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Elizabeth Hinde

Chasing Hybrid © | Chapter 1: Okamura

Mid August 2121


       I remember being pulled through a blindingly white corridor, catching only fleeting glimpses of the faces of my captors. Their intent was clear—they wanted me conscious. A sharp pain shot through my left forearm, instantly rendering my legs useless. Helplessness engulfed me; I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't hear properly. It felt like drowning in a sandstorm at sea—no air, no escape.


Who were these mysterious figures? They'd captured us alive, indicating they sought something specific. Milly and I were ordinary residents of Osakage, law-abiding and with nothing of value. What could they possibly want with a newlywed couple like us?


I saw Milly in her white dress, her smile radiant under the sun's golden beams. I sprinted towards her, my heart racing faster than my legs could carry me. A tear escaped as I reached to intertwine our fingers, pulling her close. I pressed my lips to her forehead, a moment suspended in time amidst a ringing white noise that crescendoed before abruptly stopping.


Suddenly, my surroundings came into focus. I lay on a cold, hard surface, blinded by light filtering through a tight blindfold. Voices echoed around me—a strained tone, a deep rumble, and a scratchy nasal timbre. Bound and disoriented, I remained motionless, knowing aggression wouldn't aid my situation.


"But doctor, that hybrid hasn't been attempted before. Combining those strands could cause combustion, potentially terminating Number Ten," the strained voice spoke first.


"Ness, if you're worried, maybe I'll find a Subject Eleven to handle the excess DNA," the nasal voice replied.


"Thank you, sir. That would alleviate my concerns," Ness responded nervously.


"Zedak, escort Ness to the operating room," the doctor commanded with authority.


"What?!" Ness's voice rose in panic. "You can't experiment on me!"


"Hmm, didn't you suggest I refrain from combining them? It was your idea, Number Eleven, so you'll get all the credit," the doctor chuckled.


Sweat trickled down my brow; unease gripped my stomach. The words 'experiment,' 'doctor,' 'combustion' sent a chill through me. I prayed Milly wasn't enduring this. Bound and silent, I listened as Ness's protests faded.


Alone with the doctor, dread clawed at me. He laughed softly. "I know you're awake, Kati."


My breath hitched, heart racing. How did he know my name?


I stayed silent, biting my lip, paralyzed by his presence. It was like the first day of school, when a mispronounced name led to the whole class laughing.


"You're wondering how I know your name. Well, Kati, you know me too."


His footsteps neared; warmth radiated beside me. I felt restraints on my wrists and ankles, my body numb yet regaining sensation. Escape seemed futile. This nightmare unfolded too fast—any moment could be my last, separated from Milly forever.


"Now, you're wondering who I am," he taunted.


With a snap, the blindfold lifted. Light pierced my vision, revealing the man who held my fate in his hands.


He stood tall, his lab coat trailing to his knees, dark hair slicked back. It was Professor Aizen Okamura—a revered figure in Osakage, celebrated for solving the city's energy crisis with his S.O.L.A.R panels. But what did he want from us?


I hesitated, speechless, earning a sigh of disappointment from Okamura. I'd always thought of him as kind. Why would he resort to kidnapping?


"Still speechless, I see," Okamura mused. "Perhaps this will loosen your tongue."


He snapped his fingers, and a screen materialized, displaying a horrifying sight. Milly, strapped to a steel table, sweat-soaked and terrified, her eyes pleading for escape. Okamura loomed over her, a sinister grin etched on his face.


"This," he announced, "is how I'll make you better."


Milly screamed as a machine roared to life, IVs draining her blood before my helpless eyes. I clenched my fists, powerless to save her.


"Milly..." I muttered, anguish piercing my soul.


The doctor paused the video, turning to me with a twisted smirk. "So, Number Ten can speak."


Gritting my teeth, I struggled against my restraints, fury boiling within me. But we both knew escape was futile.


"Now, now, Kati," Okamura chided, pacing before me. "Let's not act hastily. Remember, I'm the one with the power to end you."


Even in my rage, fear gripped me. Okamura had done something to Milly, and I was next. I prayed she survived whatever he'd subjected her to.


"What have you done to Milly?" I demanded, voice trembling.


Okamura's grin widened, chilling me to the bone. "I've made her better."


For years, I'd revered him as a hero. Now, he stood revealed—a malevolent puppeteer, his kindness a facade. Everything had changed.


"No," I growled, struggling against my bonds. "When I get out of this I'm gonna kill you!" I threatened him, tugging at my restraints once again, but failing to escape.


As I lay there, strapped to the cold metal table, Professor Aizen Okamura's chilling laughter echoed in the sterile room. His words dripped with malice as he toyed with my fear and helplessness.


"Now, now, Kati, let's not threaten the one with the ability to terminate you," he chided, shaking his head mockingly. "Let's not forget I'm the man with the deadly tools and you're the man strapped to a table."


I struggled against the restraints, fueled by rage and desperation. But my efforts were futile, and Okamura's smug grin widened.


"What did you do to Milly and what are you going to do with me?" I managed to ask, my voice strained with a mixture of curiosity and dread.


Okamura's grin twisted into a creepy, satisfied expression as he leaned in closer. "I'm going to make you better," he whispered, his tone dripping with ominous intent.


My heart raced, and I fidgeted against the braces, trying desperately to free myself from the impending horror. I knew deep down that whatever he had in store for me, it would not be for my benefit.


Suddenly, Zedak sauntered back into the room, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed my futile struggles. He leaned casually against a nearby table, his eyes fixed on me with detached amusement. Okamura wasted no time, swiftly placing IVs all over my body, sealing my fate.


A wave of emptiness engulfed me—a sensation of being utterly alone, detached from reality. It was as though I were already dead, lost in an endless void of confusion and despair. Red liquid filled the tubes connected to me, its movement through my veins and arteries feeling like an invasion, a violation of my very essence.


I screamed curses and threats at Okamura, but my voice faltered as the procedure progressed. Each moment dragged on, each heartbeat echoing my dread. In that excruciating moment, I knew with a chilling certainty that I would never be the same again. The man I once was, the life I once knew, was slipping away, consumed by the darkness that Okamura had unleashed upon me.


As consciousness waned, I clung to the hope that Milly was safe, praying she had not suffered the same fate. But the darkness enveloped me, and I slipped into an abyss where nightmares became reality, and reality was a distant memory.







 

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