My heart raced as the two men moved towards the door, revealing a dark hallway. There were several doors along the wall, but what hit me first, was the puddle of red that glinted with what little light shone through the area. One guard stopped and stood guard, while the other went to a door on the left. I heard the beeping of something for a moment, and then a strained grunt. 

There was a throbbing sensation as my anxiety surged while I strained to track the guttural sounds and clunking from the hall. Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity as I caught a glimpse of the guard carrying a sturdy crate. Atop the crate, I saw a strange device that resembled a metal helmet with a mess of wires and some kind of bulky metal parts. 

The madman clapped and spoke in a jovial tone, “You see, #724, resistance is part of the process. The more you resist, the more efficacious the procedure. Besides... the more you resist, the more amusing this will be for me.” 

He gestured at the device to be placed on my head, the cold steel reflecting my distorted face. 

I forced myself to meet his frenzied gaze and grit my teeth. “You will regret this,” I vowed with determination. “Whatever you think you can achieve, you will fail. You believe you can create a god from man, but you are just a human. You are no different than me.” 

He knelt beside me and brought his face mere inches from mine, his face twisting into a taunting grin. “Good, good, such fire in your eyes. It will make your transformation more beautiful and much more magnificant!” 

He pulled away and turned to the guards, “Strap her in. Then inject the serum. Start slow, with vials 1-20 at 30-minute intervals.” 

As the guards moved to obey, my mind scrambled for a way out of this nightmare. When they were about to put the helmet on my head, I ducked back and moved aside. I would not make this easy for them, even if it meant using these chains to my advantage. Now, just how I was going to do that, is another matter. 

They moved in to corner me, so I twisted around and wrapped the chains around the closest guard, then jerked back, yanking him toward me as I unwrapped my chains to smack him in the face. No matter what, I had to prevent them from getting this helmet on my head. Something about it felt off, it felt as though, if I let them put it on my head, I would cease to be me. 

Unfortunately, I was so focused on the two guards, that I had forgotten the main threat in the room. The mad scientist had slipped under my guard and danced under the chains as I flailed against the guards. He took the helmet that had fallen, and before I had even realized what had happened, he had plopped it on my head and gave it a soft rap. 

The madman exhaled a satisfied breath and smiled at me gently. “What a curious thing you are, but that’s enough now.” 

It was then that I realized I couldn’t move. “H-how?” I stuttered, I was gobsmacked and couldn’t figure out what he had done. 

“Tsk, tsk, now is not the time for such questions, but if you must know...” He paused, the syringe glinting ominously in his hands as he prepared it. “I used an acupuncture technique. You wouldn’t believe how effective that stuff is when mastered in this line of work.” 

As he turned to face me, a shiver of dread ran down my spine. The sinister glint in his eyes made my stomach churn. What kind of madness was this? I thought, straining against the invisible bonds that held me in place. My mind raced, trying to understand how a simple acupuncture technique could render me helpless. 

“You see, my dear #724,” he continued, stepping closer, the syringe hovering just above my skin, “the right pressure points can bring forth a delightful state of compliance. A little trick to ensure your cooperation. Trust me, it’s going to make our little journey so much smoother.” 

I fought against the rising panic. Cooperation? There was no way I would give in to his twisted game. 

“And as a bonus, it doesn’t inhibit the serum's function when you can’t resist physically, as your mental resistance is all it needs.” 

My heart raced at his words, dread coiling tightly in my chest. He wants to break me, to twist my mind to his will. I clenched my fists, determination igniting within me. I won’t let him take away who I am. 

“Now,” he said, his voice dripping with glee, “let’s begin, shall we?” He took a step closer, raising the syringe as he examined me like a scientist observing an intriguing specimen. “I’ll administer the serum myself. It’s much more efficient this way.” 

“No!” I gasped, the sharp sting of the needle piercing through my skin. As he pressed the plunger down, I felt the icy blue liquid surge into my bloodstream, a jolt of cold spreading through my veins. 

“There we go!” he exclaimed, pulling back to admire his work. “Just relax and let it work its magic. You’ll soon feel different, perhaps even... liberated.” 

Panic rose within me as I felt the effects of the serum begin to take hold. My vision blurred slightly, colors intensifying as my heart pounded in my chest. I could feel something shifting inside me, an alien sensation that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. 

“Each vial will enhance your abilities, draw out your potential,” he continued, pacing around me with a manic energy. “You’ll become something extraordinary, #724. A true testament to my genius!” 

“You may fight it, but it’s futile,” he said, his voice taunting. “This is just the beginning. I’ve calculated every aspect of this procedure. You will thank me in the end, you’ll see.” 

A sense of urgency surged within me as I focused on resisting the rising tide of the serum’s influence. I must hold on to myself. 

With each passing moment, I felt the pressure mounting, threatening to drown my thoughts in a haze of confusion. I clenched my teeth, refusing to succumb. I would not let him erase who I was. 

“Just wait until you experience the next dose,” he said with delight, glancing at the clock. “Vial one will set the foundation, but there are many more to come. I can’t wait to see how you evolve, #724.”