A primal growl ripped from the figure's throat, his silhouette morphing. Claws extended from his fingertips, and his eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, mirroring the machine behind him. The whispers, once faint, now roared in Amelia's head, a cacophony demanding she join him, become part of this strange transformation. A small light flickered through the dim room. It was from a metal badge on his white coat he was wearing. Garvin. That was his name. He was a doctor.
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Panic surged through her. He was a puppet dancing to the tune of this alien machine. With a desperate cry, she lunged, tackling him before he could fully transform. Rishang and Liam followed suit, a tangled mess of limbs and desperate punches.
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The fight was brutal. Garvin, fueled by an unnatural strength, threw them back like rag dolls. But age, even augmented, was a weakness. A well-placed kick from Kai sent Garvin crashing against the machine. There was a hiss, a spark shower, and then Garvin crumpled, his blue glow flickering out.
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Dread replaced the adrenaline rush. Rishang knelt beside him, checking for a pulse. "He's alive, barely," he reported, his voice strained. Relief washed over Amelia, shaky but real. They couldn't leave him behind.
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Liam pointed towards the chamber beyond the machine. "There. An exit, maybe?"
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Following Liam's lead, they navigated the chamber, the portal humming with an otherworldly lure. Finally, they reached a colossal metal door, its surface smooth and featureless. With a shared look, they pushed. The door groaned open, revealing…
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Sunlight. Lush greenery stretched before them, the air filled with the sweet chirping of birds. It was a world of vibrant life, a stark contrast to the barren wasteland they'd left behind. Relief flooded them, so profound it brought tears to Amelia's eyes.
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But their joy was short-lived. It was evening. The sun was shining bright. If they remained on the open ground, they would die out of dehydration. They had to find a shelter. And quick. Exhausted, they walked for a while through the barren, orange landscape before finding a building. A broken, tattered colossal building.
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