Do Not Touch Me!

Chapter 3: Agents of RAGE

Chapter 3: Agents of RAGE

It was a few moments later when all the lights in the room suddenly flickered off, the windows showcasing the beautiful scenery of a forest started to go monochrome, until the windows turned into a shade of gray and at last, black, as if the window wasn't there in the first place. The coffee table at the center of the room started to glow and as if on cue, a figure of a man sprung out, pixelated until it became vivid and clear. It was a live hologram of Dr. Achilles-as usual, he was wearing his laboratory gown and his silver hair glowed with the illumination.

"I see that everyone of the Seven Deadly Sins are finally here." Aniya habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang paligid. He looked at Athanasius, then to the rest of the members, and lastly, to me. "Mary, I am glad that you finally met your new family." The term he called this group struck me the most, I just faked a smile. No. They are not my family and they never will be. It's the hard truth I have to swallow. I only have myself in this world... I only need myself to survive. I learned it the hard way.

Though it was only just a hologram of Dr. Achilles, it felt like he was actually with us. The technology of RAGE is really beyond time. Kung sakali man na mailabas ang lahat ng teknolohiya sa pasilidad na ito, panigurado ay mag-iiba ang takbo ng mundo.

"As for the reason I have called, since this group is already complete again, you are all set to be deployed into the sub-headquarter of RAGE at the Metropolitan City." Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa binanggit ni Dr. Achilles, what did he mean when he said that this group is complete again? I wanted to ask, but I felt the cold and heavy tension that suddenly lingered in the air because of his announcement. I looked at my team. It felt like they were hiding something... or they weren't allowed to talk about it.

"But before that, I have prepared a set of rings for everyone, Mary's would be different though, she'll have an earring under a very special circumstance. Wear it at all times and do not remove it at all cost, the rings contain a technology that let us track you and your wellbeing, including your vitals, heartbeat and the likes. The same goes with Mary's earrings." As he discussed about this particular ring and earring that was made for us, the door automatically opened and there were six men who came in, they each held a metal tray that contained a black box. All of them were wearing silver protective gears as well, as if we were hazardous for them.

Tumigil sila isa-isa sa aming harap.

"Take the box and wear your accessories." Utos ni Dr. Achilles. Wala namang imik ang lahat na sumunod sa kanyang kagustuhan. Without a word, I also took mine. When the black box was already in our hands, the men started moving out of the room again.

Binuksan ko ang kahon. My eyes were suddenly glued into the ruby earrings that were specially made for me. It was a stud earring with the design of a sunflower, the only difference is that instead of yellow petals, they were red. I removed the old earrings I was wearing and replaced it with the new ones. I put the old ones to the case.

"I have confirmed that everyone is wearing their accessories." Biglang anunsyo ni Dr. Achilles, "you are now all set to leave Andromeda Island. The ship is already set to sail. Enjoy the rest of the day, tomorrow, a lot of work must be done." He declared. "Lauda finem."

"Lauda finem," everyone answered. With that, the hologram vanished and the lights turned on again. The room went back to its original state.

"Lauda finem?" I asked, curious.

"It is Latin, which means praise to the end." Athanasius answered. "It's the motto of RAGE."

Tumango na lang ako matapos niyang magpaliwanag. Tumayo naman na ang lahat at lumabas sa silid. Sumunod naman ako. Ako ang nasa hulian habang si Athanasius naman ay ang nanguna. We all walked the deserted hallway, there was no sign of life. Tanging ang apak ng aming mga paa lang din ang umaalingawngaw sa pasilyo at ang boses nina Sayuri at Portgas, the two of them were talking about how excited they were to finally be out of this facility again.

Apparently, we were at the main headquarter of RAGE which is hidden at the middle of an isolated island, surrounded by a forest. I wasn't surprised anymore since I knew this organization is top-secret and only limited persons outside know of its existence. The fact that the seven of us on this group exist is also a top-secret... the world shouldn't know, if it does, the world will come after us. We will become living proofs of man's defiance against science and nature.

"So, Mary, do you still have your family? I mean, you know-real family." Lumingon si Sayuri sa akin habang naglalakad kami palabas ng pasilidad.

Bahagya akong natigilan dahil sa kaniyang tanong. I faked a smile after and went on, "no, my parents died in an accident. Airplane crash in the middle of the sea, their bodies weren't retrieved. As for my relatives, I don't know anyone."

"We're all the same then, we have no one waiting for us outside." Sayuri smiled at me but it did not reach her eyes, "we only have each other now."

Hindi ako sumagot matapos niyang sabihin iyon. When we finally reached the edge of the hallway, there was a door that mechanically opened. We all went in, it was an elevator with glass walls. The small room moved down. I made sure to still keep my distance from everyone, careful not to be in contact to anyone. I gazed at the scenery right outside the glass walls-the trees stretched on. It was all green and blue. It was beautiful.

When the door finally opened, we all moved out of the lift and started walking again. This time, it seemed like a tunnel. The only thing keeping the place illuminated were the dim lights above us. The air seems humid too. Naglakad lang kami ng ilang minuto hanggang sa narating namin ang dulo. When we were there, agad na humampas sa aking mukha ang maalat na simoy ng hangin at ang maliit na daungan ng mga barko.

We walked towards the silver yacht that was anchored for us. It had four floors and it looked grand. What caught my attention most was the sunflower design printed on its walls that exactly looked like my earrings. Doon ko lang napansin na ito ay ang logo ng RAGE. We all went on board the ship.

Nang nasa loob na kami ay biglang nabuhay ang makina nito na tila hinihintay kami. A few moments later, it felt like my earrings vibrated, then a light suddenly came out-it was pixelated at first, when it was clear, it showcased the image of Viveron, our sixth member. It was her hologram. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata, my earrings can do this?!

As if reading my mind, Viveron chuckled. "Your accessories were designed for me to be able to take on, what seems to be like a copy of a physical body, otherwise called as a hologram." Tumango naman ako habang namamangha pa rin, her voice was coming out of the speakers around the vessel. "I've already taken control of this yacht, everyone should relax. In four hours, we will reach the port of Metropolitan City." She announced and after that, her hologram vanished.

The group dispersed afterwards, as if they went on their respective cabins. Ako naman ay naiwang mag-isa sa tila maliit na salas ng barko. Sighing, I looked around, only to meet the green eyes of Athanasius. "Oh," gulat na saad ko. "You're still here."

He smiled. He's always smiling. At the back of my mind, there was a silent joke, whispering sana all. "I am," he confirmed. "You probably don't know where your room is, that's why I decided to stay and guide you. Your cabin is at the top-most part of this yacht, right beside of mine too."

"Ah, nagpaiwan ka para igiya ako?"

He nodded.

"Alright." He seemed to take my word as an approval and he started walking, as if expecting me to follow, which I did. While walking, I carefully studied his strides. It was regal, his walk was. His back was very masculine and everything about him was clean. "So, was it your first time to kill someone back then?"

I already knew what he meant; it was about the criminal I touched a week ago. Whenever I close my eyes, his agonized face still taunts me. It gives me nightmares even though I am wide awake.

"Yes." I whispered, but loud enough for him to hear.

"You should get used to it... you'll do more in the future. We all will."

"I know..." I bit my lips. Somehow, he has a way of obstructing the walls I build around myself. Suddenly, I am emotional and weak again.

"Athanasius..." I called out of the blue as we walked up the stairs.

"Yes, Mary?" Bahagya siyang lumingon bago niya muling tiningnan ang dinadaanan.

"Am I a replacement of an old member?" It's been bugging me ever since Dr. Achilles said those words.

He stopped on his tracks, as if shocked that I asked. He looked back, this time, his eyes looked into mine, it felt like I could drown as I was so drawn to it, "you are nobody's replacement." He declared. With that, he started walking again... but this time, his pace was already debauched.

When we reached the top-most floor, he pointed my cabin and went into his room without a word, leaving me behind. Sighing, I entered my room. When I closed the door, I bit my lips.

I already knew the truth-or I guess, some part of it, Athanasius was a bad liar, after all.