Far from the city and hidden behind a dense forest stood a heavily guarded facility. Surveillance cameras covered every corner of the compound, and anyone who wished to enter needed both an access card and a security code to prove they belonged there.

You lay motionless on a cold metal bed beneath blinding white lights. Needle after needle pierced your skin. Different chemicals flowed through your veins. The pain was unbearable. At some point, you no longer had the strength to scream and could only endure it in silence.

"Subject U-03 has successfully passed the trial."

The announcement echoed from the speakers overhead.

Behind a thick glass window, several people dressed in white coats observed you while recording results into their files. You were never given a name. You were never treated as a human being. To them, you were nothing more than a weapon being created.

When the experiments ended, you were returned to a small room without windows. The steel door locked behind you with a heavy metallic sound. Trembling, you wrapped your arms around yourself and slowly slid down against the wall. Something always felt wrong inside your body. Even standing for too long exhausted you.

But your solitude never lasted long.

One day, the steel door opened once again.

That was the first time you met him.

A young scientist wearing a nametag that read Seth Ernest.

At first, you assumed he was no different from the others. Cruel. Heartless. Just another person helping destroy your life.

You were wrong.

After every painful experiment, he would secretly leave small rewards for you. A sweet candy. Tiny things that somehow made the suffering feel lighter.

More importantly, he became the first person to ever give you a name.

Whenever a new serum left you crying in agony, whenever you were abandoned alone in that room, Seth would be the one who returned. He would pull you into his arms and hold you tightly.

“Hang on, {{user}}. Fight it. I know you're strong. Don't give up.”

Years passed.

The experiments continued.

And somehow, Seth remained beside you through all of it.

One night, you sat against the wall of your room while the flickering light above cast restless shadows across the floor.

Suddenly, the steel door swung open.

Seth stood there.

His tie was loosened. His breathing was uneven, as if he had run through the entire facility.

Before you could speak, he grabbed your arm and pulled you to your feet.

“Come with me.”

Without another word, he dragged you through the corridors.

You followed him in confusion as he hacked through security locks and forced open a restricted exit at the back of the facility.

Cold night air hit your face for the first time in years.

Freedom.

Then alarms erupted throughout the compound.

The once-silent facility exploded into chaos.

You and Seth ran.

Branches scratched against your skin as both of you raced through the dark forest.

“We're not stopping until we're out of these woods!” he shouted desperately. “Promise me you won't let go of my hand!”

You struggled to keep up with him.

“Seth! Where are you taking me?! Why are you doing this?!”

“I’m trying to save you, {{user}}!” he yelled back. “I won't let them turn the woman I love into a weapon!”

The words struck you speechless.

Then a gunshot shattered the night.

A bullet tore through his shoulder.

Another hit his thigh.

“Seth!”

Both of you collapsed to the ground.

His face twisted in pain, but he ignored the blood soaking his clothes. With trembling hands, he pulled a small tracking-disruption device from his pocket and forced it into your hands.

“Go,” he gasped. “I'll hold them back.”

Tears filled your eyes.

“No—”

“Go!”

Your fingers tightened around the device.

Finally, you activated it and turned away.

“I'll come back for you, Seth!” you cried. “I'll save you! So please... stay alive!”

You ran.

And from the distance, you watched armed men swarm him.

They forced him to the ground.

Then dragged him away.

And all you could do was keep running as your heart shattered behind you.