Chapter 10
As for my punishment instead of them, I cage in what seemed like an abandoned cell? No, it's not abandoned at all but dirty. This prison hasn't been cleaned in many ages and the cells become rustier. Mud from the corner of each cell, mold everywhere and scratches on each wall- even floors. This looks like a horror prison. I don't know why I need to be put in this prison although I didn't do anything. It's them who started the commotion, not me. Yes, I did kill many of them but I didn't mean it. Everyone wants to lock me away, they all despise me because of the thing I did.
Maybe I'm the killer?
I stop from writing and placed down the coil. I looked down at my notes. I don't know why I'm writing my situation. I flip the paper and write all my whereabouts.
The memory after Sungjoon tells me that it wasn't my fault. Everything happened in a split second. Doctor Chil came and they all had debates about me. They asked them to kill me even though doctor Chil explained to them that I can't die. As long as I have this healing ability, I won't die. As long Hyunsung's sanity was stable I'm fine.
Of course, they won in the debate. They imprison me here with the others who made big mistakes and were also voted to be in here. I can hear them talking to the other inmate.
A rusting sound captured my attention. I looked at the cell bars and see Jihae standing in front. He looks terrified.
"What are you doing here?" I asked and stood up.
He held out his hand through the bars as if wanting to touch me. I stood up and walked to him. He quickly grabbed my hand with his shaking one. "You don't deserve to be in here. You should come back to the ward."
"It's better to be in here than that sick wards. If I were there, I feel like that doctor might do the operation again." I said with a slight smile.
"But...I know you didn't intend to kill them-"
"I know but even you say that nothing will be changed. Anyway, you should go back. Someone like you doesn't suit to be in here." I shoo him away as I step deeper into the cell.
"Are you serious?! Do you know what your partner doing in the ward?!"
Hyunsung? I don't care about what is he doing now. He didn't help me at all. He wasn't there when they cut off my hands. It seems like he feels ashamed of me because of what I did. Even I won, that doctor manipulate his own game and made me kill the innocent people. Even if I won or lost, there's no choice for me. It's not a win-lost game though. It's a choosing game. I choose to win and so I kill them. If I choose to lose then Hyunsung might get me.
There's no choice for me. If I just follow my instinct to get out of here, that would be nice.
"If he's going crazy then you can do anything about it. I'm tired. I want to rest." I said with a blank face.
"You don't care if his sanity will go low?"
"Leave me alone please." I plead, bringing both hands on my forehead. I'm tired. I just want to sleep. I didn't have my sleep after that event.
When I noticed that Jihae wasn't moving, I move my head up to look at him and caught him staring at me with wide eyes. What is he making that kind of expression?
I felt my heart race. This fake heart is inside me. I want to rip it out and get my real heart back.
"Your hair...turning all brown?" He said with surprise.
I furrowed and touched my hair. I can't see my hair right now but I supposed Jihae is telling the truth. It's good actually.
"And your eyes weren't violet anymore but brown."
"Isn't that good? I'm turning back to human again." I chuckled but I stop as soon I felt my throat hurt.
My mouth watered. I held my neck to provide some comfort to stop this pain. The familiar taste of a metallic flavor rush to my mouth. I looked down and that's when the water of blood came out from my mouth. I cough, trying to stop the watery blood from coming out. I urge to choke on my saliva, I swallowed. But that made my throat shoot up in agonizing pain, and it felt as though the walls of my larynx were set on fire. What is this now? Why I can't stop the blood?
I painfully kneel on the ground and vomit blood.
"Sunie are you alright?! Hold on!"
I watched in agony as the muddy floor under me was slowly covered by the blood. My clothes and even my hands were soaked in blood. Tears gathered in my eyes and soon flowed down my face.
What is happening?
I slowly looked up, my vision is all red now from the pain. I can feel the blood rushing out from each side of my eyes, from my nose, and even my ears. I'm leaking blood?
I looked down at my hands, my arms were soaked in blood-
Why I'm leaking blood?
I heard him hit the cell. He runs to me after ruining the cell door. He kneels in front of me and holds my face. He tried to wipe the blood off of my face but it keeps coming out.
"You're stressed." He mumbled, still wiping the blood off.
I winced and began crying. The pain, the situation, the people around me wanting me dead is too much. Jihae hugged me although I'm soaked with blood. After a short period, doctor Chil came in with a smile.
"Hyunsung is also leaking blood." He said.
He marched towards us and pulled Jihae away. Jihae struggled while shouting my name but doctor Chil throw him to the nurses outside. He kneel in front of me and held my face.
One of the nurses came in with a syringe.
"Please, father Chil! Don't hurt him please!" Jihae begged.
"Of course, I won't. How can I hurt my rare creation?" He said with a smile while looking at me. "You're stressed and it's a surprise that your sanity didn't go low. Anyway, this might hurt a lot."
Two nurses hold me up and forced me to lay on the dirty bed. They pinned me on the bed while I can't do anything but cry as my throat is burning.
Doctor Chil hold my right eye. I winced, shaking my head.
"Stay still Lee Sunie." another two nurses hold my face and spread my right eye wide.
"What are you trying to do father Chil?!" Jihae asked. I sense the horror in his voice.
"His eyes were all brown now. It means, he needs to be treated immediately."
One nurse hands him a syringe with weird liquid inside. It looks like blood. "It's Hwang Hyunsung's blood. I'll inject this to you so you can be alright again."
I winced angrily and using my strength, I pulled back my hands. I feel my hands changing into something and when I checked it out, it turned already into a claw. I held their heads and throw them out from the cell.
I hurriedly get up and run out of the cell. I heard Jihae calling me but I didn't look back. I keep on running until I reach the exit. I rip it using my claw before kicking it open. A wide deserted field spread before me with the other patients.
Walls still surround the whole facility. I run directly to the wall but someone jumped from behind me and step on my back. I cough from the dirt flew in the air. I tried to look who was it and I saw from my side the black wing. It's probably Jihae.
"What are you doing?!" He almost shouted.
"Get off! I'm going to get out of here!" I hissed.
"You'll leave us?" He asked again.
"If you want to get out of here then you can come!"
I pushed myself up with all my might and just in time when I heard someone hit him away from me. I get up, seating up, and noticed my hands go back to normal again. One monster standing in front of me.
What? It was facing Jihae.
"No one dares to hurt Sunie."
My head whip to the side and I saw Sungjoon, glaring at Jihae who trying to stand up. Is he controlling that monster? Is he the mind controller?
Wait. Now, it makes sense. My ability is regenerating and Hyunsung has incredible strength. He's stronger than anyone else. Sungjoon can manipulate or control anyone's mind. Was the doctor using Sungjoon to play my mind?
"Sunie!"
My heart skip a beat when I heard Homin's voice. I stood up immediately and looked around. I saw him near the corner of the four walls. I hurriedly run to him but I lose my balance and fell to the ground. Just when the monster flew past above me and hit the wall.
My eyes move to Jihae. His wings slightly spread while small feathers on his neck and legs. He flies fast to the monster that even my eyes can't see how fast he is. Just in a split of seconds, the monster is already dead. He turned to Sungjoon and was about to attack him but Fin suddenly flew in front of him, cupping his face, and said something. The people around us gathered in a circle to the corner, watching the commotion again.
My eyes went back to Jihae and Fin. Fin seems like calming Jihae down.
I get up on my knees but the pain shot through my knees. I checked it and see the wounds already covered in dirt. I winced in pain. I stood again and painfully walked to Homin.
Homin runs to me with Junghwan behind him.
"You don't look okay. Come on, we need to get you clean." Homin said and helped me walk to the shower room I guess?
-
I blankly watched Junghwan looping the bandage around my damaged knee. The other left was already bandaged and I was already clean too with fresh clothes. Same clothes as what everyone wearing. I was inside of their shared room and unlike where my room was located, here is peaceful. People here weren't bad and when Homin told me that the most of people here were useless and soon will be dispatched. And their thoughts are more stable than the worth patients.
Somehow, I feel comfortable staying here. I don't want to go back there.
"Done. Anything hurt Sunie?" Junghwan asked and sit beside me. He held my trembling hands. I shook my head.
"They are stronger than us. We are not the rare or special like you in the other area." Homin mumbled. "I'm sorry, I didn't help you back there."
"It's fine. I understand." I said and smiled to assure him that it was really fine.
"You can stay here though. You don't need to go back there and be with strangers without anyone beside you." Junghwan said. "That life partner of yours is useless. He's a coward. He can't even protect you."
I watched Junghwan grit his teeth. He looks angry. I wonder where you were at that time. I noticed a big slice on his nape and based on the wound, it was still fresh. "Did you go to surgery?" I asked and he nodded.
"Just yesterday though," I said and smiled.
"I wonder how long we need to stay here and endure all the pain?" I asked with blank eyes.
"We can escape here if we know how to get out of here. This ward is huge and I believe that there's a big mansion too?" Homin said and points up at the ceiling.
What? Why he points up the ceiling. Does it mean that this ward is underground?
The thought gives me to investigate. Is Homin know something? Or even Junghwan?
I stood up and walk to the window with bars. I peeped from the inside and stared at the wall and sky above. That sky, is that fake?
"What are you thinking?" Junghwan asked. I shook my head and say nothing. I need to investigate before telling Junghwan what I'm thinking.
We decided to go out of the room. This ward saying area 2. Unlike area 1, this area feels gloomy and heavy. The patients here weren't looking up but all their heads were bowed down. The color of their hair wasn't white at all but black or shining brown. So then...my hair is already like them, that means I'm useless? That's why doctor Chil wants to inject Hyunsung's blood to make me useful?
I checked Junghwan and Homin's hair. Even their hair was bright brown like the others.
"We're useless right?" I asked and both of them suddenly stop.
"Sad to admit but yes. We're going to die." Junghwan whispered.
"At least we die together right?" A guy suddenly hangs his arms on my shoulders and Junghwan's.
I looked at that person and saw Gong Pil. Their new friend. He looks older than us, maybe he's already in his 20's?
His eyes are very small that he looks like he was just closing his eyes.
"That's not a joke hyung," Junghwan said, shaking his head.
"I'm not joking though. Isn't you Lee Sunie right?" He asked, looking at me before removing his arms. I nodded. "Man...doctor Chil has no chill for ya? He did something random experiment and now, look at you. You're becoming a mess."
Homin hit his arm. I guess he's right. I'm already a mess. My body wasn't normal anymore or me, wasn't human anymore. My body is changing whenever I'm in a panic and scared- changing into something inhuman. I want to be human again. I don't want to be a monster.
"Why so gloomy Sunie? You know, you need to smile for a while." Gong Pil asked and pinch my cheeks.
Do I need to smile? Yes, smile for a while before I die. I heard someone clear throat behind us. We turned around and see a woman with long, wavy hair. Her hair is brown almost painted in red as long as her brows, eyes, and eyelashes. Her color looks like red mud. I can feel something about her that I couldn't explain. Is she may be hard to deal with?
She marched towards us with her arms were crossed.
"Is he being useless now? What is he doing here? I can see his hair already brown just like mine and your's but I can see the special cell in his blood. Doctor Chil won't declare him as useless." She said with a cold tone. "His partner might be devastated right now."
"Where do you think he is right now?" Junghwan asked.
"Dungeon? No, in the room where the distress special species treated nicely since he is also the rare one." She answered and shrugged. "But that kid must not stay here. He still useful-"
Gong Pil marched towards her and held her shoulder, massaging it like calming the girl down. Homin scooted beside me and whispered. "They are a couple. Her name is Shannon. She's half German and she's doctor Chil's favorite because of her toughness. Aside from that, she can see special cells deepest in your blood."
Wow...so she's like a scanner or x-ray? I wonder what Junghwan and Homin's ability? "What is your ability by the way?" I asked.
"I can copy anyone's appearance while my brother can bring the objects he created to live," Junghwan answered, placing his elbow on my shoulder. "Homin can bring ease to someone broke or having trouble."
"I don't understand. How can we be useless?" I asked again.
"There's another meaning of useless here kiddo." Shannon intervened, smacking Gong Pil's arm. "Useless means completed in here. It means doctor Chil can't do any operation on you again. Since you are completed, you need to get rid instantly before you make a move and fight back."
"In other meaning, useless is the perfect creation." Gong Pil added. "To be honest, even you are special or a rare one. Doctor Chil will kill you before you kill him. He dislikes perfect creation because these perfect and all done species will fight back."
Now, it makes sense to me. Useless is mean perfect and completed in this ward. Doctor Chil wants to get rid of his perfect creation because even it's his creation- if it's not in his control- that patient will fight back and kill him instead. I remember the breeding season. He wants the man to get pregnant so he could raise his army of stable inhumane. He wanted to invade the world.
We are not useless but we're completed. I'm almost there though because Shannon can see that I'm not yet completed.
"But...is it true that my heart-"
Shannon cut me off. "You still have your heart, beating like a normal heart but your heart's energy is connected to your partner. If he dies, you die and if you die, he still lives. Unfair right?"
Yes, very. A loud siren boom in the whole place. I looked around and see the people running to somewhere I don't know.
"Ugh! Shit! It's the grandfather's play now." Shannon cursed and sign us to follow her.
I don't understand what is she saying but based on the fear in her eyes, it might be terrible. We went to the storage room. Gong Pil run to the closet and opened it. He signs us to hide inside. We squeezed ourselves into the closet.
"Don't get caught okay? If it's safe to get out. Get out and run back to your room without being caught by grandfather and his twins." Shannon remind us before closing the closet.
I can't see anything but I can feel Junghwan wrapping his arms around me while Homin holding my hands. We are trembling in fear although the game hasn't started or it already started? Everything is quiet not until the sound of a siren boom again and the voice saying start. What is happening? Why do we need to hide? We have the ability, we can defeat them!
"The grandfather is hungry and us useless is their food. Everyone's food." Homin whispered.
"Where's everybody~" He sang from the hall that give me a shiver. I remember when he ate the two patients. He swallowed them all.
I heard Junghwan's shh us quietly and just when we heard the footsteps from outside of this room, and the squeaking sound of a wheelchair. They are outside, searching for us.
I heard him whistle and that give me a shudder. I feel Junghwan squeeze my arms and Homin's breathe against my neck.
"Ah! It's frustrating! Why everyone is good hiding until this day?!"
I heard a loud banging from outside the room. We waited until that grandfather made his way ahead of the hallway. I thought it was safe now but when we heard the painful screaming from one of the rooms echoed in the entire place, I cower back and listen.
"Someone is in danger!" Homin said between his ragged breaths. "We should help her!"
"No! What are you thinking?! Do you want to die?!" Junghwan hissed, stopping him. "You don't have any special abilities aside from that you can ease someone's feelings!"
"But he needs help!"
"She has the ability too! Let her fight those monsters outside!"
Before Homin can say anything again, a hand suddenly slips through the small spaces of the closet. We scream as the monster rip it open. "Found three!" It's one of the twins. He's grinning at us while pressing his bloated hands together in anticipation to eat us.
The door opened and his other twin came in but he doesn't look surprised, instead, he felt disappointed. What? "Are you insane? It's only two of them and father only got them!"
What?
I looked at Junghwan and my eyes widen in horror once I saw that it wasn't Junghwan anymore but the grandfather. Because of his weight, the closet was already ruined beside us. I held Homin's hands. I placed him behind me. If someone tells me that my ability is a sidekick? Yes, I can't use it. I can only heal myself, regenerate myself but I can't fight.
Instead of someone will control my mind.
The twin looked at us. "What?! How father gets in here?!"
"They mine. Now, get out of here!" He angrily yelled at them. They immediately cower away.
When the twins were already out of the room. The grandfather turned to us and slowly, he turned to Junghwan. Just when I remember that Junghwan can copy someone's appearance. He walked to me and held my hand. "We need to get out." He whispered and drag me outside while I'm dragging Homin along with us.
We run to the hallway. The lights above us start flickering. We continue running quietly until we reach the stairs down to the hall. We didn't stop running until we reach the exit. Junghwan is about to reach the door but one of the twins suddenly popped out of nowhere and blocked our way.
"You think you can escape?! No way!"
I turned my hands into claws and run to him but Junghwan stop me. "Don't! Their blood is acid! We need to lure them into the dispatch room!" He whispered and run.
We quickly followed him while the twin is chasing us.