Story 695: The Awakening

A searing pain shot through Sergeant Darius "Hellhound" Rook’s body. His veins burned like wildfire, his muscles twisted as if they were tearing themselves apart and rebuilding at the same time. His heart pounded in his ears, a relentless drum of war against the unnatural force invading his flesh.

His eyes shot open.

The room around him was dimly lit, metallic, sterile—a laboratory. Restraints pinned him to a medical slab, thick metal clamps holding his wrists and ankles in place. His breathing was ragged, and his vision blurred before clearing sharply. His senses felt... different. Stronger. He could hear the hum of machinery, feel the vibrations of footsteps down the hall, smell the chemical rot of the experiments conducted here.

Kruger’s voice echoed through the room.

"Welcome back, Sergeant."