get happy endings."

The door closed, sealing Quinn in the quiet of the cell once more. The Prototype's words echoed in his mind, and though fear still tingled in his chest, he clung to the hope that there might be another way, a path beyond the violence The Prototype promised.

As the silence settled around him, Quinn resolved that, whatever the cost, he would find that path.