CHAPTER 128: THE FORGOTTEN ROOM

CHAPTER 128: THE FORGOTTEN ROOM
"Are you certain this is the path?" My voice reverberated in the little passageway as I asked.

Orion looked back with serious eyes. "This place was constructed by Ethan. I am aware of its direction.

The air grew cooler as we descended farther beneath. Old cables and pipes, some of which sparkled a little, lined the walls. We arrived at a heavy metal door after what seemed like an eternity.

The door groaned open as Orion touched a concealed button. There was a room with shelves of thick papers, flickering lights, and dirty computers.

I muttered, "What is this place?"

"Ethan's covert laboratory," Orion said. It's known as the 'Forgotten Room.'"

My footsteps kicked up dust as I entered. On a table lay a folder entitled “Subjects: Project Aria.” With shaking hands, I opened it.

There were photos of individuals inside, some of whom I knew and some of whom I didn't. Beside each were the following notes: "Subject 1: Terminated." The second topic is "unstable." "Subject 3: Achievement."

There was also a photo of me. "Subject 7: The top contender."

My heart was racing. As I turned more pages, I came upon a paper called "Mind-Control Protocol." It explained how Ethan intended to use a secret code to manipulate the individuals' thinking and behavior.

With tears in my eyes, I said, "He wanted to control me."

Suddenly, the room's lights flickered. A loud beep sounded, and a computerized voice announced, “Mind-Control Protocol Activated.”

My head ached. I clutched my temples as I collapsed to my knees.

"Ivanka!" Orion hurried over to me and yelled.

It all went dark.

I had a burning sensation in my brain.

"Stop, stop, stop." I rocked on the floor and muttered.

Orion seized me by the shoulders. "Ivanka, fight it! Keep the code from winning!

However, I was immobile.

Voices started whispering in my head. They were chilly. empty. Not my.

"Obey, obey, obey."

I attempted to yell, but it was inaudible.

Orion dashed over to a wall-mounted control panel. He pressed keys quickly while repeatedly entering something.

"Please, please!" he yelled.

The agony intensified. I had trembling hands. My vision became hazy. Ethan's face, Aria's eyes, and a red button were among the pictures that flashed.

The whisper then altered.

"Get rid of all dangers."

"No!" I yelled. "I am not a puppet for you!"

To remind myself of reality, I made my hand move and pressed it on the floor.

Above, the lights flickered once again. Then—click!

The agony ceased.

I sank back, gasping for oxygen.

Orion glanced at me. "You're powerful. However, this was just the initial trigger.

I dabbed at my face. "There are more?"

He gave a nod. He concealed them in your code. They will arrive one by one.

With wobbly knees, I carefully got to my feet. "Then assist me in taking them out."

Orion scowled. "It's not that simple."

"I'm not interested."

He was silent for a while as he looked at me. "There's one place we might try," he said, "but you won't like it."

"Where?"

"The Sleep Chamber."

That didn't sound good to me.

The room reverberated with a quiet beep before I could ask any further questions.

Behind me, a drawer opened.

I pivoted.

A little cube of silver, shimmering blue, was within.

"What is that?" I muttered.

Orion took a step forward. His face turned white. "It's a core of memory."

I grabbed it. The temperature was warm.

Across it, words glowed.

Damian sent the message.

I gasped.

I hit the cube.

However, his voice was replaced by an odd, icy one.

"I've already left if you're reading this. Additionally, Ivanka, you were never intended to live.

My heart fell.

I gazed at the cube that was blazing in my palm. My fingertips were chilly. It was not Damian who spoke. It was mechanized. Sharp. empty.

"You weren't supposed to live."

The words continued to reverberate like thunder in my mind.

"No," I muttered. "That isn't accurate."

Orion leaned in. "This communication is phony. Damian's name was utilized.

I wanted to think he was real. Yes, I did. However, my heart was breaking.

I questioned, "What if Damian sent this?" I trembled as I spoke.

Orion remained silent. The words weren't as painful as that stillness.

I flipped the cube over. Its surface was blotted by another line.

"The second protocol will start in 30 seconds."

"Orion," I blurted out. "What is the second protocol?"

He hurried to unlock another panel on the wall. He ran his fingers over the buttons.

He said, "It's another control program." "Much worse than the initial one."

I backed off and dropped the cube. Switch it off! Please!

"I'm attempting!" he said.

My head started to pound once again. Something, like little insects going crazy, was creeping into my mind.

"Do as you are told."

"No!" I yelled. "Please stop bothering me!"

Orion punched the wall. "The shutdown code does not function!"

The room's lights were blinking red. The alarm beeped loudly.

"Ten seconds!" Orion dialed. "We need to leave!"

However, my legs remained immobile.

Then, it all came to a halt.

The lights went off.

The noise ceased.

I was still. I was immobile. unable to breathe.

Then... A voice reached my ears.

A genuine voice.

Not Orion's. The robot, no.

It was supple. Kind.

Damian was the one.

As he muttered, "Ivanka." "I failed if you hear this."

I had a constricted chest.

However, I made a final decision. I hid a code in your heart that only you can decipher.

The space trembled. The walls erupted in sparks.

I was dragged to the door by Orion. "We must now flee!"

However, I remained still.

Damian was losing his voice.

"Ivanka, say the words. Saying them will reveal the truth.

I shut my eyes.

And I opened my mouth just as the flames above erupted and the roof shattered.

and uttered, "I recall."