The Embodiment of Insanity

Chapter 8: Escape

As 002 and the others ran towards the north, they often encountered some enemies but easily got rid of them as they just used 003's powers to block the enemies' sight before they continued to run.

They also hid underneath the shade of the trees to lose the guests' sight on them.

Not long afterwards, after seeing that no enforcers appeared, they finally stopped by a vent hidden slightly by some bushes.

After getting rid of the bushes, 002 and the other two looked at each other, nodding in unison as 003 used his power to freeze the cover of the vent until it shattered into pieces.

Seeing that the vent is big enough to fit their bodies, they entered whilst 001 who was the last to enter covered back the bushes to prevent the broken cover of the vent from being discovered.

To make their crawling silent, 003 used his power once again to spread ice all over the floor, although 002 and 001 felt cold all over their body, they endured it and continued to crawl through the vents.

Suddenly, 003 who was at front stopped causing for 002 and 001 to also do the same.

"What's wrong?" 002 asked silently.

003 looked back and motioned his head up front.

When 002 looked forward, her eyes froze for a moment as she found that there were three different tunnels.

"What do we do now?" 003 asked.

002's lips parted slightly as she exhaled cold breath before gulping. "It's already obvious, isn't it?" she said.

003 looked at her and 001 as the latter did the same before they all went in different directions. 002 went straight, 003 went right and 001 went left.

As they all went different directions, 003 found another vent cover and secretly peeked as he listened carefully, trying to know what is below and if there are people in it.

Just as he peeked, he found multiple computers and screens while he also saw four enforcers standing by.

003 instantly realized that this is the operating area which was the room they are looking for, the key for their escape.

He turned around excitedly, but the moment he did his smile froze as he had forgotten that the three of them went on separate directions.

The smile on his face gradually faded as his expression turned solemn.

'This is bad. I don't feel so good about this.' He thought as an ominous feeling surged in his heart.

'002, 001, please be safe.' He prayed in his heart.

--

Meanwhile, 001 was crawling through the tunnel he was given and reached a dead end without any cover vent, just a barrier, making him puzzled.

Just as he was confused and was about to turn around and go back, he suddenly heard a sharp metal object screeching.

His eyes widened in horror and without being able to do anything, the floor beneath him broke and he fell directly to the hard ground. Fortunately though, he was able to cushion his head using his arms.

As he slumped on the floor, he gritted his teeth but still did not made any sound.

"What is this? A lab rat trying to escape huh?"

Hearing a childish yet cold voice, 001 opened his eyes in pain and saw two golden orbs staring straight at him, looking at him from above.

Then, he saw this child who was a lot younger than him curled their lips into a maniacal grin. "Hey! I just had a great idea! Wanna hear it?"

001 frowned and tried to stand up but was easily pressed down with a foot from the child on his shoulders and the sound of bones cracking echoed, causing for 001 to flinch and struggle slightly, his mouth opening trying to scream but no sound still came out from his lips.

The child chuckled and said, "Wanna take a guess?"

"I guess that- well, actually, I know that your little girl friend will be caught in a dilemma, and most likely will get caught." He said with a grin. "And I am certain that she would not get away with a simple torture this time, unlike the previous incident, isn't it? 001."

001 gnashed his teeth as he glared at the child, albeit the latter remained smiling, even enjoying his expression as he inquired, "Now knowing this, will you remain as my enemy? Or! You can become my little toy for a while!"

"If you keep me as your enemy, I will have no choice but to kill you and just explain to Dr. Shane that it was a self-defense, after all, an ordinary child like me has no fight against a lab rat like you no?"

"But! If you become my little plaything, I will help you guys escape this place, however! There is a price for everything, right?"

"There are no free food in the world you know."

001 remained gritting his teeth from the pain in his shoulder but his gaze was calm as he looked up at the child, though laced with hatred.

"I will help you and your little friend escape this place, but in return, you will have to-..."

Hearing the child's words, 001 crimson eyes turned dim, blood escaped from his lips from being bitten too hard that was done to endure the pain in his shoulder.

The struggle disappeared as 001 not only heard but also saw something, a scene that made his heart and senses go numb.

In the end, he parted his lips and mouthed something-.

--

002 on the other hand was still crawling when she finally reached a vent cover, but the moment she excitedly peeked, her vision turned crimson and a sharp blue line appeared straight at her.

Her purple eyes instantly shone as she tilted her head and a sharp bullet barely passed right through her.

002 was alarmed and just as she wanted to escape, the vent cover was forcefully broken and an arm grabbed her hair as she was pulled out mercilessly from the vent.

Click!

Hearing the familiar sound of a gun, 002's scalp went numb and her purple eyes shone brightly as she twisted her body and grabbed her name plate, in just seconds, she placed her electricity powers in it and swung it to her grabbed hair.

Her long hair was cut in a flash and she started to jump from one side to another as she kept dodging the bullets that were fired one by one.

She finally found that these people who were trying to kill her were not enforcers, the people clad in dark robes, nor the scientists, but people clad in an unfamiliar brown robe with white and gold revolvers that is not commonly found anywhere.

Just as she struggled to fight, a voice was heard and in an instant, all the people in brown robes halted and stood straight, lowering their guns.

002 became wary and looked over towards the voice, only to have her eyes widened.

Because who she saw was the child with golden hair and eyes, and beside that child was-

"001?" 002 was stunned as she looked at him with shock and confusion.

'Why is 001 with one of the guests of the scientists?'

'What exactly happened?'

'Did he get caught by him?'

Countless of questions instantly filled her head and her hand unconsciously clenched into fists, her lips became dry as she involuntarily gulped.

The child looked at her and said with a smile, "As you can see, your little plan of escape has already failed."

002's brows furrowed when she heard this, her heart pounding violently as the voices kept screaming in her head once again.

"Well then, you already know what the consequences, isn't that right?" The child said as he giggled. "So, since you failed I shall-" but before he could even finish his sentence, the temperature in the room suddenly dropped and from the vent, ice spikes appeared and rushed directly towards the child.

Gunshots resounded and the ice spikes were shattered as the people in brown robes shot all of it.

Unexpectedly, 003 appeared and charged towards the child, holding an ice knife but none of the people in brown robes, giving 002 an ominous feeling and she couldn't help but let out a shrill scream, "No!"

Suddenly, the child grinned widely as he looked up, his eyes shining an ominous glow.

Then, everything seemed to fall in slow motion.

The child stretched his hand, making mimicking a gun as he closed one eye and seemed to be pondering in that short time. As if he finally thought of the pros and cons, he grinned and aimed that gun-like hand towards 003's arm that was holding the ice knife.

Then, they saw as the child moved his lips and made a small sound.

"Bang." The child said and there was no other sound after so, only the sound of blood splattering.

002 and 001 watched in horror as 003's entire left hand exploded.

"Ah-"

"AHhhhhhhhhh!"

003 let out an agonizing scream as he held his left shoulder, his mouth couldn't close as he continued to scream miserably.

"003!" 002 rushed towards 003 as tears welled up in her eyes.

She didn't know what to do anymore, her mind was in chaos as the voices continued to scream in her head.

-It's all your fault! All your fault!

-You killed us!

002's kept pounding and her breathing became heavy.

"Urgh!" Her heart ached suddenly causing for her to groan in pain as she held her chest.

001's eyes widened as his pupils instantly contracted. He glanced towards the child with hatred in his crimson eyes.

Just as he wanted to attack the child, the latter suddenly raised his head to look at him and said, "What? It's just a self-defense."

But instead, 001 became even more mad and just as he was about to attack, the child's eyes suddenly turned cold as he said, "...Or, have you forgotten already?"

The child did not specify what he meant by his words, but 001 already understood and after a long time, he couldn't help but only grit his teeth as he clenched his fist.

003 groaned as he looked up at 001 and spoke through gritted teeth, "Why?"

002 flinched when she heard this words and subconsciously also looked at 001.

Before 001 could even explain, the child interrupted and said happily, "He and I made a deal!"

"A...deal?" 002 muttered.

"Yeah! I will let you guys escape!" The child said with beaming joy in his eyes, as if he was so innocent.

"Then-! What did he promised you then in return?" 003 asked, his eyes darkened with hatred.

"Nothing? To be honest, it wasn't much of a deal I should say, I just wanted him to promise me one thing when I let you guys escape." The child said. "Which is that- 002, you'll have to survive no matter what the cost is."

002 eyes trembled when she heard this and looked at the child with confusion. "Why?"

"As for that! It is a secret!" The child chuckled. "It is something that an ordinary person cannot understand."

Taking out something from his robe, the child pulled out a white card and handed it over to 001 as he said, "You can now go. But you better be fast if you want to as the scientists probably have already noticed your disappearance."

002 gritted her teeth but 003 stopped her from taking action as he stood up staggering and covered his shoulder with ice to block the bleeding.

002 supported him and 001 rushed over to help.

001 looked at the both of them guiltily, and could only do a sign language using one hand, asking for forgiveness.

003 laughed and said, "To be honest, if I were in your shoes, I would've probably done the same thing."

Hearing the alarm echoing, they knew that their disappearance were already discovered and they looked at the child who was still smiling innocently before deciding to run through the door.

As the child watched their figures disappearing, he couldn't help smiling and said to himself, "It's interesting, they really care for each other."

"Alas, this bond will only last for a short amount of time."

****

As they ran whilst supporting 003, they constantly encountered enforcers but escaped them using their abilities as the enforcers were only normal humans but with weapons which they can easily counter.

The moment they reached the exit, 001 used the card the child gave him and in anticipation, they watched as the door opened.

Their eyes couldn't help widening in shock, their heart pounding as they saw the outside world finally.

Although it was only trees and it was dark because it was nighttime, they knew it.

This was their way out

Smile suffused in their faces as they looked at each other. They were only bare feet and so the moment they stepped out of the lab, their skin was met with soft grass.

Although this was just the same as in their hideout, there were still difference.

For example, now, they are free, they can go anywhere without limitations in the place.

As they held hands, they raised their feet and started running, this time, it was not because of fear but instead was because of joy and excitement.

They are free, they finally got out of the lab.

****

Author: "Two more chapters to go and volume 1 is finally done!"