Screams from the Abyss

Failed Procedure

Jaden tossed and turned in his bed, his face contorting with each movement. The room was dimly lit, but the bracelet on his wrist glowed with an ethereal light that pulsed like a heartbeat, growing brighter with each passing moment. He was sweating profusely, his brow furrowing in pain and discomfort.

As he drifted into a dark space void of light, Jaden felt himself floating aimlessly, desperately searching for any sign of life. But there was nothing there, and the emptiness was starting to get to him. Fear crept into his heart, and he wondered if he would ever find his way out.

Suddenly, Jaden was yanked from the void into a different place altogether. What he saw made his stomach churn with terror. In front of him, a horde of beasts or what looked like demons raged, each one standing nearly nine feet tall. They had muscular bodies, long tongues that extended down their chests, and dark, eerie fog emanated from them.

The beasts rampaged through the land, slaughtering and devouring any human in their path. Jaden's heart raced with each passing moment, his breaths coming in short gasps. He could hardly believe what he was seeing, and he wished he could look away, but he was transfixed.

Suddenly, one of the beasts turned its gaze on him, and started to approach him slowly, its steps growing faster by the second. Jaden began to back away, but he found himself cornered, with another of the beasts closing in behind him. In a moment of pure terror, Jaden let out a blood-curdling scream, and his eyes snapped open to reveal the same dimly lit room he had fallen asleep in, his body drenched in sweat.

____

Jaden and Lilian were having breakfast, but Jaden was lost in thought after the dream. It felt real, like he was there, and the carnage that played before him lingered in his mind.

"Honey, are you okay?" Lilian asked, noticing Jaden's distant expression.

Jaden looked up at his mother, attempting to hide the unease he was feeling. "Yes. I'm fine."

Images of the dream flashed in Jaden's mind, causing his stomach to churn. He pushed his food away.

"Not hungry?" Lilian asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, I just lost my appetite," Jaden responded.

"Are you sure you're okay? I understand you might be nervous about the procedure, but you have to be positive about it," Lilian said, trying to reassure him.

"Don't worry, Mum. I'm okay. I just didn't sleep well, that's all," Jaden replied, forcing a small smile.

"Oh," Lilian responded in a low tone, her thoughts consumed by worry. 'He hasn't given up on the research,' she thought, knowing fully well.

___

In the laboratory, the low hum of devices at work filled the air. Rows of neatly arranged equipment filled the room, from beakers and test tubes to computers and screens. Jaden sat on a sterile metal chair, his eyes nervously darting around the room. His mother, Lilian, stood a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She couldn't help but feel anxious as she watched her son being prepared for the procedure. She knew it was necessary, but the thought of him undergoing such an intense process made her stomach churn.

A slim man with short black hair stood beside Jaden, holding a clipboard and making notes. He was dressed in a white lab coat and had an air of quiet professionalism about him.

"Come with me," the man said, gesturing towards a doorway. Jaden stood up, his legs feeling weak as he followed the man into a smaller room. A cylindrical pod was embedded into the wall. As soon as they stepped inside, the lights flickered on, casting a sterile white glow across the room.

Jaden swallowed nervously as the man walked over to a small table and picked up a white jumpsuit, motioning for Jaden to change. Jaden complied, feeling the fabric's coolness against his skin. He couldn't help but feel like he was going into battle.

As Jaden stepped towards the pod, the man pressed a button, and the pod hissed as it opened, releasing a cloud of steam. Jaden hesitated for a moment, then climbed into the pod, the cool metal floor soothing to the touch. The pod closed, leaving Jaden alone in darkness.

The procedure began, and Jaden felt a sensation like a cold mist wafting over his skin. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, his vision blurring. He tried to stay calm, but his heart was racing as if he were sprinting. He could feel something, an energy, probing at his core. It was a strange sensation, like nothing he had ever experienced before.

As this was happening, the bracelet on his wrist was glowing with a pulsing light. The light getting brighter every second.

On the other side of the room, Lilian and the man overseeing the procedure watched a monitor displaying Jaden's vital signs. The man looked concerned, his brow furrowed, as he studied the readouts.

Lillian noticed this, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Something isn't right" He said, the confusion evident on his face.

"What do you mean," Lilian asked, trying to understand the situation.

"Something seems to blocking the connection. Like a barrier stopping it from getting through" The man made his analysis.

Suddenly, an alarm sounded, its wail echoing through the room. Lilian and the man jerked back, their eyes glued to the monitor, which showed Jaden's body jerking and convulsing inside the pod.

"Turn the damn thing off!" Lilian shouted, her voice cracking with fear as she sprinted towards the pod. The man quickly deactivated the pod, and Lilian yanked open the hatch, pulling her son out. Jaden slumped against her, his body limp and unresponsive.

Lilian's heart raced as she held him, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. She could see his chest rising and falling, and she let out a shuddering breath of relief. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized that he was going to be okay.

She hugged him tightly, grateful to have him back in her arms.

___

Jaden opened his eyes slowly, struggling to focus on his surroundings. He felt a dull ache in his head, his muscles sore as if he had just finished a marathon. He tried to sit up, but his body felt too heavy, too weak to obey his command. He turned his head slightly and saw his mother's sleeping form beside him, her soft breathing the only sound in the room.

As Jaden's eyes wandered, he saw the familiar surroundings of his bedroom. The bed, the walls, the posters on his wall, everything was in its place. He took a deep breath, trying to recall the events leading up to his current state. The last thing he remembered was going into the pod and feeling the chemical components circulate through his body.

He remembered the external energy trying to make its way into his core, but the connection was never fully established. Jaden knew that the ceremony with the crystal was supposed to trigger the connection, but he had failed to awaken. That's why they had resorted to this procedure.

Jaden slowly got out of bed, careful not to disturb his mother. His mind was still foggy, his thoughts jumbled, and he had a hard time processing what was happening. As he walked out of his room, he felt a sense of emptiness, like something was missing.

Jaden made his way to his father's study, hoping to feel his presence there. He stood at the entrance, hesitant to go in, but he forced himself to take a step forward. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine his father sitting at his desk, talking to him. But there was nothing. No sense of familiarity, no warmth, no connection.

Jaden opened his eyes, disappointment, and frustration etched on his face. He sat down on the floor with his back resting on the wall, his left leg stretched out on the ground, and rested his arm on his right knee. He stared at his father's desk, feeling the weight of his failure bearing down on him. Jaden was tired, physically and emotionally drained, and he didn't know what to do next.

***