WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Ethan's POV

The sound of the helicopter blades was deafening, slicing through the air like the final toll of a bell. My wrists burned against the cuffs binding me, and I couldn't stop trembling—not from fear, but from pure rage. They'd taken us. They'd won. Jason was sitting across from me, his head hanging low, his body limp as though he'd given up.

"Jason," I whispered, leaning forward as much as the restraints allowed. "Look at me. Stay with me."

He barely stirred. The glow from the cybernetic hunters' helmets illuminated his pale face. Blood smeared across his cheek from a cut he'd gotten during the chase. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but the moment I tried to move, one of the hunters jabbed a cattle prod into my side.

"Keep still," the metallic voice growled.

The helicopter shuddered, and in the distance, I saw it—Helios Lab. It was a fortress carved out of glass and steel, its towers stabbing into the dark sky. The perimeter was guarded by walls that glowed faintly with electric blue lines, a barrier humming with power. Beyond the walls, the main building loomed, a monolithic structure with hundreds of windows that gleamed like empty eyes.

I'd heard rumors about this place. People called it "the pit of no return." No one came out the same—or alive.

I clenched my fists. Whatever they had planned, I wasn't going down without a fight.

Jason's POV

I couldn't stop shaking. My whole body felt cold, like ice had seeped into my bones. I heard Ethan's voice, but it felt distant, like it was coming from the other end of a tunnel. My chest tightened with every beat of my heart.

I should've run faster. Maybe if I'd been stronger, Ethan and I could've gotten away. But I wasn't like him. I didn't have his strength or his courage.

The helicopter jolted as it began its descent. My stomach turned, and I finally lifted my head to look out the window. The lab was even worse than I imagined. It looked... lifeless. No trees, no grass, just cold metal and glass stretching as far as I could see.

"Jason." Ethan's voice cut through my thoughts, sharper this time.

I turned to him, and his eyes—wild and furious—locked onto mine.

"We'll get out of this," he said. His voice was low, almost a growl. "I promise you."

I nodded weakly, but deep down, I wasn't so sure.

Dr. Westbrook's POV

From my office on the third floor of Helios Lab, I watched as the helicopter landed on the illuminated pad. Two cybernetic hunters stepped out first, their sleek exoskeletons glinting under the floodlights. Behind them, the subjects were dragged out—two boys, young and frightened.

I adjusted my glasses and pressed the intercom. "Send them to holding room A. I want full diagnostics before we proceed with phase one."

The lab around me hummed with activity. Scientists in white coats hurried between rows of holographic monitors, analyzing data, running simulations. The air smelled of sterilized metal and chemicals, a scent that had become as familiar to me as my own skin.

Helios Lab was a masterpiece of modern science. The main chamber was a sprawling expanse filled with towering glass cylinders containing suspended test subjects. Each cylinder was bathed in pale blue light, casting eerie shadows across the room. Beyond that, the experimentation pods stood in neat rows, each equipped with an array of surgical tools, mechanical arms, and diagnostic scanners.

But the heart of the lab—the true marvel—was the neural integration chamber. It was here that we unlocked the secrets of the subjects' DNA, pushing the boundaries of human and cybernetic evolution.

I turned as my assistant, Dr. Reiss, entered the room. "The boys are ready for processing," she said.

"Good," I replied. "Let's see what makes them special."

Ethan's POV

They dragged us through the lab's entrance, and I immediately felt the air shift. It was cold, sterile, and filled with a faint hum that set my teeth on edge. The hallways were lined with smooth, white walls that seemed to stretch forever, interrupted only by doors with cryptic labels like "Bio-Containment" and "Neural Mapping."

Jason was stumbling beside me, barely able to keep up. When we passed a room with a glass wall, I caught a glimpse of what lay inside—and my stomach churned.

There were people—men, women, even kids—suspended in glowing tubes filled with some kind of liquid. Wires were connected to their heads and chests, and their eyes were closed, as if they were asleep. Or worse.

"Move it," a hunter barked, shoving me forward.

They brought us into a smaller room, stark and clinical. A single chair sat in the center, surrounded by machines that looked like they belonged in a sci-fi nightmare. Jason and I were shoved into opposite corners, our restraints swapped for thick cuffs attached to the walls.

I glanced at Jason, who was trembling, his eyes darting around the room.

"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's gonna be okay. Just... stay calm."

Before he could answer, the door hissed open, and a man stepped inside. He was tall, with silver hair neatly combed back and cold, calculating eyes behind wire-framed glasses.

"I'm Dr. Westbrook," he said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "And you two are about to help us make history."

Dr. Westbrook's POV

The older boy glared at me, defiant even in his helpless state. I admired that kind of fire—it made the experiments all the more fascinating. The younger one, however, was a different story. He was on the verge of breaking, and I could see the fear in his wide, tear-filled eyes.

Good. Fear made subjects compliant.

I approached the older boy first, noting the way his muscles tensed as I stepped closer. "You must be Ethan," I said, scanning his face. "And your brother... Jason, I presume."

Ethan didn't respond, but his jaw tightened, and I could practically feel the anger radiating off him.

"Your genetics are... fascinating," I continued, turning to the holographic monitor beside me. Data about their DNA scrolled across the screen, confirming what I'd suspected. "You're not like the others we've studied. There's something unique about your kind."

Jason whimpered, drawing my attention. I crouched in front of him, forcing him to meet my gaze.

"You're scared," I said softly, almost kindly. "That's normal. But soon, you'll realize this is for the greater good."

Jason's POV

I wanted to scream, to tell him to stay away, but my voice caught in my throat. He smiled at me—not a kind smile, but one that sent a chill down my spine.

I glanced at Ethan, desperate for reassurance. He was thrashing against his cuffs, yelling at the man.

"Leave him alone!" Ethan shouted. "You hear me? Leave him alone!"

The scientist ignored him, standing and turning back to his machines. He tapped a few buttons, and the room filled with a low hum. One of the machines began to move, a long, needle-like arm extending toward Ethan.

"Let's begin," the scientist said.