Do Not Touch Me!

Chapter 1: Conditions of Dr. Achilles

Chapter 1: Conditions of Dr. Achilles

Everything changed when a man came to me on my death bed, telling me he knew people who can cure my hopeless sickness for free. Out of desperation and the will to live, I agreed. What I did not know is that it'd turn my whole life upside down.

They did something to my body and turned me into a walking poison and a human weapon. They implanted Lethalium, a deadly virus that gave me the power to kill with one touch. While this virus did cure my uncurable disease, it has also successfully fused with my cells. My body showed immunity and compatibility.

It's been a week already but I can still remember the agonized face of the man I touched whenever I closed my eyes. I killed someone. I'm a murderer... and given the power they have bestowed to me, I'll probably kill more in the future. The thought sent chills down to my spine.

"Mary, how do you feel?" The voice of Dr. Achilles blasted from the speakers of the white room I was locked in. I looked at the glass wall and saw him from the other side. Dinadalaw niya ako araw-araw at tinatanong ako. He told me I'd still undergo several tests before I am permitted to finally walk in the world again. Every day, they take samples of my blood and cut several strands of my hair. They've also scanned my body to see any complications and monitored my vital statistics. So far, there are no anomalies.

"I feel normal." Tipid na sagot ko sa doktor. "What will happen of me after the tests?"

"You are our greatest creation, Mary. We've invested all our life to make you. You have a great power and with that, you will shoulder a very great responsibility. You've had a taste of what you can do with just one little touch. Now, what do you think will happen to you after you complete the tests?"

"You told me I'd be permitted to walk in the world again..." Nakita ko ang kanyang pagtango na tila walang salamin na nasa pagitan naming dalawa. "But there are strict conditions for me to be able to."

"That's right." Ngumiti si Dr. Achilles at bahagyang lumapit sa salamin upang mas tingnan ako sa aking gawi. "I'm glad we're coming to an agreement."

"What are the conditions?" I asked. I know I can no longer ask for a normal life because I no longer am normal myself. I cannot even definitely say that I am still human given the fact that my very existence is a defiance of nature itself.

"First, you will work for us."

"You mean I will kill for your organization." Pagdidiin ko.

"Indeed." Dr. Achilles gave out a dark chuckle. "That is the purpose of your very existence now, Mary. You no longer are what or who you used to be." Matapos ang ilang sandaling katahimikan, muli siyang nagsalita. "Regulus Andromeda-Governum Exelia or RAGE is a top-secret faction of the Central Government. We do the dirty work to make sure that the country is peaceful and orderly. You are now an agent of RAGE."

"You mean assassin." Muli kong pagtatama sa kanya.

"If that is how you put it, yes." He replied. "You will work under a group called Seven Deadly Sins, it composes of people who also have powers. You will be the seventh and last member to complete this group."

"People who also have powers... They can also kill with one touch?"

Umiling si Dr. Achilles, "no, that is something only you can do-but they are also as dangerous as you. Just think of it like everyone in the group has their own expertise. You will come to understand once you meet them."

"What's the second condition?" I asked.

"Never use your power without consent."

"That means I am only allowed to kill whom you order me to." Unusually, I am taking all of this in a good manner. Siguro dahil tanggap ko na rin na ito ang aking kapalaran at wala akong magagawa. I know running away is also futile, they will just find me... It's better to work with them instead. After all, I'll only deal with criminals.

"Yes. And last condition..." Naging seryoso ang mukha ni Dr. Achilles, "never let the world know of your existence for if they find out someone like you exists, it will bring destruction and there will be people who'll come after you, wanting to use your power for their own goals. Before that happens, RAGE will take you into custody and utilize necessary measures. Of course, these 3 conditions apply to everyone who are like you."

"Everyone like me..." I repeated. Alam ko na agad kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. For people like me who managed to survive the human experimentations they've conducted, we all face the same fate. We now live in a world where the fit survives and the unfit is eliminated. "When will I meet everyone then?"

Dr. Achilles smiled as if he was waiting for me to ask that, "that's why I am here, you will meet them in one hour." Saktong iyon ay bumukas ang pinto. May isang tauhang nakasuot ng puting uniporme ang pumasok habang may tinutulak na kariton. Tumigil ito sa tabi ni Dr. Achilles at yumuko. He gestured the man to take his exit and without a word, he followed.

Kinuha ni Dr. Achilles ang laman ng kariton at tila may ginalaw sa salamin dahilan upang magkaroon ito ng butas. Doon ko lang naaninag na isang kahon ang kanyang hawak-hawak. He put the box into the glass hole and waited for me to take it. When I finally held on the thing he gave, the glass hole was gone again.

"The box contains your uniform." He informed. Tinanggal ko ang takip ng kahon at nilabas ang mga laman nito. A black onesie with a flexible fabric, paired with synthetic leather black vest, back armor, belt, a pair of elastic gloves, wristbands, kneepads, and leather boots.

"Before I forget, we've successfully erased your real-life>"Even if you did not erase my data, it's not as if there will be people who'll look for me. I don't have a family or friends." That's right, my parents died in a car accident when I was 18. Their life insurance was enough to compensate for my daily necessities, that's how I was able to live alone. After all, no relatives wanted to take me in as well. I have no friends too. I don't have anyone.

"We always make precautionary measures regardless of the circumstances." Dr. Achilles stated, he looked at his wristwatch and back at me, "I've wasted enough time here. I will take my leave now and will just send someone to come and get you later for your meeting with your group."

"Okay."

"Ah, one last reminder." Dr. Achilles said, "be careful not to touch someone. Your poison has no cure after all."

With that, he left and the glass wall dimmed, turning into a shade of gray, then into pitch white. I can no longer see the other side of the partition. Sighing, I went into the bathroom of the room I was locked in and took a bath. After that, I wore the uniform that was given to me.

It was almost an hour when a man in a protective gear finally came. He opened the door of the room I was held captive at for a week. "Sundan ninyo po ako, naghihintay na sa inyo ang inyong kapwa Seven Deadly Sins."

Without a word, I followed the man into the hallway of the facility. The building we were at is huge. The hallway stretched as far as my eyes can see. Walang bahid ng alikabok din ang paligid, as if it was highly maintained. The walls were as white as possible and there were lines of silvery illuminations on the ceiling. The marble floor looked like a frozen milk as well where you can see a semi-vivid image of your reflection.

Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang pinto. Lumingon ang lalaki sa akin, "nasa loob sila."

I nodded and walked towards the door. As if sensing my presence, the door automatically opened. Everything about this place was hi-tech, I'd give them that.

"Thank you for leading the way." I told the man whom Dr. Aurelius sent, he just gave me a sturdy nod before taking his exit.

Humarap naman muli ako sa kuwarto kung saan may nakita akong limang mga tao. Lahat sila ay nag-uusap at ang iba naman ay nagtatawanan. They seemed relaxed at each other's presence. When they sensed my presence, agad na bumaling sa akin ang kanilang mga atensyon at sila ay tumahimik.

Feeling a little uncomfortable with their eyes, I entered the room and the door mechanically closed. I walked towards them as I scanned their features. Will they accept me? Do I really belong here?

I stopped when I was a few meters away from them and shook my thoughts away. With an awkward smile, I begun to speak, "I'm Mary Magdalene..."