Pandora's Box

Chapter 17

 Jennifer’s Point of View

I am looking down on an exit right now but the problem is I don’t have any vision what’s happening outside. Only a clue was given.

Yep, I am navigating on this place blindly. Well, it’s a good thing that I made Alexander to pave way for me.

I feel bad because it feels like that, I am just using him, well if I don’t feel uncomfortable him behind, I would be the first one to navigate this vent.

Trust me...

That’s why I am thankful that he is very understanding.

But my doubt and fears regarding with my sister, is still too strong inside my chest. I don’t want things to turn out, the way I imagine it.

I love her, more than myself.

I said that so many times, I know...

I just can’t stop, blaming myself. I craved for knowledge, and that turned out to be bad. What Alexander told me earlier, was true. The slightest error can spread until it becomes big.

Yep, that’s what happened to me. I just let her be with that boyfriend of hers, thinking that they will be fine because they are past 18 in fact my sister is twenty, they are adults... so I trusted her that she knows what she is doing.

I looked at Alexander in front of me.

“Dude what’s up?” I asked her.

“Just give me a little time here,” he said, and how things happened in a flash.

Alexander jumped down, which shocked, and I crawled faster to check on him, and oh boy, how I wished that I never bothered to check.

There is a fast-spinning fan below him, and he is grabbing on a ledge while he used both of his feet to stop himself sliding down further.

“Yoww! Are you trying to kill yourself?” I shouted. He looked up to me, and what surprised me is that he is wearing a smile. Strange... then he winked at me.

I can’t deny that was char-

No, no, no, I don’t have anytime for that.

He didn’t bother replying back as he minds his own business as he moved down there with elegance. It’s like that he knows every move he will take. There is nothing that can stop him now.

Even me, though I feel so nervous that he might get severely hurt.

Looks like I took the wrong path.

I don’t want to watch him risking his well-being like that, but I also can’t take my eyes off him. If there were something to happen to him, I must help him.

He pulled himself up, and then he gasped for air and closed his eyes, as if he was praying before something happens.

And after that...

I should have known.

Since there is no other way around, he crashed his feet on that fan rapidly spinning. With that I heard a loud c***k and a loud clanging below me.

I closed my eyes, when he did that, because I don’t want to see him lose his feet because that will be forever etched into my mind, if that were to happen.

I can feel me hear beating so fast.

I slowly opened my eyes...

“Scared you?” I heard his voice and when I completely opened my eyes, he is down there standing looking at me, smiling.

For some reason he looks so motivated with everything that he does right now. Is it me... or just...?

Never mind.

Third Person’s Point of View

Captain Reyes and his crew, are waiting for the return of the two soldiers that he sent to chase TF – 282 aka the Reaper, has not come back.

They grew weary as every second passes by.

“There is something that I want to tell you sir,” one of his men named Hershey, said.

Captain Reyes turned his head around slowly to look at him in the eye.

“What is it?” he asked with his deep hoarse voice.

“I think they are dead,” Hershey replied without being intimidated by his captain’s deadly stare. “Lopez and Salonga is unreachable, meaning that their radios are destroyed in some way,” he added.

“I guess that can’t be helped,” he said and then he faced the rest of his men and there are only 8 of them left standing with the two of their comrades has bite the dust. “BOYS!” he shouted to the top of his lungs which did not fail to get the attention of his soldiers. All of them looked at him straight in the eyes. “Let’s not fail our fallen comrades’ sacrifice, let’s turn this fight around!” he shouted.

The remaining 7 shouted back at him.

It is some way for them to boost their confidence.

“Hershey, is the weapon to capture TF – 282, ready?” he asked

“Sir everything is prepared capturing the beast is what’s left for us,” he said.

“Good, then let’s turn this around squad! LONG LIVE THE WORLD!” he shouted as he raised one of his fists.

“LONG LIVE THE WORLD!” they shouted back.

“That’s loud and clear!” he said.

He turned his back and then he rallied his soldier where his two men have gone too.

Two soldiers carried that weapon while the remaining 5 marched behind their captain.

As they start to march down through the eerie and dark hallway, where the lights don’t stop to flicker. They remained vigilant not allowing a single thing to get through them.

As creepy it may get, they did not mind any noise in the background.

They are too focused on finding the specimen that have escaped their grasp.

While Jennifer and Alexander wanders through the same hallway. Fortunately to the two of them they arrived in a place, where they wandered earlier, to get through the Crimson coded specimen of the burrower class.

“This seems familiar,” Jennifer muttered.

“Yes, this is because where we had been earlier,” he stated the obvious.

“What?”

“Yes, this is where we walked through earlier, we are in the right path, the place you wanted to be, lucky us,” he replied.

“You mean behind that door?” she asked and Alexander just nodded at her. “You mean that crimson coded door?” she asked again making sure of what she got from him.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Really?!” her voice came up as there she gets excited.

“I think you want to keep your voice low, if you don’t want to be sent back there,” Alexander reminded the gal.

She zipped her mouth.

“Oh right, sorry,” she said.

Then not long ago, they heard gunshots which spook the both of them.

“What is that?” Jennifer asked.

“I don’t know but let’s go,” Alexander suggested, but Jennifer did not move just yet as he run.

“WOW!” she exclaimed ignoring what Alexander has just reminded her. “Going straight to the danger, a great idea indeed,” she added with a sarcastic voice. “I don’t want to spoil your fun Alex, but we are here to find my sister, I just want to remind you again,” she added.

“But what if she is there, in that danger, I am suggest we go to,” he asked her calmly.

Jennifer did not see that coming as her mouth was shut tight.

“See, what if she is there, then we just saved a lot of time for you and to ease that anxiety of yours as soon as possible,” he added.

Jennifer had second thoughts what she said to him earlier.

‘What if he is right?’ he thought to herself.

“Uhmm,” she mumbled.

“Are you in? or you will suggest another way?” he asked her. She is not entirely sure because what he is suggesting will only lead them straight to the danger.

“Well...”

“We don’t have much time, so you need to decide on this matter quickly,” he added.

“Let’s go,” she said because she doesn’t want to risk it anymore.

All she can do is hope that her sister is there, but not in grave danger.

Captain Reyes on the other hand, has encountered the creature after they saw the corpses of an unknown woman and Lopez. Then not long after that, Salonga’s body was thrown to them, and TF – 282 began to play with his new victims once more.

He can’t stop laughing.

“HEHEHEHE!”

“SHOOT AT IT!” Reyes shouted. “PREPARE THE WEAPON!” he added and the two stopped shooting as they positioned themselves to effectively carry and fire the heavy weapon solely designed to capture it.

It is a photon gun, a weapon that releases bright light that TF – 282 can’t negate.

Yes, for some reason TF – 282 has the ability to control or negate light in some extent, that’s why he prefers to stay in the dark. With this impressive ability comes with superhuman agility, strength, and healing, which makes him more formidable.

When hit by the light, TF – 282 will become extremely anxious and irritated that will greatly reduce his agile movements efficiency, and fall.

In that state, the reaper is easy to be captured.

Termination is forbidden on this specific specimen as it also has the ability to speak the human tongue, and getting answers in regards with Terra Formers will be easy with some sort of communication.

Killing him will cost them hundreds of years of research.

That’s why their specific goal is to apprehend the creature and recontain it, in its containment chamber.

There is only one weakness that this weapon has.

The photon gun requires a very long time to recharge.

They need to do that or else it will fail, and will only release a dim light, basically it is just a giant flashlight.  

The two started to operate the gun.

As the others shoot their gun.

Jennifer and Alexander, reached the location where the gunfire is happening.

It’s the same hallway, that was blocked by a tape, no entry, authorized personell only, where Cheryl and Leon have gone through.

They heard footsteps coming at them. They stare at it very carefully trying to find out what is it.

Because of the flickering lights, they cannot see who is that one guy that is running towards them until it stumbled and fall rolling on the ground.

“Help me!” he said.

“Leon?”