JADE:
I was pretty hungry, but I eyed the dinnerware more impatiently than the food.
“You seemed famished, miss… Don’t worry. You’d get to eat in a bit.”
I nodded as timidly as I could. I must act docile so as not to alarm her.
She fetched a breakfast tray and laid the food and dinner ware on it, placing it directly in front of me.
“Here you go. I hope you have a nice dinner.”
I looked at her in awe when she was about to leave.
“Ahh… M-My wrissst,” I said.
Darn it, it was still too difficult for me to speak! What did they seriously do with me?
“Oh right…” The lady in a scrub suit went over to me. She reached out her hands towards my left wrist.
Just when I thought she was going to untie me, she stopped, and her eyes curved into what looked like a smile. “On second thought, you should try getting out of here by yourself, miss. That’ll be a pretty good exercise for you.”
I looked at her in horror. What the hell did she just say?
I rattled the straps. “G-Get me out… Pleassse…”
“Sorry, it’s against the rules. Good luck with getting them undone,” she said as she pushed the tray and left me on my own.
I rattled my strapped wrists again. They hurt so much. Can I really get out on my own?
No… It’s not a matter of I can or can’t… I must get out of here!
I looked at the straps. They were actually made of cloth, so maybe if I tug hard enough against them, I’ll be able to free myself eventually, right?...
I tried it once, twice, three times… countless times…
No, I was far too weak to get out of it!
I looked at the food before me. It was a piece of chicken leg and rice.
I don’t know how long I had been in captivity. The last time I had a meal was when I was in the restaurant with Liam…
Rats, where was Liam anyway? Wasn’t he the last person I saw before everything dimmed?
My body trembled in hunger. I looked at the food before me.
I was really famished. I felt the cells in my body vibrate in the want of food before me. I imagined my canines sinking into the chicken’s juicy flesh and skin and my tongue coming in contact with the warm rice.
Weird… Why did I even think of having canines?
Just then, I saw my hands reach out for the chicken thighs in front of me.
Huh? When did I free myself from the straps?...
I didn’t know if it happened because of hunger or the sheer want of getting free, but all the same, before trying to flee this place, I’ve got to fill my stomach first…
It proved to be a very stupid move, however, for as soon as I finished the food before me, my body felt doubly heavy, and my eyelids drooped.
I should have known the food would be drugged… There was no way they would allow me to get out of this place that easily…
This scenario – like that in my dream with Marian - was a hell hole. I was a test subject, and someone was pulling my strings.
My eyelids shut one last time as I saw someone in a black suit approach from the right side out in the corner of my eyes…
**********************
How many times and for how long has it been? Was it two or three days since then?...
Judging by how many times they played this game of poison with me, I must be here for at least two days now.
The cycle of eat and sleep repeated themselves several times, and every time I woke up, I was always hungrier than usual…
In fact, I was so hungry, I was even tempted to bite at the wrist of the attendant in the scrub suit as she tried to serve my meals.
Now, today’s meal was beef.
I hated beef. I hated the fat and stiff way each chunk of meat settled in my mouth. I hated how I had to gnash it thoroughly against my teeth before I had to gulp it down, unless I wanted to have indigestion…
Today though, its aroma was enticing… So enticing I can even eat it raw.
Well, the beef before me does look raw… So why? … Why am I salivating for it?
As soon as the attendant left, I extricated myself from the straps and reached for the piece of beef.
I sank my fingernails into it. By now, my fingernails had been long enough that I could perhaps use it as a weapon if someone attacked me…
Weapon… That’s right… I’m still a prisoner now, and I needed a weapon.
Trying to resist eating the poisoned food with all my might, I grabbed the sharp knife on the table and cut myself loose from the tubes that held me.
It was so surprising that I didn’t seem to have enough strength as I tried to stand from the bed when I had pulled myself away from my hand straps a few moments ago...
However, I didn’t have time to worry about that. I must get out of here!
I wobbled as I fell from the bed, my feet acting as if they were made of jelly. I tried painstakingly to support myself from the table, which I did eventually. After some time, I managed to prop myself up into a standing position.
I dragged my right feet as I walked around. I knew there was an exit at the right side of my bed, but from experience, the black suited guy (or girl… I wasn’t really sure) always came from there just when I was about to fall asleep. I must go to the opposite side then.
As luck had it, there was a door to my left. There was a warning sign that said ‘Keep Out.’ I ignored the sign and turned the knob of the door.
Almost immediately, I was plunged into total darkness. I groped my way into the walls, hoping that it will lead me somewhere safe…
I didn’t know how long I had been walking these dark hallways. I was already drenched with sweat from head to foot, and by now, my feet had recovered their ability to walk. In fact, I feel that I could already run, but I didn’t for fear that I will tumble on something in this dark and unending hallway…
Just when I thought I’d positively go crazy from the endless blackout, I saw a light. I immediately picked up my pace and ran to its direction.
As soon as I reached it, I entered the bare room. There was only one thing inside it – a large mirror. It reflected my gaunt face, my bloody wrists, and my shockingly red irises.
“What the hell,” I mumbled as I peeked at myself in the mirror once more… How in the world did I get those eyes?
“Congratulations… You’ve made it to the final induction.”
I turned around to look at the face of the one who spoke.
Of course it’s him… What was I expecting?
Liam came closer towards me. He was wearing a dark robe. “Welcome, Jade… Finally, you made it…”