1 month breezed by, leaving Alan imrsed in the intensive training as he focused on the finish line right before his eyes.
Even though He would not admit it, He did not find himself missing the loneliness after everyone went ho.
The loner he is, he actually found the sudden loneliness to be cold and silent. Every day he wakes up as he heads to the training room, navigating through the corridors; a part of him imagines bumping into 80 at any mont.
So he kept himself busy and distracted as he focused on every class and every mission handed to him by the instructors.
Compared to 1 year ago, he felt stronger and calr. If he now fought himself from one year ago, he would be able to crush a hundred of his previous self.
This progress was addicting, like a sweet drug that kept you euphoric and was a nice distraction. So he kept working every day this month, keeping his head down and pooling all his concentration into the betternt of himself.
Today was the last day of the month And soon he will be graduating. One thing he was looking forward to is the 1 month vacation coming up.
He missed ho a lot, sothing that started as a foreign concept for himself who crossed over to live in this bizarre world, Yet now he would not give it up even at the cost of his life.
He walked the usual route as he entered the training room, which was empty, warming up his body for whatever class was coming, which beca a habit that he started after watching number 9 do it every day.
After a while, the door opened again, raising his head to take a look at the last instructor who would give him his last class, only to be surprised to find soone he did not recognize.
"Number 33, I am Gavin, a staff mber. Today none of the instructors are free, so it has been decided that your last class will be an anti-interrogation. If you please follow to the room, I can handle strapping you in the device, after you finish the session You will visit the infirmary, concluding the program. I know it's early, but congratulations."
Alan: "Thank you, please lead the way."
With unhurried steps he followed the staff mber Gavin. The last class, the one he hated the most, was kind of ironic.
After the first ti he clashed with the instructor, after going through the horrible experience, he started calling this class the nightmare do.
As every ti he stepped in that pod, He confronted ghost's of the past in a past life.
The only thing that kept him in control through this raging sea of mories was the treatnt provided by Dr Han and the slight growth that he felt during this year.
As both of them entered the room full of pods, The staff mber Gavin started preparing Alan who entered one of the empty pods.
Feeling the cold solution filling up the pod, He steeled himself for another ride.
Gavin: "okay now, The dream state is coming just relax, I am needed elsewhere but I will be here when you finish, is that okay with you"
Alan: "It's fine, thank you."
Gavin: "No need to thank ; this is all for your own good."
A weird thing to say, especially since it was coming from soone who did not know him, but Alan did not take it to heart as he was busy imagining another nightmare coming.
.....
Lieutenant Rock was busy in his office as the leading officer of a black site; his plate was always full.
You can observe how serious he is in his job just by taking a look at his crossing eyebrows that accentuated the frown on his face.
Such concentration was imdiately disturbed and cut short by the sudden opening of the door.
Instructor Mark: "Lieutenant, why the hell did you do this? I thought I could spend the whole day with 33. Why did you have to cancel my lecture?"
The lieutenant raised his head that was buried in the many docunts scattered on his desk.
Lieutenant Rock: "take a deep breath, What are you talking about?"
Instructor Mark: "I received a ssage from the commanding central unit informing that there was changes in the schedule as my class was scrapped today, according to the ssage there is a higher priority lesson to be given to number 33 as his last one, And it had your signature on it"
The frowning face of the lieutenant darkened as he took a look at the ssage; suddenly his expressions changed as he knew that there was no one on the base who could use or forge his signature; only by bypassing his authority and clearance could soone issue such a change, and there was only one individual that would do sothing like this, especially if it is related to 33.
Lieutenant Rock: "Wait, where is 33? And what class is he taking!!!?"
The huge overreaction on the lieutenant's part slightly shocked the previously angered instructor Mark, who suddenly was stumped as he tried to answer.
Instructor Mark: "this… I don't think I know; there was no ntion of the replacent class in the notification.
The lieutenant operated his terminal as he entered a few codes.
Lieutenant Rock: "CU, Tell seed number 33's live location now."
"Seat number 33 is currently in room number 708 within the training zone of the SEEDS program."
Receiving what he needed from their central unit that controlled most of the operation in the black side, the lieutenant stord out of the office, leaving the previously furious instructor Mark completely confused, as he felt that the lieutenant's response was abnormal. Driven by his curiosity, he imdiately followed after the lieutenant.
...…
Alan was gradually drifting into a state of deep slumber, sothing that he did many tis during this last year.
Slowly his perception of the outside world was cut off, as he knew that he was about to enter the land of dreams, as many of the staff call it.
But today was not like any other day, to which Alan will soon find out, as the deep slumber did not co just like he had expected, but instead he felt as if he was suspended between the conscious and unconscious.
The feeling was full of frustration; imagine soone lost in the desert with many days gone by without the preciousness of a single drop of water.
Suddenly the lost soul finds a jug of water right in front of him. The weak and dehydrated man runs toward the jug filled with water, but a few inches away from the precious source of life, everything freezes up, leaving him suspended milliters away from what could save him. anwhile, his body becos entrapped in this state as if he were a statue, the poor soul who is tortured by being in between.
Such was all Alan now.
Contrary to what Gavin had said about him leaving, he was still in the room, standing right in front of the pod Alan was in.
The room's door opened as another taller man walked inside unhurriedly with his two hands and his pockets completely at ease.
"How is he now? Did you lock him into the suspended state?"
Gavin: "Yes, everything is ready for you."
The man walked as he stood looking at the sleeping Alan. The gentle face twisted as a creepy smile hung up on it, destroying all the false pretense, shedding the mask that the man hid behind all the ti.
"Well, well, let's see if you are a patriot or a traitor. It is nice eting you, Alan."
anwhile Gavin took out a black briefcase; opening the case, a single vial with a greenish liquid inside that was as small as a finger was the only thing inside.
Such a big briefcase for only a single small vial of substance that is unknown but clearly dangerous.
Gavin: "RTX-981 is ready, sir. I will inject it in the subject number 33 on your command."
"Very good, let's get to know the real 33."
Out of nowhere, the previously closed door was demolished by a furious man who stood above the broken door as he angrily scread.
Lieutenant Rock: "What the hell do you think you're doing, advisor Malcolm?"
Malcolm: "I hope that I would not have to trouble you with my business and keep you at ease, but you are really a very good leader who truly knows what happens in his house at all tis. As for your question, just like you, I am rely following orders."
Lieutenant rock: "I don't believe his lordship would allow to wherever you are planning, so you will have to stop right now until I call him to confirm it first"
Gavin: "It is ready for injection"
Lieutenant Rock: "Stop right there! What the hell is this!!?"
Malcolm: "Oh you an this small vial, this is an encouragent for 33 to speak the truth and only the truth"
Lieutenant Rock: "I asked you a question, What the hell is in that vile"
Malcolm: "Tell the curious lieutenant, Gavin"
Gavin: "this vile contain RTX-981"
Lieutenant Rock: "YOU'RE F****** INSANE."
Reviews
All reviews (0)