The Man In A Fedora

Chapter 12: Project Vortex

03/07/2070

"What the hell did you put in my veins?"

X shouted, as he remembered the needle slowly going under his skin right before he passed out.
He remembered being paralysed, half awake.
The jail they locked him in was dark, and cold. Humid air filling his lungs was making him caugh. He scanned the small cell as his vision got clearer.
He didn't know what was he looking for; a bed, a tool...
Just a friend would do good, he thought.
Little did he think he'd miss that bookworm jailmate of his.
Despite praying for himself,he prayed for his mate; thinking of the trouble he pulled him in.
He faced the camera, ready to shout.

"Why are you keeping me here, kill me already!" he yelled, opening his arms.
"Anybody up there, I'm awake. May the execution begin?"

He laughed out of anger, the histerical laughter later turned into a growl.
He never thought of giving up on life,giving up on people waiting for him.
He never gave up on his mom although he had been given up on by her a long ago.
He heard the footsteps, they were coming for him.
He shed one last tear and held his head up, nothing on the way could make him bow.

A light peaked in when the door got opened by two well-built guardians.
One was slightly bigger than the other.

"Oh you're awake now!" the bigger one said, grabbing his arm.

X later felt his large calloused hand around his neck which made him uncomfortable.
Inhaling deeply, he managed to control his urges to fight.

"Don't even dare to run away again!!" the guardian growled, tightening his hand around the guys neck.

X saved himself from his hand with a quick move.
"Don't even dare to touch me again! I can walk myself." he said, raising his voice in a commanding tone.

The smaller guardian pushed him harshly from the back.
"You're no longer the boss malenʹkij malʹčik." he said, with a strong russian accent.

He walked through a long corridor between two guardians. They stopped in front of a huge elevator.
"-5" the bigger guardian typed on the digital screen, unlocking a special floor.
Password screen appeared with some other verifications.
X understood that the place they were taking him wasn't meant to be discovered or known by ordinary people cause there wasn't a classic "-5" button on the elevator.
It was an exclusive floor with the highest security.
Bunch of other guardians with proffesional guns later joined them on their long walk. Their slavic features were making it obvious that they were Russian. They all had fair skin with ice cold eyes. X didn't say another word.
He could see the giant waiting room at the end of the corridor.
The room was designed in a circular shape and it was decorated with high-tech stuff.
There was no one but a man standing at the middle, holding a walking stick.
Fedor Davis, X immediately recognised. Was impossible not to recognise him with his asymmetrical haircut and curved mustache.
X was disgusted by the arrogant look on Fedor Davis' face. Cursing from inside, he rolled his eyes.

"Look who's here?" Davis said, stroking the side of his mustache.
"My biggest enemy."

"You must be really proud since catching me is your biggest success." X said,right before the guardian punched him in the stomach. He moaned as his body slightly skidded forward. He held his stomach and inhaled deeply. He knew fighting with them was useless and would damage his body.

"No my dear." he answered, with his strong accent.

A finger snap sound echoed.
Everything went dark for a second.
Holding his breath, X scanned the room quickly to make sure no one was attacking him.
Soon after, Fedor Davis was surrounded by countless holograms. His fingers were working faster than a machine, his eyes glistened, a glorious smile appeared on his face.

"My biggest success will be this."

Power generators started to work one by one. It was getting louder and louder.
The huge ring made out of crystals started to glisten. Nothing in the room was just a decoration.
A vortex appeared at the center of the ring in seconds.

"Shit." X whispered. He already could feel some kind of flow pulling his body.

"This is Project Vortex and it'll change the world." Fedor continued.

"What are you going to do to me?" X said, trying to keep calm.

"You are my test subject. It would be a shame to risk some othe creatures life when you exist." he said, laughing histerically.

Two guardians pulled X closer to the crystal ring as their boss moved his head slightly.

"I'd rather die than going in there!" X yelled, taking a few steps backwards.

He knocked two guardians down using his elbows. He was educated in martial arts, he spent half of his life learning.
He was ready to fight until they knock him down.
But it happened earlier than he thought.
His legs let him down one by one, followed up by his upper body.
He was paralysed.
He saw Fedor controlling his body on the digital screen right before his head crashed to the surface of the cold floor.
When the shock was over, he hardly put himself right back on his feet.
Fedor walked a few steps closer to him.

"Any last words?" he asked, with a very pleased look on his face.

"Fuck you, Fedor Davis." X said, fisting his hands tightly.

There was nothing left to do.
He didn't even have the full control of his body. Keeping his head up, he walked closer to the ring. No one except him could tell he was nervous.
His legs were shaking, his heart was beating faster.
"Lord save me" he prayed.
He stopped right in front of the ring that seemed more like a portal as he got closer. He closed his eyes.
Fedor clicked the start button on the screen. Everybody in he room held their breath. A coundown started.

5 4 3 2 1

Miscalculation

An error occured

Fail ❌

The room got covered with a blindingly bright light. The vortex sucked everything on its way. It was too late to close it, all screens glitched as the energy got cut. Quartz crystals glistened right before they shattered into pieces.
Everything went dark.