Chapter 23: the Cube

It felt like forever sitting there, waiting for our results, wondering kung sakaling nahawa nga kami ni Kruger. My heart pounded in my chest every time I thought about the possibility of the virus spreading through the entire Zone Z.

Did they already secure the vaccine? Speaking of which, lumapit ako kay Kruger at inilahad ang palad sa harap niya. He furrowed his brows, his eyes shifting from me to my outstretched hand.

"What?" he asked.

"Alam kong nasa iyo ang vial," I said.

Confusion flooded his face. "Vial?"

"Stop pretending, Kruger. Akin na."

He smirked. "So it was a vial."

"Ha?"

His eyes were scrutinizing me. "Yung bagay na binigay mo kay 1101077 by stuffing it inside the bread. Probably why he's coughing and breaking out in rashes. Anong binabalak ninyong dalawa?"

I wanted to punch myself. I'm so stupid. But denying it further would just make me look even more suspicious, so I stayed quiet.

"Just give me the thing," I said.

"What thing?"

Frustrated, I blew out a breath. "Kruger, hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa'yo!"

He leaned back and settled comfortably. "Whatever it is you're looking for, I'm telling you, wala iyon sa akin."

Even if I pushed him, I knew I'd get nothing. And why was I looking for the vial, anyway? Wala na ang plano namin ni Wolff. Everything had fallen apart, and escaping seemed impossible now.

Wait... Could it be Wolff set me up?

Us getting stuck in the elevator, the robbery at Bane Lab, and the ploy to save Mint Marave?

It's crazy, I know, but it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why a Glass would want a Marave's freedom.

Damn it, I was too trusting!

I turned to Kruger. "You said kaya mong lumabas dito kung gusto mo."

He lazily closed his eyes. "Hmm, so?"

"Tulungan mo akong makatakas," I said.

He sat up and laughed. "Tumakas? You went through all that trouble just to get here. Sigurado akong may plano ka kung paano makakalabas."

I knew it wouldn't be easy convincing Kruger to help me. My only hope was Bean-maybe he could help me figure something out like Wolff Bane had planned.

And maybe Seven if he's around. Maybe he had another way out, and he could help me like he did before. As for Wolff's plan? I couldn't trust it anymore. I don't know who to trust now except myself.

We didn't get to talk further dahil biglang bumukas ang pinto, and two guards escorted Bean inside. He looked unwell.

"Bean!" I rushed to him and inspected the rashes on his body. He was still feverish and coughing ngunit hindi na kasinglala noong kinuha siya ng emergency vehicle.

I turned to the guards. "Anong ginawa ninyo sa kanya? He's supposed to be resting!"

The guards said nothing, but Dr. Lee's image appeared in front of us.

"Hello, criminals," he greeted.

I clenched my fists but didn't react.

"The results are out," he began. "While it may not be as deadly as it seems, the virus has already broken out in the east of Zone Z. Your quarters are under total lockdown, but thanks to the government's quick response, vaccines are on their way. As for the three of you..."

The door suddenly swung open, and a group of soldiers in white PPEs entered. Two guards grabbed me while others restrained Kruger and Bean.

I struggled to break free, but it was useless.

"Anong binabalak mo, Dr. Lee?" Kruger shouted. Like me, he was trying to shake off the guards, but there were too many of them.

"You'll be sent back to the Cube until further notice," the doctor replied.

The guards dragged us away, including the weakened Bean. I shuddered at the memory of the Cube. The never-ending reflections were so dizzying that I didn't want to go back there.

My mind seemed to snap. I began screaming as the guards took us to an eerie glass room. I cried, shouted, and tried to break free, but my voice was swallowed by the glass walls.

"Give her a dose," I heard Dr. Lee say.

Before I could make sense of his words, I felt a sharp sting on my shoulder. I glanced down at the syringe. The blue liquid inside was slowly diminishing until it was gone. Then my mind went blank, and I passed out completely.

Pagbukas ko ng mga mata, ang puting ilaw ang unang nabungaran ko. The light was so blinding, but after a few blinks, my sight adjusted, and I could now see the white walls as well.

Sinubukan kong igalaw ang isang kamay, but something held it down. Panic flared in my chest as I tugged against the restraint. Sinubukan ko rin ang kabila but still to no avail. I pulled my arms harder, grunting upon the clinking metal of my every pull. Bahagya kong iniikot ang ulo ko, trying to piece together what was happening.

The first thing I saw was a white machine with clear wires attached to my body. Marahil doon nanggagaling ang tunog na naririnig ko. As the seconds passed, the beeping became too annoying, but I couldn't do anything about it.

I blinked and turned to the other side, but all I saw were more white machines. And then I realized-it wasn't the wall I was looking at earlier, but the ceiling. Nakahiga ako at nakatali sa kama, the sterile smell of the place is filling my nose.

My vision was hazy but I saw the clear mirror on the side. I stopped pulling my arms nang makita ko ang repleksiyon ko. I was pale, tired and anxious. Magulo ang nakataling buhok ko at may mga kung anu-anong nakakabit sa katawan ko. I bothered counting the electrodes latched onto my temples- there were six, with several more on my chest.

N-nasaan ako at ano ang nangyayari?

<The subject is awake>

A chilling robotic voice said. Iginala ko ang paningin sa paligid pero wala akong makitang tao o kahit na sinong pinagmulan ng boses. Napagtantong kong tila sa utak ko ang boses, and it must have been an artificial intelligence brought about by these things latched on me.

Nang kumurap ako ay nag-unahan sa paningin ko ang mga letra, numero at kung ano pa. The endless strings of ones and zeroes appeared before my eyes in a pattern I couldn't comprehend.

<Initializing...>

The voice echoed in my ears with a sharp, annoying tone along with the whirring of a machine.

<Error>

<Trying again in 3, 2, 1...>

<Initializing...>

It was like watching a computer command right in front of my eyes. The numbers and symbols floated in front of me, and if I weren't tied down, I might've tried to touch them. I pressed my eyes shut, but the data entries were still there.

Nang buksan ko ang mga mata ay nabuo ang mensaheng inulit rin ng boses na nagsasalita.

<Connection Successful>

<Welcome to N.E.W.>

<Establishing Cognitive Link with Subject No. 1101121>

<Cognitive Link Secured>

<Loading...>

<Accessing Neural Control>

<...70% complete>

It felt like my eyes had a mind of their own. No matter how hard I tried to keep them open, something was forcing them to close. My mind was also slipping away pero pinilit ko ang sariling huwag madala.

I clenched my fists and tried to think of anything to keep me awake, but the force trying to shut my eyes and mind was too strong.

<...88% complete...>

I found myself biting my lower lip. The sting and the metallic taste of blood lingered on my lips.

<Access Denied. Subject No. 1101121 is resisting neural connection...>

<Re-attempting in 3, 2, 1...>

<Cognitive Link Disconnected>

<Neural Control Access Denied>

<System Shutdown in 3, 2, 1...>

The patterns disintegrated before my eyes, like watching a digital abyss crumble. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako at hindi na napigilan ang pagpikit ng mata.

I woke up tired and sweating. My heart raced when I was greeted by the suffocating, endless mirror reflections. Ah, the doctor called this the Cube, and Kruger said this was meant to erode my mind.

Tuyo ang lalamunan ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman. Tila pumasok sa isip ko ang mga makinang nakakabit sa katawan ko, the flashes of data in my very eyes, and the annoying whirring of a machine-all gone.

Bumangon ako sa kama at tiningnan ang mga braso. There was no sign that I was restrained or anything, maliban sa tila mabigat na pakiramdam sa isang balikat ko kung saan tinurok ng gwardiya ang asul na likido to calm me when I began to panic upon remembering going back here. Bahagya kong ginalaw-galaw ang balikat. Other than that, nothing felt weird.

Tiningnan ko rin ang repleksiyon sa salamin, examining closely if there was anything that could tell me about the electrodes on my temple and chest.

Nothing.

Was it a dream?

Or maybe a hallucination from the drug?

"They successfully eroded your mind." Pabalik-balik na umaalingawngaw sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Kruger.

This panic, this confusion... This is exactly what they want, kaya kailangan kong tatagan ang loob. This place is suffocating, and I know I couldn't last a day longer if I succumbed to the panic.

Tinitigan ko ang repleksiyon sa salamin. The Cube... it's called the Cube, but this place has no corners, just an eerie void of reflections stretching into infinity.

That was one weird dream. Bumalik ako sa kama at napansin ang dugo sa puting unan. I immediately reached for my lips, feeling the cracks, and licked it. Napangiwi ako nang maramdaman ang hapdi sa labi. So I was biting myself in the dream and had bitten myself in reality.

Umupo ako sa kama at sinabunutan ang sarili. I wished I had Kruger's nerve of steel at nang sa ganoon ay makapag-isip ako ng tama. There was no time to compose myself dahil bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang dalawang gwardiya.

"Meals are ready."

The meals are ready... So I've been out of consciousness for some time now. Tumayo ako at lumabas ng Cube. I looked down and avoided watching the white walls to calm myself.

I was once again brought back to the hall kung saan naghihintay si Bean at Kruger. There were trays in front of them na naglalaman ng pagkain. They did not look any better, but I guess that's just what happens when you stay for hours in the Cube.

Pagpasok ko ay sabay silang napatingin sa akin. Their faces were filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

"...Hope..." Napatayo si Bean at sinalubong ako. Hinawakan niya ang masakit kong balikat kaya bahagya akong napapiksi. "S-sorry. What happened? Anong ginawa nila sa'yo?"

"I'm okay." No, I'm not. "Masakit lamang ang balikat ko dahil sa tinurok nila sa akin."

Bean angrily hissed at the random glass wall. "It wasn't just a tranquilizer, right?"

Kruger sighed at nagsimulang kumain. "I guess it's a tranquilizer in a higher dose. So, your name is Hope?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nagsimula na lamang kumain. The food tasted bland, ngunit pinilit kong kumain. I have to eat if I plan to escape this place with my sanity.

"You can call me anything you want," sagot ko. Nagkatinginan si Bean at Kruger na parehong nagtataka. Compared to my state before we were locked inside the Cube, I felt better.

Bean moved his tray at naupo sa tabi ko. "Are you sure nothing happened?"

Umiling ako bilang sagot. "Yup, nakatulog lamang ako and I had this weird dream, but other than the discomfort on my shoulder, wala naman akong nararamdamang kakaiba."

Bean nodded at iniyuko ang ulo. "I-I'm sorry."

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Kruger sa kanya habang nakakunot ang noo.

"It's not like how we planned," pagpapatuloy niya.

Pilit akong ngumiti. "No, ako ang dapat na magsorry. I put you in this mess because I was so stupid to trust someone's evil plan."

Kruger cleared his throat and moved closer to us. "Okay, you two fill me in. What exactly is happening here?"

I'm still not convinced that Kruger didn't take the vial of the cure, kaya hindi ko siya mapagkakatiwalaan. I can use him to escape, but being nice instantly would be suspicious to him.

The door opened with a soft hiss, at napakaraming sundalo ang pumasok. There's no way to count them dahil sa dami nila. Ang huling pumasok ay si Dr. Lee.

It was weird watching him in person, at nabuhay ang kaba sa dibdib ko. I kept my head down and calmed myself.

Tumawa si Kruger at tumayo. "All this security, Dr. Lee? Wow, I didn't know you think this highly of us."

"You are dangerous criminals, Inmate 1101052. Mas mabuti nang makatiyak," sagot ni Dr. Lee. Kruger laughed once again and stepped forward, ngunit isang hakbang lamang ay tinutukan na siya ng armas ng mga gwardiya.

He scoffed, shaking his head at itinaas ang mga kamay na tila ba sumusuko. He was silently taunting the doctor, ngunit nagtago ito sa likod ng mga armas at napakaraming sundalo.

"Hindi ako nandito para makipagkumustahan sa inyo. I'm here to inform you that you will be leaving the Cube."

Dapat ay matuwa ako dahil nakakabaliw ang lugar na ito, but I cannot bring myself to be happy with the news. If anything, it just makes me all the more suspicious.

"Ibig sabihin ay makakabalik na kami sa Quarters namin?" tanong ni Bean.

The doctor sighed. "Not yet, because of the lockdown, but... You will be staying in the Prism."

I gritted my teeth, angry at everything, ngunit hindi ko iyon pinahalata. By the sound of it, the Prism is not any better than the Cube.

Kruger hopped towards the chairs at komportableng naupo. He even brought his legs up on the table. Kung ibang sitwasyon ay nainis na ako sa ginawa niya, but today, it seriously pissed off the doctor base sa bahagyang paniningkit ng mga mata nito. He refused to comment on Kruger's attitude at hinarap na lamang kami ni Bean.

"Why, you don't seem happy," komento niya.

There isn't anything to be happy about in Zone Z, iyon ang gusto kong isagot sa kanya.

"You don't expect to be lying here all day doing nothing, do you?" Tanong ni Dr. Lee. "You are prisoners, hindi bakasyonista. At Prism, you can do work at nang sa ganoon ay mapakinabangan kayo."

Bean shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. Gaya ko, hindi maganda ang kutob niya sa sinabi ni Dr. Lee, but what choice do we have? I took a deep breath, trying to keep my own irritation in check.

"Just tell us what you need us to do," Kruger replied. "Whatever it is, we cannot say no to it, right? So what is it? Mining? Construction? The usual sweaty jobs with shitty meals?"

Dr. Lee laughed. "You do understand na kaya kayo nilalagay sa ganyang trabaho ay dahil sa kakayahan ninyo? Sanip does not underestimate you, so putting you in a field where you have expertise is like placing a bomb in the heart of Sanip."

Ngayon ay nasagot na ang tanong sa isipan ko kung bakit sa minahan naka-assign si Bean, when he's supposed to be in health or some great department.

"You will be in agriculture," pagpapatuloy ni Dr. Lee. "You will help grow trees."

It didn't sound that bad, but I knew Kruger and Bean were thinking the same thing. This agriculture... it wasn't really about growing trees.

We just didn't know what it was really for. Not yet.

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