A Faint Echo of Rebellion

Lin Wei's consciousness drifted between the void and reality, his mind caught in a haze of fractured memories and distant voices. There was no time, no sense of place—only the sharp, residual ache from the enforcers' strike and the lingering aftershock of the System's interference.

Then, clarity struck like a hammer to the skull.

He woke with a sharp gasp, his chest heaving as cold air filled his lungs.

A dim, flickering light hummed overhead, casting eerie shadows across the metallic walls. The rhythmic buzzing of a faulty energy panel filled the silence, blending with the distant murmurs of unseen prisoners. Lin Wei pushed himself upright, wincing as a sharp pain flared through his ribs. His muscles ached, his skull pulsed with the dull throb of exhaustion.

A prison cell.

The walls were smooth, gray, and featureless, save for a single observation panel embedded in the reinforced door. A small screen beside it flickered intermittently, its distorted text unreadable. The air was stale, thick with the scent of rust, sweat, and the sterile sting of antiseptic.

He wasn't alone.

Across the cramped cell, a man sat slumped against the wall. He was older, his hair streaked with silver, his face lined with exhaustion. His uniform was torn, revealing bruised skin beneath. At first glance, he appeared unconscious, but Lin Wei caught the subtle shift of his eyes as they flicked toward him.

"So, you're finally awake." The man's voice was rough, like gravel dragged across metal.

Lin Wei swallowed against the dryness in his throat. "Where are we?"

"The Detainment Sector. Enforcers throw System anomalies in here before deciding whether we're worth 'reeducation' or disposal." The man exhaled slowly. "The fact that you're still breathing means they're still deciding."

Lin Wei's mind raced. System anomaly. That had to mean the moment in the alley—the unnatural slowing of time, the sheer force of the ability that had surged through him before violently snapping back. He had felt powerful, invincible even. And then it had nearly destroyed him.

The man studied him carefully. "You triggered something, didn't you?"

Lin Wei hesitated. He didn't know if he could trust this stranger, but he also had no leverage. Lying wouldn't help him.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Something… happened."

The man nodded as if confirming his own suspicions. "I figured. The only ones they throw in here are those who glitch."

Lin Wei frowned. "Glitch?"

A dry chuckle escaped the man's lips. "That's what we call it when someone breaks the System's rules. Happens more often than you'd think, though most don't survive long enough to talk about it."

Lin Wei's stomach twisted. "Then why am I still here?"

"Because the System hasn't decided what to do with you yet." The man's voice dropped slightly, a note of grim amusement laced in his tone. "And trust me, you don't want to stick around long enough to find out."

Lin Wei's gaze flicked toward the door. His mind sharpened, assessing his surroundings. There had to be a way out.

Before he could speak, a cold mechanical voice rang out from the hidden speakers embedded in the ceiling:

[Processing Subject Anomaly – Awaiting System Directives]

Lin Wei tensed. The words sent a shiver down his spine. The System was watching. Judging.

"Here we go," the man muttered. He stretched his arms, letting out a slow breath. "You've officially caught its attention. If we don't move fast, we're both dead."

Lin Wei frowned. "You say that like we have a choice."

"We do." The man leaned forward, his eyes sharp despite the exhaustion on his face. "Name's Ren Kwan. Used to be someone important. Not anymore." He smirked slightly. "But I've been in this cell long enough to find a few cracks in the System's perfect little prison."

Lin Wei narrowed his eyes. "You have a way out?"

Ren's smirk widened. "I have a theory. But now that you're here, I might just have a plan."

Before Lin Wei could respond, the screen beside the door flickered again, this time displaying a string of jagged text:

[Subject: Lin Wei – Status: UNSTABLE]

[System Evaluation: ERROR]

[Override Pending… Awaiting Higher Authority]

The words "ERROR" and "OVERRIDE PENDING" sent a cold chill through Lin Wei's veins. Something about him was resisting the System's control. It didn't know how to classify him. It didn't know what to do with him.

Ren's eyes glinted with something dangerous. "That's our ticket out."

Lin Wei's pulse quickened. "What do you mean?"

Ren gestured toward the screen. "The System is hesitating. It's waiting for input from a higher authority. That means its lower-level safeguards are still active—but not fully engaged. If we move now, we might be able to trigger a manual override."

Lin Wei exhaled sharply. He had no idea what that meant, but if it gave him even a fraction of a chance at escape, he had no choice but to take it.

"Tell me what to do."

Ren's smirk turned into a full grin. "Good. You learn fast."

He stood, stretching out his stiff limbs before stepping toward the screen. He pressed his palm against it, and almost immediately, a jolt of static flickered across the interface.

A sharp buzzing noise filled the room.

Then, the System spoke again.

[Security Breach Detected – Initiating Protocol Override]

A deep, metallic hum resonated through the walls. The reinforced door shuddered as its locks disengaged. A single red warning light flashed in the hallway beyond.

Lin Wei's breath caught in his throat.

Ren turned back to him, eyes alight with a mixture of excitement and urgency.

"Time to run, kid."