Chương 26: Chapter 25 - The Dark Room (V)

Slowly, painfully, he forced himself to breathe deeply, trying to calm the storm within. The sobs subsided, leaving a numbness in their wake. He stayed there, kneeling, his head up, his body limp. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he dared to look down. He had to know. He had to face it. His eyes, still blurred with tears, scanned the floor. There was no dark red blood, no trace of the human he had killed. Only a red orb, glowing faintly against the white tiles.

The orb's light pulsed, a sinister heartbeat in the sterile silence. It was a cruel reminder, a twisted trophy of his torment. Each pulse seemed to mock him, the rhythm pounding in sync with the remnants of his humanity slipping away. The orb was more than a reward; it was a taunting specter of his transformation, casting a harsh light on the monster he feared he was becoming. As he stared at it, the orb's glow intensified, its light stabbing through his fragile sanity.

It was a beacon of his descent, illuminating the darkest corners of his soul. The orb was a silent scream, a blood-red eye watching his every move, judging him, damning him. The light seemed to burn into his mind, branding him with the cruel truth of his existence. His thoughts twisted and contorted, conjuring images of a broken man, torn apart by the trials. The orb became a symbol of his madness, its glow reflecting his fractured psyche.

It was a mirror, showing him the twisted reflection of a man teetering on the edge of sanity, a man losing himself to the beast within. As he continued to stare, the orb began to change. The pulsing red light started to take on a more tangible form, morphing into something disturbingly familiar. The more he looked, the clearer it became—a dark red heart, still beating. Time seemed to stretch, the heart morphing again, the red glow flickering and shifting.

Alonso watched in horrified fascination as a face began to emerge from the depths of the orb. At first, it was the face of a stranger, twisted and contorted in agony. But then, slowly, it began to change. The face became one of his friends—Pablo. The familiar features twisted in pain and fear, staring back at him, blaming him. Alonso's breath hitched, a strangled sob escaping his lips. He tried to look away, but the orb held him captive, the red light burning into his mind.

Pablo's face shifted, transforming into another. His father. The stern, loving eyes now filled with terror, the strong features distorted in anguish. Alonso felt his heart breaking, the weight of guilt and sorrow crushing him. He reached out, his hand trembling, but stopped short of touching the orb. The face changed again. It was now his own. Alonso stared into his own eyes, seeing the fear, the madness. The orb pulsed, the heart beating in a cruel mockery of life.

His own face, twisted and tormented, smiled and stared back at him.

"How does it feel?" it asked. Alonso froze, his breath caught in his throat. The face in the orb continued to smile, its eyes boring into his soul.

"How does it feel?" the voice repeated, louder this time, more insistent. He couldn't look away. His own face, smiling with a twisted sense of satisfaction, stared back at him, waiting for an answer.

"Stop it," Alonso whispered, his voice trembling.

"Just... stop." But the face didn't stop. It continued to smile, its eyes filled with a knowing gleam.

"How does it feel to become a monster?" the voice taunted.

"To be a… murderer?"

"STOP!!!" Alonso shouted, his hands covering his ears but incapable of stopping the voice from echoing in his mind.

"We," the voice continued, its tone eerily calm and mocking, "killed, Alonso. We killed. We…"

"NO! Shut up! Shut UP!" Alonso cried, his voice breaking, the desperation palpable.

"Are…" The voice paused, savoring the moment, the silence between its words stretching. Alonso sobbed, his body shaking uncontrollably. His eyes would not close, the voice would not cease. He knew what it was going to say. It was him, after all.

"Monsters," both whispered in unison. Suddenly, he jolted awake, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He blinked rapidly, disoriented. The room was empty, stark and white, the oppressive silence still lingering. He looked around frantically, but there was nothing—no bodies, no blood, no sword. And… no red orb. Only a staircase leading upward. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. Or was it real? The line between reality and illusion had blurred so much that he couldn't tell anymore.

His body ached, his shoulder … his shoulder was fine. He touched it and could feel the scar and a bit of discomfort, but it was fine. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He looked around the room, which seemed somehow larger than before. When that thought struck him, his face turned pale. Sweat ran down his brows. His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. The room was twice the size of the normal rooms he had been in so far.

He took a deep breath, his mind a turbulent sea of conflicting emotions. He had to regain control. He had to move forward. But... he stood there, frozen. Doubt gnawed at him, each passing second amplifying his inner turmoil. The image of the orb, pulsating with a heartbeat-like glow, haunted his thoughts. The faces he had seen in it—his friends, his father, himself—lingered in his mind like ghosts.

"What have I become?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the oppressive silence. The weight of his actions bore down on him, threatening to crush his spirit. He felt a profound sense of loss, not just for the life he had taken, but for the part of himself that seemed irretrievably lost. The room seemed to close in on him, its vast emptiness echoing his own feelings of isolation. He missed the simplicity of his previous life, the warmth of camaraderie, the predictability of routine.

Here, in this cold, sterile environment, he felt stripped of his humanity, reduced to a mere instrument of survival. Seconds stretched into minutes…

'A human won't be able to get out of here alive…' Alonso stood up once again. He went and picked up the sword.

'But maybe a monster can.' With resolve hardening in his chest, he walked all the way up the stairs. August 1, 2024 - Los Angeles, California"We have breaking news that is captivating the world," anchor Maria Sanchez announced with urgency.

"It has been confirmed that the mysterious structure known as The Tower has appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Believed to be the work of an advanced alien civilization, this phenomenon has led to the teleportation of over 600, 000 individuals worldwide." The screen cut to aerial footage of the towering structure rising ominously from the ocean, its sheer size and alien design stark against the deep blue sea.

"This is The Tower," Maria continued, "an enigmatic and colossal structure that defies all attempts at explanation." A pre-recorded segment followed, showing a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security addressing the press.

"We are aware of the reports and have confirmed the existence of The Tower. Our resources are fully mobilized to investigate these unprecedented incidents. At this time, we emphasize that there is no evidence of immediate danger to public safety. We urge everyone to stay calm and follow the guidance of local authorities." Back in the studio, Maria provided further details.

"Since the appearance of The Tower, the total count of reported teleportations has crossed the 600, 000 mark. Individuals from all over the globe have been suddenly and inexplicably taken to this structure. Inside, they are subjected to a series of cruel and inhumane trials." The broadcast cut to an animated reenactment based on accounts from returnees.

"The trials inside The Tower are described as nightmarish. Participants must navigate deadly challenges designed to test their physical, mental, and emotional endurance. Failure in these trials results in death, but in a bizarre twist, those who die are teleported back to their original locations, seemingly unharmed."

"However," Maria emphasized, "the returnees, as they are now called, do not come back unscathed. Most have suffered severe psychological trauma, manifesting as PTSD, severe anxiety, and depression. The experiences inside The Tower have left deep mental scars, impacting their ability to reintegrate into everyday life." The segment continued with firsthand accounts from some of the returnees.

"One of these returnees, Jake Thompson, managed to return after passing the dreadful fourth trial known online as the Arena." Jake appeared on screen, his expression grim and steady, reminiscent of a soldier recounting the horrors of war.

"Inside The Tower, there are strange orbs that you can obtain after slaying the abominations within," he began, his voice calm but laden with a heavy weight.

"These orbs grant you power, like enhanced strength and reflexes, but it's a curse, not a gift. This strength… am I still human?" He clenched his fists.

"What I went through inside... I wouldn't wish this on anyone." Maria continued, "The enhanced individuals face a host of new problems. Their extraordinary abilities have made them subjects of fear and suspicion. Law enforcement agencies worldwide report incidents involving these enhanced returnees, ranging from accidental harm due to uncontrolled strength to deliberate misuse of their newfound prowess.

Additionally, the long-term health implications of these enhancements are still unknown, raising further concerns." The broadcast then transitioned to a new and troubling development: an online link purportedly providing live feeds from inside The Tower.

"An online link, attributed to the same alien origin as The Tower, has surfaced, captivating millions worldwide by offering a real-time glimpse into The Tower's interior. This unprecedented access allows people to watch the climbers' every move as they navigate the treacherous trials." A split screen showed footage from the live feeds alongside comments and reactions from viewers.

"While this access has intrigued many, it has also raised significant privacy and security concerns. The climbers, already under immense stress, now face the additional burden of constant surveillance. Their every struggle and failure is broadcast for the world to see, stripping them of any semblance of privacy and putting them in a tougher situation after their return."

Maria continued, "The climbers, unaware they are being watched, discover this invasion of privacy only after returning, adding another layer of trauma to their already harrowing experiences."

"In response to the growing concerns and the global impact of these events, the United Nations has scheduled an official report for tomorrow, August 2nd. Secretary-General Elena Morales will address the world at 10: 00 AM EDT, providing the latest updates and measures being taken to address this crisis."

"We will continue to bring you the latest updates on this developing story," Maria concluded.

"Stay with us for continuous coverage. For now, we advise everyone to stay safe, stay informed, and respect the privacy of those affected."