ACCIDENTALLY HIS LAB EXPERIMENT

CHAPTER 22: TRAINING LOOP -DAY 2

SELENE POV

I was back at the training room.The lights were cold. The air still smelled like metal and sweat.

My body was sore from yesterday. Four hours of noise. One small win. My throat felt dry.

I sat in the center circle on the floor. My back was straight. My hands rested on my knees. I tried to keep them still.

Virek stood at the control panel. I couldn't get used to his height. He did not waste words. “Three voices today,” he said. “Filter one. Hold five seconds. This is the next step.”

Yesterday was one voice. Today was three. Tomorrow would be more. That was the training loop. Fail. Learn. Try again.

The small steel door at the back opened. Vant walked in. His suit was wrinkled at the shoulders. I guess he came through the secret passage from the Starfall facility. Nolan’s monsters can never trail him.

Vant stopped and looked at Virek first. He did not speak to me until Virek spoke.

“Dr. Vant,” Virek said. His voice was formal. “Trainer Virek reporting. Subject S-01 reached five point two seconds yesterday with one voice. Today we begin three voice filtering.”

Vant nodded once. “Status?”

“Helm at plus one percent,” Virek said. “Vitals stable. Subject is ready.”

“Begin,” Vant said. He moved to the side of the room. Arms crossed. Watching. He didn't glance my way. I felt hurt for a second but snapped out of it.

Virek pressed a button. Sound filled the room. Three voices at the same time. The first was Dr. Vant’s recording from yesterday. The second was a nurse reading numbers. The third was static with words buried inside.

One second. I closed my eyes. I searched for Dr. Vant’s voice in the noise. I tried to hold it. I let the other two voices slide past me.

Two seconds. The Apex pushed back. Heat rose in my chest. It hated noise. It wanted silence. It wanted to hunt.

Three seconds. Blue marks burned behind my ears. My teeth felt sharp. My nails wanted to become claws.

Four seconds. The nurse’s voice got louder in my head. The static pulled at my mind.

Four point six seconds. I could not hold it. I screamed “Off.”

Virek clicked his wrist device. The room went silent.

I dropped onto my hands and knees. My chest was heaving. I could not get enough air.

Virek looked at his timer. “Four point six seconds,” he said. No smile. No frown. “Fail. But closer.”

The main door opened. Jaren walked in. He stopped a few feet away and bowed his head to Virek slightly. A greeting gesture. “Trainer Virek,” he said. His voice was respectful. “Message from confinement. Cael requested I deliver it before session ended.”

The word attracted Vants attention. His face hardened. I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel Vant never liked Cael, and their feelings were mutual.

Virek’s eyes narrowed. “Confinement messages use official channels.”

“Yes, Trainer,” Jaren said. He stepped back one small step. “Cael said the message is time sensitive. It relates to Selene’s breathing.”

Virek looked at Vant. Vant gave a small nod. Permission.

“Go on ” Virek said.

Jaren turned to me. His voice was even. “Cael said breathe out longer than you breathe in,” he said. “The Apex hates long exhales.”

That was all. Cael was locked in confinement for interfering with my training. But his words still reached me.

Virek nodded. “Thank you, Jaren,” he said. “Return to your station.”

“Yes, Trainer,” Jaren said. He bowed his head again and left through the main door.

Vant walked over to me. He did not touch me. He just stood close enough that I could hear his breathing. “Breathe out longer,” he said quietly. Like it was his idea and not Cael's. Was this man jealous? I couldn't help but smile a bit.

I nodded. My hands were still shaking, but less now.

Virek restarted the sound. Three voices again.

I closed my eyes and breathed in for three counts. Then I breathed out for five counts. Long exhale. Cael’s trick.

One second. I found Dr. Vant’s voice. I held it.

Two seconds. I let the nurse’s voice pass by. I did not grab it.

Three seconds. The static pushed at my mind. I breathed out longer.

Four seconds. The blue marks stayed dim. They did not flare up.

Five seconds.

The timer beeped. Virek stopped the sound.

Silence came back. Real silence.

Virek checked his wrist. “Five point zero seconds,” he said. “Pass.”

Relief hit me hard. My shoulders dropped. I did not fall. I stayed sitting straight. But inside I wanted to cry.

Vant exhaled. It was a small sound, but I heard it. “Good,” he said. One word. His voice was softer than usual. We stood there staring at each other for what felt like minutes.

"Enh ehm." Virex cleared his throat. The sound made me snap back to reality. Vant was still staring at me.

Virek turned off the panel. “We stop here today,” he said. “Tomorrow we try five seconds with four voices. You will fail many times. You will win a few times. That is how control is built.”

The main door opened. A guard leaned in. “Mr. Virek, Professor Kade wants today’s report. Dr. Vant is expected back at the Starfall facility tonight. Richard Thorn is asking more questions.”

Virek nodded. “Tell Professor Kade we made progress. Four point six to five point zero. Subject is stable. Helm remains at plus one percent.”

The guard left and closed the door.

Jaren came back in with a towel. He was about handing it to me but Vant took it from him and wiped sweat from my forehead gently. I caught my breath. What was he doing? My skin felt hot. The blue marks were fading.

Jaren step back watching with a knowing smile on his face. I remembered what he said yesterday. Jarens woman?

I don't blame him, I blame Vant for giving them the wrong idea.

Virek walked past us toward the small steel door. He paused. “Jaren,” he said without turning. “Your note about breathing was useful. Add it to your training plan for tomorrow. Submit it through the proper channel before 0800.”

Jaren stood straight. “Yes, Trainer Virek. Thank you, sir.”

Virek pressed his palm to the scanner. The small steel door slid open. Vant stood up and stepped toward it.

“I need to return to the facility,” Vant looked back at me and said. “Richard cannot be left alone." He looked at me one last time.Then he stepped into the dark tunnel. The door closed behind him.

I stared at the closed door. Alot had changed in my life just because of one careless accident. Everyone's life could be in danger because of me.

Nolan and his monsters were the enemy. They wanted me as a weapon.

And I was here, learning to breathe out longer than I breathed in.

It was not enough. I need to try harder.

---

_[VANT POV - CUT]_

Vant drove through the secret passage in an electronic car specially built for the environment. The walls were concrete and damp. Lights ran along the ceiling every ten meters. The air smelled like salt and metal.

The passage stretched for miles under the sea bed. But the transport system was faster It took only Thirty minutes. Hours by car and boat above. The passage kept them hidden from Nolan’s satellites.

He reached the mainland exit. The car opened automatically immediately it stopped. Vant stepped out of it adjusting his cuffs, as he stepped forward. There was a door, it scanned his palm and opened into a service corridor beneath the Starfall facility. No cameras here.

He straightened his suit and used the elevator that took him up to the lobby.

Richard Thorn was still there. He was talking to his security chief. “I know she is here somewhere,” Richard said.”

Vant stepped into the light. His face was neutral again. “Mr. Thorn,” he said. “Your contract documents are ready for review at nine in the morning.”

Richard Thorne turned. His eyes were sharp. “Dr. Vant. You keep disappearing. Where do you go?”

“To check facility security,” Vant said. It was a simple lie. “We take threats seriously here.”

Richard did not look convinced. “I want to see my daughter,” he said.

"I was told she went on a work trip with you."

Vant smiled. It did not reach his eyes.

" By who if I may ask" he said taking a step closer to Mr Thorne. Calm and intimidating.

" Her friend at work told me, you can't blame a father for checking after his own daughter." Mr Thorne replied defensively.

" You mean stepdaughter. I never heard much about you from Dr Selene." Vant said narrowing his eyes. The tension in the room was getting stronger. "You were never close. We both know you only care about your money and fame.So why the sudden show of care? Is there something you're hiding from me Mr Thorne?" Vant asked stepping closer. He was just few meters away from Mr Thorne, looking down at him. He was taller so Mr Thorne had to look up.

" Well I tend to take my work seriously and away from personal matters." Mr Thorne said stepping back a bit.

“Then focus on the contract first,” Vant said. “Business before family. That is how Starfall works.”

Mr Thorne narrowed his eyes and smiled. Once again Vant has trampled on his ego. He was not going to let Vant go for that. " Fine, business it is." He said, faking a smile.

Vant turned to another passage way " let's head to my office and talk there." He said point the way for Mr Thorne. Mr Thorne walked past him humming to himself.

Vant sighed in relief and whispered to himself “Little thorn. Keep breathing. I will keep them away from you.”

Nolan was watching from the dark using Mr Thorne as his puppet to find Selene. Professor Kade was guarding the academy’s secret.

Vant walked toward Richard. With determination on his face and something else, something dangerous.