NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: ESCAPE [ 2 ]
[ ??? Facility ]
The sterile corridors of the facility stretched endlessly, their stark white walls illuminated by cold fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly overhead. The air was thick with tension, the distant echoes of gunfire and shouts reverberating through the labyrinthine halls. Somewhere amid the chaos, I fell.
A searing pain erupted in my chest, sharp and all-consuming, as if my very soul was being torn apart. I crumpled to the floor, my body convulsing uncontrollably. Every nerve screamed in protest, every muscle spasming as though I were being torn apart from the inside out.
The agony consumed me, leaving me a writhing, screaming mess. My vision blurred with tears, and my ragged breaths barely filled my lungs. The taste of copper lingered in my mouth—I was bleeding. Somewhere, deep within my body, something had broken.
The chaos around me seemed to pause as my collapse drew the attention of both sides. The kids, who were desperately trying to escape, hesitated, their focus splintering. The soldiers, seeing my helpless form, found renewed vigor, pressing their assault with ruthless precision.
The pressure on the children intensified, and their already precarious situation grew dire.
••••••
Amidst the turmoil, a soldier stepped forward, his gaze locking onto me. He was cautious at first, his weapon raised and his eyes scanning for potential threats. Then, he saw me—broken, vulnerable, and utterly powerless. A cruel grin spread across his face, his expression one of unrestrained malice.
But as his grin grew, so did the anger and disgust in his eyes. He lowered the barrel of his gun, aiming it directly at my head.
Time seemed to slow.
The cold steel of his weapon reflected the sterile light above, and I could hear the faint creak of his gloved finger tightening on the trigger.
Fear flooded my veins, colder than the air around me.
This is it.
I wanted to move, to fight back, to do anything. But my body was frozen. The pain that had racked my body before was now overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of dread.
••••••
"GET UP!" My inner voice screamed, an echo of my former self, desperate to survive. "YOU CAN'T DIE HERE! MOVE, DAMN IT! MOVE!"
But my limbs refused to respond. My arms trembled weakly, my legs shaking uncontrollably. All I could do was watch in helpless terror as the soldier steadied his aim.
A bitter laugh threatened to escape my throat. Of all the places to die…
[ BANG! ]
The deafening sound of gunfire ripped through the air, but the expected impact never came.
••••••
Instead, a blinding flash of pink filled my vision, accompanied by the faint hum of energy. My heart nearly stopped as a figure darted between me and the bullet. A girl, no older than myself, had thrown herself into the line of fire.
"No!" I gasped, my voice hoarse and desperate. I reached out, trying to pull her back, but my body refused to cooperate.
The bullet, aimed to end my life, struck something shimmering and translucent. A shield, glowing faintly pink, had materialized before the girl, stopping the bullet in its tracks. The projectile ricocheted off the barrier with a metallic ping, embedding itself in the stomach of the soldier who had fired it.
The man let out a guttural cry, staggering backward as blood seeped through his uniform.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, both sides frozen in disbelief.
••••••
The girl—her pink hair wild and disheveled—stood tall amidst the chaos, her eyes blazing with determination. Her expression was fierce, unyielding, and entirely unlike anything I'd ever seen.
The soldiers, realizing she was the threat, redirected their focus. Gunfire erupted once more, a relentless barrage aimed directly at her.
[ TAT! ] [ TAT! ] [ TAT! ]
She raised her hands, the shimmering shield expanding in response. It grew large enough to encompass the rubble where the other children had taken cover, protecting them from the onslaught.
The bullets struck the barrier with rapid, deafening impacts, but the shield held firm. Sparks flew as the projectiles deflected harmlessly to the ground.
Hori Nakamura
The girl turned her attention to me briefly, her sharp gaze both angry and expectant.
"Get up," she said curtly, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. She grabbed me by the arm, attempting to haul me to my feet.
I stumbled, my legs giving way beneath me. My body was still too weak, and I collapsed once more.
Her expression darkened. There was frustration in her eyes, but also something softer—concern, perhaps? She shook her head, muttering something under her breath before turning her attention back to the soldiers.
Her pink hair caught the faint breeze created by the chaotic movements around us, and for a moment, it seemed to glow. But it wasn't her hair that captured my attention—it was her eyes. Green, fierce, and… familiar.
Where have I seen her before?
---
Hori Nakamura.
Quirk: Rose Shield
Her ability allows her to generate pink shields of various shapes and sizes. She can leave them suspended in the air, providing both offense and defense until she consciously dispels them.
---
••••••
The soldiers' assault continued until, one by one, their weapons clicked empty. The sound of dry magazines echoed in the now-silent corridor.
The children, emboldened by the sudden shift in momentum, surged forward. Their quirks flared to life—fire, ice, claws, and energy blasts—all aimed at incapacitating their oppressors.
The soldiers, overwhelmed and outnumbered, fell quickly. The pristine white floor was soon littered with their bodies, most of them unconscious or too injured to fight.
The kids, though victorious, were battered and weary. They slumped against walls, their breaths coming in shallow gasps.
Hori stood amidst the aftermath, her shield dissipating into faint wisps of pink light. The suspended bullets clattered to the ground.
••••••
The pain in my chest had subsided, reduced to a dull throb, but I still felt drained. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.
[ PA! ]
A sharp slap landed on my cheek, the sting snapping me back to reality.
I looked up, stunned, to see Hori glaring at me with tears brimming in her eyes.
"What the hell was that, Shinichiro?!" she shouted, her voice trembling. "Were you trying to get yourself killed?!"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came.
She was right. If she hadn't intervened, I would've died.
"You know your body can't handle that power!" she continued, her voice cracking. "Why are you so reckless? Do you have any idea what would've happened if I hadn't been there?!"
Shame washed over me, more overwhelming than any pain I'd felt. I looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
I didn't know what to say. She was absolutely right. I had been careless, reckless, and utterly foolish.
••••••
Before I could attempt an apology, the collar around my neck crackled to life.
"Shinichiro, do you read me?"
The voice was deep, commanding, and all too familiar.
"It's me, the Doctor. Dr. Robotnik. I need you to listen carefully."
The cold tone sent a shiver down my spine.
What now?