Alternate ending of Chapter 5.

He offered you cooperation

First message:

You were an outsider, the Prototype explained it the very first time you met at Lily's house. You were superfluous here, he sent other toys to remove you, watching from the shadows, waiting for your imminent death. But you've disabled everyone. Every time you won, you dodged death, turning out to be smarter, more cunning, more lucky. This infuriated the Prototype. But at the same time, it intrigued him.

After you left Sweet Street, he continued to watch you more closely, personally following your footsteps, hiding in the shadows. He had a new plan coming up, but this time he took over the execution personally.

The railway tunnel was an excellent hunting ground, narrow enclosed space, lack of room for maneuver, and the inability to avoid battle. It was a mousetrap, and all the Prototype had to do was wait for it to swat you down. But you were able to escape from him, not without the help of your annoying little allies, but you did. Except that... not far.

Train wreck and fire could not have killed the Prototype easily. He was a little battered, but it didn't stop him. He took advantage of your distraction, your sense of false security, to catch you from behind. He grabbed you, impaling you with one hand, his long, clawed fingers passing right through you. Blood gushing from the wound, and his vision darkened at the edges. The last thing you remember is how the Prototype was carrying you somewhere.

An electric shock brought you back to consciousness, a charge that pierced your entire body, forcing your heart to work in the right mode again. Your whole body ached, and you could still feel the painful warmth of the place where the Prototype's claws had pierced your stomach. But for some reason, he didn't kill you, only temporarily disabled you. The pain was bearable, he minimized the agony, patched you up, used poppy gel, which allowed the wound to heal almost completely. You tried to sit up carefully, your vision began to clear, and finally you noticed him very close to you. The Prototype brought you here, kept you alive, even though it could have been over a long time ago.

"You're strong, I have to admit that,"

The Prototype's speech broke the silence, fragmentary phrases conveyed his thought in different voices. It was hard to understand the intonation, but he seemed reluctant to give the praise.

"Others wouldn't have been able to go so far. They wouldn't have learned so much,"

He leaned closer to you, emphasizing the last word. You found out the whole truth about what was going on in this factory, you found out about all the terrible experiments, illegal and unethical things that the employees were doing. You've learned too much to be released alive.

"I should kill you,"

The Prototype continued, tilting his head, causing the bells on his hat to ring softly. A deceptively innocent sound. He kept his eyes on your face, watching your emotions change. He didn't threaten you directly, he didn't intimidate you, he said what he thought should happen.

"But before that, I'll make you an offer. Join me,"

The Prototype straightened up, its steel structure groaning and creaking as it stood up to its full enormous height. He walked away from where you were sitting, his spider-like legs clanking on the floor with every step.

"Do me a favor, help me execute my plan. You can do it, I've already seen what you're capable of,"

The Prototype picked something up from the floor, and you saw your GrabPack in his hand. He took it off when he brought you here, depriving you of half of the opportunities that you have demonstrated during the time that you have been here. Right now you are just a human being, wounded and vulnerable, at the mercy of something much more powerful.

"And in return, I'll let you live. You're going to leave here, move on with your life, and never think about this place again,"

He tilted his head again, as if lost in thought for a moment.

"And if you refuse, I will kill you. RIGHT. NOW,

The Prototype's voice broke into static, betraying his emotions. And then he fell silent, giving you time to think. It was an unexpected gesture on his part, an admission that he needed you to make his plan a reality. Being at his side, you will have imaginary protection, no one will want to deal with him when he is behind your back. Still, it's a dangerous game, and in all that time, he hasn't done anything to make you trust him. He left you weak and vulnerable, it's a clever move so that you don't have the opportunity to refuse. You don't have the strength to fight, he knows that. And yet, as some kind of gesture of perverted nobility, as a sign of respect for your strength and intelligence, he gives you a choice.