The Cipher: Locks and Keys

Previously: Afron, frustrated by Yuri’s lack of results in extracting information from Lockey, demanded that Yuri find another way to break him. Despite Yuri’s efforts in torturing Lockey, the boy hadn’t revealed anything of value. Afron’s warnings echoed in Yuri’s mind—there wouldn’t be a second chance. As Yuri left Afron’s chambers, he knew he had to change tactics before time ran out.

Yuri stepped out of Afron’s quarters, his frustration and unease growing with each passing second. The cold hallway felt suffocating, as though the weight of Afron’s demands hung over him like a lead curtain. I need to get something out of him, Yuri thought, running a hand through his hair. Torture wasn’t getting him anywhere—Lockey had proven more resilient than any prisoner before him.

He exhaled sharply. “Guess it’s time to move to the next phase,” he muttered under his breath. His steps quickened as his mind raced. Honestly, he mused, I never thought things would turn out this difficult. His thoughts felt disjointed, too rapid to follow, and he grimaced. This wasn’t going to be easy.

Meanwhile, Lockey sat slumped in the corner of his small, sterile cell. The torment he had endured had left him weak, both physically and mentally. His skin was pale, and beads of sweat clung to his forehead. His breathing was shallow, each inhale a reminder of the electric volts that had coursed through his body earlier. His limbs ached as if they'd been stretched to their breaking point, and his mind was foggy from the constant strain.

The door creaked open, pulling Lockey from his dazed state. His eyes slowly tracked the figure entering the room. Pinnochi, slightly disheveled, stood in the doorway, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

Lockey’s voice was hoarse. “The fact that you’re here means I’m in Site 22.” His words came out strained, but he tried to keep his tone steady.

Pinnochi’s brow furrowed as he crossed his arms. “Wasn’t the plan for Glacier to forcefully attack Site 22?” he asked, ignoring the comment.

Lockey, cautious, glanced up at the small security camera mounted in the corner of the room. “There’s a camera. Won’t they hear you?”

Pinnochi waved a dismissive hand, clearly unbothered by the potential consequences. His movements were clumsy, as though he was too confident in his approach. “Relax, do you take me for a fool?”

Lockey gave him a long look, his expression half-amused, half-exasperated. You think you aren’t, his face seemed to say, but you do act like one.

Pinnochi tilted his head, catching the subtle shift in Lockey’s demeanor. “What, you actually think I’d be that careless?” His voice carried a note of indignation, though his actions betrayed his usual lack of caution.

Lockey sighed, shaking his head slightly. “Never mind,” he muttered, letting the tension ease between them. After a beat, he added, “The plan was changed. Besides, the chances of success were pretty low, if you ask me.”

Pinnochi scratched the back of his neck, nodding as though the change of plans had been news to him. “Oh, I see.” He took a step closer, his posture casual, yet there was a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. “Nice job keeping it under wraps.” He paused, then, with a mischievous glint, added, “Anyway, you might want to move on to the next phase yourself. If you keep staying quiet like this, you’ll be stuck in this square room for quite some time.”

Turning to leave, Pinnochi waved lazily over his shoulder. “See ya.”

Just as he reached the door, he stopped and glanced back. “Oh, almost forgot.” His tone was offhand, but the underlying message was clear. “Once you’re out of here, they’ll probably take you to a cell. I’ll try to find time to discuss the next stage and the routes with you... once I’ve located the objective.” He shrugged. “Shouldn’t take too long.”

Lockey leaned forward, curiosity laced with caution. “How long would that take?”

Pinnochi hesitated, his fingers drumming against the door frame as though in thought. “Not sure. We’ll just have to see. But... I do know one thing.” He glanced back over his shoulder, his face serious for the first time since entering the room. “The location I’m sensing is more powerful than the Beta Vault. That’s all I know.”

Without another word, Pinnochi slipped out, the door hissing shut behind him. Lockey was left alone in the room again, the weight of Pinnochi’s words hanging in the air like a thick fog.

Yuri left Lockey’s cell behind, his mind whirling with thoughts of how to break through the boy’s impenetrable resolve. He’d tried every method he could think of, but nothing had worked. His footsteps echoed down the long, cold hallways until he found himself at the door of the lab.

He entered the room, the familiar scent of chemicals and antiseptics filling the air. The space was wide, clinical, and sterile—an experimental lab designed for precision. Glass cabinets lined the walls, each filled with vials and containers of varying shapes and colors. Metal tables held an assortment of strange devices, and a low hum filled the room as some equipment worked on its mysterious tasks.

Yuri’s eyes scanned the space. He had always been uneasy in this room, as though it was filled with too many unknowns, too many things he couldn’t fully understand. But there was one person here he was looking for, and sure enough, her voice soon echoed from the far side of the lab.

“What brings you here?” a soft but sharp feminine voice called out.

Yuri moved forward, weaving through the tables and machinery until he spotted her. Serena was hunched over a large steel counter, carefully mixing a set of chemicals with intense focus. She didn’t even glance up from her work.

“Miss Serena,” Yuri greeted her, trying to hide his unease. “I’m glad to see you.”

Serena barely acknowledged his presence, too absorbed in her task. Her hands moved deftly as she combined liquid into vials, her concentration unbreakable.

“Why are you here, Yuri?” she asked, her voice almost disinterested, though there was a flicker of curiosity beneath it.

Yuri hesitated, watching as she worked, before finally speaking. “I’d like... some medicine.”

Serena’s hands paused for just a second, a signal that he had piqued her interest, but she didn’t look away from her mixing. “What kind?” she asked smoothly, continuing to stir the chemical mixture.

Yuri sighed heavily, the tension in his shoulders giving way as he leaned against one of the metal counters. “Do you have anything that could make someone spill everything I ask them?” His voice was edged with frustration, but also desperation.

Serena finally paused and stood upright, leaving her chemicals aside. She turned toward him, her eyes narrowing slightly, as though she was trying to read his mind. “You, of all people, struggling to get the truth out of someone? That’s a surprise.” Her words dripped with mild sarcasm, but there was a playful undertone too.

Yuri crossed his arms, exhaling in defeat. “I’ve tried everything, but nothing works on him. I need to wrap this up before I’m the next one getting interrogated.”

Serena’s eyebrows arched. “Afron breathing down your neck again, huh?” She swiveled in her chair, moving across the room with the smooth glide of its wheels. Reaching a large cabinet filled with vials and tubes, she inspected the labels carefully.

“He’s worse than ever,” Yuri admitted, following her movements with weary eyes. “I’ve had my share of tough ones, but this is different. I really want this done so I can live another day.”

Serena chuckled softly, her voice a strange mixture of sympathy and amusement. “Poor soul,” she muttered as she reached for a small glass vial. The liquid inside was a pale blue, faintly glowing under the light. She returned to Yuri, the vial pinched between her fingers.

“This should do the trick.” She handed it to him, her eyes gleaming with confidence. “It’ll last about seven hours. Once you give it to him, he won’t be able to resist answering anything you ask.”

Yuri took the vial, his fingers brushing the cool glass as he turned it over in his hands. “And that’ll buy me another day?” he asked, half-joking, but Serena’s response was serious.

“More than that,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “It’ll spare you the trouble of needing anything else for now. You’re welcome.”

“Thanks, Miss Serena.” Yuri gave her a nod of gratitude as he pocketed the vial. He turned and began walking toward the door, his footsteps heavier but his heart slightly lighter.

As he left the lab, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. Having a special connection with someone like Serena—a key figure in the creation of chemicals and medicines used in Site 22—was a stroke of luck. She was one of the higher-ups in the hierarchy, and her work was essential to the inner workings of the facility. It paid to have allies like her.

Glancing down at the vial, Yuri smirked. “This should do the trick,” he muttered to himself, his pace quickening as he made his way back to the investigation room. His mind was already racing ahead, planning his next move.

Yuri stood at the door of the interrogation room, his hand resting on the handle as he took a deep breath. He glanced down at the vial in his pocket, feeling its weight. This was it—the key to breaking through Lockey’s stubborn defenses. He’d come too far to let this slip now.

With a twist of his wrist, the door clicked open. The room was exactly as he left it: cold, dim, and oppressive. In the center sat Lockey, restrained to the chair, his head lowered but eyes still alert, watching Yuri as he stepped inside. The air between them crackled with tension.

Yuri’s eyes glazed over Lockey, sizing him up for this second round. “You ready for round two?” His voice carried a hint of mockery, as though he was already certain of victory.

Lockey remained silent, his mind drifting back to the conversation with Pinnochi. The weight of it still pressed on him, but he masked it behind a wall of stoic calm. His body ached from the torment he had already endured, but his will hadn’t been broken. Not yet.

He sighed, breaking the silence. “I’m tired myself... so let’s just get this over with.”

Yuri smirked, running his hand through his hair in that casual way he always did when things were going according to plan. He stepped closer, pulling out the vial that Serena had given him, holding it up to the dim light so the liquid shimmered faintly. “Alright then, since you’re so cooperative, why don’t you open wide for me?”

Lockey’s gaze narrowed, but he remained still, his lips tightly sealed. Yuri’s patience, however, had worn thin.

With a sudden, forceful movement, Yuri grabbed Lockey by the jaw, fingers digging into his skin. Lockey grunted, resisting, but the restraints held him firmly in place. Yuri’s other hand popped the cap off the vial, and before Lockey could react, Yuri tilted his head back, forcefully pouring the liquid into his mouth.

Lockey thrashed in his seat, trying to resist, but Yuri was relentless. His grip was firm, unyielding, as he pinched Lockey’s nose shut, forcing him to swallow the chemical.

The liquid burned as it went down, sending a cold shiver through Lockey’s body. His vision blurred instantly, the edges of the room fading to black. It was like being submerged underwater, every sound muffled, every thought clouded. His mind, once sharp, now felt distant—his body heavy, sluggish, as if sinking into a dark abyss.

Yuri stood back, watching with a detached sense of satisfaction. His hand slid through his hair again, brushing it back as he admired his work. “It works fast, doesn’t it?” He said, his voice almost conversational. “Now... let’s see how cooperative you really are.”

Lockey’s head lolled forward, his once-defiant gaze now glassy and vacant. His breathing was shallow, and his limbs felt numb. A fog seemed to settle over his thoughts, making it hard to focus. He was aware of Yuri’s voice but couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the words.

Yuri leaned in close, his voice low, smooth. “You won’t be able to lie, Lockey. You’ll tell me everything I want to know.”

Lockey tried to focus, to push through the haze, but it was no use. The drug had taken hold completely, leaving him feeling like a puppet, his strings cut. His mind was drifting, and the will to fight was slipping away, second by second.

Yuri grinned, his confidence growing. “Shall we begin?”