Bare feet were almost crawling along the cold surface, limited by shackles, entering an elevated passage covered from ceiling to floor by adamantine-plated walls, interrupted from time to time by opaque windows; the prisoner looked around her both anxious and intrigued. Her thick metal rings rubbed irritatingly against her skin, causing the actress to itch, and she exhaled through her nostrils, frustrated at not being able to scratch; what made it most indignant in her current situation, however, was having to explain a movie, in which her unlikely host was the protagonist. The most bizarre thing about that experience, left behind in that room, was seeing that bodyguard waving the script in her face and scolding her while her counterpart crossed his arms to watch her with a severe expression, at times believing he would hit her, although in the end, and luckily for her, that never happened.
- Chae Gun exaggerated quite a bit – Raon said without turning to look at her – but he had no orders to hurt you.
- What?! – Mari said, surprised to see her thoughts read like that – But if I... I haven't...
- Your little thoughts are like an open book to me. Just see your face.
- Wait, my face? What about my face? – the actress asked stupidly.
It was not surprising; the young woman was still disoriented, scared, with cold running down her back just thinking she could've been subject to what happened at the set, hence her mental anguish, awaiting a danger that she did not even know if it was real or imaginary:
- Are you deaf or what? – replied the director.
- Ah...no, no, I, I...I didn't say anything...
- Only remember; If you do everything I tell you, neither you nor those who accompanied you will be hurt.
The young woman looked down at her chains, and her cuffed hands began to tremble as her heart began to burn a faint flame, the tension in her muscles gradually abandoning fear, giving way to something else which wanted to be released, getting tired of seeing her in such a position. This souldn't be happening to her.
- Are you serious…? I can't stand it. – Mari said.
- What a novelty...
- How can you treat people like that? – she asked
- How? According to protocol? Don't think you're special for being like this; It is more than I grant to others.
- This is inhuman…cruel. Not even an animal deserves to end up like this. You didn't deserve it either.
- Wow... - she responded with a laugh, slowing down her pace - I see you're taking too much cobfidence with me.
- I interpreted you.
- I know, you already told me back there. And so what?
- I mean... I know you. I know you well, more than you think; I know what you've done, and why...
The two escorts behind her paid closer attention to what the captive was saying, fearing the consequences of what she would say next, and the simple idea of these being splashed on them like excrement on the fan made their hair stand on end,keeping the dullness of their visage.
- It is not convenient for you to continue down that path, Kang Ma-ri...
- I am unable to see why - the actress continued, raising her voice - how could you become this?
-And what did I become, according to you?
Mari then, by pure reflex, hugged herself, pressing her fingers against her forearms; she swallowed, and not only remembered her helplessness, but also her greatest resentment:
- I saw what they did. How…they slain…all those people. I still can't believe it; you are worse than a beast...
At the last part of that sentence, the director stopped her walk suddenly; Mari managed to stop just in time to see how her living reflection slowly turned until meeting her gaze directly. The actress shivered involuntarily when she saw those eyes, the same as hers except for that shine, fire in the middle of a calm expression, crowning a smile which hid clenched teeth behind; Raon was like a hyena looking at her prey. And as the two escorts took a couple steps back in anticipation, the latter said very jovially:
- And I still can't believe that my life is used to entertain stupid people behind a screen.
Mari's mind wasn't even able to process what hit her; by the time her eyes were able to take in his surroundings with some clarity, Raon was crushing her gullet against the wall using a single forearm. The actress' exposed back, stuck to the wall, felt cold, and was unable to move. The director's face was grinning, eyes wide open flashing a sadistic fury that could not be human; although it was already obvious to the actress that there was no point in trying to reason with someone in that state, she would try nonetheless:
- Please...let me go...don't do this...
- You don't know anything about me, is that clear to you?!
- Stop…
- You are a weak and pathetic human, but I see... you're not that stupid, are you?
- What are you...taking about?
- You are not as brainless as you seem, idol, and if I chained you, it is because I don't trust you.
- But... I haven't done anything to you... why?
- We'll see about that now. And until I know everything, I won't let you run away.
- That...isn't true...I'm not...I'm against you...
- I will never allow you to free your friends and that little boyfriend of yours. You thought about it, right? Were you going to try it?
- Raon…please… - Mari coughed.
- Understand it once and for all; this is where hope dies with those who dare to face me.
- I'm not...your...enemy...let...go of...me
- Money, fame, or power are of no use here; the life and death of everyone in this place is in my hands.
- ...I can't...I can't.
The actress was almost out of breath.
- It's of no use praying in this hell, Kang Ma-ri, because your only god now is me...
The director suddenly released her grip, and let Mari fall to the floor; leaning on her hands and knees, the young woman sucked in all the air she could through her mouth, as if she had emerged from a deep sea. She then emitted rasping dry coughs, which echoed throughout the place, while she clenched her fists; Raon just stood there waiting, to the surprise of Seo Jin and Chae Gun, refraining from using telekinesis to get her back on her feet, or even worse, drag her through the floor while she continued forward, as she did with others.
Raon didn't know why she let her take a break, nor who she was really dealing with, not entirely, and still didn't quite give her a good feeling, but her existence was, indeed, intriguing. At that moment the actress looked up at the director with somber resignation:
- Your eyes...that look...truly...I felt afraid. But now I see it. It must be sad…being dead inside.
The alluded did not smile mockingly, nor even responded, and simply turned to continue walking; Mari watched her walk away from her as she stood up, while behind her, Chae Gun approached with Seo Jin to pull her roughly from under her arms, pushing her to continue.
They arrived at one of the several sliding doors in the hallway, some of them crowned with green lights, and a couple more with yellow lights; This one, unlike the ones that had passed by, had its light on red. The director would finally say:
- Here we are.
After seconds of anguished reluctance, the actress asked, in a confused tone:
- What is this place? Why did you bring me here?
- To find out who you really are.
- Don't you know that already?
- I cannot be so sure... - Raon said - but before that, you should know something else. All those deaths you blame me for...I didn't order them.
Mari had no reason to believe that and the director was aware of this, so she continued, while the actress frowned:
- Those who attacked you didn't work for me. It's strange. They attack my lab, and you "appear out of nowhere."
- Perhaps you are the one who came from nowhere. We were filming, and then you came in.
- Then why attack our own men? It wouldn't make sense
- You are capable of such things and more.
Raon decided to ignore the comment and continued:
-Not all the attackers died at the hands of my agents. One is still alive, and he's behind this door.
The actress shivered again, and her eyes became watery:
- But why…? What do you plan to do to me?
- Huh, you became a coward again. No, I won't lock you up with him. I'll ask him...a few questions.
She put her hand on the panel next to the door and it opened, giving way to an anteroom; the actress immediately followed her when she saw the bodyguards approaching, noticing upon entering that this red-lit place had a console, a fixed microphone, and a button in front of it. Just in front, a huge, firm glass made it possible to see what was inside a cell with concave walls; It was a man, stripped of his clothes, whose hands and feet were trapped in circular holes, causing his limbs to be arranged in an X. He was held in a metal ring attached to the floor by a base amid of the room, bathed from top to bottom and left to right by green lasers emitted from the walls, which formed a grid pattern over his skin each time they crossed paths.
That individual was head down, breathing heavily, disoriented, soon having a spasm and looking up, contracting the muscles of his forearms and shins in an attempt to move them. His sight was clearing, and realizing that it was impossible for him to turn or move in any way, he began to flail, trying in vain to pull and break the handles that held him. From one moment to the next, he had an even stronger spasm, which made him clench his teeth, and immediately, an invisible force made him freeze as his diamond eyes with violet irises fixed on the glass, expressing intrigue:
- Hah, this is surely another of your tricks, witch.
Raon pressed the button, with the actress practically looking behind her, the escorts putting hands on their weapons just in case, not so much to protect their boss, but for their own good and to avoid any retaliation later for not having acted according to what she expected:
- A trick of mine you say? And what about you? How come you and your henchmen enter my lab?
- This illusion of yours is crude. No matter what you try Kim Ra-on, I won't say anything.
- You won't say anything - the director mocked - Well, I think you will, and sooner than you think.
- Burn time as long as you want, you'll never escape from us. You will be subdued in the end.
Upon hearing that, Raon smiled at him, who in turn involuntarily exposed every detail of his hybrid physiognomy, flesh fused with what seemed like opaque metal, protruding like bones from within, shielding his ribs except for the right iliac fossa, where there was only a cauterized hole. Contemplating him in such a dark splendor and hearing his voice again, the actress trembled until she was on her knees, petrified by fear, stammering on the verge of crying:
- You... it was you. You allowed it all to happen, what they did to all that people...
The director looked at her and addressed in an authoritative tone:
- Calm down. From where he is he can't do anything, nor will he go anywhere.
- For now - the man responded from afar - But it won't be like this for long, you'll be made to pay.
- There's a reason I didn't make you blind. I wanted to test two little theories, the first being...
- Isolde's readings were true - the subject said to the actress - You are not Kim Ra-on. You were just the decoy in her trap.
He then stared at the Awoken One. Mari was confused, but soon the director made things clear:
- Error - she said - Neither is this my clone, nor do I need illusions to neutralize such weak enemies.
The man felt his brain spinning suddenly, unable to focus without feeling pain in his veins:
- No...you're not going to deceive me, I will never tell you...anything.
- Yes, yes you will. You will tell me how they created an anomaly in my laboratory, you will tell me who sent you, you will tell everything.
- You killed our living portal...it doesn't matter anymore. You must have surrendered voluntarily.
Raon thought about that answer, feeling more and more happy with each answer slice of info he gave, although Mari didn't understand why:
- Ah...that's true - the director falsely stated - it really was valuable to you, wasn't it?
- We will find a way, we will prepare a new plan, more of us will come...give up once and for all...
- So arrogant - Raon responded - maybe you resisted a lot of punishment, but you're not invincible.
- Are you trying to kill me? That wouldn't change anything; It only postpones the inevitable.
- And that's why you will still be here, alive and cooperating – she said with disdain.
-
- And... - Raon continued, in her game - who's going to avoid it, you? Your superiors?
- The Executive Committee was already informed about your threat. They gave us absolute freedom to take the necessary actions… wait, wait a moment…
He was totally taken by surprise, wondering what was really happening, remembering when he began to feel that overwhelming heaviness, clumsiness in his movements, fatigue, and also... he remembered the electroshocks he received recently, and that peculiar stinging sensation:
- Do you wonder why your tongue is so loose? Tell me your name, rank and detachment, soldier…
- Sergeant Sigurd, SpecOps Team Number 10-1, Task Force Einherjar – he responded helplessly.
- Our new injectable serum works well, don't you think? – she replied – I never thought to try it with you first.
- I...I...no, stop it...I... - Sigurd stammered, trying in vain to resist.
- But please continue, what threat do I represent to you?
- Kim Ra-on is a
- How you knew the name.
- The agent went to the mission alone, 57 days after Living Portal-B opened a breach with no fixed destination point, a notebook came through it. It was studied, a psychobend trace was found.
- What does that have to do with what I asked.
- You bit...the photo was found there, as well as the written name itself, used as a self-identifier. When E1T8A0 was sent, he got a scanner and the photo with him. Only the latter returned.
Raon had no diary to begin with, nor she would put her own name on such a text, however the date still intrigued her; nothing had happened that merited her personal attention on any level, nor had there been any serious incidents around that day. Shortly before, S-1 was deployed on a VIP elimination mission to Singapore, a simple task to deter an attempted attack. Any other event did not have much relevance, not enough to attract the attention of the new enemy looming right under her nose.
Already taking into account all necessary information in her mind, she calmly responded:
- Well, then no, it's not me who you're looking for. I'm sorry, but you came to the wrong place.
- No, there is no mistake, you... you are the one in the photo, ask your people... the ones who confiscated my equipment.
The sergeant looked from one side to the other, fighting between continuing to blurt out information and closing his mouth, but in the end he added:
- The photograph, ask the person next to you, we will show it to you. It's you, there's no doubt.
Raon turned to Mari, and squatted in front of her, placing a hand gently on the back of her neck:
- What photograph is he talking about?
Mari shook her head, but immediately stopped, staring at nothing, after digging through her memories; trembling, she lowered her head and answered:
- Those...they...one of them...he had a photograph in his hand, and he asked me...if I was you.
- What else?
- It looked damaged, there was a person in it, with a coat, on a building. She looked... just like us.
- Behind the image there was a note, don't know who wrote it. I've never taken that photo, I'm sure.
- Me neither; I don't have time to do that nonsense. But how could they be so sure it was me?
- Find two clones with the same name and in such a short time is highly improbable – he replied.
- You'll have to believe it. But I don't have any more time for you so, what happened to E1T8A0?
- He never returned. Either he died, or he still can't make it back for whatever reason.
- Okey. That will be all. Goodbye, sergeant.
- No, wait, don't tell me that...
Raon turned off the microphone, without taking his eyes off her. She looked back at Mari, who slowly shaked her head, half lost in her thoughts. The director suddenly grabbed her waist and put her arm over her shoulders, helping her stand. She left her and took the communicator:
- Overseer Weisenschaft.
- Director Kim - the woman greeted in a bitter tone - Tell me, how can I help you?
- What state is S-0667 in?
- Awake, but doesn't respond to any stimuli despite her brain activity showing normal values.
- Have someone observe her vital signs. I'll go there.
- Two nurses must be tending to her right now. I'll tell them to wait for you.
Raon cut without saying anything, and took the actress by the wrist, trying to resist at first but soon realizing she wasn't in danger as the director no longer fixated on her as such, not challenging her with a glare, nor being rude. She felt more relieved, but her shackles, thick as they were, were beginning to weigh as her counterpart left cell dragging her along, the bodyguards behind them:
- Now where are you taking me? – the actress asked.
- We'll go to the emergency wing. After that confession, we must move on to more direct evidence.
- But...the...bodies, the...weapons...that photo.
- All of that was found among what my team recovered from the lab, they'll soon have the report.
- If that's true...why go to that place you mention?
- There's someone who will help us clear up doubts. You think intuiting others is scary? She'll get in.
- Inside…our minds, you say?
- Exactly. I'll bring her to check on this Sigurd and your useless friends.
Mari didn't respond, and they continued in silence. They went down an elevator in the internal axis to the 1st floor, leaving that cylindrical building through one of the lowest elevated steps, just above the one leading to the section where the actress was confined, both going down the corridor and turning right, entering into a new, longer corridor which they followed until getting into a circular hall with the director's credentials. Continuing round the multi-window reception area and forward, they ignored the crossroads leading to offices with staff moving back and forth, and finally arriving to a pair of doors with a light above.
- And here we are. - the director said.
Seo Jin made a gesture with his hand and these opened on their own, exposing in front of them a large place with a low ceiling, floors and walls covered in white tiles, beds filling the entire place in rows, with health personnel busily circulating through the corridors that they formed. All were the same, with a fairly thick mattress, supported on rectangular metal bases painted in navy blue, mostly emplty, with only a few adult men, many with wounds and bandages, connected to monitors, and one woman among them, the only one in a better condition. Seeing her, Raon began to walk in her direction, motioning for her guards to wait outside, to which These left quickly, closing the doors while the people looked on with some surprise at the two Raons before them.