chapter six:
❛ the Stanisława project ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Scarlett walked through the dimly lit lab simulation, her pixie cut feeling alien against her neck. The last thing she remembered was Eleven running off, and now she found herself in this strange place, unsure of how she got here. Her heart pounded as she took in the sterile surroundings of the lab, the hum of machinery echoing in the silence.

She sighed in frustration and sat down across from a boy who was absorbed in a game of chess. His concentration was intense, but he barely acknowledged her presence. Scarlett's thoughts were a whirlwind. "I don't understand why I'm here," she said aloud, her voice tinged with confusion.

The blonde man who had initially brought her to this room appeared again, his smile unsettling and enigmatic. He turned to face her, his eyes locking with hers. "Seven, you're here for a reason," he said cryptically before turning away once more. Scarlett blinked, trying to process his words and the unsettling feeling they left behind. "Okay, that definitely wasn't weird..." she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Suddenly, a voice echoed around the room, resonating from nowhere and everywhere all at once. "Scarlett, you must remember. Stanisława Tomczyk, a woman who claimed to have telekinesis, went through similar trials. She experienced profound changes-both physical and mental. Your journey is linked to hers."

Scarlett looked around, searching for the source of the voice. Her heart raced as the disembodied words seemed to reverberate through her very being. The voice fell silent, leaving her in eerie quiet.

The blonde man reappeared, now stepping closer to her with a more tangible presence. Scarlett stood up, her eyes wide with apprehension. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and unease.

The man's smile widened, though it did little to reassure her. "Seven, remember? I'm your cousin," he said, his voice laced with a casual familiarity that only deepened her confusion.

Scarlett's jaw dropped in shock, her mind racing to reconcile the revelation. "My cousin? But I-" Her words faltered, unable to bridge the gap between the reality she knew and the bizarre situation she found herself in.

The man's eyes softened slightly, his smile now carrying a hint of understanding. "Yes, your cousin, Henry. There's much you need to remember, Seven." He stepped closer, but Scarlett took a step back, her confusion and anxiety mounting.

Harvey poked his head out of the van, squinting against the blinding sunlight. The desolate landscape stretched endlessly, interrupted only by the solitary phone booth standing like a relic from another era. "There's one!" Harvey shouted, his voice straining against the roar of the van's engine.

Arygle, who was driving, glanced at Harvey with a confused look. "There's one what?"

Harvey's frustration was palpable. "Slow down! Slow down!" he bellowed, his hands gesticulating wildly. Mike joined in, his voice rising in urgency.

"Slow down, Arygle!" Mike yelled, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and concern.

Arygle's irritation bubbled over. "Stop barking orders at me!" he snapped, and with a huff, he slammed on the brakes. The van screeched to a halt, tires skidding on the dusty road. Harvey, unprepared for the abrupt stop, was flung out of the window. He hit the ground with a thud, pain radiating sharply through his side.

Will, who had been sitting in the back, threw open the van doors and leapt out. His face was a mask of worry. "Harv, are you okay!?" he called, rushing over to Harvey, who was slowly pushing himself upright from the dirt.

Harvey groaned, rubbing his side. "Yep, I think I'm alive," he managed, though his voice was strained. Will reached down, offering his hand. Harvey grabbed it, and with a heave, Will helped him back on his feet. Harvey dusted himself off, wincing as he straightened up.

Jonathan and Mike, who had also disembarked, joined the others at the phone booth. The booth looked ancient, its glass slightly cracked and grime-streaked. Mike, ever the practical one, retrieved a quarter from his pocket and dropped it into the slot with a metallic clink.

Will, peering at the booth's faded instructions, read aloud, "202-968-6161. This is the number Doorguy left for us."

Mike dialed the number with a steady hand, his eyes focused. The phone emitted a series of strange, garbled noises, rather than the expected ring. "Is it ringing?" Jonathan asked, leaning in.

"No, it's making a bunch of weird noises," Mike said, a note of frustration creeping into his voice as he squinted at the phone, trying to make sense of the sound.

"Busy signal?" Harvey suggested, though his tone was more speculative than certain.

Mike passed the receiver to Will. "Listen to this," he said, his eyes alight with a mix of hope and curiosity. Will took the receiver, holding it up to his ear. The sound that met him was a mix of static and digital interference, a distorted melody of beeps and whirs.

"Doesn't that remind you of something?" Mike asked, his gaze fixed on Will.

Will's face lit up with recognition. "Wargames," he said slowly, the name rolling off his tongue as if he were trying to recall a distant memory.

Harvey and Jonathan exchanged bewildered looks. "What?" Jonathan asked, clearly puzzled by the reference.

"Here, let me try," Jonathan said, reaching for the receiver. He held it to his ear, his expression growing more focused as he listened. Harvey, not wanting to miss anything, did the same. Their faces gradually shifted from confusion to realization.

"Oh my god, we're not calling a phone," Harvey exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement and disbelief. "We're calling a computer."

Jonathan's eyes widened in surprise. "A computer? But why would-"

"Maybe it's not just a phone booth," Harvey interjected, his mind racing. "Maybe it's a gateway. It could be a means to access something else."

Will nodded, absorbing the implications. "If it's a computer, then we need to figure out how to interact with it."

Mike approached the group with a serious expression, carrying an oversized map that he carefully laid out on the dusty ground next to the old phone booth. The sun was setting, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, and casting long shadows over the barren landscape. The phone booth, a relic of a bygone era, stood starkly against the desolate backdrop.

"I don't know if Nina and Stanisława are a computer like Joshua or Owens' lab," Mike began, pointing at various locations on the map with a sense of urgency. His finger traced the route they would need to follow. "But Doorguy gave us access to it for a reason."

The group watched as Mike pulled open the trunk of the van, revealing various tools, supplies, and the map he had been studying. He yanked out a few items and laid the map flat on the ground, the wrinkles and creases from its previous use adding to its rugged appearance. Mike's focus was unwavering as he marked out their next steps.

"We just need to find the computer. Once we locate Owens, we can warn him. Then we need to warn Eleven and Scarlett. But first, I need a hacker. The only hacker I know lives..." Mike paused dramatically, pointing at a specific location on the map. "In Utah."

Jonathan's eyes widened, and he looked up from the map with disbelief. "Wait, Utah?"

"Salt Lake City, to be specific," Mike clarified, his finger lingering on the map.

Will's reaction was immediate. "Oh my god," he muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and disbelief.

Harvey looked around at the others, clearly confused. "What? Why 'oh my god'?"

Will grinned slightly, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. He began to sing in a playful tone, "Turn around, look at what you seeeee," referring to the song from the film Neverending Story.

Harvey blinked, clearly puzzled. "I don't get it," he said, shaking his head.

Arygle, catching on, explained with a knowing look, "Neverending Story. That scared the shit out of me. The Nothing, man? That's some proper existential shit, dude."

Harvey shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "Never seen it. My parents are super religious and won't let me watch a bunch of movies. I have to watch Christian movies."

Jonathan shot Mike a skeptical look. "You can't be serious."

Mike met Jonathan's gaze with a determined expression. "If we take the I-15 North, we'll get there by morning."

Jonathan's frustration was evident as he responded, "Oh, you're serious."

Mike remained steadfast. "I know it sounds insane, but Suzie saved the world last year. If she hadn't, Scarlett and Eleven would be dead right now. Maybe she can save it again."

Scarlett stared at Henry, her mind racing as she tried to grasp the implications of his revelation. "Y-you're my cousin? H-how?" she stuttered, her voice trembling with confusion and disbelief. Her surroundings seemed to shudder and flicker, causing her to whip around and watch as the world around her began to dissolve.

The lab simulation, once a surreal but tangible reality, started to break apart, giving way to a more familiar yet unsettling space. Scarlett saw her grandmother Elaine step forward from the dissolving mist. The room, now a distorted memory of her past, flickered between her current nightmare and the comforting presence of her grandmother.

"Michelle," Elaine's voice echoed softly, filled with warmth and a hint of sadness. Scarlett's heart raced as she saw Elaine approaching, her presence grounding her in the midst of the chaos.

"I'm back in my...void?" Scarlett asked, her voice cracking as she looked around, feeling the blend of reality and memory collide. Elaine placed her hands gently on Scarlett's shoulders, her touch bringing a brief respite from the confusion.

"I missed you, my Michelle. You're getting closer to the truth," Elaine said, her eyes filled with an earnest concern. She then cupped Scarlett's face tenderly. "I'm getting c-closer? I just found out I have a cousin named Harvey. That's not the truth?" Scarlett's disbelief was palpable, her eyes wide with the strain of trying to comprehend the revelations.

Elaine sighed, shaking her head slowly. "There's more to the story, Michelle. And you are not ready yet. You still need to regain more of your memories. Take one memory at a time. You can't overwhelm yourself."

Scarlett frowned, opening her mouth to argue, but her words were cut off as Elaine began to dissolve into thin air, the comforting presence of her grandmother disappearing like mist. Scarlett was abruptly pulled back into the lab simulation, the room now dark and silent. Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned back to Henry, who stood watching her with a cryptic smile.

"You're my cousin?" Scarlett asked again, her voice trembling with renewed confusion. Henry, unfazed, rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattooed number '001'. Scarlett's eyes widened in recognition and fear. She hesitated for a moment before lifting her own sleeve to reveal her wrist marked with '007', which began to glow with an eerie blue light.

A door, bathed in rainbow hues, opened behind Henry, and he quickly stepped back, casting a sly wink at Scarlett. "Our little secret," he whispered, his voice low and conspiratorial. Scarlett furrowed her brows, trying to piece together the significance of his words and the glowing numbers.

Dr. Brennar, who had been observing silently from a distance, finally spoke up. "Seven, it's your time." His tone was firm yet oddly reassuring. Scarlett, still unsure of what was unfolding, looked warily at Henry before walking towards Dr. Brennar.

"Yes, Papa..." Scarlett trailed off, taking Dr. Brennar's hand. As they walked down the sterile, brightly lit hallways, Scarlett glanced back at Henry, who waved a final time before disappearing through the rainbow door.

Dr. Brennar opened a heavy door for Scarlett, ushering her inside. As soon as the door closed behind her, the room was enveloped in darkness. Scarlett's heart raced as she slammed her fists against the door. "Let me out!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the pitch-black room. The darkness seemed to press in on her, amplifying her fear and desperation. "Let me out! Let me fucking out!" she screamed, her voice cracking with panic.

Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation at her fingertips-an electric tingling that seemed to pulse through her. The lights flickered on, and Scarlett gasped as the dim light revealed a scene of devastation. Blood trickled down from her nose, and she felt an overwhelming rush of fear and confusion. She looked down at her hands, now crackling with electricity, but also streaked with blood. The sight made her breath come in rapid, shallow gasps.

As she continued to stare at her hands, she heard a scream pierce through the darkness. Her pulse quickened as she opened the door and was met with a horrifying scene. The room beyond was covered in blood, with dead bodies scattered around. "No, no..." Scarlett muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she ran her hands through her hair in a frantic gesture. The sheer horror of the sight left her paralyzed, unable to process the full scope of the nightmare before her.

In the real world, Scarlett's body began to shake violently in the water of the tank, her distress manifesting physically as her mind grappled with the harrowing images and sensations from the simulation.

Scarlett gasped and her eyes shot open as a defibrillator was pressed against her chest, delivering a jolt of electricity that surged through her body. The shock forced her upright, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she clutched her chest, trying to steady her racing heart. She blinked rapidly, taking in the sight of the clinical room filled with doctors and medical equipment.

Dr. Brennar's face loomed above her, his expression one of intense concentration mixed with a touch of pride. Beside him, Dr. Owens was giving her a reassuring wave. Scarlett's gaze shifted to another table where Eleven lay, just beginning to stir. Oxygen was being administered to her, the mask covering her face as she blinked groggily.

Dr. Brennar approached Eleven, his voice calm and authoritative. "It's okay, Eleven and Seven. It will take time to adjust. But you're both safe now, hmm?" he said, his tone meant to soothe.

Scarlett's eyes widened as Eleven, now more alert, suddenly grabbed the defibrillator from the nearby table and, with a swift, decisive motion, swung it at Dr. Brennar's head. The impact sent Dr. Brennar stumbling back, a pained expression crossing his face as he clutched his head.

Dr. Owens' eyes widened in alarm as Eleven, now fully awake, sprang up from her table and made a dash for the exit. The room erupted into chaos as Dr. Brennar and a group of agents scrambled after her, their footsteps echoing down the hall.

Scarlett watched the commotion with a mix of disbelief and concern. Dr. Owens turned to her, his expression a mix of sympathy and professionalism. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice steady despite the surrounding turmoil.

Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "I feel more... controlled," she said slowly, glancing down at her hands as if trying to gauge the extent of her newfound stability. "But I can still feel the electricity trying to break free, like it's just below the surface, ready to explode if I let it."

Dr. Owens nodded, listening carefully. "That's understandable. The process of adjusting to your powers after such an intense experience can be challenging. It will take time for you to fully control and integrate your abilities."

Scarlett sighed, her gaze following the path of the chaotic retreat of Dr. Brennar and his team. "What happens now?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of worry and exhaustion.

Dr. Owens placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Now, we need to make sure both you and Eleven are stabilized and given the care you need. The priority is to ensure you're safe and that you can regain full control over your abilities. For now, let's focus on your recovery."

Scarlett nodded, though her mind was still racing with the events that had transpired. The image of Eleven's sudden and aggressive escape weighed heavily on her, and the thought of what might come next loomed large in her mind.

ASH SPEAKS!

i love harvey and will... i miss mike and scarlett:(

i love how eleven just keeps taking off and scarlett is just like 🧍‍♀️

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)