The wasteland—
Silent.
Cold from the night breeze.
Stars—
Flickered.
In the sky above.
The truck wheels skirted across the rocks, stopping at the eastern border.
Green vegetation—
Met.
Unmerging with the barren ground.
Dean pulled the handbrake.
"Send a signal for pick-up once the mission is complete."
Jean lifted the door handle.
"Roger."
She stepped out, banging on the side of the truck.
The back door—
Opened.
Art stepped out first.
She walked past Jean, standing at the border of the forest.
"It's time."
Jean turned to face her, pressing on her wrist.
"Don't forget the jammer."
Art nodded, tapping her wrist.
The door—
Shifted.
Closing on its own.
Kane was—
Out.
Alone.
His stride—
Started.
Moving to the forest.
The truck engine hummed as it pulled off into the distance.
Art walked over, standing in front of Kane.
"We're heading in…"
His movement—
Stopped.
She looked at his wrist.
"...activate the jammer."
Kane's eyes—
Shifted.
Slowly down.
His finger—
Raised.
Tapping his wrist.
Art sighed as she turned towards the forest.
Her foot—
Crossed.
Into the green.
Jean entered next to her.
Kane's attention—
Turned.
Towards the dome.
The open crack—
Pulsed.
As if it was connecting to something.
Art looked back.
"Kane, let's go."
His torso—
Turned.
Facing her.
Kane's body—
Shifted.
Following her.
His head—
Stayed.
Focused on the dome.
…
Small twigs—
Snapped.
Beneath their feet.
The trees—
Swayed.
In the same rhythm.
Left.
Right.
Their footsteps matched unknowingly.
Art paused at the threshold, with Jean standing close by.
Kane's walk—
Continued.
Almost stepping out.
Art grabbed his wrist, pulling him back.
"Wait…"
She pointed at his wrist she was holding.
"...activate the disguise."
Kane stayed—
Still.
Art looked up at his face.
His head—
Faced.
Away from her.
He's not listening.
She tapped his wrist with her thumb before letting go.
The fabric—
Shifted.
Matching his look to the identification badge.
Kane—
Continued.
Going ahead of them.
Art pressed her wrist quickly.
"What's wrong with him tonight?"
Jean placed her hand on Art's shoulder.
"Let's just focus on the mission first."
Art exhaled, calming herself before stepping out into the park.
She increased her stride, walking in front of Kane.
His walk—
Changed.
To follow Art.
Jean soon caught up with them.
…
Tall lamp posts—
Extended.
Lighting the stone path.
The lake's surface—
Mirrored.
A crescent moon above.
Art paused, turning towards Kane.
She reached into her lab coat pocket, pulling out Kane's Identification badge.
His hand—
Reached.
Opening towards her.
Art placed it in his palm, watching him pocket it.
He's moving…different.
Jean pointed to the train station.
"It's just past this area."
Art motioned towards the split pathway.
"Let's continue."
The lab entrance—
Appeared.
In their view.
Kane's chains—
Rattled.
As he continued forward.
Guards—
Checked.
Scanning the scientists' badges.
Sensors—
Beeped.
Spotlights—
Circled.
In set intervals.
Art went first showing the guard her identification badge.
Jean copied her.
The air—
Shifted.
When Kane approached.
He passed—
Without a check.
Like he was already beyond the guard.
The door—
Opened.
Sliding apart from the middle.
The first floor—
Entered.
A large lobby—
Stretched.
Expanding as they walked further in.
Footsteps—
Echoed.
Sounding in a specific rhythm.
Each hallway—
Separated.
The same distance.
Scientists—
Gathered.
Talking in groups.
Kane's figure—
Faced.
The far elevator.
His core—
Shifted.
Leading him.
Art grabbed his arm, pulling him to the side.
"Kane, you need to stay here."
Kane's eyes—
Focused.
Beyond her.
His mouth—
Opened.
"...Right."
Kane's body—
Sloped.
On the wall behind him.
The crack—
Lurked.
As if it was waiting for the perfect time.
Jean looked at her wrist.
"Let's meet back here in fifteen minutes."
Art nodded.
They split off, heading for opposite sides of the lobby.
A group of scientists gathered near Jean.
She approached a nearby pillar, pressing her earpiece.
Their voices—
Clear.
One scientist spoke, covering her mouth.
"That gear device was intriguing."
The other chimed in.
"I know, our machines will function even better."
Jean sighed, turning her earpiece off.
Nothing useful.
She moved to another group.
Art sat in an empty seat near two scientists.
Their coats—
Stained.
With drops of purple liquid.
One leaned close to the other.
"You should clean those stains."
She glanced at her coat.
"I was careless."
He sighed.
"It's fine…"
He leaned back.
"...that experiment is only known to a few."
She looked up.
"What should I do then?"
He responded.
"Just tell people it's from a drink."
Her hands twitched.
"You're right."
Art stood, clicking her earpiece.
That liquid…
She returned to Kane, looking at her wrist.
Jean was already standing next to him.
Art held her hand open.
"Did you find anything?"
Jean sighed.
"Nothing, how about you?"
Art's face tightened.
"There is something…"
Her head turned towards the elevator.
"...strange."
Jean's head tilted.
"What did you hear?"
Art rested her finger on her chin.
"An experiment is being conducted, that only a few know about."
Jean looked down at her.
"Did you hear anything else?"
A figure—
Moved.
Walking in between them.
Art glance up.
"Kane, wait."
Kane's movement—
Continued.
Towards the furthest wall.
Jena pointed to him.
"We need to stop him."
Art lowered her hand.
"Right."
An elevator—
Closed.
The doors—
Sealed.
Locked behind a scanner.
Kane's body—
Stopped.
In front of it.
The air—
Shifted.
The elevator—
Opened.
As if it was never closed.
He stepped through.
Art and Jean caught up with him, getting inside the elevator.
His finger—
Raised.
Resting on the lowest button.
Its color—
Changed.
Lighting up blue.
The doors—
Closed.
Art tapped Kane on the back.
"What were you thinking?"
Kane was—
Silent.
His finger—
Stayed.
On the pushed in button.
Art took a step back, looking to the ground.
Why is he like this?
Jean leaned down next to her.
"Don't worry about it, he might've overheard a scientist."
Art's head raised.
"You're right."
The elevator—
Descended.
Art and Jean focused on the closed doors before them.
A light—
Flickered.
Catching Kane's chains.
His eyes—
Empty.
Forward.
The same crack—
Widened.
Moving closer to the surface.