73 CHAPTER 72-DARK WOMAN
Jeff slashed his Candor to the left and dodged another Keeper's attack. He crouched and drove the sword upwards. The hot end of the Candor passed easily, detaching the metallic hands of the keeper who had attacked him from the rear. With a swift motion, he swung the sword and a clinking sound resonated the room, followed by three robotic heads which rolled away from their shoulders.
He stiffened his grip on his Candor. Every heat that burned out of the laser sword reminded him of the way Vanessa had used him like a toy for the past three years. The glow of the sword was the strength and anger that burned in him. Its splendor was also rummaging through the room, flashing out with boldness, as if daring the white light of the electric bulb to outshine its brightness if it can.
The metallic bodies of the machines piled on every area, carpeting the white marble floor, twitching and leaving out sparks of endless sizzle. It must have been a torture room or some kind of room used for practice. But for the small chair sitting in the middle, the room was at bay, empty and exposed to the cold wind that flowed into it from the hallway.
With his backhands, Jeff wiped his brow, cleaning the sweat on the stolen Jumpsuit he wore. His breath was still racing, even though he had defeated every threat that stood in his way. Silence would have followed the twitch of the Keepers, but his panting breath spoke vehemently, blending with the twitch of the machines. His eyes scanned the small room, but his stomach sank with panic when his gaze plummeted upon the body lying hopelessly in the cold corner of the room.
"Ema," He exclaimed. A clattering sound followed a yellow spark as the hilt of his sword kissed the marble floor. Walking towards Ema's body was the best thing that had happened to him for the past three years. His stomach was twitching like the voice of a dying machine. It didn't matter if he dies at the moment. Seeing the red hair brought a sense of satisfaction that was could only be explained in oblivion.
"Ema, can you hear me...Ema...What have they done to you?"
Jeff crouched and picked the redhead's body into his arms. He placed his first and second fingers under her jaw and was happy when he felt the thump. It was weak but encouraging.
Something smeared his gloved fingers as if trying to glue them together. Jeff studied his hands as he pulled them away, as gently as he could.
It was blood.
Jeff gnashed his teeth and wiped his hands on his cloth.
"Let's get you out of here."
He lifted the girl from the ground and carried her to the exit.
"It's a long way to the surface. You can't carry her like that." Alex was saying as he readied the hovering gurney.
"Can you control that thing?"
"Of course," Alex replied and unbuckled the belt of the stretcher.
Jeff placed Ema on the gurney.
She looked so fragile and pale, and her clothing was so tattered that they nearly exposed her body. He couldn't help the sorrow that bathed his heart as his eyes traveled through the girl's body.
Too many dark lines. Too many scars to tell the tart tale of hardship and abuse. They lined her upper shoulders, her arms, thigh, and stomach. Each one looking as ugly and old as the other.
"Where am I?"
The sound of Ema's voice broke Jeff's lips into a small smile. He watched her open her eyes with a weak stare that tried to register her environment.
"In safe hands," Jeff replied.
"Ject-454," She said and closed her eyes weakly.
Alex shot Jeff a confused look.
"Ject-454?"
Jeff didn't meet the little boy's gaze. He still held Ema's hands. Her pulse was getting weaker and weaker.
"We need to get her to the surface. Joci can help with the bleeding and wound." He said and buckled the three belts on the stretcher.
"But what does she mean by Ject-454?"
Jeff swallowed at the boy's question. He studied Ema's pale face again and sighed.
"Let's get her to safety."
"No, go on and find out. I will take her to the plane."
"Are you sure? This stretcher is a sophisticated machine; with the many buttons lining the controller, you will need my help..." Jeff paused when he saw the strong looks in Alex's eyes. They held all the answers "Fine, you know the way. Please, make sure Joci treat her wound and—
"—Jeff," Alex called softly, "You are making me nervous."
"My apologies." Jeff swallowed again and rubbed his palms on his clothing, hoping to get rid of the sweat underneath his toothless glove.
"See you soon," Alex said and relaxed his weight on one edge of the stretcher. The gurney danced gently in the air before floating away.
He thinks it's a toy. Jeff frowned when he saw the bright smiles on Alex's face. The boy waved merrily at him before the gurney disappeared into the hallway.
Jeff grumbled under his breath before picking up his Candor from the floor, where its white laser flame still burns. He shifted the hilt, and the flame died. He also picked the shocker gun from one of the Keepers, before trotting to the other side of the hallway.
The hallway was quiet, save for the occasional sound of the matching feet, which echoed somewhere above the roof. Sooner or later the Keepers would flood this place like bees. He needed to hurry.
If only he knew where to look.
There were too many doors, and none of them had any markings. Jeff kept on through the narrow hallway which curved into the distance like a circle. He couldn't help the thought that reminded him how far each step he takes led away from his friend, Ema.
An acrid smell struck his nostrils, making him wipe the sudden tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. It smelled like garlic mixed with a tincture of ammonia. Jeff held his nose, hoping to keep the stench from chocking him. He hurried on through the path until he got to a place where the smell seemed to have lessened. The bright white light on the ceiling had changed into a red and pink color.
"This must be it," Jeff whispered uncertainly as he studied the only door on the wall. It had no markings, and the only significance was that it looked thicker than that of the others he had seen.
The door cracked gently as Jeff pushed it in. He was welcomed with more red and pink lights that spread through the large room. Boiling cylinders stretched as well, so numerous that it would be impossible for two people to walk between them simultaneously.
Jeff's stomach knotted with nausea as the acrid stench struck him again, but this time, it was not as powerful as the first.
He studied the cylinder, and his brow furrowed with tiny lines. The cylinder was familiar, and if he remembered correctly, the first time he saw something identical was back in Zone-3. They had used the machine to experiment on people.
Save for the boiling chemicals and the fancy lights, the room was bare. But why had Ema pointed it out?
Maybe she was hallucinating or dreaming.
Jeff bit down the thought. There was no such thing as a dream, at least he had believed that all his life until he had...
He stuck his laser sword—Candor—on his belt, hoping to get rid of that frightful memory. He didn't want to remember it.
Not knowing where to look or what to look for, Jeff decided to hurry back the way he had come. But his eyes fell upon a marking that was engraved on the floor.
"J" Jeff whispered.
It was written with a red immortal print that can never be affected by the hands of age.
Jeff studied the room again and understood the pattern. He needed to arrange the cylinder to fit the alphabet.
That's not a day's job. Jeff grumbled. He walked towards one of the cylinders and gave it a little push. The boiling cylinder glided and assumed a new position. Jeff smiled.
Work made easy.
He arranged all the cylinders to spell the word 'JECT'
"What next"
That question was answered when a notepad grew from the ground and stood on the center, between the 'E' and 'C'.
Jeff sauntered towards it. It only had numbers, so he typed '454' and a humming sound resounded through the wall. A door at the far end opened to reveal nothing but shadows.
Somebody walked out of the door.
Jeff's jaw dropped as he studied her. And then, as if propelled by an unseen force, he ran to her. Every bone in his body screamed with excitement as his feet hurried to break the distance. She was his first love. Before now, he thought he had lost her. He thought he would never see her again, but the creator clearly had heard his prayers.
He stiffened his grip on his Candor. Every heat that burned out of the laser sword reminded him of the way Vanessa had used him like a toy for the past three years. The glow of the sword was the strength and anger that burned in him. Its splendor was also rummaging through the room, flashing out with boldness, as if daring the white light of the electric bulb to outshine its brightness if it can.
The metallic bodies of the machines piled on every area, carpeting the white marble floor, twitching and leaving out sparks of endless sizzle. It must have been a torture room or some kind of room used for practice. But for the small chair sitting in the middle, the room was at bay, empty and exposed to the cold wind that flowed into it from the hallway.
With his backhands, Jeff wiped his brow, cleaning the sweat on the stolen Jumpsuit he wore. His breath was still racing, even though he had defeated every threat that stood in his way. Silence would have followed the twitch of the Keepers, but his panting breath spoke vehemently, blending with the twitch of the machines. His eyes scanned the small room, but his stomach sank with panic when his gaze plummeted upon the body lying hopelessly in the cold corner of the room.
"Ema," He exclaimed. A clattering sound followed a yellow spark as the hilt of his sword kissed the marble floor. Walking towards Ema's body was the best thing that had happened to him for the past three years. His stomach was twitching like the voice of a dying machine. It didn't matter if he dies at the moment. Seeing the red hair brought a sense of satisfaction that was could only be explained in oblivion.
"Ema, can you hear me...Ema...What have they done to you?"
Jeff crouched and picked the redhead's body into his arms. He placed his first and second fingers under her jaw and was happy when he felt the thump. It was weak but encouraging.
Something smeared his gloved fingers as if trying to glue them together. Jeff studied his hands as he pulled them away, as gently as he could.
It was blood.
Jeff gnashed his teeth and wiped his hands on his cloth.
"Let's get you out of here."
He lifted the girl from the ground and carried her to the exit.
"It's a long way to the surface. You can't carry her like that." Alex was saying as he readied the hovering gurney.
"Can you control that thing?"
"Of course," Alex replied and unbuckled the belt of the stretcher.
Jeff placed Ema on the gurney.
She looked so fragile and pale, and her clothing was so tattered that they nearly exposed her body. He couldn't help the sorrow that bathed his heart as his eyes traveled through the girl's body.
Too many dark lines. Too many scars to tell the tart tale of hardship and abuse. They lined her upper shoulders, her arms, thigh, and stomach. Each one looking as ugly and old as the other.
"Where am I?"
The sound of Ema's voice broke Jeff's lips into a small smile. He watched her open her eyes with a weak stare that tried to register her environment.
"In safe hands," Jeff replied.
"Ject-454," She said and closed her eyes weakly.
Alex shot Jeff a confused look.
"Ject-454?"
Jeff didn't meet the little boy's gaze. He still held Ema's hands. Her pulse was getting weaker and weaker.
"We need to get her to the surface. Joci can help with the bleeding and wound." He said and buckled the three belts on the stretcher.
"But what does she mean by Ject-454?"
Jeff swallowed at the boy's question. He studied Ema's pale face again and sighed.
"Let's get her to safety."
"No, go on and find out. I will take her to the plane."
"Are you sure? This stretcher is a sophisticated machine; with the many buttons lining the controller, you will need my help..." Jeff paused when he saw the strong looks in Alex's eyes. They held all the answers "Fine, you know the way. Please, make sure Joci treat her wound and—
"—Jeff," Alex called softly, "You are making me nervous."
"My apologies." Jeff swallowed again and rubbed his palms on his clothing, hoping to get rid of the sweat underneath his toothless glove.
"See you soon," Alex said and relaxed his weight on one edge of the stretcher. The gurney danced gently in the air before floating away.
He thinks it's a toy. Jeff frowned when he saw the bright smiles on Alex's face. The boy waved merrily at him before the gurney disappeared into the hallway.
Jeff grumbled under his breath before picking up his Candor from the floor, where its white laser flame still burns. He shifted the hilt, and the flame died. He also picked the shocker gun from one of the Keepers, before trotting to the other side of the hallway.
The hallway was quiet, save for the occasional sound of the matching feet, which echoed somewhere above the roof. Sooner or later the Keepers would flood this place like bees. He needed to hurry.
If only he knew where to look.
There were too many doors, and none of them had any markings. Jeff kept on through the narrow hallway which curved into the distance like a circle. He couldn't help the thought that reminded him how far each step he takes led away from his friend, Ema.
An acrid smell struck his nostrils, making him wipe the sudden tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. It smelled like garlic mixed with a tincture of ammonia. Jeff held his nose, hoping to keep the stench from chocking him. He hurried on through the path until he got to a place where the smell seemed to have lessened. The bright white light on the ceiling had changed into a red and pink color.
"This must be it," Jeff whispered uncertainly as he studied the only door on the wall. It had no markings, and the only significance was that it looked thicker than that of the others he had seen.
The door cracked gently as Jeff pushed it in. He was welcomed with more red and pink lights that spread through the large room. Boiling cylinders stretched as well, so numerous that it would be impossible for two people to walk between them simultaneously.
Jeff's stomach knotted with nausea as the acrid stench struck him again, but this time, it was not as powerful as the first.
He studied the cylinder, and his brow furrowed with tiny lines. The cylinder was familiar, and if he remembered correctly, the first time he saw something identical was back in Zone-3. They had used the machine to experiment on people.
Save for the boiling chemicals and the fancy lights, the room was bare. But why had Ema pointed it out?
Maybe she was hallucinating or dreaming.
Jeff bit down the thought. There was no such thing as a dream, at least he had believed that all his life until he had...
He stuck his laser sword—Candor—on his belt, hoping to get rid of that frightful memory. He didn't want to remember it.
Not knowing where to look or what to look for, Jeff decided to hurry back the way he had come. But his eyes fell upon a marking that was engraved on the floor.
"J" Jeff whispered.
It was written with a red immortal print that can never be affected by the hands of age.
Jeff studied the room again and understood the pattern. He needed to arrange the cylinder to fit the alphabet.
That's not a day's job. Jeff grumbled. He walked towards one of the cylinders and gave it a little push. The boiling cylinder glided and assumed a new position. Jeff smiled.
Work made easy.
He arranged all the cylinders to spell the word 'JECT'
"What next"
That question was answered when a notepad grew from the ground and stood on the center, between the 'E' and 'C'.
Jeff sauntered towards it. It only had numbers, so he typed '454' and a humming sound resounded through the wall. A door at the far end opened to reveal nothing but shadows.
Somebody walked out of the door.
Jeff's jaw dropped as he studied her. And then, as if propelled by an unseen force, he ran to her. Every bone in his body screamed with excitement as his feet hurried to break the distance. She was his first love. Before now, he thought he had lost her. He thought he would never see her again, but the creator clearly had heard his prayers.
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