"What happened to the light? How did I come here?" Rokuro said, panicking slightly.
"What light?" Shiko asked.
"The light that I showed you all, where is it now?"
"We don't know of any light, neither do we know what you are talking about. You never showed us any light."
"What?" Rokuro said and then turned to Miyuki. "Don't you remember I showed you the light? I ran towards it and you tried to stop me, remember?"
Miyuki shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"When? None of this happened, what are you talking about?"
"What do you mean none of this happened? Did you not see me chase the light?"
"You didn't chase anything. You have been here, right here since we got here."
Rokuro looked confused, almost shocked to hear those words from his friend.
"Wait a minute, did you just have a nightmare?" Miyuki asked.
"It looks like it." Rokuro answered in a disappointed tone.
"I thought they were gone for good."
"Well, they're still here."
"Hmm. What did you see?"
"I saw a bright light shining in that direction. I tried to tell you about it but you couldn't see it. I ran towards it and even tried to touch the source of the light. That is when I lost sense and fell."
"You did fall, not anywhere else but here. We tried to shake you into senses but you passed out."
"What could it mean? That light?"
They began to ponder upon the thought. They talked about it for quite some time but could not conclude.
"I don't understand what was this about, or if it was about anything at all. Where did you see the light by the way?" Mr. Danuja said.
Rokuro pointed his finger in the same direction in which he saw the light and they all walked towards it. They dodged the plants just like Rokuro did in his nightmare, albeit slowly, and after many minutes of jogging they slowed down as they saw Rokuro stop.
"Here." Rokuro said as he stopped near the same spot where he tried to touch the light in his nightmare.
"What did you do when you reached here?" Mr. Danuja asked.
"I then tried to touch the source of the light and fainted." Rokuro replied.
"Hmm." Mr. Danuja began to think about the next move. "I think we should search this area."
Mr. Danuja made tools from wood logs for all of them and together they began to search the area. They uprooted the wild plants and cleared the area in about two hours. They all sat down as Miyuki removed the last plant in the area they decided to clean.
"It's quite big, this area. We need to dig all of it. That is the best that I can think of. There must something in this land." Mr. Danuja said.
"What do you think we will find?" Mrs. Arata asked.
"I have no idea. I don't know if we'll find anything at all. We've been going in line with Rokuro's nightmares since the beginning, and that is what we're doing now. We have no choice but to go according to what he sees in his dreams."
Mrs. Arata nodded in acknowledgment.
"We need to get back to work quickly. We can't afford to chill out here." Mr. Danuja said.
"We're not chilling, Papa. We're just resting, we worked for about two hours, right?" Miyuki said.
"We've had enough rest now. Come on. Back to work. Now." Mr. Danuja said and stood up. He knew he needed to lead them from the front, and he was pleased to see everybody standing up after him. All of them picked their tools and began to unearth the area they just cleaned. The tools were basic but durable, so they didn't have much problem using them.
Sweat dripped from their chins and elbows without stopping. It was like a tap that was left open. But that couldn't make them stop. All of them were determined to dig out the secrets, literally.
"Come on. Be quick." Mr. Danuja said as a Sergeant would. They were exhausted but didn't want to give up as well. They all wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Minute by minute they got deeper into the ground and covered almost all of the area that they had cleared earlier.
"Even if we do find something here, why is this place at such a distance from the lab?" Miyuki asked.
"Of course, it is. He couldn't have hidden something close to the lab." Mr. Danuja said.
"Right."
"Hey! I think my tool hit something." Rokuro said excitedly. "Come check this out."
Mr. Danuja dashed off to Rokuro as soon as he heard those words. The excitement that he had on his face and in his breath could not be hidden even if he tried to.
"What is it? Where?" Mr. Danuja asked.
"Look, right here under the tool." Rokuro said and lifted his tool slowly. He pushed it down gently and tapped on the surface. A metallic sound was heard as the tool hit the surface.
"You hear that?" Rokuro said as he looked at Mr. Danuja with a big smile on his face, eyes widened.
"Let me take a look." Mr. Danuja said with a lot of excitement. Rokuro stepped aside and let Mr. Danuja take the charge, who got down into the pit that Rokuro had made. He bent down and touched the spot with his fingers first and then brushed the surface with his fingers. It didn't take off too much amount of dirt, so he stood up and used his tool to dig out the soil around the spot. He was careful enough to not damage the spot, he was gentle. He cleared the area around the spot with utmost care and gentleness and bent down again to use his hands to take out the piece of metal-box that had been buried there for so many years.
It wasn't a big box, it was just a small metal-box, probably of steel. Mr. Danuja finally sighed in relief as he sat down with the box in his hands.
"Could you grab that toolbox for me please?" Mr. Danuja said to Miyuki, who ran to the box kept at a distance and brought it to his Papa in no time, who took out a small brush from it and began to use it on the small metal box, and once enough dirt was brushed off of the box, he tried to open it. It wasn't going to open up on the first try, of course, after staying closed for that many years, that too buried under the ground. It had plenty of time to degrade, but it had held up nicely.
Mr. Danuja tried to open it one more time. He was cautious as to not apply too much force on it, so he took things slowly. In the process of trying to open the box, it got shaken left and right, and because of that, it made a little sound. All of them looked at each other as the sound disturbed the otherwise silent atmosphere. All of them were as curious as they could get once the sound was out in the open. He took the box close to his right ear and shook it gently to hear the sound.
"Most of it is empty. I guess there is just one thing inside." Mr. Danuja said.
"What could it be?" Mrs. Arata asked.
"We'll find out soon."
He tried to open the box again, this time applying some extra force and twisting the lid, and that was it. The box opened with ease because of the twist, but what he found inside didn't amaze him much. He kept the lid aside and showed the box to everyone else. There was another tiny case in it. He took it out and opened it.
"It's a memory card. How can it be of any help to us?" Mrs. Arata said.
"I guess we'll have to figure that out. Maybe it has something important in it. We need to see what it has." Mr. Danuja said.
"I can plug it in my phone. We'll be able to check what's in it." Miyuki said.
"Let's all walk back. It's enough for today I suppose."
They picked up their tools and the toolbox and headed back to the hut. They were so tired that they walked like zombies. While they managed to get to the hut somehow, they did it tardily. They rushed to their tents just as the lock was opened and lay down like dead bodies. They didn't even eat anything; they just went to sleep right away.
In the morning, the first thing Mr. Danuja did was to ask Miyuki to show him what the card had in it. All of them sat in a circle and fixated their eyes on Miyuki's phone after he inserted the card in it. He opened the folder and all it had were a few images and a few videos. He tapped on the first image and the reaction everybody gave after seeing it was proof of how disturbing the picture was. A naked man on all fours alone in a room, covered in blood and filth.
"What in the world is this? What happened to this man?" Mrs. Danuja expressed her shock.
"This is what I was talking about. They ill-treated people at this lab, conducted experiments on them against their will. They would beat them if the people wouldn't cooperate, hence the blood-covered body." Mrs. Arata said.
Miyuki was creeped out by what he heard, but he took hold of his senses and looked back at the screen of the phone and changed the picture. The next one was even more gruesome and unsettling, so much so that he swiped for the next one in a flash. All the seven pictures very similar to each other, showing the plight of the people trapped at the lab in those days. Then came the videos. Looking at the pictures they had got a good idea about what the videos were going to be about. Their heartbeats were racing already. He tapped on the first video with shaky hands. The imagery was disturbing, but it didn't affect them too much since they had already prepared themselves for it. It showed them the same things as the images did, but with more details.
They were engrossed in the playing video when they noticed someone familiar. Instinctively all of them squinted at the same time to look closely at the person that just walked into the frame.
"Who is this person? He looks so familiar, but his face isn't clear in the video." Miyuki said.
"He might be one of the Shuji brothers." Mrs. Arata said.
Miyuki looked at her with confused eyes as if asking her, 'Really?'.
"Most probably it is one of them. It's been years since I last saw them, but I am very much positive that it is one of them." Mrs. Arata continued.
"Let's look at other videos, maybe we can find something in them." Miyuki said.
They didn't have to wait for long or watch more videos as just the very next video had in it what they were looking for.
The video started with Kono, Rokuro's father talking to the camera about what he had seen in the lab and that he was going to record as much of it as he could. All five of them had teary eyes watching Kono after such a long time, even if it was in a video. Rokuro and his mother not only had teary eyes, but tears flowed down their cheeks onto the floor. The Danuja family didn't try to stop them from crying, although they weren't crying like babies. Oddly enough they felt relieved that the mother-son duo was letting out what they had kept trapped inside for years.
Miyuki resumed the video once he noticed they had started to get sober. Kono described how his co-workers and he felt unsafe and feared for their lives working for the Shuji brothers after they came to know about the evil deeds being carried out at the lab. He mentioned he had been threatened to not let the word out, or he will not live. He focused the camera on the other side and started to walk towards the lab discreetly. He was alone in this video, which was surprising since it was known that he had formed a group at work that had the same moto and cause. Anyway, he continued to walk towards the lab, and from the lighting, it seemed like it was dawn, probably morning's, good idea to sneak up for something like this. He reached the right corner of the lab and stopped at the window of one of those rooms where they had kept the captured people in inhumane conditions. He zoomed in to get a better view while he continuously kept looking in all directions to make sure he wasn't seen and once he looked back in the room was when he thought his mission was on the right track. Both the Shuji brothers walked into the room. They didn't look too pleased with the work of the scientists and started yelling at them just as soon as they got inside the room. They were upset about something, and by the gestures that they made at the scientists and the people locked in the room, it appeared that they weren't happy with the progress.
"Fortunately, their faces can be seen clearly in the video. It would act as a solid proof against them." Mr. Danuja said.
"Oh, it will." Rokuro said, with a feeling of vengeance in his voice and eyes.
Miyuki scrolled to the last video which intrigued him the most. The thumbnail showed Rokuro's father, so he tapped on it right then and the video began playing. Everyone's heads turned at the screen as they heard Kono's voice again but in a different tone.
"I, Kono Arata, have been working at the Shurjical Pharma for the past two years. It has been a very good experience here except for the past few months where I came across something the people in command wouldn't have wanted me to." Kono said in the video and paused.
"Oh, Kono!" Mrs. Arata said and started to cry again.
"It's okay, mummy. Don't cry. We're going to avenge him. Soon. It's our time now." Rokuro said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
They hugged each other while Kono resumed in the video. He went on to describe how he came across the hidden business at the lab on the island and about his failed attempts to stop it. He mentioned that he was recording this video as a testimony and the other videos and pictures would act as evidence. He ended the video by saying that he knew he could be killed for interfering in this, and if he happens to be killed, it would be because of the Shuji brothers.
"He must have sensed that his end was near, which is why he made this video and buried it. He must not have had time to inform anyone about it. It was tragic, still is." Mr. Danuja said.
"You're right. Let's head back to the city now. I can't stay here now that we've got proofs. We need to let the world know about those evil men." Mrs. Arata said.
"Right. Let's eat something and we'll leave right after."
They cooked some oats and fed themselves. In a situation like this, they found even the oats to be delicious. They packed their things and headed back to their boat. It was a clear morning, unlike the other day when it was cloudy and raining. The water was still as well compared to the other day, so it was a smooth sail.
Mr. Danuja tied the boat to a makeshift cleat and they walked into the jungle with a feeling of satisfaction that their endeavor was successful. They were returning home with something that they needed and wanted.
"Everybody, be proud of what you have done. It wasn't an easy trip, but your efforts made it look like so." Mr. Danuja said.
"We are. It was a great experience, Papa." Miyuki said.
Everybody walked with subtle smiles on their faces. The boys especially looked more excited than others, probably because of their age. They walked out of the jungle soon and towards the gas station they moved, but all their excitement vanished into the air when they reached the station. Mr. Danuja ran towards the spot where he had parked his SUV. He placed his toolbox down in a hurry and ran straight to one of the attendants.
"Hey? I parked my car two days ago right there. Where is it? Why the heck is not there?" Mr. Danuja said, trying not to lose his patience straight away.
The attendant just shrugged and looked away.
Mr. Danuja sprinted into the office to talk to the manager who was sipping his coffee when he entered the cabin.
"You're the manager I suppose?" Mr. Danuja said.
"Yes. How may I help you?" The manager said, wiping the coffee off his mustache.
"I had parked my car here two days ago and it's not there anymore. I asked your attendant he just shrugged at me."
"Oh, so you're the owner of that car."
"So you know where it is. Tell me where it is now."
The manager seemed to not care about whatever Mr. Danuja said. He stood up and picked up his phone.
"Follow me." The manager said as he walked out of the cabin, and Mr. Danuja did.
He pulled out his phone and touched the screen a few times before he brought it close to his ear.
"Yes, sir. They're here." The manager said.
"What was that? Whom did you call? Who are you people tell me now, I'm warning you." Mr. Danuja said.
"Relax. Just wait for a few minutes."
Mr. Danuja threw his hands in the air in disbelief. He walked up to the manager and held him by his arm. The manager turned around.
"Stop playing. I'm not a very patient man." Mr. Danuja said. The two families looked at the two men, worried. They knew how short-tempered Mr. Danuja was. They were hoping he would stay in control. Mrs. Danuja came forward to hold him back.
"Oh, he's here. He'll answer all your questions." The manager said.
Mr. Danuja looked back to see who was coming to answer his questions. A group of about 10 people was walking towards them, but that was not what appalled him. The two men that led the other 10 people is what instilled horror and shock in Mr. Danuja's eyes. His eyes had widened quite a bit and his mouth was open as well just seeing those two men walking in simple white clothes. He looked back at his wife, she looked just as shocked as he was, and the kids and Mrs. Arata weren't any better.
He had never thought of seeing the Shuji brothers at this point and this place. By the time he looked back at the group and the brothers, they had already reached where he was standing.
"What do you think you were doing on that abandoned island? Did you think no one would find out?" Daichi Shuji said. The brothers looked evil even though they had casual white clothes on and their hairstyles looked simple as well like men of their age would have.
For the first time in the last two or three days, Mr. Danuja felt his heartbeat pick up the pace.
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Danuja said, trying to maintain his solid stance. "And where's my car?"
"You answer me, and I will answer you. What were you and your family doing on that island? An island that no one has been to in the last many years, and that which many people don't even know about. Tell me." Daichi said.
"That's none of your business. We can be wherever we want and you shouldn't have anything to do with that. Now, tell me where my car is."
"I will ask you one last time. Why did you go on that island?"
"And I will tell you one last time as well. It's none of your business."
Daichi turned around at the people that stood behind him and gestured. "Take them. Every one of them." Daichi said, and those men started to walk towards the kids standing with Mrs. Arata, and towards Mr. and Mrs. Danuja standing close to Daichi.
"Leave us alone dammit." Mr. Danuja said and tried to resist the men. He even pushed them back and warned them. Two of those men came forward to handle Mr. Danuja but he pushed them back as well, with ease.
"Oh, don't make me use the same old trick now." Daichi said and gestured to his men. Those men captured the two women and two kids and took them on one side.
"Now, do you want to cooperate, or is it okay for you to watch them suffer?" Souta Shuji, the second brother said, rendering Mr. Danuja clueless and helpless. He couldn't move his hands anymore. He just looked at his family in the hands of the goons, and then at the brothers who had smug smiles on their faces, and Mr. Danuja's face only had disappointment to show. He loosened his arms and let go of the man he was holding the collar of. Two men grabbed his arms and tied them behind his back. They took him and his family inside the office.
"You have all day, all night, all of tomorrow and so on. You can either answer me now or whenever you want. If you want to go, you answer me. Is that a deal?" Daichi said.
"We were just there for an outing. That is all. It was a picnic." Mr. Danuja said.
"Oh! Picnic on an abandoned island, far away from the city, in the middle of nowhere. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?"
"We wanted to try something different, nothing more."
Daichi had had enough of Mr. Danuja by this point in time. He ordered the men to get whatever the five of them had and hand it over to the two brothers. The men began searching the two boys and Mr. Danuja, and the two ladies as well. It infuriated Mr. Danuja seeing the two ladies being searched by men and he roared.
"Get your hands off them you lardass bastards." Mr. Danuja yelled at the men.
"If this hurts you or bothers you, why don't you tell me about the purpose of the visit?" Daichi said.
Mr. Danuja took a deep breath.
"Stop it." He said as he watched the hands of the men move over the back of the two ladies. "I'll tell you."
Daichi gestured them to stop.
"Tell me now, what is it?" Daichi said.
"We wanted to visit the island because that is where her husband died. We had been feeling nostalgic for quite some time now and didn't know what to do about it, so we made a last-minute plan to visit the island." Mr. Danuja said.
Daichi stood up from the chair that he sat on and planted a tight slap on Mr. Danuja's cheek. The two ladies gasped at the sound of that slap, and the kids were shocked.
"Who do you think you're trying to fool?" Daichi said in an annoyed tone. "You can stay here for as long as you want unless you want to tell me what's cooking."
The men had collected the phones and their bags and kept them on the table close to Daichi. He asked them to search the phones and the bags and find whatever they could.
They fiddled with their phones for a few minutes and checked the bags. One of them found the memory card in the bag, which looked the most suspicious of all. He handed it over to Daichi who inserted the card in his phone. The two families knew that he saw the pictures when his eyes widened and his expressions changed.
"So this is what you've been cooking on that island? Where did you get it from? Tell me, now." Daichi yelled at Mr. Danuja as he slapped his palms on the table.
"What are you going to do? Kill us as well? How long do you think you can run? There has to be an end sooner or later." Mr. Danuja said.
"Oh yes, but it isn't going to end any sooner. Instead, it's you who's going to end sooner." Daichi said and turned to his minions.
"Switch off their cell phones and take them to the warehouse on the other side of the city. No one should know about it. We'll be there in the evening." Daichi said.
The men did as they were told and moved them into a van. One of them took a spray bottle and sprayed it over their faces, knocking them off in a few seconds. They drove the van to the other side of the city and reached there in the evening where the Shuji brothers were already waiting for them. They had their chopper to take them to this side of the city in a jiffy. Daichi walked up to the van and opened the door himself. All the passengers were still asleep, though he knew the effect of the sedative would have worn out by this time and this was just a phase of normal sleep now. He looked around and fixated his eyes on a rod, which he walked up to and picked it up. It was cold and had collected some dust, which he didn't mind getting on his hands.
He looked intensely at the van as he took slow steps towards it while he shuffled the rod from one hand to the other and he smashed it hard into one side of the van as he got close to it, making a big banging sound that shook the passengers out of their sleep. They looked around like an animal about to be slaughtered, panicking and not knowing where they were or what was happening.
Daichi held Mr. Danuja's collar and pulled him out of the van and then dragged him to the chair kept a small distance from the van. He pushed him onto the chair. Mr. Danuja barely saved himself from falling off the chair to the other side, still not in his complete senses. Holding onto the arms of the chair, he managed to sit in it.
One by one Daichi pulled out all of them from the van and made them on the floor sit beside Mr. Danuja. Rokuro looked around and extended his gaze to the farthest corners of the facility, just space filled with darkness and big boxes, and big trucks.
"Where are we?" Rokuro asked Miyuki.
"Don't know. I don't even remember how we got here." Miyuki said.
"How are we going to get out?"
"By God's grace, I suppose."
Rokuro looked at Miyuki with a perplexed face. He wondered what Miyuki meant.