A/N:

Hi! WETS is back, FOR REAL 💛💛💛

This is the first new chapter, since I started writing it last 2020 (?) Wow. I'm amazed you waited for 4 years! Thank you very much! I'm so excited to share this story with you, and like my other stories, sana ay kapulutan 'to ninyo ng aral at mga realizations in life. 🥺

I love to hear your ideas and thoughts about WETS so don't forget to comment. It's what keeps me going guys kahit puro hahahahaha lang minsan comment ninyo 😂

Also, if you've read the first 20 chapters before, please re-read from the start becoz there were changes and easter eggs along the way 🫣

Thank youuuu and I love youuuu 💛

-Tammii/ShinichiLaaaabs

P.S. This is for MallowRabbit, who's so excited with new chapters coming 🩷

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Chapter 21: isolation

Pakiramdam ko ay pinagsakluban ako ng langit at lupa dahil sa narinig ko. Muling nanginig ang mga kamay ko, and it made me regret all the decisions I've made in life.

Wala ito sa plano, at mas lalong wala iyon sa mga naisip namin ni Wolff na posibleng mangyari sa kabuuan ng misyon.

Bean stared at me as I started crying. Ito na ba ang katapusan ko? Mabubulok ba ako rito sa Zone Z?

"It's okay, Hope," pag-comfort ni Bean.

No, it's not okay. I risked my life here, samantalang ang dahilan kung bakit nandito ako ay malaya. The only thing I can do right now is blame Wolff for all my misfortunes. Pinahid ko ang mga luha ko at naramdaman ang mahinang tapik ni Bean sa balikat ko.

"Now, I didn't name you Hope for nothing," mahinang sabi niya. "We'll figure out a way."

Alam kong pinapalakas lang niya ang loob ko, but I have to admit that it was effective. Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang makarating kami sa quarters, kung saan muli niya akong kinausap tungkol sa plano naming pagtakas. I thought I'd given up the hope of leaving this place, ngunit ramdam ko ang pag-asa mula kay Bean.

"Where's the vial?" Mahinang bulong niya sa akin habang iniikot ang tingin sa paligid. Sanay na sanay sa buhay preso ang mga naroon, and everyone seemed so tired from the long day of work.

Dinama ko ang malamig na mga vial sa bulsa. "I... I still have it."

"Good. Keep that with you. Gagawin natin ang plano mo sa lalong madaling panahon."

Iniyuko ko ang ulo nang dumaan ang ilang militar sa harap namin. They were distributing blankets for the inmates, samantalang nagsitayuan naman ang ibang preso upang pumila sa pagkain. Bean and I moved slowly toward the line at umiwas na maging kahina-hinala.

My stomach was empty, but I don't think I can eat anything. I grabbed a tray at pasimpleng sinundan ang mga nakapila sa pagkain. My heart ached at the sight of the inmates na tila sanay na sa ganoong buhay. Tahimik ang lahat at tila walang kahit sinumang nakakuhang ngumiti. Marahil ito ang routine nila palagi—gigising, magtatrabaho, kakain, matutulog—it's the same cycle every day.

What I see here is just the tip of the iceberg. Malawak ang Zone Z at ang mga bagay na nakita ko ay marahil sampung porsiyento lamang ng kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa loob. The thought just made me want to achieve something like what Wolff is planning. Will getting Mint Marave out of this place really lead to something that will reform Sanip? Totoo nga kayang mabuti ang intensyon ni Wolff?

Matapos makakuha ng pagkain, pumwesto ako sa bakanteng mesa. Mula sa sulok ay ramdam ko ang manaka-nakang tingin na binabato ni Kruger sa akin. He just arrived from wherever his area of assignment is, at ngayon ay tila naco-conscious ako sa bawat galaw ko.

If my analysis is right, Kruger is a detective wannabe or something, kaya marahil kahit ang mga mumunting bagay na gagawin ko ay iaanalisa niya. Ipinilig ko na lang ang ulo at pinilit ang sariling kumain.

"Is it me or is something up with you and—"

Tiningnan ko nang masama si Bean kaya hindi na niya tinuloy ang sasabihin. "He's suspicious of me," mahinang bulong ko.

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "He is a detective. Everything is suspicious to him."

"Magiging problema ba natin siya?"

Bean sighed. "I think so. Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa'yo mula pa kanina. If you do anything suspicious, he will be on your throat."

Napabuga ako ng hangin at muling dinama ang malamig na bote sa bulsa ko. "Then what am I gonna do?"

Inilapag ni Bean ang tinapay sa harap ko. Kung titingnan sa tamang anggulo, the bread looked normal, ngunit nang pinulot ko iyon, napansin kong tila napakagaan ng tinapay. Then I realized that the bottom was hollowed.

"Put the vial inside," bulong niya. "I'll execute the plan."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. That would be a big help, at least to lessen the guilt in my chest. Hindi ko pa rin makumbinsi ang sarili kong magkalat ng epidemya sa loob. That evil deed will haunt me for life.

"B-bean..."

"I'll just have to spread it, right? Ibig sabihin, I will be Patient Zero. I think I can do that—"

"P-pero..." Hindi ko pa rin makumbinsi ang sarili kong gawin iyon. What if everything goes wrong and Bean does not survive even if the cure is readily available? Gusto kong sabunutan ang sarili ko. Here I am worrying about Bean; why am I not worrying about myself if I were to do it? Paano kung ako ang hindi makasurvive? What if Wolff lied about me being healthy and all to survive the disease?

"Trust me, Hope. Isa pa, sa ating dalawa, I am the one who probably had all access to the vaccine from my fetal development stage to birth to adulthood. I'm sure I will survive it."

Wolff said the symptoms will be high fever, body pains, vomiting, sore throat, and rashes. It may not be as harsh as it sounds ngunit alam kong delikado iyon. Pero the chances of making it through with Bean are high kung katuwang ko siya sa balak kong pagkatakas. Even Wolff himself believed that Bean can help me think of ways to escape Zone Z.

Pasimpleng iginala ko ang tingin sa paligid bago kinuha ang tinapay. Maingat at patagong kinuha ko ang vial na may pulang label at inilagay iyon sa loob ng tinapay. I took a small bite before returning the bread to Bean's tray so as not to seem suspicious. He nodded at me before getting the bread and taking a big bite.

He leaned closer and whispered, "Papasok ako sa banyo, and expect the drama sooner or later. For the meantime, hold on to the cure, alright?"

Ilang beses akong napalunok at tumango. Ibinaling ko ang atensiyon sa pagkain habang tumayo si Bean at pumasok sa banyo. I can still feel Kruger's gaze on me ngunit tiyak akong hindi niya nakita ang ginawa ni Bean dahil nakatalikod siya sa kanya. His expression didn't change so it's a good sign that nothing caught his attention, at least for now.

I chewed on the stale bread hanggang sa bumalik si Bean mula sa banyo. There was nothing unusual about him, maliban sa ilang pagtikhim niya, as if something was caught in his throat.

"I'm sure the symptoms..." He cleared his throat again, at pansin ko ang pamumula ng kanyang mga mata. "...are slowly kicking in."

"Ayos ka lang?" tanong ko. He nodded, grabbing the water and chugging it.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras. We lined up once again to return the trays hanggang sa bumalik kami sa sleeping quarters. Pansin ko ang pamumula ng tainga ni Bean at ang ilang beses niyang pag-ubo. There were also red dots on his arms ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin upang hindi maging kahinahinala.

The guards finished guiding us back to the sleeping quarters, ngunit bigla na lamang napatakbo si Bean sa banyo at nagsuka. My heart leapt in guilt and worry. Guilt, dahil alam kong epekto iyon ng virus, and worry because even if it was all contrived, the pain that Bean is feeling right now is real.

"Bean?" Tumakbo ako papunta sa banyo at sinundan siya. He vomited everywhere at nang nilapitan ko siya ay tila nakakapaso ang kanyang init. "Bean, are you—"

The bathroom door flew open at iniluwa si Kruger. "What's going on?"

"H-hindi ko alam..."

Patuloy lamang sa pagsusuka si Bean. His face and body were hot and red, kaya napabaling ang atensiyon ni Kruger sa kanya at pilit itong hinarap sa kanya. "Anong nangyari sa'yo?"

I felt a surge of panic in my chest nang nakuha namin ang atensiyon ng mga guwardiya. They also rushed to the bathroom at nakiusyoso na. When the guards had their attention on Bean, Kruger pulled me to the side at mahinang bumulong.

"Anong ginawa mo?" he gritted through his teeth. "I know you did something."

Sinubukan kong alisin ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko ngunit mas lalo lamang iyong humigpit. "Bitiwan mo ako, hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo."

Mas lumala ang pag-ubo at pagsusuka ni Bean kaya pinindot ng isang guwardiya ang emergency button. Kruger's suspicion of me deepened ngunit hindi niya pinahalata. Dumating ang emergency shuttle at sinakay doon si Bean. Nakisuyoso ang ibang mga inmates ngunit mabilis na dumating ang mga guwardiya at pinabalik ang lahat sa sleeping quarters.

When the vehicle left, halos sasabog na ang dibdib ko sa kaba. Kruger was still observing me more closely than before. Now's the chance to wait for the next step. Kapag natest na ng mga doktor si Bean, they will surely identify the strain of the virus and find ways to stop its spread. I, as his close contact, will probably be isolated as well, at iyon na ang chance namin ni Bean na tumakas, according to Wolff's plan, or better yet, make another plan, basta't makaalis kami rito.

But then, that would mean Kruger will be isolated as well with us, and he will be a pain in the neck. The guy was sharp, and his instincts were already on high alert. Sigurado akong bawat galaw namin ay babantayan niya.

Just hold on a little longer, Bean.

I reached for the vial of the cure in my pocket ngunit bigla akong natigilan.

The vial was gone. I frantically patted my pockets ngunit wala talaga roon ang maliit na vial. I was panicking ngunit pilit kong kinalma ang sarili. My mind traced back to where I could have lost the vial, baka sakaling nalaglag ko lamang iyon. Why did I mess up?

Pasimpleng tumayo ako upang bumalik sa kung saan ako naupo kanina habang kumakain ngunit bigla na lamang humarang si Kruger sa harap ko.

"Where do you think you're going?" He smirked at me.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. "Wala ka na bang ibang alam gawin kundi bantayan ako?"

His dull eyes roamed my face. Tiyak kong maraming bagay ang tumatakbo sa kanyang isip, one of which is why I am there. "What did you do to that guy?" mahina ngunit mapang-asar niyang tanong.

"Ano?"

He pulled me to the side at maingat na nilingon ang paligid bago hininaan ang boses. "I know what you did."

"Pwede ba, wala nga—"

We were interrupted by the blaring alarm sirens inside the facility. Sabay na napatingin kami sa pulang ilaw at ilang sandali lamang ay pumasok ang mga taong nakasuot ng makakapal na protective equipment. The other guards na nakasuot rin ng PPE ay may dalang malalaking armas. They put tape all over the place.

My heart leapt when holographic images flickered all over the place, showing both Kruger's face and mine. The blaring sirens continued to echo around the facility. Lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ni Kruger sa akin.

"Shit, is this your plan?"

Mabilis na umiling ako at bahagyang umatras. "Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo!"

One of the guards fired through the wall, dahilan upang magsidapa ang halos lahat ng naroon. "Kung kayo man ang dalawang inmates na 'to, step forward! Kailangan niyong i-isolate habang hinihintay ang resulta ng tests mula sa patient zero."

My head could not grasp what was happening. Wolff's plan, as complicated as it was, seemed so easy compared to what was happening right now. Nang bumaling ako kay Kruger, nakangisi siya habang bahagyang umiiling. "What's everyone up to, huh?"

Bigla niya akong hinila at dinala sa kumpol ng mga sundalong nakabantay. "Nandito kami!"

Sinalubong kami ng mga sundalo at kinumpirma ang aming mga hitsura base sa mga nakaflash na holographic images. They guided us towards the vehicle waiting outside at tahimik lamang kami sa buong biyahe. I wanted to cry but my tears didn't seem to cooperate, ngunit nakakabaliw ang matinding kabog ng dibdib ko.

Hindi ko alam kung saan nila kami dinala dahil hindi namin makita ang labas mula sa loob ng sasakyan. The windows were sealed, and the guards with us were wearing thick protective gear, kung kaya't hindi rin namin makita ang mga mukha nila.

When the vehicle stopped, mabilis na bumaba ang dalawang sundalo habang pinosasan naman kami ng isa pa. The place was silent, but from where we stopped, rinig namin ang mahinang hampas ng alon. Dinala nila kami papasok sa isang pasilidad. Pagpasok pa lamang namin doon, pinalitan na ang mga damit namin ng puting pares ng patient uniform. They led us through a white corridor. The air smelled sharp, like disinfectant, at sa tahimik ng paligid, tanging mga yabag namin ang maririnig.

It was an unending walk through the long corridor hanggang sa huminto kami sa harap ng malaking salaming pinto.

One guard removed his headgear at tumapat sa machine na nasa harap ng pinto. A green light passed through his face, lingering a little bit longer on his eye bago bumukas ang pinto. Wala akong ideya kung nasaan kami, at kung pagbabasehan ang mukha ni Kruger, I don't think he knew about this place either.

Akala ko ay iyon na ang lugar ngunit muli naming nilakad ang napakatahimik at mahabang pasilyo hanggang sa isa namang salaming pinto ang hinintuan namin. The guard did the same thing like what he did on the first door at muli kaming pumasok sa pinto at binati ng napakahabang puting pasilyo.

I was getting dizzy with all the walking and tension in the air but then the guard opened a door revealing two chambers made entirely of reflective glass. It was a cube-shaped room where every wall, ceiling, and floor was made of seamless, gleaming mirrors. The reflections bounced infinitely, creating a disorienting maze of light and images that stretched beyond what the eye could comprehend.

Kruger was pulled to the left side, while I was brought to the other cube. The place from the inside was confusing dahil sa salamin. No matter where you look, you could see your endless reflection repeating in a dizzying loop.

Iniwan kami ng mga guards sa loob, with reflections of reflections spiraling into oblivion, making it nearly impossible to tell where the walls truly ended.

I began to panic and tried to call out for help ngunit tila ako lamang ang nakakarinig sa boses ko. "Hello?!"

Bigla na lamang dumilim ang paligid at tanging ang ilaw mula sa salaming sahig ang nagsilbing tanglaw. The mirror walls suddenly reflected an incomprehensible alphanumeric display and schematics until an image of a man in protective equipment appeared. Hindi ko maaninag ang kanyang mukha dahil sa suot niya. His reflection was endlessly reflected on the mirrors around.

"I know you two are in panic," panimula niya. "But please, bear with us as we await the result of the test with inmate 1101077. We need to isolate you two dahil kayo ang kanyang close contact. In a while, some doctors will administer some tests and get your vitals for recording so we expect your full cooperation. For the meantime, take a rest, and let us know immediately kung may nararamdaman kayong kahit anong sintomas."

The mirrored walls once again flickered, bago tuluyang nawala ang hologram. The place was back to its eerie ambiance, leaving us in the unsettling silence.

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ShinichiLaaaabs