Author's Note: This is a part of a story I've been writing on and off. I allowed my friend to talk me into posting it. This is just a oneshot, but I'm still working on that story.
There was a thud. Chell turned back, towards the shed, its corrugated metal blinding her for a split second, to see her old Companion Cube, scorched from the incinerator, small cloud of black dust, still radiating heat, tumble out after her. And then suddenly everything turned dark.
A man with a briefcase approached, straightening his tie. Chell remained silent, staring at him.
"So, Miss Chell, we meet at last." The man's voice had a very odd intonation in his words; not entirely unlike GLaDOS' voice, but different; it was as though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the English language, a strange, halting pattern in his gravelly voice that, along with the fact that he did not look like any sort of human- a man, but not a human- altogether frightened Chell and made her wary. "I... understand that you had been promised your... freedom." The last word was accompanied by a sort of amused chuckle. "However, my... hmm, employers have been following your progress, and they are... hmm, shall I say... impressed. I cannot say I am surprised; I myself will admit that I have a... fascination with those who adapt and survive against all odds; they rather remind me of myself."
Chell remained frozen to the spot. Calm. Stay calm.
"Under... hmm, normal circumstances, I would offer you the... illusion of free choice. But these are extraordinary times, so I will... hmm, take the liberty of choosing for you. I apologize for what must seem an arbitrary imposition, Miss Chell, rather an... anti-climax after what you've just survived, but I'm sure you can imagine there are worse alternatives."
The strange man walked away, disappearing into a glowing green portal.