ABYSSFALL ONLINE

CH. 010: SHE'S A PROJECT

“Project Super mutant?” The words rang like a bell. “System?”

[ Ding! ]

…

[ Project Super mutant : Mutants are common in this apocalyptic world. Humans with abilities, even more dangerous than the Zombies themselves. When a mutant shows impossible stats, they are classified Super/Ultra/Hyper Mutant by the Authority except they haven't been able to establish one ]

…

Trevor rubbed the back of his hair, “So my stats says I'm a super mutant?”

There was no response after that and it made Trevor feel very uncomfortable. Then his mind flipped and he remembered Lyssa. He turned and saw Vask still standing there and approached the electrified glass with caution.

“Good to know you survived.” Vask said first. “I have never come across a mutant capable of surviving such a blast…”

Trevor raised a brow. “What's that supposed to mean?”

Vask heaved a sigh. He looked away from Trevor and then turned his back to him as his gaze wandered to oblivion. “Many mutants have been captured by my team, but due to their stubbornness...” He paused for a second and faced Trevor before he continued. “... They don't ever make it to sunset.”

They died.

The words pierced through Trevor like a blade. His face masked with disbelief. “You killed innocent people.”

“I didn't kill them… they killed themselves.” Vask explained, “I warned them, told them to cooperate.” He stopped and sighed, “But they didn't listen.”

“You're a monster… you watched them get themselves killed! You are equally at fault!”

“Me? If you're calling me a monster, then what about you?” Vask came closer. “You redirected our missile back at us.” He stopped and added. “If we had died, wouldn't that make you more of a monster?”

“That was self-defense.” Trevor shot back. “You were going to kill an innocent girl…”

“And you somehow managed to be her hero, except.” He paused and chuckled . “it didn't last long enough.”

“Where's Lyssa?” Trevor shot the question immediately.

“She's being prepared for transportation.” Vask replied as he joined Mrs. Carol behind her system.

“What? You can't just take her away. ” Panic stirred in his heart.

“The authorities want her, but I want you; seems right.” Vask said and turned to leave. “Make sure you weaponize him before I return.”

“Sir… I don't know about this” Mrs. Carol managed to say.

“Really now?” Vask turned an eye to her. “Are you scared?”

“Of the authorities? Yes.”

Vask chuckled slightly and moved close to her. He looked down like he was deciding her fate before he cast his gaze upon her and swiftly yanked her forward.

Their faces almost touched but their bodies met without a boundary. His hot breath fanned all over her terrified face. “Bear this in mind, Mrs. Carol, if you fail to weaponize him. I'll kill you myself.”

Carol's heart fell right into her stomach. She chose her next words carefully. “Yes, sir… I'll weaponize him.”

“So much for hope…” Trevor muttered to himself.

[Ding!]

…

[Notice: System expectation of you has dropped lower than it seems]

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[Remark: Host has so much power yet he relies on a woman for help, pathetic little worm!]

…

Trevor frowned upon the notification. “I so don't have time for this. I have to get out of here and stop Lyssa from being transported to God knows where but how!”

The question hung mid-air. The glass shields were electrified enough to kill a mutant. He survived the first strike. He assumed he wouldn't be so lucky the next time.

With Vask gone, the woman got to work. She took different tubes and began inserting them into eight octagonal holes.

“We both know you don't want this…” Trevor told her.

Mrs. Carol didn't say anything. She just kept doing as instructed.

Trevor sighed. “I can grant you freedom…”

Those words stopped Mrs. Carol from reaching her system.

“Yes, you heard me right. I can protect you but not from here.”

Mrs. Carol shook her head. “No. You can't help me.” She forced herself to say and reached her desk.

“Please listen…” Trevor almost touched the glass shield but he held himself back with an exasperated sigh. “I can protect you from the Vanguard Command Strike Team but I need to get out of here. A friend of mine is in danger. A fellow lady like you—and the authorities want her. I am sure you don't want her to be taken away.”

Mrs. Carol looked up from her screen and caught Trevor's gaze. “Lyssa Kent is a project created by the authorities. They want her back at all costs.”

“A project?” Trevor didn't understand.

“Yes, Lyssa Kent was created by the authorities to serve a purpose for them. If you ever thought she was human, then now you know.” Mrs. Carol continued with what she was doing.

An avalanche braced Trevor's mind. Lyssa wasn't human the whole time… a project, that's what she is. “This has to be a joke, right? You're messing with me.”

Mrs. Carol slightly shook her head while her eyes remained locked on the screen. “I wish I was.”

“You have to get me out of here… believe me, I can help! You don't have to keep doing this.”

Mrs. Carol stopped what she was doing and looked him in the eye again. “I am sorry… but I can't run forever. Staying here is much safer.”

“So you'd prefer to spend your whole life experimenting on mutants? Is that it? Do you enjoy doing that? Enjoy watching innocent people die out of fear?”

“Don't twist my words…” Carol's voice tightened.

“But you said you enjoyed experimenting on innocent lives. You don't want to keep running because it's a damn apocalypse, so you'd do anything just to stay alive.”

Mrs. Carol didn't say anything, but she had stopped hitting the keyboard.

“What if the authorities, as you call them, could one day get rid of you? Then what?”

“That can't happen!” Mrs. Carol quickly spoke up.

“Do you want to bet on that?” Trevor asked. “Before you answer, remember Vask threatened to kill you if you didn't weaponize me. So what if another time you are forced to do the same to someone dear to you? Will you still do it?”

Carol's heart jumped at his words,

“Think about it… Vask can get rid of you any time and no one will ever know.”

“That's enough… I lost everyone when the apocalypse began.” she sighed, the words too heavy to say. “My grief brought me here and I intend to stay because it's the only way I can ensure my family's legacy.”

Trevor's face turned pale, his blood turned to ice. Carol already lost everyone; in reality, she had nothing to lose, but she'd prefer to live long enough.

[Ding!]

…

[Notice: System is so disappointed with the host]

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[Remark: Host is such a failure for failing to convince Mrs. Carol to get him out. Host has –99999 aura]

…

'Shut the fuck up!' Trevor cursed as he punched the air. 'You are not even helping! What sort of worthless system are you!'

[Ding!]

…

[Notice: System is smiling]

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[Remark: Host ragebait successful]

…

'What the bloody hell!'