Nightshift 22: Hallway incorporating the Morgue and Experimental Treatments Lab

[grosse_sklaven]

((Coming from here.Adelheid was rather glad that they hadn't run into more surprises like the spider that they had left behind, and moreso that the group seemed to be okay. He was worried about Kaylee, she seemed to be worried all over again, but for now he had to lead and make sure that their exploration ended well

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[grosse_sklaven]

((From the previous thread.))

Now that he was off on his own, and having made sure that Kaylee was safely on her way, Adelheid turned back to the door that Jack had picked just before leaving, striding through that first room. It seemed to be some kind of decontamination room, which wasn't too surprising; this place seemed to be a lab of some sort in addition to a mental health institute.

The problem, as he bashed open the unlocked door and stepped into a laboratory, was that his body was starting to wear out. He had ignored it the entire time he was with Jack and Kaylee, but now that he was on his own... he was tired. His head spun if he turned too quickly, his limbs felt heavy, and trying to think was an ordeal. But there were so few opportunities to sleep, and he had to keep going

[damned_monsters]

Many of the cages were empty and hanging open; others were closed, eyes glittering in the flashlights beam as it swept by him. The smell was intensely unpleasant, thick cloying animal musk, blood, and rot.

The room filled with the sound of its cage residents growling and spitting, shifting in their cages, claws clicking as they paced. Then, to the side, the sound again, an animal in pain. Without the door to muffle it, it was clearly a kitten, the sound a pathetic one of an animal in agony.

[Katsu]

[grosse_sklaven]

Adelheid knew that, more than likely, it was all just a trap. The fight against those demonic children still lingered in his mind, and because of that he was still completely at the alert as he slowly made his way through the cages, constantly checking as to whether there were any signs of attack. His spear was heavy, but he still held it easily for the moment.

At the same time, however, he couldn't just leave the kitten where it was. Gwan, his adorable little panther kitten, had been rescued from another research institute, so it would be the height of hypocrisy to not at least do what he could.

That, and he had heard that all of the animals changed into monsters at night. If that wasn't the case, then perhaps not all of the staff would transform, either? It was worth investigating, at least.

[damned_monsters]

The kitten was in a cage in the far corner of the room; as Adel approached, its cries became more pitiful, more pained.

His flashlight revealed a tiny black kitten laying in a cage. One of its legs was twisted and baren of hair; tubes stuck from its gut in a plastic parody of intestines. Part of its tiny skull was missing. But its eyes were still as any kitten's would be; large and liquid and full of pain. It look at Adelheid with the trusting accusation of a tiny child, almost seeming to ask, You're god, why can't you make it stop hurting?

[grosse_sklaven]

...it wasn't fair. Adelheid felt like his heart would break as soon as he saw that kitten, lying there and so hurt, hurt beyond any power he possessed to heal. What kind of person could inflict such pain on such a helpless creature, ruining its life before it even had a chance to live?

Perhaps he was too soft-hearted a person. Perhaps he shouldn't have come to this place, perhaps he shouldn't have exposed himself to this. But, at the same time... it strengthened his resolve. Martin Landel did this, he toyed with animals and people both, regardless of their ability to defend themselves or their own innocence. It was a twisted game to him, and without a doubt he was smiling that evil smirk just thinking about this

[damned_monsters]

At Adel's words - and the sent of blood, something high on the cabinets behind him opened its large, luminous eyes, blinking slowly.

The scent of sulfur wafted through the air, with the raw, throat-scratching non-smell of ozone.

[grosse_sklaven]

Adelheid slowly stood to his full height, tucking the now-clean knife back in his pocket and holding his spear at the ready as he turned around. Being a fighter for his entire life, he had a sixth sense about danger. And now that he had that scent to warn him, he was ready.

...if only he wasn't so weary...

[damned_monsters]

As Adelheid turned, energy began to crackle in twin spheres on either side of those luminous eyes. The stench of ozone and sulfur became overwhelming as it cycled up, the ambient charge of the room making the young man's hair - as well as that of the caged monsters - stand on end.

All of this happened in an instant.

Lightning lashed out, striking the metal spear. Part of the lightning leapt from the spear to the nearby metal cages an instant after striking. The rest of it grounded out through Adelheid, racing down his arms, though his chest, and down his legs into the floor.

[grosse_sklaven]

...lightning. Adelheid's eyes widened in that one instant between the twin spheres charging their energy and the discharge of a bolt of lightning. He had known that some fighters could channel that element, and he had fought with one or two himself, but to suddenly be confronted by it now

[damned_monsters]

As Adelheid began to run, the creature launched itself into the air, lightning arcing up between its wings again. The flickering light gave the impression of tarnished silver, dirty metallic blue. The creature let out a sound like the roar of turbines in miniature, firing off another bolt at the young man's back.

[grosse_sklaven]

That smell, that sound... it gave Adelheid the moment's warning he needed. He didn't have much, but he still had his shield technique; he spun around to glare at the creature, focusing his power into his bleeding palm. Just a bit, he'd only need a moment of focus, and then he could retreat...

...and then he did. His ki flowed through his palm, bringing indescribable pain as it flowed through the same pathways as that lightning bolt, but it was enough. The lightning bolt was reflected back at the creature, and Adelheid wasted no time in dashing out the door and into the laboratory. He was terribly outmatched; this much was certain.

[damned_monsters]

Lightning was the monster's element; it was in its blood. It caught the bolt as it was reflected back, the lightning once again becoming an arc between its rings. Letting loose another of its strange cries, it pursued Adelheid on fast, silent wings.

It threw the lightning at his back again.

[grosse_sklaven]

Just a little more... just a little further...!

Adelheid had honestly expected for the lightning blast to have at least knocked the thing back, or to slow it down, or something. But no, it was charging up another attack, that strange whine and the stench alerting him of the creature's intention.

All he could do was wheel around again, staggering against the door to the decontamination room and using his shielding power again. The impact of electricity against his own life force was enough to make him feel like he was being burned alive, his arm trembling with the effort of holding back the attack, and then sending it back to the creature again.

He noticed that it took a moment for the creature to charge up, and he seized that moment as best he could. He slipped into the decontamination room, slammed the door shut and secured it as best he could... then fled as quickly as his feet would take him. The boy had to.

((Running like heck to here. ))