Sabrina's POV

December 22nd, 2051

Its been years ever since the Phobos almost wiped humanity with its godly abilities. It was unknown how these creatures have just disappeared in the blink of an eye. There were rumors about Lazarus Institute doing experiments to these monsters. Well, it's really weird that they imprison the people who wanted to join Lazarus DFC but I know its safe. They've provided us footages about things the Lazarus Institute do to their Lazarus DFC program that enriches people of all intelligence knowledge about providing survival to humanity for the reasons that when the Phobos comes back from its hiatus, we will fight back and show them that humans are the top of the food chain. Actually, I have signed up to be part of the Lazarus Institute.

"Sabrina Valheur. You're up to take the test." a voice echoed in the room where the future people that would be part of Lazarus Institute awaits for their calling.

"Coming!" I exclaimed. I stood up and exhaled deeply. Before I enter the room I looked in the mirror nearby. I looked at my long hazel colored hair and my brown eyes. I polished my suit and put a smile in my face and then rushing towards the door.

I sighed, "You can do this. Remember all the things you reviewed. Also, your best friend Charlie is there. That dumb rascal succeeded right, of course, me too."

I opened the door and cold air sent chills down my spines. I looked around seeing advanced technologies and even robots accompanying me.

"Wow" I whispered to myself. The inside is big and people around are all working. They were experimenting and doing science stuff you know.

"Where are we going Mr. Robot?" I asked the A.I guiding me.

It didn't reply.

"O-ok?" I stuttered.

"Initializing" the robot spoke and stopped in the middle of the path.

"Wait what?" I looked embarrassed at the crowd. I don't really like being around people and especially being looked at by so many.

"Ugh... This is so embarrassing" I muttered avoiding eye contact with the people.

"Initializing complete. Hello, I am GMB427 which stands for Guider-Mechanical Bot. I guide people who wanted to take part in the Lazarus Institute's success. How can I help you?" It asked me.

"Nevermind. Lead me to somewhere we will go immediately." I whispered.

"Ok. If you say so." It replied.

I walked left and right and at last, we arrived at the Trial Room 12. I was jealous because he can float, I feel exhausted.

"Goodbye. Profile #45689" the robot said before floating away from us. I don't really get why he called me that. What's with the numbers "45689"?

The door is made of glass and it detected my entrance examining my body with laser scans.

"Wow. That's cool" I said quietly to myself. The door opened automatically and said, "Threat detected." The lights turned red around the door. I am confused.

What. It did that to find threats? Am I a threat. Seriously? Well, I would bring neither guns nor knives.

"NO PHONES ALLOWED. PLEASE SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY" it added.

"Ok. Ok." I replied placing my phone to where it wants me to put it.

Inside there were ten seats. I was the fifth one to arrive, probably there should be ten of us. There were no guards and scientists inside. It's just us five people with our eyes roaming around. You know looking around but the room is empty. Not really empty because there were seats and desks and of course lights. But I really feel claustrophobic here.

I asked myself "Why don't they bring all ten immediately, not one by one."
You know. It's exhausting walking from there to here.

I took a seat and waited for the others to come. The seats were five feet apart back sideways and there were three in one row, four next row and three again at the other row with each individual virtual computers in our desks where I think we will answer the tests for being a Lazarus Institute employees. It was awesome here, the stuffs are far more advanced than in my town. I remember when I was a child, my aunt Alisa saved me away from this place but it didn't look amazing like this. It was more of old looking than now. Aunt Alisa brought me outside New York to live with her friends the Valheurs. The Valheurs treated me as their only daughter but when they bore a son, they've focused on him. They didn't treat me special anymore that's why I decided when the time comes I can escape from that place I will show them that I will be successful. I will show them that I will be part of the Lazarus Institute, I will make them proud even though they're not supporting my choice. Well, I guess they've forgotten me anyways.

I made a friend back then, he was older than me. He is like a big brother to me, Charlie. He was there when children bully me at school. He was there to comfort me and play with me every day. But people grow and I saw him going away from the town to New York where he pursued taking part in Lazarus DFC. Before he left he told me that we will meet again. I hugged him tightly, I cried. I was so glad that I get to see him in one of Lazarus Institute DFC advertisements shown in televisions. I was happy and told myself I want to be like him. I want to be part of his life again and here I am taking this test.

"Hello? Why are you staring at me?" a person at the other seat said.

"Oh. Sorry." I replied. Why am I daydreaming again?

He laughed and waved his hand. "I'm Chase. Nice to meet you. By the way, what's your name? I didn't see you anywhere around New York before."

"Oh. I am Sabrina. Sabrina Valheur. Nice to meet you too. I am from a village outside New York. I just got here in New York a few days ago, I rented an inn and I have decided long ago that I will join Lazarus DFC because my friend was a scientist here." I replied while doing hand gestures. He smiled. His hair is hazel colored, the same as mine, his eyes were blue. It was beautiful like water. His voice is deep and his body is average shaped. He wears a white uniform with a tie and formal pants. He looks handsome indeed.

"You are weird you know?" He laughed.

"Well yeah. I don't really like talking to people I don't really know. I prefer being alone and I am used to it." I smiled.

"Oh. There goes the last one. Ok, the test will start soon." he replied while pointing at the door.

As soon as the last person entered the room. A lady barged in at the right corner of the room with six accompanying guards. She wore a lab coat and said her welcome and remarks about the examination.

"Hello aspiring people who want to be part of Lazarus Institute. This test will measure your intellect and ability for survival. We will ask you questions in the virtual computers in your desks and you must answer it honestly. The results will arrive after 3 days and we need you to come back on Christmas, December 25th, 2051. We require your attendance." the lady said in front of us.

"But first we will show you a short message." she added. A hologram was projected in front of us. It was Sam Wilson.

"Hello, future people of The Lazarus Institute. I am happy that you chose to be part of our growing community here. We will assure survival and freedom to the people as more and more people will join us. Lazarus DFC, the future of our world. We need you to survive! We need your life to take part in future generation's success! Thank you for lending yours. We are the Lazarus Institute and we are happy to serve you the life all must-have. Any of you can be the one we were looking for! You who have arrived here. We are looking forward to your attendance." the hologram disappeared.

The lady once more talked "In your virtual computers at your desks. We provided the rules and regulations and of course the contract. We need you to sign your signature. With that, you are under our control."

It gave me chills when she said those words but I still agreed to the contract thus the beginning of our exam. It seems that one disagreed though so the guards accompanied him to go out of the trial room. He looked like feeling dizzy when he got out. I didn't pay that much attention so I started the exam. The questions are quite easy.

Lazarus Institute Examinations for Lazarus DFC.

Question Number 1: What do you want as your position in this place?

Response: "Hmm... A scientist like my best friend Charlie."

Question Number 2: Explain to us why do you want to be part of the Lazarus Institute.

Response: "Lazarus Institute helps people survive and provide a good future to mankind which I want to be part of."

....fast forward

Question Number 35: What do you fear the most?

Response: "Is this really needed? I am afraid of darkness. I don't like it when I am left behind with nothing in my sight. I hate being shaded by darkness. I am glad that moonlights me in times when I needed someone with me through hard times. I also don't like being inside small spaces. I really feel claustrophobic."

Question Number 46: Do you think you can now be fearless of the dark?

Response: "I hope so. I want to be free from fearing darkness."

Question Number 55: Do you want to live in a world of your dreams?

Response: "I want to live in my world where everything was back to normal. I want to see my family in that world healthy and living but past is past I can't turn back time."

Question Number 70: Do you ever think of dying in the hands of the Phobos?

Response: "I once wanted to be dead because my parents died because of those monsters but my friends pursued me that I must survive this cruel world no matter what happens."

Question Number 85: Do you know Alisa Frost?

Response: "Yes. She was a head scientist of Lazarus Institute."

Question Number 90: Did you get a chance to meet Alisa Frost in person?

Response: "Yes when I was just a child."

Question Number 95: Did you know that Alisa Frost was dead?

Response: "No"

Question Number 100: Do you really want to be part of the Lazarus Institute?

Response: "Yes"

There were a hundred questions in that test. There were no incorrect and correct answers but it was mostly asking about personal experiences. I don't know why but I encountered questions about my Aunt. I was so sad when I saw question number ninety-five stating that she was dead, maybe the institute has known that she killed the doctor. After the exam people inside the room were chatting to each other about the weird questions gathering at one spot in the room. The lady entered and interrupted their talk.

"A severe typhoon is happening outside and order from Sam Wilson requires all you to stay here in Lazarus Institute for three days and find out your test results. We will accompany you to your respective rooms." the lady said.

"Ooh... I am really sorry madame but my mother needs me home at this time. I want to quit this job. My mother needs me, I should have not disobeyed her and rebel against her to join here." a guy said.

"We will not allow that until Christmas. We will first ask permission to Sam Wilson who is far more superior than I am. We will provide everything you need here such as food, temporary shelter, and clothes. Don't worry about your parents everything's gonna be alright Profile #63954. Also according to the contract, you can't sign out so its no use to tell Sam Wilson then." the lady replied.

"No.." the guy replied sadly.

Chase tapped my shoulders and said, "Hey. The questions are weird right? Who the heck is Alisa Frost? I don't know her, who was she."

"She's a head scientist right?" I asked creasing my forehead.

"No. I don't recall someone or anyone from the head scientists named Alisa or even a scientist that has a surname Frost" he replied.

It was at that moment I felt shivers in my body. I answered that test with pure honesty that might get me in trouble here inside the institute. I know for myself that Alisa is safe and she was a head scientist of Lazarus Institute. I don't know why did he say that Alisa is not a head scientist. It really confused me.

Sam's POV

"Hmm... Interesting. This Sabrina Valheur still knows Alisa Frost's existence." I said to myself. I felt energy and anger surging to my veins. I want to kill that girl, I want to feed her to the Phobos. They thought she can escape her fate? She can't. Her fate is to suffer like her aunt.

I was sitting in front of a transparent glass showing thousands of bodies enclosed in chambers from different years of luring people to join Lazarus DFC.

Alisa and that kid thought they can escape my brilliance. They thought I can never suspect them.

I have enclosed Alisa Frost inside a Cryosleep Tube as well as with other bodies preserving their flesh and body in a frozen state to be fed to the monsters in their re-awakening. Alisa betrayed me and so I grew hatred against her.

I looked at Alisa's cold body "Alisa. My love. I have found her. We should've been together if it wasn't for this child who has grown too old in this world enough." I grinned happily then laughed loudly. No one was inside that room except for me.

"Let's have fun Sabrina Valheur. Shall we?"

To Be Continued...

Hidden Case Files:

January 3rd, 2039

CCTVA (Closed-Circuit Television and Audio) Footage Room B12: Sam Wilson's Bedroom

Alisa was standing next to the bed. Sam Wilson entered the room. She was shocked and refused eye contact with Sam, she turned her back facing the mirror.

"Alisa. My love. Why are you ignoring me? Its been a year isn't it?" Sam Wilson said seducing Alisa as he held her hips in a sexual way. He kissed Alisa's neck. Sam hugged Alisa tightly.

"Sam. Please stop. SAM! AHHH!" Alisa replied as she struggled from Sam's grip.

"Alisa. I don't like it when people lie to me. You know that right? We should've been lovers so sweet together making their inventions but-." Sam whispered then he smirked.

"HELP! HELP! HELP PLEASE!! PLE-" Alisa screamed but Sam closed her mouth using his palm.

"Will you fucking shut up! You filthy traitor! I hate betrayal and you know that!" He yelled furiously glaring in front of the mirror. He can see the fear in Alisa's eyes. She was crying, he can feel her trembling.

Alisa broke free from Sam's grip. She bit Sam's palm and tried to run but as she tried to unlock the door, the password was changed. She tried opening it combining the numbers she has known to be the password but all are useless.

Sam stood up and said, "Let this be your farewell darling."

Alisa fell down. She is slowly crawling away from Sam. She tried kicking him but Sam is too strong and when he caught Alisa he injected something to Alisa putting her to sleep. Sam called his guards to enter and bring Alisa to Lab 667 Floor B13.

"Guards. Put her body in Lab 667 Floor B13 and don't even bother to betray me too." he ordered.

Sam had developed this type of CCTV just before inventing flying cars.