Chapter 6

"Our background does not define us; our actions do."

I turn around to find nothing behind me. Nevertheless, I keep calm and concentrate fully on the sounds of nature and, most importantly, any sound that is out of place. I have been through this training so many times that I've learnt not to dismiss any suspicions I had.

From the corner of my eyes, I catch glance of a shadow moving towards me in the dark woods. My hands reach up to keep myself protected from whatever is coming for me. Almost instantly, the shadow seems to disappear.

This shadow is not a real person. It is a dummy specifically designed for this training. The woods I'm in is also not real. The scenery is similar to Light so I can get used to it. Jackson constantly remind Collin, Theresa and I that Light is far different from what we expect, even the setting of this training is not the same. Light is much brighter, or so I was told.

Footsteps approach fast. I keep my defensive stance and remember Level Eight Pain, enough to knock a person out. Level Ten Pain is enough to kill someone, which I am planning not to use when I'm in Light unless necessary.

As expected, the shadow hesitates when it notices that I'm not backing away or lurch myself towards him. I do not give him a chance to make a move by swiftly yet silently appearing behind him, kick him at the back of the knees that results the shadow to drop on the forest floor and wrapping my arms around his neck. I can almost feel the power vibrating in my veins as my victim trashes to escape from my locked arms until he stop moving all together. I can tell by the weak pulse in his neck that he's still alive, just not conscious.

I gently place my victim on the ground. The woods surrounding me is starting to get brighter. The flora and my victim disappear into the light.

I find myself in a wide white room that I'm familiar with and still wearing the all-white uniform I was required to wear.

The white door that blends in with the wall opens, revealing Jackson. He nods in approval.

"That was your last training and you passed," he tells me when I walk past him and out of the room.

"Thank you."

Theresa sits on the bench just outside of the white room, also wearing the white uniform. Collin is the only one wearing a dark blue shirt and dark blue pants that is called jeans. The clothes Collin is wearing is appropriate in Light. I can see Collin squirming in discomfort once in a while.

Theresa and I congratulate each other since she was the first one to pass today's training. Collin's is the last due to the fact that he does not master his gift as well as we do. Most of the time, he will have a private training with Jackson. Collin is the one who has to work a lot once we're in Light. He knows how does Light's body work and how different their systems work compared to us Dark. Collin is also responsible to find the murderer with the evidence from Benjamin's body and the crime scene. Theresa's job is to find out whoever looks suspicious from their body languages. Mine is to look out for suspicious teenagers and children in the school I'll be attending. We have eight months to find this murderer and if we fail to do so, we will be given extended time unless if Light somehow finds out that we're Dark.

"Those are your clothes," Jackson tells Theresa and I, pointing at two luggage bags by the washroom doors. "You are free to pick and wear any clothes provided in it. They are clothes Light prefer to wear."

Theresa enters the ladies' washroom after she grabs the luggage with her name on it. I do the same. The colours of the attire blind me for a moment. I take the time to go through each and every clothing in the luggage ranging from pants to shorts to shirts to jackets. I put on a white short-sleeved shirt and green pants that that is just below my knees. Now I know why Collin is so uncomfortable in these new clothes. I have never worn any shirts with short sleeves or pants shows my bare legs. I look at my reflection that does not look like Marcus anymore. All I have of my old self is my combed black hair and my face. Last but not least, I replace my shoes with sports shoes.

I got out of the washroom the same time as Theresa. She's no longer wearing the white attire but a yellow dress that is just above her knees and sandals. The three of us are the only ones who are not wearing black, grey or white in this building.

"Remember, don't fear pain. Pain saves you from danger in Light," Jackson says, holding onto Collin's arm as Collin grips back.

Theresa and I watch them while they practise in the white training room. Collin is the only one having trouble with using his gift.

We have been training for almost month now. Every day, we have to go through two hours of training with Jackson, then separate into different class to learn about our respective roles as well as ways to socialize, and Daryl will teach us about the politics and economy in Light. I feel like there is too much new information added into my brain, but it is nice to learn something different.

Today is the last day of our training and we will be in Light by the end of today.

After this program, I am not to share the knowledge or the experience with anyone, including Janice. I speak with Janice every weekend about our development. Well, her development, to be exact. I am not allowed to tell her anything.

"Hmm..." Jackson hums, looking at Theresa and I. "This might take a while for Collin. Daryl is expecting you down in the lobby so it is best you go see him. You can bring along your luggage. Please inform Daryl that I will send Collin in about one hour time."

"Alright," Theresa says.

Together, the both of us use the lift to the ground floor where the lobby is. We find Daryl talking to the receptionist until he notices us.

"I'll talk to you later," he tells the receptionist before he turns to face us. "Where's Collin?"

"He's still with Jackson. He'll come in an hour," Theresa says. I nod in agreement.

Daryl nods as well. "Follow me please. It is time for us to make the next step in the plan."

Theresa and I follow him out of the building where a limousine awaits us. This is the first time I've been out of the Prime Building since I came here two months ago. The driver puts Theresa's and my luggage in the boot without casting us any glance. I can feel myself receiving stares from some guards lingering outside.

"Next step?" I question Daryl when the vehicle we're in starts to move.

"Yes. We are running out of time and by tomorrow, you three are going to be in Light."

"Tomorrow?" Theresa and I say in synchronize. None of us realize how fast time pass. If we mess this up, we have a good chance of getting ourselves slaughtered in the hands of barbarians without the help of our own people on the other side of the Wall.

We need to be flawless. We need to finish our task and get back to Dark where life will continue as it was.

"Precisely. We need to do a few more preparations before sending you to the other side," Daryl says, taking his tablet out of his briefcase. He taps on the screen a few times. "First, you need to dye your hair. Next, we're going to cover your Barcode tattoo. Then, you'll receive cans to spray yourselves so you can glow when you're conducting photosynthesis at every noon..."

Before we know it, we're in a different part of the camp where there are many cabins around with only numbers to distinguish them. We stop in front of a cabin number 15.

"Good morning, Daryl," the women greets him, shaking his hand. This woman I have never met is wearing grey skirt and white blouse.

"Good morning, Sara. These are booked for the special hair treatment we talked about."

Sara ushers us to sit on an odd-looking chair that is facing a rectangular mirror that only reflects in my direction. Theresa sits next to me also with a mirror facing her. The lone empty chair at the end indicates Collin's place.

"Where is the last one?" Sara asks Daryl while putting on a pair of transparent gloves. Her masked assistant does the same.

Daryl settles comfortably on the couch. In his hands lay his tablet. "He's on his way. You can start with Marcus and Theresa."

For the next on hour, I sit still while Sara works on my hair. She first cut my hair in a style I've never seen before. Daryl assured me that it is now a trend in Light and once I get back to Dark, I will have to cut my hair again to my usual hairstyle. My former short neat black hair is replaced with white messy hair. Sara explained that every Light is a blonde, just that they prefer to colour or highlight their hair in colour of their preference.

The moment I look myself in the mirror after going through one hour of hair cutting, colouring and styling, I don't look anything like myself.

I'm no longer Marcus the Dark but Marcus Schneider the Light.

Theresa takes a longer time than me since she's a woman and she needs to endure more treatments. Collin joins us just when Theresa is about to get her hair dyed. He has the same style as me, just that he has a fringe and is neatly combed. It is part of his role to be a doctor in Light so he has to look organized.

I have to look like an ordinary Light teenager.

"They look different, Sara. You did a great job," Daryl compliments, circling me. He then proceeds at Theresa and lastly Collin. "They look just like Light."

Sara grabs three small bags that are set on the counter in front of a cupboard fill with hair materials and hand us each one. "The dye won't last forever. You have to keep dying your hair yourselves every two weeks once. Just make sure that the roots are not visible if they are starting to grow your natural colour. The instructions are at the back of the bottle."

"Thank you," Collin, Theresa and I say at the same time.

"You're welcome."

Daryl next takes us to a different cabin not far from Cabin 15. This cabin is bigger than the rest with a large 'INFIRMARY' sign on it. The moment we enter the cabin, all eyes land on us. More specifically, our contrasting colour hair. Daryl leads us to the back of the Infirmary where a doctor and a few nurses stand, looking like they're waiting for someone.

"Geronimo, this is Mr. Marcus, Miss Theresa and Doctor Collin. Marcus, Theresa, Collin, this is Doctor Geronimo. He is going to be the person to conceal your Barcode tattoo temporarily," Daryl tell us.

The nurses quickly get to their place when the doctor nods at them.

"Please lay on the cot provided. My assistants and I will make sure that there will be no harm to your Barcode tattoos, just that we have to place an artificial skin over the tattoo. You can remove the skin at any time but it is advised that you don't," Geronimo says, waving at the three cots.

This phase of turning into a Light is not as long as the hair treatment. All Geronimo and the nurses do is place the skin on top of the Barcode tattoo. It is not uncomfortable and it is easy to remove it. Regardless, I am never going to remove the skin until my task is completed.

After that, the four of us, including Daryl, is in the limousine heading away from the Prime Building and towards the Wall of Equilibrium.

"The government has been planning this project for years now and you three are the perfect candidate to perform our vision. The Wall is thick to drill through without alerting Light which is why we have been creating an underground tunnel connecting this camp to a forest in Light. We have sent two spies to evaluate the area and this is the best map they can draw for you," Daryl says, taking out a rolled blueprint and hand it to Collin. "It was too risky for the spies to go further, especially since there might be Light lurking in the woods."

The three of us listen, agreeing with Daryl silently.

"Follow the map to a town called Brightsbury. You three will settle there with the jobs Theresa and Collin get from their qualification. Mention that you three are from Vivid, a place at the other side of Light. Marcus will start school the day after tomorrow. Don't forget to socialize, join their daily noon 'break', keep an eye out for Duke Quinn, make sure no one catches you during your meal times or your different behaviour. You three moved because you want a different scene just like we've discussed before. Do you have any questions?"

Collin and I shake our heads. It is Theresa who asks, "If there's an emergency, how are we going to report it to you?"

Daryl looks out the window where the sight of the grey plant-covered Wall is getting closer. "We have a satellite in secret in Light. You will be given a device that can only be used during emergencies. That device can transmit your message to our database and we will send you back instructions on what you have to do."

"Since Light gets energy from the sun, they do not consume any form of food. How about our food?" I ask next.

"At 15th of every month, you can retrieve the food we will deliver to you that can last up to one month. The place will differ every month which is why the device you will be given will also give you coordinates of the place on the 14th, a day before the day you can receive your food. Do not let any Light see the food because they will know in an instant that you are not one of them."

We are no longer moving. The vehicle stopped in front of a large tent just in front of the Wall. The three of us grab our luggage from the boot. I realize that the secret tunnel is in the tent, protected by a number of Wall National Guards. We have to show them our Barcode tattoo before entering the tent.

Daryl nods at a few guards as we walk past them. Each guard is stationed at a specific place. Collin, Theresa and I walk in a line with Daryl in front of us. I can't help but look around the tent that can resemble a mansion instead. Out of nowhere, there is a flight of stairs heading downwards into the ground with modern lightings showing the pathway to a different world. The smell of the earth fills my nose.

I have never smelt such strong scent of Mother Nature in my entire life. I have never leave the city until a month ago. It is a refreshing experience.

"Here," Daryl tells us, taking three bags from a guard that is at the counter close to the stairs. "These knapsacks contain a few cans of Skin Spray, food that lasts a month, a guidebook, personal necessities, the emergency device, water, dyes, and a lot more. These bags are specially designed to hold a lot of things and makes it easier for you to carry."

I grab the red bag. I can't help but stare at the red bag for a moment because I have never seen this kind of bag – a knapsack – and in a colour I rarely see. I personally prefer my briefcase yet I know that it is unsuitable in Light.

"Thank you," the three of us say politely. We take this moment to stuff the bag Sara gave us into the knapsack. It feels strange to carry a large luggage in one hand and carry a bag on my back. Collin carries the map in his other hand.

"You're welcome. Follow me. I am only able to lead you to the end of this tunnel and then lock them once you're there. Before I forget, can you please conceal the doors of the tunnel with leaves or sticks?"

The tunnel is only able to fit one person at a time. The height of the tunnel is just enough for Daryl as he's the tallest among us. The thin light tubes are on the hard soil above us. I'm amazed that the soil is able to keep its structure despite the construction of this simple tunnel.

"We're directly beneath the Wall, as you can see."

I look up to see Daryl touching the greyish ceiling above him. The colours of the ceiling show whether we're under the Wall or not.

Curiously, I touch the grey ceiling. It is hard. It amaze me how the Wall of Equilibrium has formed naturally ever since the birth of our planet.

It takes us five minutes until the ceiling is no longer grey, but brown again. I know we have reached Light, the land of our enemies. Daryl stops walking, making us do the same.

"This is the furthest I can go. That's the door. It is a pleasure to assist you in succeeding this program," the general informs us. "Here's the key to the door, in case you need to get back to Dark." He hands the key to Collin, who puts it into his pocket.

We bid him goodbye before he disappears back towards Darkness.

"This is it," Collin tells us.

He sticks the key into the keyhole and turns it clockwise, making a click sound. He slowly opens the door. The strong ray of sunlight hits us immediately, making us cringe at the intensity. It takes me a second to get used to the brightness before we walk up the steps to Light.

There is no turning back now.

Author's Note

This is such an exciting scene!

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-M.