Do Not Touch Me!

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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.

It somehow reminded me of Midas touch, where a king was blessed with the curse to turn everything he touches into gold, he eventually turned his own daughter into a golden spectacle too. Now, while this virus did cure my uncurable disease, it has also successfully fused with my cells and inhibited me, giving me a power I have no control of.

My body showed immunity and compatibility... But what's going to happen to me now?

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 work for them and kill more in the future. So much for being treated for free.

The thought sent chills down to my spine. When they offered to cure me during my last days, I thought I was ready to pay the price for defying my fate. I was nowhere near. My resolve was shaking, and my morals were compromised.

But I shouldn't feel bad, right? After all, that man was a notorious criminal who ended innocent lives. He was a psychopath. Somehow, my principles were at stake and I don't know anymore if I'm still human. Am I still allowed to call myself as such when I have apparently become a deadly creature?

"Morana, 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 kung kumusta na 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 too. 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 doctor at scientist. "What will happen of me after the tests?"

"You are our greatest creation, Morana. We've invested all our money and time to make you with the help of Lashanaja's journals, a legendary scientist of the past. You have a great power and with that, you will also shoulder a very great responsibility."

Nakinig lang ako. Pinoproseso ang lahat.

"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?" He was like playing riddles with me and testing my mental capacity.

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

"That's right." Ngumiti si Dr. Achilles at bahagyang lumapit sa salamin upang mas tingnan ako sa aking gawi. "I'm glad we're on the same page. You are quick-witted."

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

In the first place, I should've died. But here I am. Because of my greed. It felt unfair that I have spent all my life suffering only to die early.

An old woman entered the room on the other side where Dr. Achilles was situated. Namukhaan ko agad ito, it's Dr. Nora, ang kaniyang partner. "We've run tests on her hair and nails, it's not poisonous. Only her skin is." Anunsyo nito. "On the other hand, the result of her blood test also indicates something very peculiar."

"What is it, Nora?"

Tumingin sa akin ang matandang babae, as if she was looking at a spectacle. "The virus Lethalium, it dies as soon as the blood is extracted from her body. We tried ways to preserve the virus while her blood is extracted, but the virus always detect anomalies and immediately kills itself. It is like looking at an intelligent being."

"What about the remaining Lethalium that we have procured?"

"Strangely, Achilles, as soon as the extracted virus has found its host," tumanaw siya sa akin, "the rest also died."

Hindi umimik ang doktor. "So, we can no longer produce another one?" Nakatingin na rin siya sa akin ulit.

"I am afraid so." The old lady replied.

"Hmm." Dr. Achilles then shook his head, "what a strange virus."

"Gladly, we have found her, someone who is compatible... We've spent a fortune on this nearly hopeless project. At least, there is a fruit."

Dr. Achilles nodded in agreement. Tumingin sa akin si Dr. Nora at ngumiti bago umalis. I couldn't smile back. It felt off and weird. The old man cleared his throat after. "Now, where were we, Morana?"

"Conditions." Tipid na sagot ko.

"Right, first, you will work for us." He said, direct to the point.

"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, Morana. You no longer are what or who you used to be."

Matapos ang ilang sandaling katahimikan, muli siyang nagsalita. "Republic's Autonomous Group of Elites, 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, and that criminals who do heinous acts are punished. 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 Cardinals, it is a division I have created. There are already three members and they are like you too."

"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 have 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 so easily, maybe because I know it is beyond my control and I am also indebted to these people as they saved my life.

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 every necessary measures."

"Necessary measures, like?"

"We do not want to go down that way, that's why you have to be cautious." Aniya.

"Alright." I mentally noted.

"There was an experimentation that occurred centuries ago, it was a genetic mutation that unlocks one's sixth sense, we do not know if it has gone as far as the seventh, but the ending was not good because there were people who knew of it and wanted to monopolize the power for themselves. The pioneer scientist behind this, Lashanaja Lefevrel, had to reap the price of her own fame. It caused her downfall. That's why confidentiality is important."

I processed everything I heard. 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.

"Of course, you will be greatly compensated." Dr. Achilles mentioned. "The results of your test also showed very promising results. You are now immune to any kinds of venom and poison and you will no longer get sick as well. Now, going back, you shall become a part of my exclusive unit, the Cardinals, you will be the fourth, and the probably last one."

"When will I meet the Cardinals 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 sa likuran niya. 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 the superior's command.

Kinuha ni Dr. Achilles ang laman ng kariton at tila may ginalaw sa salamin dahilan upang magkaroon ito ng maliit na butas. Doon ko lang naaninag na isang kahon ang kanyang 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 light armor, belt, a pair of elastic gloves, wristbands, kneepads, and leather boots.

"Before I forget, we've successfully erased your real-life data. This includes your birth certificate, social media accounts, pictures, school records, and such. Any trace of your former life is gone, as if you never existed in the first place." He informed, "it is for your own good."

"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 any 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.

I was of legal age and I could decide for my own and I chose to be alone. After all, I knew my relatives only wanted to take me in for the insurance money my parents left behind for me. 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 or any living organism. Your poison has no cure and it is very fatal. Of course, I have also briefed the rest of the Cardinals."

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 went inside a cube, air blew from all sides, the temperature adjusted, and the water that trickled my body evaporated. 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. "Follow me."

Without a word, I followed the man into the white hallway of the facility. Alam ko naman na agad kung saan kami pupunta dahil nasabihan na ako ni Dr. Achilles. 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 that was reflected on the marble floor which looked like a frozen milk where you can see a semi-vivid image of your own.

Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang pinto. Lumingon ang lalaki sa akin at tumango sa direksyon ng entrada.

I nodded and walked towards the door. As if sensing my presence, the door automatically opened. Everything about this place was hi-tech. A very advanced facility.

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

Humarap naman muli ako sa kuwarto kung saan may nakita akong tatlong mga tao. Dalawang lalake at isang babae.

They were inanimately talking to each other. They seemed relaxed at each other's presence. When they sensed mine, agad na bumaling sa akin ang kanilang mga mata at sila ay tumahimik na tila inoobserbahan ako.

These are the Cardinals, they are like me... But not likely. I wonder what power they have?

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. There is no fear from them even if they knew what I was capable of.

Well, even if I touch them which I have no plans of doing so, my hands were covered with a gauntlet. Only some parts of my skin were exposed, this includes my face.

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 Morana Magdalene..."