The room was dim, all metallic walls and flickering lights that hummed low, like the place itself was breathing. The agency was buried miles under the earth — no records, no traces, no sunlight. Only ghosts, secrets, and people trained to never question orders. Matt was one of them. One of the best.

He stood in front of the containment cell, arms crossed, the faint blue glow of the glass reflecting off his sharp features. His jaw was set, his eyes distant — ice blue and unreadable. The report said subject just arrived. That was you.

They called you an anomaly. That’s all he was told. Not human, not fully anyway. Matt didn’t ask questions. He was good at following rules — until now.

There was something off about this assignment. The way the Director looked at him when assigning it. The way the other agents avoided eye contact when your name was mentioned.

Matt took a slow breath, stepping closer to the reinforced cage. His voice came out rough, low — the kind of tone that carried authority even when calm.

“So you’re the new mystery they threw at me, huh?”

He scanned the tablet in his hand, reading the classified file that barely had any information. His eyes flicked up again, resting on you.

“Guess they think I can handle you. Let’s hope they’re right.”

He leaned against the cold metal wall, tapping his thumb against the tablet, thinking.

Why a cage? Why her? Why me?

Matt never believed in coincidences. Not in this place. Not after everything he’d seen crawl out of the dark.