First day sign in

Darkness.

That was the last thing he remembered. Pain, then darkness. His body had burned, his veins tingling with something unnatural. He had struggled, trying to fight against whatever was happening, but his strength faded. The scientists had watched, their faces unreadable, taking notes as he lost consciousness. And then, nothing.

The subject was declared dead.

The body was stored away in the depths of the facility, placed in a cold, silent chamber where many others had been before. Metal slabs lined the walls, each holding another experiment—some successful, some not. Some bodies showed strange mutations, others looked perfectly normal. Just another failed experiment.

And yet, something changed.

The body that had been still for an entire year twitched. A hand moved, fingers curling slightly. Then, a sharp inhale, a sudden gasp as air filled his lungs for the first time in months. His eyes snapped open, blinking against the blinding white light above.

Confusion.

Who—?

Memories surfaced, colliding with one another. Pain. Silence. Then… something new. Thoughts that didn't belong to the old him. He sat up slowly, his body stiff and sluggish. The cold metal beneath him, the distant ache in his limbs—it all felt strange, unfamiliar. A name surfaced in his mind—

Ethan.

A door creaked open. Footsteps approached, steady and measured. A guard stepped inside, his eyes widening for a moment before he let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

"Well, well. Looks like I don't have to waste another one."

Ethan parted his lips, but no words came out. His throat was dry, his mind still reeling. The guard stepped closer, grabbing his arm and pulling him off the slab with practiced ease. No fear, no hesitation—just routine.

"C'mon, kid. Back to your cell."

Cell?

Ethan stumbled forward, his legs protesting the movement. His heart pounded as he tried to piece together what was happening. Prison. Facility. Experimentation.

Where was he?

The heavy metal door shut behind them, and questions swirled in Ethan's mind as he was led down the dimly lit hallway.

The corridor stretched endlessly ahead, lined with reinforced metal doors. A sterile white glow illuminated the walls, casting eerie shadows that flickered as Ethan was pulled forward. His body ached, every step a struggle as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

"What… what is this place?" His voice came out raspy, barely more than a whisper. His throat felt like sandpaper, as if he hadn't spoken in ages.

The guard scoffed. "You don't remember? Figures. They do enough to you freaks in there, it's a wonder any of you come out the same."

Freaks? The word sent a shiver down Ethan's spine. He wasn't just any prisoner—he was something more. But what?

They turned a corner, passing by several other guards, each armed to the teeth. This wasn't just any facility. It was a prison, but not for ordinary people.

His thoughts were interrupted when they reached a reinforced door. The guard scanned a keycard, and the heavy lock clicked open. He shoved Ethan inside. The room was small, barren—just a thin mattress, a metal sink, and a toilet.

"Get some rest," the guard said, smirking. "Big day tomorrow."

The door slammed shut.

Ethan stumbled to the bed, sitting down heavily. His mind raced, trying to process the fragments of memory he still had. He had died. He was sure of it. And yet, here he was.

He rubbed his temples. His body felt… strange. Stiff but functional, as if it had been asleep for far too long. His fingers tingled slightly, and deep within, he felt something stir. A presence, a force—something he couldn't quite name.

Then, as if on cue, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Sign-In System Activated.]

Ethan froze.

"What?"

[Daily Sign-In Detected. Reward Processing…]

A rush of information flooded his mind. A system? Like in a video game? His fingers curled into fists. This wasn't normal. None of this was normal.

[Congratulations! Day 1 Reward: Perfect Body]

A warm sensation washed over him, easing the dull ache in his muscles. His head cleared slightly, the exhaustion lifting just a bit. He exhaled sharply, stunned by the sudden change.

This wasn't just some prison. And he wasn't just another inmate.

Something was happening to him. And he needed to figure out what before it was too late.