Teodor burst into the control room, nearly tripping over the tangle of cables that coiled around the floor like snakes, twisting under his feet. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breath seemed trapped in his throat as he stood before the surreal scene.
The room was massive yet claustrophobic, and the cold emanating from the steel walls pierced him to the core. With every second, he felt the world around him becoming more alien, as if everything he knew was dissolving into a chaotic, technological nightmare.
But there was no time for contemplation—he had to act, though the paralyzing fear wouldn't let him go.
Jaśmin, with trembling hands, slipped past Teodor, darting like a shadow. His eyes were wide open, full of uncertainty, but determination clearly marked his face. Still, he was a terrified child who found himself in a situation he couldn't understand. He held Nulla's hand, squeezing it as though it was the only thing keeping him grounded in reality. Nulla, barely keeping up, breathed heavily, her face pale, and her breath uneven, full of panic. She, too, was a child, drawn into a world that overwhelmed her.
- Hurry! - Jaśmin choked out, but his voice trembled, as if he were trying to convince himself that this was real. These words weren't just for Nulla but for himself; he was trying to muster courage.
Suddenly, he stopped in front of a massive boiler filled with blue liquid. The blue lights from the monitors illuminated the room, casting cold, flickering shadows on the steel walls. Jaśmin stood frozen, as though his strength had suddenly vanished. He stopped, looking at Nulla as though searching for an answer he couldn't find in himself.
- What are you doing?! - Nulla hissed, terrified, stopping abruptly. Her voice sounded like a snapped string, trembling and full of panic.
Jaśmin was silent, not responding. His confidence had disappeared from his face, and fear now lurked in his eyes, slowly consuming him from the inside.
- Emi... - he finally whispered, looking at the ground. His voice was quiet, almost lost, as though that word had the power to destroy him.
On the floor, in a pool of his own blood, lay Emi's body. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and from the torn wounds, blood flowed, forming a red river around him. Tubes attached to him relentlessly sucked the remnants of life from his body, as if there were no end to this suffering. Jaśmin stared at him, hypnotized, completely paralyzed by fear. He couldn't move a step, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. He wasn't a hero—he was a lost teenager who wanted to do something, but every thought was crushed by fear.
- Jaśmin... - Nulla started, her voice like an echo. - Is this... is this really...? - she stuttered, unable to finish, as she herself was on the verge of breaking. Tears flowed freely from her, without any attempt to stop them.
Jaśmin knelt beside Emi, touching the lifeless body with his trembling hand. His gaze was unfocused, and his heart pounded so loudly he felt like it might tear his chest apart.
- It's... Leo... - he whispered, barely holding himself up. - It's Leo... - he cried desperately, turning to Nulla, whose face was wet with tears.
She stood there, shaken, her body trembling, her face red from sobbing.
- We have to stop this... - he finally choked out, but his voice was more of a plea than an order. He looked at the tubes attached to Emi, feeling like there was no more time, but his body refused to move.
Nulla, through tear-filled eyes, could barely see what was happening. Her heart raced like mad, and chaos reigned in her mind. She tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
- If we stop it... - she stammered, feeling fear choking her from within. - What then? What about them?
- We need to shut off the power! - Jaśmin replied, this time more firmly, though he didn't fully believe his own words. His voice cracked, and there were still tears in his eyes that he couldn't hold back. He was terrified, lost, but at this moment, he had no choice but to act.
Nulla wiped her wet face with her sleeve, trying to calm the tears that kept flowing.
- If we do this... - she began again, trembling, full of conflicting emotions. - We'll disconnect the city...
- We were going to do that anyway! - Jaśmin responded, but his voice sounded more desperate than he intended.
- I know... but... are you sure this is right? - Nulla looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. Her body still trembled as if every movement was an act of desperation.
- If you unlock the computer, I'll handle the rest... - she added, though her voice was full of doubt.
- That was the plan. - Jaśmin said through clenched teeth, getting up from the floor, though his legs could barely hold him. His breath was shallow, and small beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His usual cold, confident gaze now seemed clouded—a shadow of fear lurking in his chocolate-brown eyes. He knew their time was running out; he could feel helplessness growing in his chest, as if every second in this claustrophobic labyrinth of metal and cables brought them closer to failure.
- We need to run. - he suddenly said, almost mechanically, as if repeating it to himself. Without hesitation, he grabbed Nulla's hand, her cold fingers trembling lightly in his grip. She was trying to be brave, but she couldn't hide the fear.
They kept running, passing narrow, suffocating corridors created by standing cyborg statues, almost feeling the machines vibrating above them, breathing heavily in this crowded space. Through the metal grates under their feet, they could see scattered bodies of cyborgs, their cold, soulless eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. Their footsteps echoed off the steel walls, and every sound seemed to amplify the tension.
- If we reach the main computer... - Nulla barely caught her breath while running. Her words were fragmented, as if the air she so desperately needed had suddenly vanished. - Do you think... - she hesitated, looking at Jaśmin, but the brunette interrupted her with a look full of uncertainty.
- You can do it. - Jaśmin croaked with a firm voice, though inside he was trembling. Their fingers were still intertwined, as if they both knew they were bound to each other in that moment.
They finally reached the platform - a massive structure of tangled cables, monitors, and control panels that looked like something out of another world. The electronics were incredibly complex, and the main computer didn't resemble a traditional server. It was a complicated system made up of many smaller machines that formed a vast control center. The monitors flickered, each one different—one tall and narrow, another transparent, emitting a soft blue light that illuminated the teenagers' faces.
- This is it. - Jaśmin moved away from Nulla for a moment, reaching into his pocket for a small device. He pulled it out and connected it to one of the monitors, his hands beginning to feverishly race over the keyboards. He looked like someone fighting for their life—eyes squinted, hands trembling, but full of determination.
Nulla watched him in horror, his fingers typing commands at a frantic pace, while the blue light from the monitors reflected in his eyes.
- Do I... - Nulla started, but Jaśmin interrupted her without taking his eyes off the screens.
- Wait! - he hissed, cutting her off as if battling his own thoughts. - I'm trying to get in without using your rings. - He spoke quickly, turning to her with uncertainty.
Nulla stepped closer to the railing, her gaze shifting downward, where the fight was still raging. She watched in terror as Blue, with each movement, lost more strength, battling against himself. Artur still mocked him, his voice vibrating in the air, spreading throughout the complex, and every blow delivered to Blue was like an echo in Nulla's mind.
- Don't waste time. - she said, trying to suppress the tremor in her voice. - Use my rings, we don't have time!
- I don't want to. - Jaśmin responded immediately, his voice cracking. - I don't know what will happen. What if it's something like what happened to Ignacy?
Nulla looked him directly in the eyes, her gaze sharp and sure, as if the pain she saw in his eyes only strengthened her resolve.
- Tough. - she said firmly. - He's alive, and as long as he is, so will I be.
Jaśmin hesitated for a moment, searching her eyes for some argument that could stop him, but found nothing but determination.
- Come on. - she urged him. - Jaśmin, faster!
- As you wish. - he muttered, giving in to the pressure. - You need to place your hand here. - He pointed to one of the screens.
Nulla looked at him, then at the blinking monitor, on which various icons flashed.
- Here? - she asked, uncertain.
- Yes. - He nodded, quickly adding, - But open your hand, don't close it.
Nulla did as instructed, gently placing her hand on the cool screen. Her heart was pounding like crazy, but the fear that had accompanied her from the beginning began to fade, replaced by a strange emotion she couldn't name.
- Authorization. - A soft female voice came from the system. - Beginning ring recognition.
The monitors suddenly lit up with bright blue light, and the sound of machines working in the background became louder.
- I don't know what will happen. - Jaśmin said, full of anxiety.
- It doesn't hurt yet. - Nulla replied, trying to give courage not only to him but also to herself. Her hand trembled, but she had no intention of pulling it back.
All the monitors in the room began to pulse with a blue glow, and one of them suddenly turned into blue plasma, displaying the Gaia logo – the system that was key to their survival.
- Welcome to the Gaia system. - The voice of the digital assistant faded, and the monitors began to open like flowers.
Jaśmin suddenly grabbed Nulla by the wrist, forcefully pulling her hand away from the monitor. She looked at her hand, terrified, but to her surprise, nothing had changed.
- They're here! - she screamed, her voice trembling. - My rings haven't disappeared!
Jaśmin felt his heart stop beating with relief. Thank goodness, he thought, breathing deeply, though emotions still churned inside him.
- Thank goodness. - he replied, sitting back down at the keyboard.
- What are you doing? - Nulla looked at him, confused. - We don't have time!
- I know, I know. - He nodded, returning to his coding.
Without waiting, Nulla approached the railing and looked down. Her gaze immediately found Teodor.
Her older brother was kneeling, utterly broken, his face twisted in pain.
- What... - he started, barely able to speak, as if his body had suddenly lost strength. - What have you done? - he croaked, his voice only a shadow of what once sounded full of life. He focused on Artur, and something inside him shattered. He saw how the latter looked at him indifferently, with a cold smile, and how Artur's laughter resonated, ignoring all the suffering around. - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! - Teodor's scream filled the room, echoing through the space. His hands clenched into fists, white with fury.
Artur looked at him with a glint of madness in his eyes, as if all this were just a joke. His smile widened, twisting his face into a grotesque grimace.
- What have we done, Teodor? - Artur laughed, his voice sounding ominous, like an echo in a dark labyrinth. - No, the question is: what have you done! - He leaned toward him, staring deeply into his brother's eyes. - You and I... Do you remember? Once you were unstoppable, you did everything, just... You planned this from the beginning! - he added, his voice resonating with malicious satisfaction. - You even became a part of it, didn't you? - he asked, fueled by that thought. - Isn't that right, Adam? - Artur yelled.
Teodor's lips quivered, and the echo of his voice, shaking with anger and helplessness, spread through the room. He took a step back, feeling nausea rising in his stomach. He tried to say something, deny it, but the words got stuck in his throat, as if they were about to betray him. He knew Artur was lying, yet the spark of long-lost memories flickered in his mind, like dimmed light in the darkness.
- Teodor! - Nulla's scream broke the tension, her voice sounding like a ray of sunshine in the darkest tunnel.
Blue, who had been trembling with nerves until now, suddenly dropped the weapon. His eyes were filled with tears, his face full of panic, and his breath shallow, as if every inhale might be his last.
- What are you doing?! - Blue shouted, his voice tearing the brief silence to shreds, and his words were full of despair. Trembling hands tried to regain control of his emotions, but every thought escaped his grasp. He rushed toward Jaśmin, desperately trying to stop the coming hell - You can't! You can't do this!
- Stop! - Jaśmin responded, trying to remain calm, though his own hands were trembling, like leaves in the wind. - We have to shut it off, Blue! Don't you see what's happening here?! - he shouted, disappearing behind flickering screens that seemed to pulse in chaos.
- You can't! - Blue shouted again, his voice filled with hysteria, sounding like a plea, and every word was a bullet in his throat. - If you turn it off... - he paused, gasping for breath, and terror showed in his eyes.
Jaśmin ground his teeth, his heart beating in a frantic rhythm, as if it was trying to escape from his chest. Every movement grew more and more nervous, and doubts pierced his voice.
- We have to do this... for them. - he said, even though uncertainty echoed in his words, like a ghost in the empty corridor.
Teodor watched the scene, his insides filled with anger and disgust, but beneath the surface, something else lingered... doubt, helplessness. Could he really be a part of this nightmare?
- It's all your fault! - Ignacy spat, glaring at Artur with hatred. Artur just smiled wider, unfazed by the suffering his presence had caused.
- My fault? - Artur asked, feigning theatrical surprise. - No. - He turned to the blond man. - Teodor... it's our work. You and me... together. You are my companion, my right hand!... both hands! - He laughed maniacally, and his laughter filled the room, saturating it with pure madness.
Teodor froze, an icy shiver ran down his spine. "This can't be true... it's all a lie," he thought, but deep inside, he knew Artur hadn't just manipulated him... he had become part of this cruel game, tangled in it like a butterfly in a web.
Suddenly, Ignacy collapsed to his knees, his body moving mechanically, as if it were no longer his own. He raised his weapon, but there was no life in his eyes, only emptiness, filled with despair.
- Do you remember, Teodor? - Artur continued, his voice like a melodic bell in the chaos they found themselves in. He ignored the drama unfolding around him, as if he were in an entirely different world. His tone was both insane and filled with malicious joy, and a spark in his eyes seemed to invite madness to dance. - You told me about that art... About that mask we all wear when we're young, the one we used to wear and became addicted to. Do you remember how you said that only we can take it off? That we are different? - He laughed again, and his laughter sounded like breaking glass, slicing through the air and sending a shiver down their spines.
- Stop! - Ignacy snarled, his voice trembling, unable to stop the choking anger and helplessness that paralyzed his body. - Stop fucking talking!
- Your brother... - Artur continued, as if Ignacy didn't exist. His words were like a blade, precisely aimed at Ignacy's weaknesses. - He was always so weak, wasn't he? Like a flea, hopping behind you, in the shadow of your achievements. And now... he's here, ready to die, because you made it that way. - He looked at Ignacy, as if challenging him, his smile triumphant, and darkness danced in his eyes. - We are one, Teodor. I created you. And you freed me... You made the world burn, like the night that hides dark secrets.
Teodor stood, paralyzed, unable to find words or actions to contradict this. The chaos in his mind grew like a storm, with each passing second Artur becoming more monstrous. His words were poison, and Teodor wanted to scream in frustration, though deep down, he felt only helplessness.
- I... - Teodor started, but fell silent when Ignacy approached Artur, holding a weapon in his trembling hand.
- Only you could sacrifice so much, even your own memory. - Artur interrupted, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction, as if he were uncovering the world's greatest secret. He laughed loudly, now resembling an actor in the spotlight, consumed by the tension of bright lights. - Well, maybe when this is over, you'll understand what you've lost. Every memory, every tiny detail, it's all... slipping away. Like sand between your fingers. But don't worry. - I will still be here, watching your downfall, until nothing remains, but emptiness.
His smile was terrifying, full of satisfaction from the game that still continued.
Teodor felt panic rise inside him, and Artur, like a puppeteer, tugged at the strings of his emotions, driving him to madness.
- You know, Teodor, the real signs are in our psyche. It's us, not others, who create the world we live in. A man is just a flea, hopping in the darkness of the night, unsure of his place. - His voice lifted, like a song, pulling them into a vortex of irreversible thoughts. - When you take off that mask, you'll finally see yourself... and what you really are.
Ignacy was waiting for the impulse, his heart beating so loudly it seemed like it wanted to escape from his chest, pulsing in the rhythm of unease. Every second seemed to stretch out endlessly, and his thoughts spiraled in chaos, unable to find one clear goal. Then, like thunder from a clear sky, a loud scream filled the room, echoing with pain, shaking everyone gathered in this dark place. Leopold, covered in blood, stepped forward, his eyes filled with determination, and the weapon he held trembled in his hand.
- No! - Teodor shouted, panic taking control, his growing anxiety overwhelming him. His heart raced when he realized what was happening. At that moment, he felt like the whole world was spinning around him, and all the colors faded in the face of the nightmare approaching.
- See? - Artur spoke, his smile wide and malicious, as if this were all one big game, with rules known only to him. - Even carrion can rise. You're witnessing a real spectacle, Teodor.
But at that moment, Ignacy no longer thought. His decision was quick, yet unconsidered, as if time had stopped, and he was the only figure on this tragic stage. With a quickened breath, he aimed at Artur, his fingers trembling on the trigger, and his heart screamed for confrontation.
- It's over! - he shouted, ready to end this nightmare that had marked their lives.
The moment Ignacy's hand twitched, the bullet sliced through the air, but at the same time, from the shadows, like lightning, Leopold fired his own shot. The bullets passed each other in mid-air, their trajectories intertwining in a dramatic dance, and Ignacy had no idea that in the very same second his shot left the barrel, Leopold had coldly pulled the trigger on a shot that would change everything. Artur, with triumph in his eyes, seemed unprepared for what was about to happen. Leopold's bullet struck him straight in the heart, and his smile disappeared, as if in an instant he had fallen out of the game in which he had always been the dominant player. He collapsed to the ground, and a quiet, terrified murmur escaped his lips, like the echo of a dying hope. Ignacy froze, staring at Artur's lifeless body, feeling a wave of doubt rising within him. He didn't understand what had happened, he didn't see that it was Leopold who had pulled the trigger. Thoughts swirled in his mind, not giving him peace.
- It was me... - he whispered softly, almost soundlessly, as the words fell from his lips like the echo of fading hope. Slumping to the cold floor, he felt a cold shiver run through his body, and his heart began to beat harder, as if trying to break free from his chest. - I killed him... - he thought, as images played out in his mind: Artur's face, his brilliant smile, the self-confidence that had now vanished into the darkness. He blamed himself for what had happened, for the fact that in one moment, everything he had built had crumbled, and he was left alone, isolated in his pain.
Teodor, overwhelmed by the chaos, collapsed to his knees. His heart beat weaker and weaker, and tears streamed down his face, mixing with the cold sweat. He could hear the cries of Blue, Nulla, and Jaśmin, but in his mind, there was silence. At the last moment, when the world began to blur, he felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. In an instant, everything disappeared - and he sank into impenetrable darkness, crashing onto the cold floor. All that remained was the faint, but distinct sound of a warm voice slowly weaving itself into Teodor's mind. And although he heard it again, feeling it fill every thought, he knew it was not real, for only the blackness was real, flooding his body like a blue sea framed by golden sand.