Hush in The Bush

Through The Walls

Trinity, the well-known body, set its name by its own ways of engaging into battle and extensive plans to turn the tables against their enemies. It was the type of group that got quick-witted minds and précised steps for every mission. Despite of our population, we dedicated our lives to developing massive weapons, severe protection, well-trained, skilful members and a strong bond from everybody. Mr. Wilbert Vicoffs is the man behind this successful foundation. He’s also the father of Isabela, who turned out to become my closest companion.

Despite of the current progress, Mr. Vicoffs couldn’t make himself near the base and was kept safe under his own boundaries just a few miles from his members. His asthma made him sick and decided to put himself in treatment with Dr. George. The Doctor, the captains and a few trusted men were the only ones who can get in touch and closer to the Head, also for his safety but for specific reasons.

“We got a new mission.” Captain Robertson announced to everyone and was catching his pace as he moved towards the crowded members in the caféteria. It isn’t the perfect time since they have just started to take their meals, but a mission will be the top priority, unless someone wants to be kicked out from the pack. Everybody immediately turned their attention to him, erected on their seats and kept both arms on each side.

“We’re going to have a patrol around the north side and try to see what’s beyond those bushes. Please make sure you bring with you the protective gears and get back in one peace, understood?”

“Yes, Sir!” The assigned team said in chorus and started to march with their stuff to the armoured trucks. They have covered themselves with those gears and made sure that their mouths and noses were closed to prevent them from taking inhalation with those flowers. The ironed gate that was built a month ago, directing to where their people are residing in one of the three buildings – the right one, had closed to protect the people, every time a charge is available. Isabela is also included in the mission together with Mildred and now I was left to assist Dr. George with his studies at the laboratory.

It never let me feel down for not taking part in the task. Perhaps, I prefer to be here in the base to help than be at war with probable interference by the other parties. It is safer here.

“Watch your back, Princess.” Devian roughly uttered behind Isabela as she passed through her, keeping her bag behind and just popped a gum. With a shrug, Isabela just gazed at her blankly and put a focus on gathering her things inside a pack bag. She doesn’t want to ruin her day by dealing with the woman’s crankiness early in the daylight. Mildred doesn’t care if she’s in the higher authority. She doesn’t tend to give a crap about it and respect is never been in her vocabulary. She jumped ahead and settled down in the most corner part of the vehicle.

“Isabela! Bring yourself in one piece, okay?!” I shouted unexpectedly at the entrance and gave my friend a wave of luck. She smiled so sweet, showing off her teeth. Mildred was looking at me with a pissed expression as if she wanted me to recede already. Though, she’s unlucky in that, because it won’t happen. It’s something usual and sometimes I just see it like how she greets me every day, and she’s getting worse to me, which is a totally opposite of how she deals with those soldiers.

“Tsh. Guess you don’t need to run this time, Cathy! Are your limbs a bit shaky right now?! Better take some relievers.” Mildred arrogantly exchanged my question in a high toned enough for everyone to hear and watch her behaviour. They began to laugh and is enjoying the ongoing show, but even I don’t want to make an entertainment.

“Yeah. My legs are wobbly right now. You can take my place if you want.” I willingly offered to her.

I didn’t foresee the cold feedback from the woman. In return, Isabela changed her course to meet Mildred’s raging eyes. This woman is totally on a prick and is now picking for a fight.

“Watch your mouth, Mildred. The flowers might bloom there at any moment. You should expect they quite have the taste for those mouths like yours, rotting outside but beneficial on the inside.” Isabela walked directly through her and left the woman flabbergasted. She wasn’t expecting that response either from the Founder’s daughter.

After a couple of minutes, when everyone was ready, the wired gates slowly opened letting the trucks engaged outside. All of them were having some hopes that it will turn out well and they’ll all return in good shape. Waving to those who were left behind the base, they brought the prayers and luck. On the other side, I promptly scuttled to the laboratory and witnessed an intricate man crowded with his immersed thoughts. He’s currently examining the host’s cells in a microscope, making my presence in an absence.

“What are you doing?” I gave in a question, making him quaked an inch from his seat.

The man was in a total mess due to the sudden shock that I gave him. He was about to get a heart attack at an unexpected time. My bad.

“God, I thought the corpse just brought himself to life again. Will you avoid doing that and please knock on the door, Cath.” George said with an irritated tone and went back in looking at the specimen.

“I’m sorry, but the door is already opened. And, I am supposed to be there in the mission. They just left. We even talked about the north side a while ago. Why asked to keep me here with you?”

“Because I want you.” The doctor gaped directly into my eyes and mesmerized my beauty – dark eyes, uncombed hair and maybe still got a drool on my lips.

“Are you trying to flirt with me?” I bluntly said and chuckled.

“Geez. I was just kidding. I need you here for something else.” He took a breather, rubbed his palms and murmured something in my ear. “I found something just behind this room.” His glance moved in a certain spot, trying to enlighten me.

“Why are you whispering?”

“I think it’s not safe for us to freely talk this matter in public or in private. We don’t have the total access yet to this facility, and someone might be looking over us at this moment. Don’t do unnecessary movements and look directly at your right side. Do you see the comfort room?”

“Yes.” The space between us is just two inches and felt each other’s arms with warmth. "I have a plan. Trust me and we'll be safe with this. Walk inside the comfort room and wait for me there. There's no need to have some doubts about me, I'm not currently with you, okay? There's a secret passage there, do better act as if you're okay." He tapped me on the back and did what I’m told. I carefully went inside the comfort room and patiently waited for George. After a while, the door slowly opened and a flash of grin plastered on George's face revealed. He went inside to join me. Better he would act like a man or his balls will be kicked.

"What's with that look?" I curiously asked and still keeping myself calm despite of the uncomfortable situation.

"I want you to moan." The man seriously exclaimed and moved towards me.

"A-are you kidding me-"

"Just do what I say, Catheryne and I'll follow you. Trust me on this thing."

“How sure are you that someone is watching us?”

“I’ll answer you later on. For now, let’s focus.”

We’re still both keeping our voices low but heightened somehow. I couldn’t think twice but made myself do it according to the plan. I just trust him. A lot. I breathed intensely and felt my cheeks suddenly redden in embarrassment. I shut my eyes tight.

"A-ah….M-mmm..." I began to do it.

George stared weirdly at me in total madness, trying to hold his glasses from falling and was barely keeping off himself from giving a laugh. He’s messing around, I’m sure of that.

"C-Catheryne….m-more." He made sure that it will be heard and slowly pinned a brick behind me and the wall started to move sideways, exposing a new passage that lead us to nowhere; to a pitch-black, captivating us in. I turned my back and saw the pathway, sending me those shudders. I couldn’t see anything. Luckily, I was able to bring with me a mini flashlight. I turned it on and with fortitude, George borrowed it and walked first, then I followed.

"W-why do we have to moan?" I asked shyly.

"For them not to think of something else. I left my phone, it’s in its last bar and it will forever be dead after. It’s with a portable speaker and will be recording our voices and made it repeat all over again. By that time, they would think that we're still here doing something unusual" Poking me on the shoulder, he was trying to tease him.

"I-I get it. Are you sure, we're really being monitored?"

The path was getting longer and the air is becoming thinner. How long is this passage? George continued to move ahead. Insects were ravenously scattered everywhere, trying to avoid the light coming from us. With some luck, we were able to put on some protective masks from the lab and weren’t being inflicted by the little creatures. We recognized a small beat coming behind the wall, but we don’t know where it is coming from. At the end of the passage there was a small iron door to our right, and just as we arrived, the pulse had stopped. The end wall was covered by the thick roots, probably from those bushes above them. George was having this hobby and quite a fan of detective stuff and would sometimes act as if he's one like Sherlock.

"Do you have a hairpin?"

"O-oh yes. I have one." I untied my hair and gave one of mine to George.

"You look dazzling." He winked.

"Mr. four-eyed. Maybe you’re just seeing another person that is not me. Check your glasses, please. I might not be the real Catheryne." I scared him.

"Stop that. We're in the middle of this darkness and you’re trying to have those unusual scary though-" he panicked but he managed somehow in opening the door successfully.

"It's not in the middle, we're quite at the edge of this obscured pathway." I corrected and he didn’t give me feedback.

The mutual understanding of us is in good terms and conditions. We quite have the likes for each other, but gradually decided to take things clearer and take more seriousness by taking not much of our attention to our emotions. There are still a lot of things more important than that. George and I laughed and carefully went inside the basin. The scent was unbearable – sweaty and striking. The deteriorated state of steel lingered around our nostrils. I search for the lighter in my pocket. I want to give us more ease than to depend on the flashlight that he’s been holding.

Our mouths dropped when we sighted those.

“Those are…”

“…A load of tapes and disks.”

We darted around the disks that were stacked on the shelves, carefully not to burn them. Continuous droplets came from the ceiling. We have thought that we’re beneath the comfort rooms. Stuff was covered heavily by the dust, so it was hard for us to read those marks on each disk. There were also available old files, both from students and others that we don’t recognize to have a connection with the school. George walked through an electric chair that wasn’t working at all, passing some documents on the table carefully. The floor was already damp by the water coming from above, which we are not sure if it’s clean or had already been used. Some of the files cannot be recovered since they were scratched or been wet. I scanned over the disks and realized something.

“They were organized according to the dates they were made.” I said and George went beside me and seemed to notice also what I was talking about.

“Look. This one got its label, January 01, 2020.” I reached one of those with a black plastic cover from the first shelf. “The rest were as follows. The dates started two years ago before the incident had happened. Can you bring this one with you and we’ll watch it later?” I added.

“Sure. Let’s have a look on that.” I bit my finger. Something is really strange in this state, even from the start when I become one of them. Having a school to be the base was a perfect spot.

“George, why do you think we’re being monitored?” I suddenly inquired as I sauntered near the table in the centre and grabbed a document that’s still dry, all intact.

“Well, last three weeks ago, I started again, having some research about the cure. And, it turned out somehow that the higher officers already knew about it, even I didn’t tell anyone. I think the Head also knew about that matter and still keeping his presence moving covertly.”

“Then, let’s get back there and turn off your phone with that record you just set to replay. They're probably speculating that we're still satisfying ourselves.” I reminded him, cheeks being flushed.