In the heart of a futuristic laboratory buzzing with technology, the machines emitted intermittent mechanical whispers, as if speaking in a language understood only by their creator. 'Mike' stood in front of a table laden with precise tools, watching the doctor, 'Alexander', who was absorbed in his work as usual. The massive machine occupying the center of the room radiated an energy field that drew attention, but something about it made Mike feel uneasy.

- "Alexander, will I ever understand what you're doing here?" Mike asked lazily, as if not expecting an answer.

- "Maybe not today, Mike. Some things aren’t understood by words, but by experience."

Mike smiled sarcastically as he gazed at the machine. He was no stranger to the doctor's mysterious nature, but today, he sensed something was different. The man's movements were more focused, his features more serious than usual.

***

After a few tense minutes of silence, Mike broke the stillness with a quiet voice:

- "Do you know why I’ve stayed here all this time? Because I’m the only one who can tolerate you."

The doctor raised his head and turned toward Mike with a slight smile:

- "Oh, Mike, your presence here is no accident. You’re more important than you think."

Mike chuckled mockingly, but he felt an odd sting in his chest. Something in the doctor's tone made him wonder: "Does he mean what he’s saying? Or is this just an attempt to keep me here?"

***

The doctor returned to his work, pressing a few buttons on a control panel connected to the machine. The lights began to dim and brighten in an erratic rhythm, while a low humming sound grew louder. Mike sat in a nearby chair, watching the scene without showing any real interest, but deep down, he was ready to flee at any moment if something went wrong.

- "What is this machine?" Mike finally asked, after a long silence.

- "It’s something that will change everything. Something the world has never known before."

The doctor’s answer was as vague as usual, but his eyes, gleaming with light reflected from the machine, held promises of something greater than Mike could ever imagine.

***

Hours passed slowly, and with every minute, the machine seemed to be nearing completion. Mike stood in a corner of the room, watching the doctor as he connected wires and adjusted buttons. Suddenly, the doctor turned toward him and said:

- "Mike, I’ll need your help now."

- "My help? I don’t even understand what you’re doing."

- "You don’t need to understand. Just do what I ask, and you’ll be part of something great."

Mike hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. He approached the machine cautiously, while the doctor gave him simple instructions.

***

The two of them stood before the machine once the preparations were complete. Mike stared at the metal circles that slowly began to rotate, emitting a sound similar to the hum of a distant engine. Something inside him screamed to flee, but he ignored the feeling.

- "Alexander, if this thing explodes, I’m the first one out of here."

The doctor chuckled lightly and said:

- "Don’t worry, Mike. Everything’s under control… almost."

The "almost" was enough to stir his anxiety. Mike gave the doctor a long look, but said nothing.

***

The lights surrounding the machine grew brighter, and a brilliant blue light flooded the room. Mike tried to shield his eyes with his hand, but he felt strange vibrations passing through his body. Suddenly, the air around him grew heavy, as if the entire room were shrinking.

- "Alexander! What’s happening?!" Mike shouted, trying to retreat.

But before he could move, a mysterious force pulled him toward the machine. His body lifted off the ground, slowly disappearing into the dazzling light.

The doctor stood watching, his eyes wide, as if something had gone wrong. He ran toward the control panel, pressing several buttons in a desperate attempt to stop the process.

- "Mike! Hold on! This wasn’t supposed to happen now!"

But Mike’s voice vanished completely, and only the echo of his last scream resonated throughout the laboratory. The machine stopped abruptly, and everything returned to silence.

The doctor stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, then wiped his forehead and looked up. A mysterious smile spread across his face, and he whispered barely audibly:

- "Finally... it’s begun."

Chapter Two:

When **Maik** opened his eyes, nothing seemed familiar. The sky was blanketed with gray clouds, and the air carried the scent of damp earth. He looked around and found himself in a deserted street surrounded by crumbling buildings with battered wooden doors. Everything felt like it had leapt out of a history book.

- “What is this place? How did I get here?” he muttered to himself, trying to grasp what was happening.

He started walking hesitantly, glancing left and right, but the streets were utterly empty, save for the sound of the wind rattling broken windows. Suddenly, an old man emerged from one of the alleys, walking slowly toward him. His eyes carried an unusual mix of wisdom and caution.

- “You’re new here, aren’t you?” the old man said in a low yet clear voice.

Maik stopped, staring at him for a moment before replying,

- “Where am I? What is this place?”

The old man smiled faintly and said,

- “You are in a place where only those meant to be here arrive. But your question is not about the place... It’s about the reason.”

Maik felt deeply unsettled but decided to follow the man when he motioned toward a narrow alley. The alley was dark and tight, the walls covered in moss, adding to his unease.

- “Wait! What do you mean by ‘the reason’? Why am I here?” Maik asked abruptly.

The old man stopped and gave him an enigmatic look:

- “Time tests everyone in its own way. Don’t worry, you’ll find your answers soon enough.”

As Maik continued to explore the strange place with the old man, fragmented memories began surfacing in his mind. Blurry images, distant voices, and a peculiar feeling that he wasn’t alone in this place despite its eerie stillness.

- “There’s something I don’t understand… Everything feels wrong,” Maik said, glancing around nervously.

- “Everything has a purpose, even chaos,” the old man replied, his tone unwavering.

Maik felt as though he was on the brink of losing his composure. The old man’s cryptic words only added to his frustration instead of providing clarity.

- “I don’t want riddles. I want answers!” Maik shouted angrily, facing the man.

- “Your answers aren’t with me. They lie within you. You have to search for them.”

Before Maik could respond, a sharp headache consumed him. He closed his eyes, feeling like the entire world was spinning around him.

When he opened his eyes again, the scene had completely changed. He was standing in a small room, dimly lit by a single flickering bulb. The air reeked of blood, and his hands... they were smeared with it too.

He looked around in shock and found himself surrounded by lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground. The sight was horrifying. He tried to breathe, but the air felt suffocating.

- “What… what have I done?!” he muttered in a trembling voice, staring at the knife clutched in his hand.

He stepped cautiously toward one of the bodies, desperate to understand what was happening. The room looked like a crime scene, but the worst part was that he was the only one there.

- “This… this can’t be real. I didn’t do this!”

But no one was there to hear him. The echo of his voice bounced off the walls, as if mocking him. He felt a shiver run through his body, as though everything inside him screamed that he didn’t belong here.

He tried to recall what had happened, but his mind was blank, save for disjointed flashes he couldn’t piece together. All he knew was that he had no explanation for what was happening, and he needed to get out before becoming a victim of whatever he didn’t understand.

Maik bolted out of the room, his steps faltering in his panic. He stopped for a moment in a narrow hallway, gasping for air, before catching a glimpse of his reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall. His eyes held a look he didn’t recognize... the gaze of someone merciless.

- “Who am I? What’s happening to me?”