Date: August 24-25
Place: Kyoto Headquarters
[Rei]
I couldn't get my mind off of my last conversation with Ciel as we venture onward.
He was my friend, one of the few who helped me escape that horrible place; the laboratory, and the one who taught me how to fight along with some of his few friends too. He was a friendly and trustworthy fellow.
I even remember that I've had a one-sided crush on him when we were both a kid until my father introduced me to his friend's son.
* * start * *
"They've never stopped the operation. But they did change their procedure on how to continue it when you left"
"A lot has changed"
"Someone is waiting for you at Kyoto's Headquarters"
"Your lover is still alive"
* * end * *
Those were the few interactions we had between those breathtaking disasters that have happened while we were running away from the explosion.
I can't believe they've proceeded with the experiment without me. I can't help but wonder what he's doing right now.
Is he safe?
Protected?
Or thrown out like trash just like what they did to me?
I just wish he's doing fine.
As we got closer to our destination, the surrounding reeks of 0-007 experiments probably because of the soldiers that lie ahead of us.
0-007 is the term for those zombie-like creatures. While they call the children like us crux and each and everyone has their crux identity numbers. There were numerous of us. But I'm not sure at the moment who survived or who perished after my escape.
I'm the only one who knows what it's called, wellーexcept for the people who participate in that horrible experiment. It's designed to test our limitations, and how we'll control the ability that they've given us against the 0-007 subjects.
I still can't believe they've continued the experiment after everything that has happened. Because if I remember correctly, we blew most of the place up.
Standing in front of us now is a big, tall, metal entrance with a long line of soldiers defending it. Not blinking, just standing still while scanning the perimeter for danger.
Everyone is holding a gun, cautious and prepared. Those gazes were ready to fire and kill. One wrong move and answer may endanger us.
A soldier walked up to me when they've noticed us get close. He has a masculine build, with multiple scars on his face and arms, and he looks like he's the leader of the front lines.
"Survivors?" he asked as he looked at all of us one by one from head to toe.
Haru was going to answer when I pulled him back as I walk in front of the leader and pulled an ID to show to him. I'm not sure what kind of ID this is, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Does this look familiar to you?" I asked.
"No, it does not. Now answer my question," he said after he looked at the ID, squinting his eyes to examine it.
Just as I suspected, it's not an ID here, but I guess it'll serve us well in the future. I put it inside my pocket and tried to find the handle of my knife.
Haru knew what I was thinking when he pulled me in the shoulder, shook his head for disapproval and gave me a thumbs up after.
"Yes, we are survivors," Haru answered, pointing at us. I saw the big man in front of us nod and instructed some of his men to assist us.
We walked along the corridor and anywhere I look, I watch people whimper, shiver, and mutter unexplainable words to themselves. They looked terrified, miserable, and broken. If I didn't know what was happening, if my memories haven't returned, I might have been one of them.
Ciel instructed me to provoke them and talk to the higher-ups if I wanted to be treated specially here. He did mention that someone is waiting for me here, but I have no clue. That's one reason why I shouldn't operate recklessly, and of course, if I don't want to endanger my friends, I should behave for now.
I could've done something from the moment I step in here if I was alone. Honestly, what a pain.
Haru was the one talking to the soldiers as they take us to a room full of people. If the corridor was filled with people, this room is flooding with people, and thrice the emotion is displayed on their faces.
"You'll be staying here like the other people," the soldier left us after some other soldier tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something in its ears.
We all sat and waited for anything to come to us. Silence, everyone was busy thinking about something. Haru was beside Misaki trying to calm both of them. Kazuma was holding Yui's hands not saying a word to each other. While here I am with Cedrick beside me staring right at an empty space.
I still have the items that Ciel gave me. Good thing they agreed we keep our belongings.
But of course, except our guns. Luckily, they didn't found the knife that I hid between my chest. I rolled it up with some fabric when we were closing in and got myself a stick to defend myself for a while.
All our guns were all empty as I ordered each one of them to give me their bullets which I put inside this small bag we have that they didn't bother to check.
I pushed the button of the walkie-talkie in my hands as I hoped that someone will answer.
"Ciel have sent me here, over" I said and waited for a reply. Hoping someone will return the call.
"You're not Ciel. Who is this? What do you want?" someone spoke a few minutes later, right before I shove it back in the bag.
I feel a grin crawled up its way on my mouth as I felt a rush of excitement when I remembered who that was. "We just entered the Kyoto Headquarters, waiting in the huge lobby full of people," I replied but there was no response.
I put it back inside the bag.
That voice, all these years, how could I ever forget that tone.
I figured that I was not the one he was waiting for but Ciel. Although, I think he'll like the news that I'm alive after all those years. And if I guess correctly, he is also a high ranking official in this facility that may be beneficial for my group.
Personnels started to hand out small portions of food to every people who lined up.
"What's with the food here?"
"It looks disgusting"
"Is this edible?"
My group commented as much as everyone in the room.
It was already nearing evening, the sun setting, and was replaced by a dark and gloomy moon that has yet to rise. We sat at a table in corner.
Then someone shouted from afar, going insane as he throws his food on the ground, a foolish tantrum scene.
"I can't take it anymore. I want real food," he exclaims shaking the sleepy soldier that was near him.
Then havoc occurred on its surrounding, leaving traces of hatred and fear in their actions as they teamed up on one completely defenseless soldier.
But a man who had a similar aura and build from the gates earlier came along with some other soldiers and managed to alleviate things quickly.
"Do you know how we risk our lives fighting those monsters just to protect you, people? We barely get out of food hunts alive just to feed the likes of you," the leader was pissed, calmly delivering his words to everyone and making them realize how hard life could be while they were sitting and waiting to be fed and protected.
"I don't care because it's your job! Our taxes went to you folks!" a man shouting, pointing his finger to the leader's chest. Completely blinded by his poor judgement and unreasonable argument.
Soon, some of the people tried to join that man and protested their thought without thinking of the outcome.
What a bunch of idiots.
They don't even know what they're saying, they're just spitting out nonsense that pops on their tiny brains.
The next thing I knew, Yui's cheeks have blood dripping from a fork that a man swung in her face when she was trying to stop the commotion with the boys in my group backing her up.
My eyes were too fixated on the man who looked like a high official that I didn't realize that there was another commotion happening near me.
Haru was trying to stop Kazuma from being involved in the fights any further when their jaw dropped as I ran towards the bastard and punched him instead.
Luckily, the man had some friends with him that stopped him before he could punch me back.
Although, I don't mind stretching my body. And if you think I'm getting cocky, let me just tell you that you don't know what hell I've been through.
But everything went silent when all the soldiers pointed their guns at people. Everyone stopped, hesitant if it'll be a wise choice to continue their uprising.
It's a natural instinct to obey the one who's more powerful.
Just a few minutes after the commotion the leader and his men excused themselves and walked away as everything went back to the way it was, like nothing has happened.
It was then I told my group that I'll be leaving to find the toilet and I brought the walkie-talkie with me. I wandered around the corridor until my feet led me to bump in someone who I think is another leader of a group based on what he wears. He also had two armed soldiers tagging along from behind.
"I'm sorry," I said bowing as he just told me it's fine and started walking away from me.
Up until now, I've never put aside Ciel's advice. It's better to strike first before they realize what I'm scheming.
The leader was not easy to approach as there were two soldiers behind him and knocking those two out will be hard in this corridor full of people.
But if I'd just walk up straight to them and ask for directions I'm sure he'll just end up giving me one of his men.
If I attacked and threaten the leaderーthat won't work either.
I don't know how this leader is in hand-in-hand combat or how he thinks. I'm sure it'll just backfire.
I was in the middle of plotting what to do when I heard a running footstep towards this direction as he shouts from behind me. I haven't heard that voice for years now.
"Kanagawa! Wait up! They want you back inside for furtherー" he stopped midway of chasing that leader when he got past me and caught a glimpse of my face.
Our eyes met for a moment and he came to a stop in front of me.
"I told you I don't approve of it," says the leader that was now walking back towards my direction.
I was about to walk away when the man in front of me who is wearing a lab coat, glasses and looks like he didn't shave his beard in a few months called me by the nickname he gave me a long time ago as a smile curled up his face.
And I was overly excited to see him again that my heart was pumping so loud and a huge grin was plastered in my mouth.
"My little flower is alive!" he chanted over and over, looking directly in the eyes for inspection before he hugged me tightly, bringing every soldier that surrounds us in confusion.
This is Uncle Leon, he was also the one who Ciel told me that was waiting for me which was actually waiting for his safe return. And judging from how he reacted, he had little to no idea that I lived.
"I'm not that easy to take down Uncle," I said returning his hug by tapping his back slightly.
~skip~
From there, everything escalated quickly.
He took me and my group to a much comfortable place. They gave us better food, a room where all six of us can fit, a warm bath, and decent clothes.
[Cedrick]
I just finished putting the clothes they gave us on.
When I stepped out of the shower room that connects to the room they let all six of us stay in, all of my friends were just sitting on the side of a bed, some looking outside the window, and some at the ground.
We're all confused about the current situation but thankful for what we have received even though we don't know why or how.
"Who is she?" Kazuma said spacing out, enough for us to hear.
"I'm not sure anymore," Yui shook her head in confusion.
Thankfully, Rei is not in this room right now to hear this conversation.
"I knew that she lost her memories from her childhood, but I never knew she had connections with powerful people," Yui covered her mouth in shock as she, who's the closest to Rei right now, couldn't believe who she truly was anymore.
Rei came back to the cafeteria with a bunch of soldiers tailing her and a weird guy who wears a lab coat after she went to find the toilet.
At first, I thought something bad had happened when they ordered all of us to step outside the cafeteria and follow them.
We walk in front of them as they point their guns at us from the back, I thought they found out about the bullets and Rei's knife and were going to get punished but I was wrong.
It turns out Rei knew someone who has a high reputation in this place.
"Cedrick, are you hiding something from us?" Misaki's question pulled me back from reality.
"What I meant was," she tries retracting her words. "You were with her the most since the whole ordeal broke out," she paused, hesitating to ask further.
"Did she happen to tell you anything at all?" Kazuma stared at me with his tired eyes.
"I'm as clueless as you are. And if I did know anything about her, I would probably let Rei tell you on her own," I answered which made the silence walk over this room.
"I've never seen this side of her before. I think she regained her memories," Yui deduced which made everyone look her way.
"But even so, what kind of childhood did she even have," Haru laughed ridiculously as I knew that everyone recalled how she acted from the moment she discussed the escape plan from the water park, to the rescuing of Yui, and the bloodlust she had from how she ended the monsters back at the forest.
Not to mention her knowledge on how to use a gun, knives and even those moves that an ordinary person shouldn't have.
"She must have her reasons," I tried to defend her which just fell on deaf ears.
I'm certain that something happened to her in the past. She didn't tell me everything and I'm sure that it's hard to tell your whole life story especially when we were in a tight position back at the water park.
"Let's just confront her when she gets back," Kazuma suggested sighing the exhaustion from thinking.
We had a sleepless night so even with the sunlight shining through the window, we still managed to sleep.
~skip~
I woke up at the sound of the door closing where I found Rei looked physically refreshed but mentally uneasy.
She took a glance at the surrounding where the curtains are closed and everyone was sleeping.
By the time she looks in my direction, I was already sitting, tapping the space on my right. She went in my direction and sat on beside me. She buried her head to her knees and hugged her legs as she closed herself from reality.
"What happened?" I asked, whispering but she didn't answer.
"Rei," I say once again.
Finally, she looked at me.
She looks at me with life drained in her eyes. I can feel that she wants to cry but she rather stops every drop of tears from escaping her watery eyes by blinking them away.
"They made this mess. I tried to convince them butー" she hesitated to say the next part and remained silent.
"Let's worry about that later. For now, you have to rest," I say leading her to lay down beside me as I covered ourselves with a blanket.
When she slid right to sleep, I wiped the tears that escaped her without knowing.
"I know you've been through a lot lately," I say as I closed my eyes and joined Rei to rest.