Counter Attacks

answers

The orphanage loomed in the distance, its towering structure casting an unsettling shadow over the group as they approached. It was silent, too silent, and the air felt thick with dread, as if the building itself was holding its breath, waiting for them to enter.

Iris’s heart pounded in her chest. She glanced around at the group, each person ready to move, but there was an unspoken tension among them. No one had to say it— they all felt it: this place was dangerous.

"Stay sharp," Iris whispered as she led the way. "We’re not just here for answers. We’re here to survive."

They crept toward the front entrance, the old wooden doors creaking slightly as the wind pushed against them. No sign of anyone outside.

The group quickly split into their pairs, moving into their assigned positions. Iris stayed at the front with Evan and Silas, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner.

"Something’s off about this place," Silas muttered, his voice low.

Iris nodded, her instincts telling her to be on edge. They were about to uncover the truth behind everything—the scars, the messages, the whispers. But she had a feeling that this orphanage was hiding something far darker than they could ever have imagined.

As they stepped inside, the temperature seemed to drop. The air was musty and damp, the halls dark, and the walls covered with peeling paint. There was a faint smell of decay in the air.

"Stay close," Iris ordered, as they moved deeper into the building. The silence felt unnerving—as if the walls themselves were watching, waiting for them to make a move.

Suddenly, a low, guttural sound echoed through the halls, sending a shiver down Iris’s spine. It was barely audible, but it was enough to freeze everyone in their tracks.

"I heard that," Evan said quietly, his eyes scanning the darkness.

Iris didn’t say anything. She couldn’t—her thoughts were racing. What was that noise? What was hiding in this place?

They moved cautiously toward the source of the sound, each step measured, careful. As they rounded a corner, they saw a door at the end of the hall, slightly ajar, with an unnatural light flickering from inside.

Without a word, they advanced toward it. But as they neared the door, a shadow shifted in the corner, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

It was a person—a woman, but something about her was wrong.

Her eyes were empty, and her face was gaunt, like she hadn’t seen sunlight in years. She was dressed in a tattered old uniform, one that seemed far too familiar.

Iris’s breath caught in her throat. "Who… who are you?"

The woman tilted her head, a twisted smile spreading across her face.

"I’ve been waiting for you, Iris."

And just like that, everything shifted. The building seemed to come alive, the air growing thick with a dark energy, and the truth Iris had been searching for suddenly felt like it was about to swallow her

The woman’s laughter echoed in the cold, dimly lit room as she took a step closer to Iris, her movements deliberate and predatory. Her voice was a soft whisper that sent a chill down Iris’s spine.

"You think you were lucky, don’t you?" she sneered. "All of you... taken from your families, raised by me, molded into the perfect creations."

Iris’s heart pounded. What did she mean?

The woman continued, her eyes glowing with an unsettling passion. "You were never meant to have families. Your real parents—they weren’t even your real parents. I stole you. All of you. I turned you into something more. And you, Iris… You and Evan were always the most special."

The words struck Iris like a slap. Stolen? She wasn’t just an orphan. She was part of a twisted experiment.

She glanced at Evan, his face contorted with a mixture of fury and disbelief. His body tensed, and he clenched his fists, but his eyes… his eyes reflected the same confusion that mirrored Iris’s own.

Before either of them could speak, the woman raised her hand. In her grip was a large syringe, the needle gleaming ominously in the dim light. "I’m giving you a gift," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "A final dose. You’ll be perfected. You’ll be mine."

Iris froze, her breath catching in her throat. The thought of the needle coming toward her made her skin crawl. She couldn’t let this happen.

Just as the woman lunged forward, a blur of movement shot past Iris.

Evan.

In a flash, he knocked the woman’s arm aside, sending the syringe skittering across the floor. He stepped between Iris and the woman, his body acting as a shield.

"No!" he shouted, his voice raw. "You’re not going to hurt her. Not anymore."

The woman’s eyes flashed with fury, her grip tightening around the syringe. "You think you can stop me, Evan? You’re just as much a part of this as she is. You’re nothing but my creation!"

Iris took a step back, her heart racing, as the woman glared at them. But Evan stood firm, his jaw clenched with resolve.

"I’m done being your puppet," Evan snarled. "I’ve been living a lie. And so have you, Iris."

Iris’s mind spun as the woman hissed in frustration. "You can’t escape what you are. You can’t escape me!"

The air around them felt like it was closing in, the walls pressing down on them, but something inside Iris began to awaken.

Visions—blurry, fragmented flashes—flashed in front of her eyes. She saw herself as a child, locked in a cage. She saw Evan, just a few years older than her, trapped in the same place, the same dark room.

Her vision blurred again, and she gasped as the images came faster. She saw the woman’s face, but it was different—younger, standing beside her. The woman was wearing the same cold smile as now, but she looked… different, almost like she had a purpose she was chasing.

The memories flooded in, disjointed, like a puzzle that wasn’t meant to be solved.

"Iris?" Evan’s voice snapped her back to reality. He grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her lightly. "Iris, stay with me."

"I… I saw something," Iris whispered, still dazed.

The woman’s voice cut through their conversation. "You can’t run from the truth, Iris. You were never meant to escape."

But Evan wasn’t backing down. He turned to face the woman, his voice low but fierce. "I’m not the same person you molded. I’m done with your lies."

And with that, he lunged at the woman, a powerful surge of energy pushing him forward.

The woman staggered back, eyes wide in shock. "You think you can stop me? You’ll never escape what you are!"

Iris stepped forward, adrenaline surging through her. The scar on her arm throbbed violently, and for a brief moment, she felt a power awakening inside her, something ancient and raw. She could feel the connection between her and Evan, the bond they shared. They were meant to fight together.

As Evan stood ready to face the woman, Iris grabbed the syringe that had fallen to the ground, her hand shaking.

"You’ve already hurt us enough," she said, her voice trembling but full of conviction.

And without thinking, Iris threw the syringe at the woman, the needle piercing her arm.

The woman gasped in shock, her hands going to the wound. She staggered back, eyes wild with pain and fury.

"You’re making a mistake!" the woman shouted, stumbling. "This isn’t over!"

But the damage had been done. The woman's hold on the orphanage—on their lives—was slipping away.

As she collapsed to the floor, Evan and Iris stood side by side, breathing heavily. Their scars burned with intensity, but they felt stronger than they ever had before.

The truth was finally within their reach.

And they had each other to fight with.