The Light That Follows Darkness

I was jolted awake, startled by the low hum of an electric motor. Disoriented, I found myself engulfed in darkness, a bag tightly covering my head, robbing me of my sight.

Suddenly, one of my captors noticed my movement and sneered, "Well, well, look who's finally awake. Took you long enough, Prince Charming!"

Fury and confusion surged through me as I demanded answers, "Who are you? Where am I? Where are you taking me?"

With a smirk, the captor replied, "You don't need to know. Welcome to hell."

Throughout the journey, my attempts to uncover the truth were met with an eerie silence, intensifying the unsettling atmosphere. After what felt like an eternity of being tossed around in the van, it finally came to a halt.

Forced to stand despite the pain coursing through my body, I was dragged along by my captors.

Each step I took served as a painful reminder of the injuries I had sustained from the previous fight.

They dragged me along relentlessly until we reached a stop, and one of them barked, "You idiots, open the damn door! It's me, Rick! I've got the target."

Suddenly, a large sliding door creaked open, and the bag was swiftly removed from my head.

Before me stretched a long hallway, its walls adorned with flickering lights. But amidst this surreal sight, all I could see were countless doors, stretching into the unknown.

A cold hand gripped my arm, pulling me down the corridor. I struggled to resist, but it was futile. The hand belonged to a masked man in a black suit, who remained silent.

"Where on earth are we? Is this a mental institution? Or are we aboard a spaceship, venturing into the cosmos?" I wondered to myself.

Lost in my thoughts, the sounds emanating from the doors snapped me back to reality. At first, I paid them no mind, consumed by the overwhelming confusion. But these sounds, these screams, were impossible to ignore. They sent shivers down my spine—screams of agony, pain, pleasure, and madness. Screams so haunting that I couldn't help but question, "Am I really in hell?"

As if reading my mind, Rick glanced at me, a devilish smile playing on his lips.

Just as I was about to try and confront Rick and his accomplices, we came to a halt in front of a slightly larger door at the end of the corridor.

The door slid open, revealing a luxurious office. It exuded elegance, with plush sofas and a black marble desk adorned with golden engravings. Towering bookcases filled with ancient volumes lined the walls, creating an atmosphere of wisdom and knowledge.

Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with grayish hair and a beard, typing away in midair.

To the uninitiated, he might have seemed crazy, but I knew better.

He was using his personal Holographic Terminal (HT), a portable and powerful device that only the owner could see. It was a marvel of technology, equipped with a virtual assistant and capable of linking with exoskeletons to enhance their functionality.

This HT was the creation of a renowned technology company called Gamma, led by the brilliant scientist Kanagawa Yoko. Yoko, a black-haired beauty, was not only the head scientist but also the owner of Gamma. Her reputation and capabilities were widely respected.

As a tech enthusiast, I admired her work and the innovations her company had brought to the world, particularly the mechanical exoskeletons used in monster battles. Gamma also held shares in other companies that developed related products and technologies.

Lost in my thoughts about the HT's history and its creator, the middle-aged man ceased his typing and fixed his gaze upon me.

"Good, good! I assume you're the kid we've been waiting for. Let's get straight to the point!" he exclaimed suddenly.

"Hey, kid, do you have any idea why you're here? And why we had to bring you in so forcefully?"

I shook my head, my tone brash as I replied, "No clue. Care to enlighten me, old man?"

In an instant, a hand whizzed past, striking my face with such force that I thought I might lose a tooth.

"Gahhh!" I exclaimed, turning to my right.

There stood Rick, his hand raised high, his face contorted with anger and a hint of murderous intent.

"How dare you speak to the chief like that, you brat! I'll kill you!"

"You son of a... To hell with you and the chief! I will..."

Before I could finish my retort, a chilling aura filled the room, silencing me. The chief's voice cut through the tension, cold sweat trickling down my spine, as he said, "Enough. Let me continue."

Rick, too, seemed affected by the chief's tone and aura, hastily redirecting his attention back to the man before us.

"You were brought here because we suspect you of committing acts of terrorism within the Japanese settlement," the gray-haired man stated, his gaze fixed on me.

"Bullshit! Who would believe such a lame excuse? Tell me the truth, old man," I retorted, summoning all the energy I could muster.

The old man's calm expression transformed into a wicked grin. With an elated face, he looked at me and laughed maniacally. "Hehehehe! Hehahahaha!"

"Being smart and mentally strong is commendable. But being too smart for your own good can lead to trouble! And you, my dear, are trouble indeed. Do you have any idea why I brought you here and spouted all that nonsense?"

"..."

"No answer, huh? Let me enlighten you! Previous kids, upon hearing my words, reacted in two ways: they either cried and begged for release, claiming innocence, or they grew violent, attempting to attack me and Rick. Both cases ended up dying, clueless about the truth."

Seeing my continued silence, he continued triumphantly, his smile growing more devilish by the second.

"As for you, brat, despite your agitation and colorful language, you remained composed. You sought information rather than succumbing to panic or aggression. It shows intelligence. So, for individuals like you, the truth must be told straightforwardly. I wonder what expression will grace your face when you hear it. I can't wait to witness your reaction! Hehehehhahahahaha."

As his words sank in, my face turned pale.

I knew, deep down, what was happening.

Rumors had circulated for a while about sudden deaths and disappearances in the colony, with no trace left behind after investigations.

Confirming my worst fears, the man's wicked grin widened as he looked at me and uttered in a cruel voice, "Kid, you look terrified, and I'm loving it. Your expression is the highlight of my job, as if I've received an early bonus. You guessed it right. You've been brought to an isolated place by an organization. There's no escape, no freedom. Only hell awaits you. You'll be locked up, used as a lab rat—for experiments, pain, pleasure, or perhaps all of the above. The horrors you'll face are unimaginable, and I'm thrilled by the possibilities!"

"Hehehehahahahahaha. Welcome, brat! Welcome to the Facility!"