Jamie and Tonton kept silent as they hid behind the old rickety shelf. They did not dare move a muscle, in fear that a slight movement can create a detectible sound.
"Can you still hear the footsteps?" Tonton asked nervously.
Jamie shook his head. But then, the footsteps continued and echoed even louder. The boys stiffened in their hiding spot.
"It's getting nearer," Tonton said.
"I know," Jamie replied. "So we'd better stay put."
They closed their mouths with their hands and listened carefully.
"Is there anybody here?" a male voice asked.
More voices were heard from upstairs.
"Wait a minute," the man said. "I heard some noise here. Must be some stray cats. I'll check it first, then I'll come up."
The boys heard him very clearly. Their fright intensified. The footsteps were now very close, as though the man had already entered the room. He kicked some planks and pulled aside debris. In the silence, the clanking was eerily defeaning.
"It must be the cats then," he said and sighed.
Hurriedly, the man went out of the basement and up the stairs. As the sound of his footsteps receded, the boys began to relax.
"I think we can go now," Jamie whispered and Tonton nodded.
They breathed hard once they were out of the shelf. The place was dusty and musty but the air of freedom cheered them.
"I really thought we are done here," Tonton voiced out.
"So did I," Jamie answered. "Thank God there are plenty of stray cats here."
They surveyed the entire area of the basement. It was indeed wide enough that plenty of activities could be done there or additional clinics or rooms could be put up. The boys decided to go opposite directions, and then searched every corner and nook, looking for the unknown, as if answers would just magically arrive.
Tonton finally reached the other end of the building and when he turned around, he did not see Jamie. The semi-darkness, cobwebs, and the place's overall ambience added extra feeling of dread in him. For one last time, he searched for anything odd among the heap of debris. Thankfully, there were no rats in the basement.
He was about to leave his spot when he saw something glittering atop a piece of plywood. It was resting there among some pebbles and balls of webs. Despite the minimal lighting inside the area, the object was brilliantly sparkling. He rubbed his eyes and blinked, uncertain of what he saw. But each time he did that, the object seemed to glow even brighter. It was mesmerizing and unconsciously, Tonton was hypnotized by it.
While in this state of trance, Tonton suddenly recalled his dream. In an instant, the place suddenly brightened. The walls became clean and polished. Yet, it was bare except for what looked like a hospital bed in the center. Though there were no people, he could hear cries inside his head. Then it finally dawned on him. This place would become a research facility, not a hospital or a clinic. It was intended for studies about alien life, specifically the ones that came to Subangdaku. In his dream, he felt the pains and struggles of being experimented and studied by Dr. Alvarado and his team. His dream was both a warning and a plea for help. They needed to rescue the alien life.
A sudden noise jolted back Tonton's senses. His hands were shaking and large beads of sweat were forming on his head. He breathed hard, shocked at his vision. He looked for the brilliant object and there it was, still lying on the wooden plank. Quickly, he snatched it and examined what it was.
At first, it looked like a broken piece of a toy but as he inspected it further, it was more like a part of an emblem. The whole thing could be circular and flat, and around one inch in diameter. What he was holding was a quarter portion. There was an engraving or an image inside but he could not really make it out. It appeared to be a corner of a triangle with something slender protruding beneath it, like a leg beneath a skirt. After careful consideration, Tonton was convinced that the entire object could be a big coin with a girl logo inside, just like the drawings being put on the door for the female restroom. It was broken into several pieces and what he found was the one with the left leg. He smiled at his analysis.
It appeared to be just a simple trash but Tonton felt it communicated with him. What was more intriguing about it was that it was not made of ordinary metal. In fact, it was like a gold piece but only lighter. He raised the object and it dazzled even brighter when placed against the light.
"This is brighter and more yellow than my mom's gold rings," he whispered.
"Hey Ton, what are you doing?" Jamie asked him.
He turned around and Jamie was already few feet behind him. He must not have noticed him approaching while he studied the mysterious object.
"I found this strange thing here. I don't know what this is but it got me curious."
"Let me see it."
He gave Jamie the object who also examined it thoroughly.
"This looks like a part of a coin," Jamie finally said.
"I guess the same thing, too."
"There's an image inside but I really could not tell. Why are you curious about it?"
"I also don't know why but it feels like it is talking to me."
Jamie handed him back the object which Tonton hastily inserted inside his pants' right pocket.
"What do you mean?"
"I was staring at it when I suddenly had a vision. My dream came back again."
"Which dream?"
"The most recent one where I was in a hospital bed and being experimented by Dr. Alvarado. Now, I finally understand that the dream was some sort of a warning. The facility where I was held is in fact this place."
"No way, you got to be kidding me."
"I wish I am but I really believe this is the place. Dr. Alvarado will make this facility house several clinics but the things he wants to do in secret will be done here."
"What secret things?"
Tonton became silent. He had no clear evidences, only speculations, but he knew he must speak his mind.
"Dr. Alvarado wants to do some research with the aliens. He will do it here."
"You mean the alien he found in the grassland?"
"Maybe, including the first one which has never been found yet."
"Are you sure of this?"
"I'm not. But my guts tell me so. In my dream, I was the one being experimented. But based on my dreams before that, the alien made me experience the things it had been through. We even shared some memories. I think this time, it is making me see some possibilities in the future."
"If the alien is communicating to you through your dreams, that means it is still arrive."
Tonton shrugged his shoulders. He did not think of that possibility. Meanwhile, Jamie was pacing back and forth, thinking and scratching his head.
"What's happening to you?" Tonton asked.
"I was trying to recall my dream and make some connection."
"Is there?"
"Well, I'm not sure. The dream was kind of similar to yours, except that Dr. Alvarado said that I have the cure while they were studying me. Is he referring to me or to the alien?"
"I can't answer that. But do you think your dream also happened here?"
"I'm not sure but it could be."
"Let's go tell Kiko and Bogart about this."
"Maybe this is why you were being drawn here earlier. Maybe these are the answers we can found."
Tonton nodded. At least for now, their efforts to get inside the building were not wasted. Realizing their mission was already done, the two retraced their step to get out of the building. They left through the same door and went up the same stairs.
They must have been reckless because they did not notice the man who was walking towards their direction. The man was not also paying attention so that when the boys reached the top of the stairs, he froze upon seeing them. If not for their masks, they would have a clear description of each other.
"What are you boys doing here?" the man finally said.
They stared hard at him, waiting for him to make any move. So when he was about to step forward, the boys jumped out of their position.
"Run!!!" Jamie screamed at the top of his voice.