The metal floor of the ventilation system creaked under their feet, cold and damp. Every inch they covered seemed harder than the last. Ignacy, feeling growing fatigue, glanced through the thin ventilation grates at the people below, dressed elegantly, calmly chatting, completely unaware of his presence. Ahead of him, Blue moved skillfully, silently like a shadow, while Ignacy struggled with claustrophobia and pain. Finally, he stopped, and Emi, who was following him, bumped into his back, hissing in irritation.
- How are you walking so slowly? - Emi whispered fiercely, his tone full of impatience as though he couldn't stand the slow pace.
- Sorry... - Ignacy muttered quietly, not even lifting his gaze. There was no room for discussion now; he had to focus on every step, so he just kept moving.
He moved slowly, struggling to find his way in the dark, cramped space. Every protruding part of the structure was like a small anchor, allowing him to keep going, though he had no idea where he was headed. He moved blindly, following Blue, who led the way. The claustrophobic, stifling air surrounding Ignacy began to overwhelm him, as if the walls around him were closing in tighter. He felt rising panic, as if this narrow, square space was going to crush him. At one sharp piece of metal, he cut his elbow, and the pain only fueled his frustration.
- Damn clothes - he muttered under his breath, wiping his elbow on the green overalls the kidnappers had thrown on him.
He didn't care that the wound might get worse. He was too determined to simply push forward. His knees and elbows throbbed with pain from constant friction against the rough surface. Weak, almost nonexistent drafts in the ventilation system made him feel trapped—he could barely breathe, and the heat and stuffiness only amplified his irritation. He knew he was on the verge of exploding, and the constant filth around him only intensified that feeling. Dust and dirt covered the entire ventilation system, irritating his skin and blocking his airways. Sweat poured down him in streams, turning crawling into a real battle with his own body. With irritation, he thought about how Blue and Emi were managing. Especially Blue—his silhouette disappeared somewhere ahead in the darkness, his hair seemed to be the only splash of color in this nightmare of a place.
- Doesn't this bother him? - he asked quietly, mostly to himself, though his words hung in the suffocating space.
- He's used to it. - Emi replied indifferently, without a trace of emotion. For him, these situations seemed like everyday occurrences, as if they didn't faze him at all.
- Right... - Ignacy sighed. - How long have you been doing this? - he asked, trying to break the awkward silence that felt heavier with each passing moment.
- Him? Since he was nine. - Emi answered, as if it were a completely natural thing.
- Twelve years? - Ignacy stared wide-eyed in disbelief. At that moment, he began to feel sympathy for the boy. Despite the situation, he started thinking about how much Blue must have gone through. - He didn't have a choice... - he thought, swallowing.
Suddenly, their guide broke the silence.
- You don't have any legs, you're crawling like cows! - Blue shouted, his voice echoing through the tight metal corridor.
- Idiot. - Ignacy gritted through his teeth, anger flaring up in him again. All the sympathy he had felt for Blue moments ago evaporated in an instant.
- Keep shouting like that, they'll hear us. - Emi spoke up, frustrated, looking toward Blue with irritation.
- They'll blame it on the rats. - Blue waved it off nonchalantly, as if it didn't bother him in the slightest.
- There are no rats here. - the redhead whispered angrily, trying to maintain a semblance of calm.
A moment of silence fell over their small group again, and they all crawled through the narrow, metal ventilation corridor, breathing in the dust and dirt that hung in the air. The silence was broken only by a jolt when Emi brushed against a protruding piece of metal, causing a quiet scrape.
- Are you okay? - Ignacy immediately stopped, unsure of what had happened.
- Keep going. - The brunette dismissed him quickly, not wanting to waste time on details.
- You're just like that kid. - the redhead muttered in frustration. - He... he also said he was fine... - he added softly, recalling the past.
- I'm not bleeding out, it's fine, I've got it under control, just a small wound. - Emi replied, a slight smile appearing on his face. - By the way, you met Jaśminek, and you're still standing here - he continued, with a hint of mockery. - The kid has a temper like Blue's - he added, nodding toward the blue-haired figure.
- Even if he wanted to do something to me, he wouldn't be able to. - Ignacy replied shortly, trying to brush off the topic.
- Sure. - Emi nodded, but the smile didn't leave his face.
They silently moved through the next sections of the ventilation system, encountering various obstacles. At one point, they even got lost due to a misread map, forcing Blue to swap places with Emi. Now Ignacy could feel the breath of the blue-haired man on his neck, and his heart raced with every step. He tried to move faster, just to escape the claustrophobia and strange unease that grew in the tight tunnel. However, Emi, crawling ahead of him, was blocking his way, and the cold, silent breath of Blue behind him wouldn't let him relax.
- Blue, you're awfully quiet. - Emi said, breaking the awkward silence with a laugh.
- Trust me, if you had the views I have right now, you wouldn't talk much either. - Blue responded with a hint of sarcasm.
Ignacy felt slightly offended. After all, he was in a much worse position than Blue, who was still making jokes about it. He sighed in frustration.
- This reminds me of the first time we went through this damn ventilation. - Emi suddenly spoke, changing the topic. - Back then, it seemed a little bigger. - He added, glancing at the map he was holding. A small flashlight was held between his teeth, lighting the way.
- Yeah... - Ignacy rolled his eyes, still angry at the whole world. - How old were you when you did that for the first time? - He asked irritably, looking around at the metal walls that seemed to be closing in around him.
- About twelve. - Blue replied as if it were perfectly normal.
Silence fell over their group again, and time seemed to freeze. The blue-haired boy, however, couldn't keep quiet for long, and after a few minutes, he spoke again.
- How does your brother know me? - He asked suddenly, interrupting the monotony of their claustrophobic march.
Ignacy, surprised by the question, looked up, wondering what exactly he should say. In the darkness of the tunnel, with the sound of their own breathing, the answer seemed more complicated than he had expected.
- I don't know. - Ignacy replied simply, his voice echoing in the narrow tunnel. - And it seems like he doesn't know either. - He added after a moment, feeling the weight of the answer.
- Did he lose his memory? - Blue replied with a slight tone of sarcasm, raising an eyebrow as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
- Kind of. - The redhead admitted, then there was a moment of silence. - He jumped out of the window and now he doesn't remember anything. - He added, his voice becoming somewhat subdued.
- YOUR BROTHER TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF?! - Emi suddenly stopped, and his flashlight fell from his mouth, rolling across the metal floor. He stood there, frozen, as if what he had just heard didn't make sense.
- I don't know. - Ignacy answered calmly, almost running into the back of the brunette who had suddenly stopped. - I don't think so... he probably just wanted to call someone. - He added, turning slightly, as if trying to make sense of the whole situation.
Emi sighed, then began searching for the flashlight on the floor, reaching out into the darkness.
- Did you lose it? - Blue asked with slight irritation, glancing back.
- Got it! - Emi yelled triumphantly, picking up the flashlight and shining it directly at them, momentarily blinding his companions.
- They'll hear us. - Ignacy interrupted, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the bright light.
- Yeah. - Blue agreed. - Speaking of your brother... I don't know if I know him or not, but I definitely didn't want him to kill himself. - He added with a more serious tone.
- You're saying that like you've almost killed someone. - The redhead commented, giving him an ironic look.
- Because I almost did. - Emi spoke from the front, causing Ignacy to freeze for a moment.
- WHAT?! - The redhead's eyes went wide, completely shocked by the confession.
- It just happened... - Blue started explaining somewhat reluctantly. - A girl misunderstood me. - He added, trying to downplay it.
- She asked him out, and he replied... - Emi chuckled. - I quote: "Sorry, but I'm engaged." - He said, laughing to the point of tears, and his laughter echoed through the ventilation.
- Is it that funny? - Ignacy asked, not entirely understanding what was so amusing about the situation.
- If you'd seen the look on the face of that self-confident idiot. - Emi pointed at Blue, as if it were the greatest spectacle imaginable.
- Shut up. - Blue grumbled, and a blush appeared on his face. - He's not one of us, why are you telling him this? - He muttered, now genuinely happy he was behind them so no one could see how embarrassed he was by this conversation.
- I'm just trying to lighten the mood. - Emi sighed in frustration. - Normally, when we go on missions together, you're always talking non-stop. - He added, feeling the silence start to weigh on them.
- By the way... - Ignacy's thoughts shifted to another matter. - Why do you need to get to that computer? Is it really that important? - he asked, trying to understand their mission.
- There's a register there. - Emi replied quickly. - But we don't know much more... We just need to upload it to a USB drive. - he explained, turning briefly to Ignacy.
- And you're going in blind? What if there's nothing there? - Ignacy pressed, not hiding his astonishment.
- That's the order from above. - Blue replied, his tone becoming cold, as if he wasn't planning to talk more about it. - We don't ask, we just follow orders. - he concluded, his voice making it clear this was the final answer, beyond any doubt.
- So... - Ignacy continued, feeling a rising anger within him. - If they told you to jump, would you jump? - he asked, feeling as though someone had quickly brainwashed his companions.
- If it was an order... we wouldn't have a choice. - Blue stated, and Emi only swallowed loudly, as if trying to chew through his own thoughts.
- THIS IS INSANE! - Ignacy protested, his frustration growing like a whirlpool, slowly swallowing him up. - WHY? - he asked, outraged. His mind was swirling with thoughts. What made him angrier? Was it that both of his companions were so young, or the fact that part of his life now depended on them? - Only God knows what orders they've really received, - he thought.
- What do you mean? - Blue stopped, confused, his dark navy eyes staring at the retreating, bewildered redhead. His mind wandered, trying to find an answer to Ignacy's question, but still circling around uncertainty.
- You're just kids! - Ignacy turned abruptly. - You should be learning and enjoying life! - he added firmly, almost threatening them with his words, his voice filled with maternal concern, urging him to protect them from what was coming.
- Like you? - Emi retorted, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. - Sorry, but we're not like you. Thinking that way is harmful to yourself.
Ignacy turned away in irritation, as if trying to squeeze the anger out of himself.
- REALLY? - he replied sarcastically, his words echoing off the metal walls. - And how exactly are you different? - he asked, tightening his muscles, ready for a confrontation, though he knew well this was not the time for a fight.
Emi shrugged, as if it was obvious.
- We're just different. - he said calmly, as if trying to introduce a note of understanding into the conversation. - We don't have time for life games. We act. You can afford to think like that because you have something we never had.
Ignacy narrowed his eyes, feeling the blood boil inside him. He didn't respond, analyzing every word of his predecessor, still not understanding his arguments.
- That's not what this is about. - Blue interjected, trying to ease the tension, with energy that was his trademark. - We're just part of something bigger, something you don't understand.
Ignacy looked at him as if he'd heard something absurd.
- What exactly don't I understand? - he asked sharply, trying to grasp the meaning of their words.
Emi responded quietly, but his words were like a cold current running through the room:
- That our lives don't belong to us.
- Besides, don't get old so fast. - Blue added, smiling slightly, as if trying to defuse the tense atmosphere. - You're not that much older than us.
- I'm twenty-one. - Ignacy confessed, his voice trembling, though he tried to ignore it. - By law, I'm an adult... Adults should take responsibility for children, - he continued, frustration and irritation growing in his voice, nearly choking him.
- Relax. - Emi interrupted him, irritation clearly audible in his voice. - There's no point in arguing, we don't care about you anyway.
- Why? - Ignacy asked quietly, almost whispering, feeling the question stir deep within him, triggering an unexpected fear.
- What? - Emi turned to him, surprised, his intense gaze making Ignacy feel as though a thousand questions were racing through his mind, but none of them had the courage to leave his lips. He just nodded, signaling that everything was okay, even though nothing was clear at that moment. They began crawling forward in silence.
- You know... - Blue spoke again, trying to break the tense atmosphere. - You're not that old.
- What do you mean? - Ignacy asked, turning his head toward him. His green overalls scraped the metal floor, making a noise that resembled squeaking.
- He's older than you. - Blue gestured with his eyes toward Emi, who was walking ahead of them, almost unfazed.
- Really? - Ignacy looked at the brunette in disbelief. - He doesn't look it, - he added with astonishment.
- He's old. - Blue answered quietly, as if revealing a secret that shouldn't have come to light. - Older than my sister. - he added, and after a moment, as if weighed down by this confession, he started walking faster, not giving Ignacy a chance to respond.
- So how old is he? - Ignacy asked, turning around, with only Emi's back in his view.
- I don't know. - Blue shrugged. - I know I'm younger than him. - he stated, as Ignacy sneezed from the dust particles in the air.
- I thought you both were sixteen. - Ignacy replied, making a face. - Well... maybe Emi is my age, but...
Blue coughed loudly, drawing their attention.
- True. - he admitted. - We look young. - he took a deep breath, making a half pause. - But not *that* young.
- So how old are you? - Ignacy glanced from Blue to Emi, as if searching for an answer.
- I'm... - Blue began, scratching his head.
- He's eighteen. - Emi finished for him, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
- AND YOU? - Ignacy pressed.
- My sister... - Blue interjected.
- Quiet! - the brunette scolded them, his voice serious.
- Is something wrong? - Ignacy asked, looking around with concern.
- Quiet! - Blue whispered from behind him.
The boys froze for a moment. The redhead was even afraid to forget about his breath; his full, pink lips trembled. Ignacy felt Blue's heartbeat and Emi's shallow breath as the brunette signaled them with his hand to move on, watching every step they took.
***
– Do you think it will take long?. - Ignacy asked, grabbing the suspenders of the blue-haired man.
– I don't know. - he whispered.
Emi turned his head, and his piercing gaze locked with the redhead's eyes. The man shook his head and then moved forward in complete silence, ignoring the taunts coming from Blue's mouth. They walked for so long that Ignacy completely lost track of time. The darkness squeezed him like cold claws. The narrow ventilation corridor seemed endless, narrowing to the size of a crack. Every breath echoed, intensifying the feeling of claustrophobia. The walls were smooth as mirrors, reflecting his terrified shadows, cast by the flashlight Emi held. He crawled on his knees, feeling every bump in the carved metal. The shadow of his head formed grotesque shapes on the wall. He felt like other shadows were emerging from the darkness, belonging neither to him nor any of his companions. He could feel them watching his suffering. He heard whispers that seemed to come from below, probably from people beneath them. When he tried to look at them through the checkered openings, they dissolved in the glare of the lights. With each meter, the fear grew. His heart pounded in his chest like mad, and sweat ran down his face. He felt like he was losing his mind, that reality was blurring. It seemed as if time had stopped, and he was stuck in this claustrophobic trap forever. He was like an ant lost in a maze, with no hope of escape. Every movement was an effort, each moment a struggle for survival. He felt defenseless, small, and insignificant in the face of the vastness of the ventilation tunnel.
– What then?. - he asked in his mind. - What after this ends?. - Thoughts hit him like mad, causing even more growing fear. - Is he one of the traitors now?. - As he sank deeper into the darkness, he became more aware of the reality surrounding him. He hated his father, though he wasn't even sure if the person everyone spoke of was really him. He was drifting away in an ocean of his own thoughts, floating to the center from which there was no sight of land. He felt himself sinking in the burning, salty water when suddenly, thinking he was dying, he saw someone's hand in front of him. It was Blue's figure, who forcefully struck his chest.
– Why did you stop?! - the blue-haired man asked quietly, irritated, stepping back from the redhead.
– I... I... - he started to stammer, not trusting the stranger. In fact, they had known each other for only a few hours, and their first meeting had given the redhead several new bruises. He didn't want to talk to him about the troubling question. He didn't believe that the stranger would understand him in any way.
– Are you afraid of the dark?. - Blue whispered.
– No. - Ignacy protested clearly. - I'm not afraid. - he repeated.
– Sure, sure. - Blue nodded, and the cold ventilation corridor fell silent again.
– Why are you talking to me?. - the redhead asked after a moment.
– I've been talking to you for some time. - he replied. - Haven't you noticed?
– I... do you hate me?. - he asked dully, crawling forward.
– I don't like you. - he corrected. - But I don't hate you. - he answered after a moment.
– So... - Ignacy continued, feeling some warm emotion flicker in his heart.
– YOU WANT TO TAKE MY BROTHER. - he reminded him demandingly, and his tone rose slightly.
– Too loud. - the redhead walking in front of him hushed him.
– What should I do if it just pisses me off?. - he said flatly. - Now, I feel like kicking you again. - he added, to which Ignacy, in a strange way, found some hidden reserves of energy and crawled with force through the small, claustrophobic corridor.
– You're running away! - Blue called silently after him.
– I'm not running away. - Ignacy replied.
– Then why do you want him?. - Blue asked, impatiently closing the distance to Ignacy.
– I don't know. - Ignacy admitted, genuinely confused. He didn't understand why the face of the little monkey child fascinated and terrified him at the same time. - Without him, I'll die. - he added, feeling the ice in his heart slowly melt.
– Die?. - Blue repeated, clearly surprised. He started scratching his head, nervously untangling his ponytail.
– I can't explain it to you. - Ignacy continued. - It's like I'm somehow connected to him.
– I don't know. - Blue replied, honestly puzzled.
– I know I sound weird. - Ignacy said.
He felt like what he was saying only made sense in his head. Ever since he met Jasmin, he had felt like something inside him had broken. The whole situation seemed as complicated as the matter of his father's death and subsequent resurrection.
– You're really weird. - Blue remarked, frowning. Ignacy didn't respond, just kept walking. - You treat us like we're not humans, but some kind of cult. And then you go after my brother. - he added, still unsure what to make of it all.
– I'm not going after anyone. - the golden-haired one stated clearly. Blue, ignoring this, nodded, and his lack of response irritated Ignacy for the hundredth time that day. - I treat him like... - he stopped, because he didn't even know how he treated him? The kid was a stranger to him, just like the two walking ahead, yet he was willing to sacrifice his life and social position for him. - Actually, no, I'm not sacrificing anything. - he thought. After all, he planned to hand him over to the system later, keeping only the little monkey child with him. He turned to face the blue-haired one, then looked directly at the exhausted Emi, from whom the bitter smell of sweat was rising.
– You know. - he began, trailing behind Blue. - I don't understand what this is about, but it's still a big success in your case. - he responded quickly. Ignacy didn't know if that was a compliment or yet another mocking remark.
– What do you mean?. - the redhead asked suspiciously.
– I mean... - Blue hesitated for a moment. - He introduced himself to you. - he replied.
– Is that so unusual?. - Ignacy threw back sarcastically, still following the brunette.
– YES. - Blue said firmly. - When I first brought him home... he was scared, he even ran away from my SISTER. - he emphasized the last words particularly strongly. - And she's like... like, I don't know what, but I'd compare her to a light that all moths blindly flock to. - he finished.
– You're saying I'm special?. - he shortened.
– I don't know. - Blue sighed. - He didn't run from me either. - he stated briefly. - And since you say you saw him unconscious and...
– That kid is weird. - the redhead interrupted him, lost in thought.
– I'm kind of like you. - Blue said, stopping in place and letting Ignacy move further away from him. - I also feel like I have to protect him. - he whispered, as if sharing a secret.
– Blue. - Ignacy spoke after a moment. - You don't look like siblings. - he added, somewhat surprised.
– What?! - the Asian protested, momentarily surprised. - We even have the same dark eyes!
– True. - the blonde admitted. - But his are chocolate brown, and yours... - he hesitated, searching for the right words. - Yours are dark navy blue. - he finished.
– But they're dark! - his tone sounded clearly offended.
– Plus, he looks like a tanned Middle Eastern guy, and you... - he paused, recalling the smallest details about the monkey-like stranger. - You're Asian, with light skin, and he's tanned. He has thick, dark hair, and you... - he fell silent again, as if considering his words.
– Are you saying I'm balding?! - the redhead asked, raising his voice.
– WE'RE HERE! - Emi called to them, interrupting the conversation.
– Quiet! - Ignacy hushed him.
– Sure. - the brunette nodded. - We're right below us, there's a lab.
– Is anyone there? - Blue asked, peering out from behind the redhead.
– Probably not. - Ignacy answered, turning to him.
– Then what are you waiting for? - the blue-haired one urged.
– But now? - Ignacy asked, still surprised. - Now? - he repeated, wanting to make sure.
– What are you waiting for? The next day? - Blue replied sarcastically.
– Are you sure there's no one there? - the redhead asked, concerned.
– One hundred and twenty percent sure. - the brunette reassured him, peering through the grate. Ignacy looked at Blue, whose excitement and adrenaline were evident.
– Get it done! - he shouted to the brunette, hesitating as if he didn't notice the unsure redhead next to him.
– Fine. - the brunette agreed. - I'm doing it. - Sparkles appeared in his eyes, and everything seemed to suggest that something big was about to happen. The brunette began unscrewing the ventilation grate, and, leaning slightly, removed it, safely placing it aside. A blinding, cold, white light poured from the room.
Before Ignacy could realize, the brunette jumped out of the cold tunnel.
– What are you waiting for?! - he shouted, pushing the Asian forward.
Ignacy, pushed out of the shaft, felt himself falling. He closed his eyes as the wind rushed through his strands of red hair. Adrenaline surged through his head. Suddenly, he hit the ground, feeling an intense pain as he knelt and opened his eyes. The room appeared as a monumental, white cube. Its walls, ceiling, and floor blended into a uniform, blinding plane, interrupted only by massive windows. Beyond them, like a golden gate, stretched the blue, clear sky, blazing with the bright light of the expansive sun. The rays, passing through the glass, cast long, jagged shadows onto the snow-white space, as if some dark shadow was trying to reach the room. At the center of this electronic jungle, there was a round, scorched spot, evidence of some violent event. The movements of the specters were jerky, as if their program had been damaged. Ignacy searched for Emi, who was struggling with the machinery, when Blue landed right behind him from the ventilation shaft, maintaining his composed posture, silently walking towards Emi.
– What are you doing?! - Ignacy called out to them, and his voice echoed in the sterile, soundless room.
He didn't hear an answer, so he began to pace through the soulless white desert. The room was impeccably sterile, devoid of decorations or personal items. The dominating white and geometric shapes created a minimalist, almost clinical appearance. At the same time, the presence of vast amounts of electronic equipment and the mysterious scorch mark on the floor suggested that this place was used or still used for some advanced research or experiments. Although he had been in this building several times for academic matters, the boy was completely unprepared for such a room in this relentless maze of white walls and bureaucratic spaces.
– Have you been here before? - Blue asked from behind the monitors, his voice calm but with an underlying curiosity.
– In this building! - the redhead shouted, chasing after the man. - Several times, but never on this floor. - he added, looking through the enormous white windows, which were only adorned with long, thick curtains that blocked the daylight from entering the room. The contrast between the warm sunlight and the cold glow of the monitors heightened the sense of disorientation and unease.
– It's gloomy here. - Blue replied, breaking the silence. Meanwhile, Ignacy watched as the brunette tore through various colorful cables, rearranged them, and then plugged them into different places.
– Now you're needed. - Emi responded, grabbing his hand.
Ignacy's hand was pulled by the brunette, and then thrust into the depths of the monitors. For a moment, the redhead thought he was joking. Only when the blue screen began slowly consuming his hand did he swallow, turning to look at Blue, who was typing something on the keys. He searched for help in the man's face, but the unyielding brunette continued pushing his hand deeper into the abyss of the bright light. Ignacy didn't feel pain, but rather disgust; under his fingers, there was a sticky substance that felt like melted plastic, though it wasn't hot in the slightest. The flickering holograms of bald cyborgs next to him made him shudder. At one point, he shivered, and some of the screens began flickering erratically.
– What's happening? - he turned to face the brunette standing behind him.
– Don't move. - the man warned, Blue quietly typing something on the digital monitor screens.
The room was filled with a tense atmosphere, filled with the electronic hum of devices and the smell of something chemical that made Ignacy feel uneasy. He looked at the walls, which seemed too close, as if their cold, white surfaces were about to close in around him. Frightened thoughts swirled in his mind, but he tried to regain control over his emotions.
– How do you plan to get out of here? - he asked, his gaze shifting to the glass surroundings. He could feel his heart racing, and anxiety spreading through his chest. He tried to think logically, but fear was muddling his thoughts.
– The walls move. - Blue tossed out casually, as if it were an everyday occurrence. His confidence only made Ignacy feel more lost.
– WHAT? - Ignacy couldn't believe it, starting to look around grotesquely. He wanted to scream, but couldn't. His terror slowly turned into frustration.
– Don't move! - Emi interrupted, lightly tapping Ignacy's head, which only worsened the boy's emotions. Ignacy nodded, though in his mind, he wanted to hit him back; he felt like only he understood how dangerous this situation was.
He looked at his hand, now engulfed in the monitor. The heavenly glow seemed to consume it, and thinking about what could happen made his stomach tighten. He felt like he was trapped in a bad dream, powerless against the situation.
– That corridor outside the windows. - Emi said, briefly taking his attention off the monitor. - Once we're done, we'll exit through the windows directly into the corridor.
– And then? - Ignacy asked, feeling anger and disappointment tearing at his insides. Once again, he faced a wall of uncertainty.
– I'm not sure yet. - Emi shrugged. - For now, Blue has to erase all the camera footage and upload the files to a USB drive.
– Sure. - Ignacy replied, pretending to understand, even though his mind was a mess. This whole plan seemed unnecessary to him, and his captors were so incomprehensible in their intentions.
– How much longer? - Ignacy asked, wanting to at least get a sense of how much time they had.
The tension in the room grew with every second of Blue's silence, becoming almost tangible.
The Asian, with a voice like a muffled gong, replied:
– I don't know.
That one sentence shook Ignacy. His heart froze in his chest, and his stomach filled with a heavy anxiety. He had no idea what was going on, but he felt that everything was spiraling out of control.
– What happened? - Emi asked, deciding to take a brave step. He let go of the redhead and moved closer to the blue-haired one. There was uncertainty in his voice, and growing fear in his eyes.
– WHAT'S GOING ON?! - he shouted as his vision was blinded by the flickering neon light that filled the space. Ignacy, dazed, yelled:
– What's happening?!
The panic in his voice was almost tangible. He could hear Emi's breath quickening, but still couldn't comprehend what was happening.
– The controller is malfunctioning. - Emi responded, trying to sound calming, but there was something in his tone that heightened Ignacy's unease even further.
– WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT WORKING?! - Ignacy felt his insides rise up to his throat. He looked at Emi, waiting for some kind of reaction, and the grotesque expression on his companion's face only made the tension escalate.
– Are you sure you have four circles? - Blue thought, and the words slipped out of his mouth, creating a dull echo between Emi's shallow breath and Ignacy's thudding heart.
The redhead felt his mind stop processing thoughts, and the sentence Blue had just said echoed in his head like a mantra: "Are you sure you have four circles." Sweat flooded his body, mixing with the previous adrenaline. Ignacy started to thrash, as if fighting an invisible enemy, and a sudden surge of energy erupted deep within him, shaking the electronic construction around them. Monitors flickered in a chaotic symphony of lights, and digital cyborgs wobbled, disappearing one by one. Blue stared at Emi in horror, who reached out his hands toward the frantic redhead.
– What's happening?! - Blue shouted, his voice filled with desperation.
– My circles! - Ignacy screamed, drowning in agony. His eyes were wide open, full of fear and pain, as if the world around him was losing its meaning.
– I don't know! - Emi shouted just as loudly, turning away quickly, trying to control the chaos that seemed to be pulling them all in.
Ignacy pulled with all his might, pushing Emi away, who fell hard onto the floor. Blue slowly got up, taking steps toward the flailing redhead. His gaze fell on the sparking USB stick connected to the processor at Ignacy's feet. He crouched down and, unsure of what to do, unplugged it. In an instant, all the devices powered down, and the room was plunged into semi-darkness, lit only by the honeyed rays of the sun filtering through the windows.
– I'll help you... - Blue said, his voice now quieter, more determined. He stepped closer to Ignacy, who was still trapped with his hand in one of the monitors. In one swift move, Blue punched the screen, freeing Ignacy. The redhead collapsed to his knees, tearing cables from the devices, completely losing control. His loud cries echoed through the room, amplified by the pain and madness. Emi got up, though his body was exhausted. He started disconnecting the remaining computers, tugging at cables, until one of them sliced through his hand. The brunet looked at the red mark of blood spilling onto the white surface, but he didn't stop. Ignacy, in a frenzy of rage, slipped into another phase of madness. His veins pulsed, and the blue circles slowly faded from his skin, as if his body was losing its identity.
– What are you doing?! - Blue shouted when Ignacy, driven by fury, lunged at Emi. He grabbed him by the shirt, lifting him up, ready to strike. In the final moment, something heavy rested on his shoulders - Blue.
Blue's navy eyes stared directly into Ignacy's, and at that moment, the redhead saw his own reflection in them. Ignacy's body froze, and his hands dropped limply. He released Emi, who collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. Ignacy struggled to catch his breath, and Blue's grip was so tight that the redhead felt like he might explode with anger, giving into the emotions tearing him apart from the inside. He hated this, he hated Blue. But at the same time, Blue's gaze, tired and full of pain, weakened him. Ignacy fell to his knees, and the sound of his fall echoed through the room. Blue held him tighter, and Ignacy, hidden beneath his silver hair, began to cry loudly, spasmodically, as if his body and soul were breaking from the overwhelming emotions. Emi got up with difficulty and approached them, blood from his hand dripping onto the floor, mixing with the remains of broken equipment. The cyborgs, which had previously disappeared, began to appear again, running toward them. Emi looked at Blue and then at Ignacy, whose face was almost completely covered by the Asian man's hair.
– What do we do? - Emi asked, his voice full of desperation. He looked at the crying Blue, whose tears were quiet compared to Ignacy's screams. - WHAT DO WE DO?! - he repeated, now more desperate.
Blue raised his bloodshot eyes, looking at Emi.
– We did this to him... - he replied, unable to stop his tears.
– PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! - Emi grabbed them by the shoulders, shaking them. - WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! - he shouted, trying to bring them back to reality.
Ignacy blinked a few times, trying to collect his thoughts. His heart was beating weakly, as if it had forgotten how to function. He felt a burning pain in his burnt hand, but he no longer seemed overly concerned about it. He stared blankly at Emi, who was getting up from the floor, still shaken. Ignacy struggled to breathe, fighting his own desire to finally stop the tears from flowing. Seeing Emi doing the same, bouncing off the floor, he noticed Blue - still lying in the same position, broken, helplessly letting the tears fall from his face, droplets slowly dripping onto the bloodstained white floor.
– Snap out of it! - Emi shouted at him, trying to get Ignacy to react.
Ignacy looked at him indifferently. His face was exhausted, his eyes red from crying, his face flushed and dry, wiped by the sleeve of his dirty beige shirt. There were no more tears. He stood motionless, gazing blankly at the brunet, then took a few slow steps toward him. Emi instinctively stepped back two meters, nervously looking away.
– What are you doing? - he asked, slightly frightened, his voice trembling. - Blue... Blue was supposed to turn off the cameras. We were supposed to leave normally... - he explained, trying to control the growing panic. He felt something rise up in his throat, barely swallowing.
Ignacy kept walking toward him, getting closer.
– Here. - Ignacy spoke softly, now standing right in front of Emi. His gaze moved to the brunet's pants. The blonde delicately slid his healthy hand into Emi's torn pant pocket. Emi, instinctively, tightened his grip on Ignacy's wrist, looking up at him. Ignacy's eyes were empty, emotionless, drained of any color. The redhead's body trembled, but he showed no reaction to what was happening around him.
Emi stared at him for only a few seconds, then, seeing the lack of any interaction, loosened his grip, allowing Ignacy to fully slide his hand in.
– What are you doing? - he repeated the question, now more embarrassed. His body stiffened, tense, completely confused by the strange, awkward situation. He started to sweat, feeling cold sweat running down his neck. - Ignacy? - he asked, turning his head away from him, unable to look him in the eyes anymore. He turned his gaze to Blue, who still hadn't tried to get up. The blue-haired man was breathing heavily, struggling to catch his breath. His chest rose with effort and then fell, tears helplessly falling onto the wet floor. Ignacy was still standing in front of Emi, silently, as if reality no longer mattered to him.
– Lighter. - Ignacy pulled his hand out of the pocket, clearly irritated. - I saw you put it in there. - He added coldly, showing the small silver casing.
Emi sighed, rolling his eyes in disbelief, his gaze wandering over the redhead's face, trying to understand his sudden change in behavior. He snapped out of his trance and looked at the blurry figure of the redhead.
– Oh, right... - he nodded, embarrassed, scratching his messy brown hair. - Hand... are you okay? - he asked after a moment, as Ignacy stared at the lighter flame as if possessed.
Ignacy stopped playing with the fire, closing the lighter with a loud click. His gaze lifted, his dark eyes coldly piercing the lost Emi.
– What do you want to do with it? - Emi asked, pointing at the lighter.
– We need to get out of here. - Ignacy replied, his tone unchanged, as if he had already made a decision.
Emi frowned, not understanding what Ignacy meant, but a cold shiver ran down his back.
– So...? - he asked uncertainly, trying to decipher what was going on.
– Go to Blue. - Ignacy said dryly, and Emi looked at him, grabbing his head in frustration.
– What do you want to do? - he asked again, now more worried.
– Go to Blue! - Ignacy suddenly exploded, shouting with such fury that Emi took a step back. It was the first time the brunet saw real emotion in him since he had gotten up from the floor. Ignacy, with a face full of anger and madness, looked ghostly - not only because of his burned hand but because of his entire appearance. He looked like a resurrected corpse, brought back to life only by the golden rays that cast shadows on his red-caramel hair. He was breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on Emi like a blade that could split stone. The brunet, feeling the rising panic, stepped back and then quickly turned on his heel, rushing toward Blue, who was sobbing in the corner. He leaned over him and hugged him, as if trying to pour a little strength into him.
Here is the translation of the fragment you provided:
It was that moment. Ignacy threw the lighter straight at the cracked monitor, over which Emi had been trying to work not long ago. The machinery erupted in flames, and black smoke quickly filled the room, rising to the ceiling. The entire studio began to burn with blue, foul-smelling flames, and the air was thick with the stench of melting plastic. Blue, still curled up, did not get up from the ground. Emi held him tightly, sensing the growing desperation in his friend's body. In his green eyes, a terrified awareness flashed – in his shimmering irises, the flames reflected, devouring the entire scene.
– Blue... BLUE! – Emi started shaking him harder. – BLUE! – He shouted so loudly that his voice echoed through the entire room. – We have to escape! – he said, standing up and grabbing Blue by the shoulder to force him to get up. He pulled him toward the door, heading down the hallway.
While running, Emi opened one of the windows. As soon as he did, he rushed to it, dragging the still dazed Blue behind him. At that moment, a loud explosion sounded behind them. The lighter, the monitor, and everything around them erupted in flames that spread throughout the building. The whole white room began to collapse, floors falling onto each other one after another, and the air was filled with the sharp smell of burning. The evening, which had started unusually early, was no longer calm. Now it was shrouded in thick black smoke, and the whole city was engulfed in chaos. People who had been hurrying home just moments ago stopped in their tracks, staring in horror at the rising flames. Emi stood at the edge, with Blue nearly unconscious next to him, clutching his leg. Both of them stared into the abyss of flames below. Before anyone could react, the flames reached the tallest building in the city. The explosion was like a miniature sun that lit up the evening sky. The shockwave rolled through the area, destroying everything in its path. Glass shattered, walls collapsed, and people fled in panic. The crater left by the collapsed building was surrounded by flames and smoke, which rose high, creating an impenetrable black cloud. Rescue workers appeared almost immediately, trying to fight against time and pull survivors from the rubble. The scale of the destruction was enormous, and the number of casualties grew by the moment. Emi and Blue, standing on the edge, vanished in the brown dust. Both disappeared, leaving the fate of the city to chance.