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Screams from the Abyss Fractures
The forest seemed quieter the next morning, if that were possible. Jaden woke to the sound of hushed arguments, his muscles stiff from sleeping against the gnarled tree trunk. He blinked, taking in the scene before him.Zoe and one of Drake's team—a wiry guy with glasses Jaden vaguely remembered being called Finn—were facing off near the remnants of last night's fire. Their voices were low, but their body language spoke volumes."—don't care what your fearless leader says," Zoe was saying, flames dancing between her fingers. "We agreed to share everything equally."Finn pushed his glasses up, a nervous tic that didn't match his confrontational tone. "And we are. But Drake's right, we need to ration—""Ration what?" Jaden cut in, rising to his feet. Both Zoe and Finn startled, apparently having forgotten he was there.Zoe's eyes narrowed. "Go on, tell him."Finn sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "Look, it's not a big deal. We just think it's smarter to save some of the m
Screams from the Abyss Descent into Shadow
Jaden fell.The wind whipped past him, carrying wisps of mist that stung his eyes. His stomach lurched as he tumbled through the air, the world a dizzying blur of grey and green."Shit, shit, shit," he muttered, trying to focus through the panic. The shadows responded sluggishly, coiling around him in fits and starts.[Warning: Rapid Descent Detected] [Recommendation: Deploy Shadow Cushion]"No kidding," Jaden grunted. He spread his arms wide, willing the shadows to expand. They billowed out like a parachute, slowing his fall but not stopping it.The mist grew thicker. Jaden could no longer see the ravine walls or the sky above. For all he knew, he'd been falling for minutes or hours.His mind raced. Drake's face, twisted with triumph, flashed before his eyes. Then Alex, laughing at some shared joke. His mother, pale and still in her stasis chamber."Not dying here," Jaden gritted out. The shadows pulsed, growing denser.He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
Screams from the Abyss Culling
Jaden's lungs burned as he crashed through the twisted underbrush. Beside him, Mei vaulted over a fallen log with practiced ease, while Ryker brought up the rear, constantly glancing back at their unseen pursuers.The howls grew closer, a cacophony of hunger and rage that seemed to come from everywhere at once."There!" Mei pointed to a dense cluster of those tar-barked trees. "The roots form a cave. It's defensible."They scrambled into the natural shelter just as something large crashed through the space they'd occupied moments before. Jaden caught a glimpse of matted fur and too many eyes before Ryker pulled him fully into the shadow of the roots.For long minutes, the only sound was their ragged breathing and the snuffling of the creature outside. Jaden's shadows coiled restlessly around his arms, responding to his fear and adrenaline.Finally, the sounds receded. Mei let out a long, shaky breath. "That was too close.""No shit," Ryker grunted, peering out through a gap in the roo
Screams from the Abyss Shadows Deepen
A strangled cry jolted Jaden from his fitful sleep. He bolted upright, shadows instinctively coiling around his fists. Beside him, Mei was already on her feet, her electric knife humming to life."Over there," Ryker hissed, pointing to a thrashing in the underbrush.They approached cautiously, weapons at the ready. The foliage parted, and a figure stumbled into their makeshift camp. The newcomer was a girl, her uniform in tatters, her face streaked with dirt and what looked unsettlingly like blood."Help," she gasped, before collapsing at their feet.Jaden moved to help her, but Ryker's arm shot out, blocking his path. "Wait," he growled. "Could be a trap."Mei crouched down, her knife still crackling. "Hey," she said softly. "Can you hear me? What's your name?"The girl's eyes fluttered open, unfocused. "Lin," she mumbled. "I'm Lin. Please... they're coming.""Who's coming?" Jaden asked, scanning the forest. The shadows around them stirred uneasily, but he sensed no immediate threat.
Screams from the Abyss Metamorphosis
Consciousness returned to Jaden like a slow tide, bringing with it a cacophony of sensations he couldn't quite process. He was aware of his body, but also of... more. Shadows that weren't his own, spaces he couldn't see but somehow felt.[Status: Anomaly Detected][Shadow Integration: 78%][Caution: Unknown Effects]Jaden blinked, trying to focus on the familiar blue interface. But it kept shifting, melting into the darkness around him."Get it together, Craig," he muttered, pushing himself to a sitting position. His head spun, memories fragmented and jumbled. Drake. The hollow. That surge of power...He looked down at his hands, expecting to see the familiar coils of shadow. Instead, his skin seemed to ripple, darkness flowing just beneath the surface. When he concentrated, he could make the shadows emerge, forming shapes more solid and complex than ever before."What the hell did you do to me?" he asked the empty air, not really expecting an answer.Jaden stood on shaky legs, taking
Screams from the Abyss Escapees
Jaden's lungs burned as he ran, each breath a ragged gasp. The twisted forest blurred around him, shadows pulsing in time with his racing heart. Mei and Ryker flanked him, their own exhaustion evident in their labored breathing and stumbling steps.They ran until the alarms from the facility faded into the distance, replaced by the eerie silence of the forest. Finally, Jaden's legs gave out, and he collapsed against the gnarled trunk of a massive tree."I think... I think we lost them," he managed between gasps.Ryker slumped to the ground, his energy-wreathed fists flickering weakly. "For now. But they'll be hunting us."Mei remained standing, her electric knife crackling as she scanned their surroundings. "We need to find shelter. Somewhere defensible."Jaden nodded, trying to push himself up. His arms shook with the effort, muscles screaming in protest. The surge of power he'd felt in the facility had faded, leaving him drained in a way he'd never experienced before.[Status Update
Screams from the Abyss Rising Storm
The ground trembled beneath their feet as another explosion rocked the facility in the distance. Jaden squinted against the harsh light of the flames, visible even through the dense forest canopy."We need to check it out," he said, turning to face the group. The escapees huddled together, their unstable forms flickering in and out of focus.Mei shook her head. "Too risky. We should use this chance to put more distance between us and them.""And go where?" Ryker countered. "For all we know, that explosion could be the start of something worse. We need intel."Jaden nodded. "Ryker's right. I'll lead a small team to scout the area. The rest of you, find somewhere defensible and wait for us."After a brief argument, it was decided. Jaden would go with Ryker and one of the more stable escapees, a girl named Tara who could manipulate electrical currents.As they set out, Jaden felt the familiar burn in his muscles. The past few days of intense training had left him sore but stronger. He mo
Screams from the Abyss Gathering Storm
The forest clearing buzzed with nervous energy as Jaden finished relaying the intercepted message. Faces pale and drawn, the gathered survivors exchanged worried glances."Wide-scale implementation?" Mei echoed, her voice tight. "What does that even mean?"The leader of the new group, who had introduced herself as Colonel Sarah Hayes, stepped forward. Her glowing eyes swept over the assembled crowd. "It means they're done experimenting. Whatever they've cooked up in that hellhole, they're ready to use it."Jaden felt the weight of everyone's stares. He took a deep breath, centering himself. "Okay," he said, trying to project a calm he didn't feel. "Let's break this down. What exactly do we know?"For the next hour, they pooled their information. Hayes' group had been tracking Project Umbra for months, piecing together fragments of intel from various sources. The picture that emerged was chilling."They're not just creating super-soldiers," Hayes explained. "They're trying to fundament
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