Anna ordered. "Don't take your eyes off him. And call for backup."
She followed Sokolov, who led her down the corridor to an elevator at the end of the wing. The metal doors slid open with a soft hiss. Inside were only two buttons: up and down. Sokolov pressed "down."
"How many levels are underground?" Anna asked, not expecting an answer.
"Three," Sokolov unexpectedly replied. "The doctor repurposed the old bomb shelters. The result is… impressive."
The elevator seemed to descend forever. Finally, the doors opened, and Anna saw a long, brightly lit corridor. Sterile cleanliness, white walls, closed doors with small windows. Like a hospital. Or a prison.
"What is this place?"
"The transformation laboratory," Sokolov moved forward. "The most important work happens here. Here, personalities… are restructured. They take on a new form."
He stopped at one of the doors and looked through the small window.
"Look. Your Sophia."
Anna pushed him aside and peered through the glass. Inside was a small room with white walls. On a hospital-like bed lay Sophia. Her eyes were closed, and on her head was a strange device with numerous wires, resembling a helmet. Next to the bed stood medical equipment: monitors, IVs, some devices Anna had never seen before.
"What have you done to her?" Anna grabbed Sokolov by the collar, pinning him against the wall. "Open the door! Immediately!"
"She's just sleeping," he replied calmly. "The drug works gently. No pain, no violence. Only… transformation."
"Open this damn door!"
Sokolov took a key card from his pocket and swiped it through the reader. The lock clicked, the door opened slightly. Anna pushed Sokolov away and burst into the room.
Sophia lay motionless, but her chest rose and fell evenly—she was breathing. Anna checked her pulse—steady, strong. There was an injection mark on the girl's arm.
"Sophia? Sophia, can you hear me?" Anna gently shook the girl's shoulder.
No response. Her eyes moved rapidly under closed lids, as if dreaming. Her lips moved silently.
"What did you inject her with?" Anna turned to Sokolov, who stood in the doorway, watching with curiosity.
"The 'Key.' That's what Doctor Berkut calls his invention. A drug that opens the doors of perception. Makes consciousness… pliable. Ready for changes."
"What are the side effects?"
"Nothing dangerous. Dizziness, weakness, sometimes hallucinations," Sokolov shrugged. "Sophia is just dreaming. Special dreams, in which her consciousness is restructured, taking on a new form."
Anna began disconnecting the sensors from the girl's head. Carefully removed the strange helmet. A mesh of electrodes remained on Sophia's head, thin wires entangling her skin.
"What's the antidote? What neutralizes the drug's effect?"
"Time," Sokolov smiled. "Just time. In a few hours, she'll wake up. New. Renewed."
"You're monsters," Anna checked the girl's pupils. They responded to light—a good sign.
"No, we're visionaries. Pioneers. Those who see the future of human consciousness."
Anna pulled out her radio.
"Dorokhov? I've found Sophia. Basement level, west wing. She's unconscious but alive. We need a medical team and…"
A sharp pain in the back of her head interrupted her sentence. The world momentarily darkened. When her vision returned, Anna found herself on the floor. The radio had flown aside. Sokolov stood over her, holding a metal tray—evidently what he had hit her with.
"Sorry, detective, but Doctor Berkut insisted that you also become part of the experiment," Sokolov put the tray on the nightstand and leaned toward her. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. Quite the opposite."
Anna tried to reach for her gun, but her body wasn't responding well. Her vision was doubled. Sokolov easily intercepted her hand and took her weapon.
"Why…" she managed with difficulty. "Why do you need this?"
"The doctor believes you're an ideal candidate for the next phase of the experiment. Strong personality, sharp mind, unshakable will," he helped her up and sat her on a chair next to Sophia's bed. "People like you are rare. And experiments need… quality samples."
The sounds of gunshots and shouts came from the corridor. Sokolov turned toward the door, then back to Anna. His face reflected doubt.
"Stay here," he closed the door and turned the key in the lock.
Anna tried to stand, but the room spun before her eyes. Concussion? Seemed like it. She focused on her breathing, trying to clear her mind. The radio lay several meters away from her. If she could reach it…
At that moment, Sophia moaned and opened her eyes. A foggy, unfocused gaze slid across the room and stopped on Anna.
"You… came," the girl's voice was weak, barely audible. "Katya said you would come…"
"Katya?" Anna leaned closer. "Which Katya?"
"Katya Voronova," Sophia spoke slowly, as if choosing her words. "She's here… with us. Has been for a long time. Waiting."
The sounds of fighting in the corridor grew louder. Someone shouted commands, footsteps could be heard. It seemed the raid had begun.
"Sophia, can you stand? We need to leave."
The girl tried to rise but unsuccessfully. Her body wouldn't obey her, like a puppet with cut strings.
"Can't… Too tired…"
"It's okay, I'll help you," Anna gathered all her strength and rose from the chair. The room was still spinning, but not as badly. "We'll get out of here."
She helped Sophia sit up by supporting her under the arms. At that moment, someone began pounding on the door.
"Anna! Are you in there? Answer!" Dorokhov's voice sounded muffled but recognizable.
"Here!" she shouted. "The door is locked!"
"Get back! I'm going to break it down!"
Anna dragged Sophia to the far corner of the room, shielding her with her body. A few seconds later, a shot rang out, the lock shattered to pieces, and the door flew open. Dorokhov stood on the threshold, with two special forces officers behind him.
"Are you all right?" he quickly surveyed the room, making sure there was no danger.
"Yes. Sokolov hit me, but nothing serious," Anna nodded toward Sophia. "But she needs urgent medical attention. They gave her some kind of drugs."
"Medics are on their way," Dorokhov helped lift the girl. "We've taken control of the upper floors. Berkut tried to escape, but we detained him. But Sokolov appears to have slipped away. Escaped through some emergency exit."
"He won't get far," Anna carefully guided Sophia toward the door. "Put out an APB on him. And check this entire basement. Who knows how many more 'patients' are being held here."
In the corridor, forensic specialists were already bustling about, photographing and describing every detail. Police officers opened the doors of other rooms—most of them turned out to be empty.
"It seems Sophia was the only one… at the moment," Dorokhov supported the girl from the other side. "But judging by the equipment, there have been many 'guests' here."
When they reached the first floor, a medical team was already waiting with a stretcher. Sophia was carefully laid down and connected to an IV.
"Condition is stable," reported one of the doctors after a quick examination. "But we need to get her to a hospital urgently. We don't know what they gave her."
"I'll go with her," Anna turned to Dorokhov. "You make sure everything here is checked down to the last cabinet. And contact Elena Andreevna. Tell her we've found Sophia, she's alive, we're taking her to the hospital."
"Got it," Dorokhov nodded.