Chapter 4: Failure
2 Months Later.
Everyone from 002's batch gathered in their room in the canteen. They all stood before the tall wall where there was a half second floor on top.
Just as everyone was wondering what is the commotion, the sound of footsteps echoed and the scientist responsible for all of them appearing in this place stood before all of them.
Looking down, the scientist finally took off his mask that he had always worn and there revealed was a slight wrinkled face with a large gruesome scar across his mouth.
With a benign smile, he let out a fake cough before finally speaking. "Good to see you all again. If anyone of you don't know my name yet, I am Dr. Shane, the head of this lab."
"And I have a special announcement for everyone."
Hearing this, whispers immediately suffused the surroundings while 002 frowned as she glared at the that man.
Suddenly, Dr. Shane raised his foot before dropping it on the ground as it echoed loudly with vibration, causing for the whispers to stop and everyone covering their ears from the strong impact it left.
This left everyone confused on what happened.
Dr. Shane grinned and said, "You're all curious about what I just did, right?"
"Well, to put it simply, what I've just done is something called 'Impact' whereas the sound you'll produce will take impact on your surroundings that can reach as far as your mana can."
"And as for what mana is, it is what makes a person be able to use magic." Dr. Shane said. "Anyways, if you are interested in learning magic, it is possible."
Hearing this, everyone was in awe and gasps were heard from time to time.
Just then, they were interrupted as Dr. Shane said, "But! Only those who are able to win the competition in the upcoming event are given the privilege to learn magic!"
In an instant, everyone couldn't hide their greed despite being kids who are below the age of 10 years old as one asked hesitantly, "What is the competition?"
Dr. Shane grinned at their question, "Have you kids played like a tag and it game? Similar to a- battle royale or some sort like that?"
Everyone nodded their heads and Dr. Shane said, "That's what the competition is, last people standing in the next 2 hours, will win!"
Seeing that everyone seemed eager for this competition, Dr. Shane was satisfied and left his final words, "Good luck and I wish you all a healthy life!" before he walked away.
002's face turned grim as she looked towards the direction Dr. Shane was walking towards to, which is the batch of her friend, the child that was being bullied that's name is 001.
--
In the hideout, 002 waited anxiously underneath the tree, surrounded by countless of flowers that she finally figured out were called Alyssum.
As soon as she heard the sound of rustling, she turned her head and found 001 walking towards her, still with his usual emotionless expression.
"You-" 002 wanted to ask if what he thought about the offer of Dr. Shane but paused as she bit her lips, her eyes dodging in reluctance.
001 looked at her before he stood in front of her and held her hand. Then, he drew something in her palm using his fingers which says, "Together."
002's eyes widened as she looked up at 001. After a while, a smile appeared on her face as she said, "Okay, I understand now, thank you."
--
After that, they started to secretly spread their plan of escape but did not show their hideout.
Just as 002 whispered her plan to a group of children, she dashed away and prepared to spread to the others. Unbeknownst to her, one of the bullies heard their plan as they revealed themselves from the corner.
An ominous grin appeared on his face.
--
"AHhhhhhhh!"
The sound of the cries of the children suffused the entire chamber as everyone involved with the plan of escape were injected with a powerful poison that gives excruciating pain, unbearable to adults, as still children, ofcourse- the ending was inevitable.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"AHhhh!"
002 and 001 were also tortured like this as one of the scientists grabbed 002's hair, speaking with disdain in their voice, "Kids are really ungrateful, we feed you everyday, so why escape? Tsk."
Obviously, their words were not heard by 002 as she was lost in the pain she was feeling. Her entire body felt burning and purple and blue veins were bulging from her neck and limbs.
She couldn't even scream anymore as her mouth opened and closed without making any sound, as if she was a dying fish.
Even amidst the pain, she could still hear the agonizing screams of the other children before it slowly faded until there were no longer any sound.
--
Thud!
Back in her room she was thrown to the ground, still curled up from pain.
"Seriously? She still survived after that poison was injected to her?"
"It was not only her, the kid from the other batch known as 001 also survived, but it is not that surprising though since the experiments they used in his batch are poison."
"Heh? Is that so? Then I guess they are just lucky." The enforcers said to each other before closing the glass barrier and leaving.
002 curled up on the ground, trembling all over as she covered her ears and tears kept streaming down her face non-stop.
She could hear it, she could hear the voices of those children, and she could see it, see the faces of those children who died because of her.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." She kept muttering these words, begging for forgiveness that entire night.
****
The next day.
Underneath the tree, she looked down at the edge of the cliff.
The sound of strong waves sounded in her ears and she felt drunk as she stared at those waves.
'I wonder, if death feels like falling asleep.'
Just as she stepped forward, a hand suddenly grabbed hers and she flinched.
As she turned around, she saw 001, looking at her with a frown.
002's eyes narrowed with guilt as she turned her head and said, "Go away, I already caused you enough suffering, I think it is time for me to go now."
001's gaze on her did not wavered, he just stared at her for a long time before letting go of her hand and doing sign language.
"Why?" He gestured.
002's eyes widened in anger as she said through gritted teeth and hoarse voice, "Why? What do you mean why?!"
"They died, all of them! They died because of me!" Then, she started to cry again as she kept trying to wipe the tears away but more kept flowing down her cheeks.
"It's my fault that they died, if only- if only I haven't told them that- or if I have been careful then-!" Suddenly, she was engulfed in a warm embrace as 001 hugged him.
001 held her both of her cheeks before he did a sign language, "It is not your fault, you do not have to bear this guilt, it is not your sin."
002 shook her head, her face filed with sorrow and pain. "How do you say so? It's my fault, it's mine..."
"Then if they died because of you, you'll have to live and survive for them so that their sacrifice won't be wasted." 001 said with his hands.
002 wanted to retort, knowing that their deaths weren't even a sacrifice made for her, but she couldn't as her words were stuck in her throat. In the end, she couldn't bear it anymore and cried miserably as 001 hugged and comforted her that entire day.