Pandora's Box

Chapter 21

I remember when I first held her in my hand, as a baby I was a child at that time. The time that I wanted a sister was everything when she came into my life.

I clearly remember when she first came into mine, because I am wishing for a little sister all my life and her coming to mine was like a dream come true, and I pledged to myself that I will love her so much that I will not give any time for myself anymore.

I remember the times when I have to guard her during her sleep, making sure that she will have a good night’s sleep from all of that.

That is something I did with all my might when I was a child.

Even our interests grew apart when we grow up, there is nothing that will change. I still loved her; it is just it became awkward for both of us. I want to protect her from all the things that want to harm her.

I remember when I have to get revenge when people are bullying here, I have to sacrifice myself so the attention will be all thrown at me.

That is something of a pledge to me.

Now I am looking at her...

Covered in this black mattress.

Alexander is holding me to prevent me from falling to the ground. I can’t feel my eyes anymore, there is something inside my heart that stings, and I want to get it out.

“I am here for you,” I am hearing Alexander’s slight deep soothing voice while he taps my back. That’s nice...

“She’s my life,” I told him.

“I know,” he replied.

“What they have done to my sister? Wake her up,” I begged Alexander and I feel like that my knees are about to collapse any time now.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t do anything to help you,” he added.

I sniffled. I just let my tears fall. My heart is aching and I don’t want to see my sister underneath that black mattress.

“I should have followed her when I have the chance,” I proceed to blame myself.

“No one expected this to happen,” he told me.

Well, you are telling me the truth but that won’t change the fact that I put knowledge to my top priority and I neglected what I have pledged myself ever since I saw it here.

My heart hurts, my chest begins to tighten.

I think my body can’t move anymore.

I can’t breathe. My eyes sting.

I can’t breathe.

Alexander’s Point of View

Her eyes.

I can’t resist it, and when I am seeing her like that, it’s like that if I saw her crying like this, I think I can feel my heart slowly breaking too. There is nothing that I can do now, except to console her.

I don’t want to be insensitive right now. I don’t want to say anything wrong that will hurt her feelings more.

Also, I did not expect that her sister will be one of the victims here. I want answers from my sister, I don’t want any more of the mysteries that shroud this country.

They say that there are no humans affected by the bacteria, then what is that creature earlier. The captain said that if we don’t want trouble, then we must treat those like we did not see anything from there.

Jennifer kept her mouth closed. But deep inside I can feel her anger boiling up. That is something that I worry about.

But towards my sister, I am sure that I will not treat the situation like it was no secret. I will ask her anything that I want because I am sure that she knows things that we don’t know.

I will have my answers soon and I will not allow myself to leave here empty-handed. That is something that I won’t allow to happen.

They just need to remember this.

“Let’s go,” I told her as I guide her away from her sister when medical personnel arrived and dragged the stretcher. They will bury and burn her body. It is something about protocol inside this country. When someone died inside the Prism State, they must undergo cremation and their ashes will stay here and will never leave the place.

I know that she will be hurt if she learns about this.

I am afraid of telling her now because I don’t want to hurt her feelings. But I will make sure to tell her at the right time. Not just now. She is too broken and I don’t want to be another reason to break her more.

Did we enter the waiting lobby inside the hospital and the medical personnel? I am sure that they are going to the cremation chamber where they burn bodies. They say that it is to make sure that there are no bacteria that was let loose.

Speaking of that we are currently wearing our protective gear.

Now that I know humans are also affected by the bacteria, then there is no reason for me to act so carefreely.

My sister didn’t tell me about this one.

I looked at her again and she is crying as hard as she could. She needs someone’s shoulders right now and I will be that one. I will not allow any person to her crying shoulders. No other than me.

I invested so much time for her and I will not put it to waste.

“You want me to?” I clicked my mouth so she will know.

“What?” it seems like that she did not get what I am saying.

“Get something for you?” I asked her and this time properly.

“I want something to drink,” she told me.

“Juice or just water?” I asked her.

“Anything that will make me feel better,” she said.

“Roger,” and she lifted her head from my shoulder and I stood up to get something for her to drink. I know that she likes juice so it won’t be hard for me. Especially orange drinks. She likes that flavor and ever since we became friends there is no day that I did not see her without orange juice on her hand.

Fortunate of me, there are so many vending machines where I can easily get canned drinks and orange drinks are there.

I walked through this hallway and I observed the people here.

They are too busy.

Well, this country is always busy. The lights are dim, it is obvious that these needs replacement. They need to find a replacement for this one.

Yeah, the light that I walked through earlier was blinking and it is a sign that it will be broken soon.

Well, as if it was my responsibility to fix that one.

I walked on a nearby vending machine and saw all the choices of canned drinks here.

I immediately saw her favorite orange drink, and she does not care what brand I bring here as long as it is flavored orange.

I slid the bill where I should put it, and it instantly absorbed my bill. After that I clicked the buttons, the corresponding number of the orange juice. I bought two, one for me and one for her.

After the-

Two nurses came running. I looked at them and I don’t know what’s happening. Seems like an emergency.

But there are no blaring or red lights. I shrugged my shoulders, and I grabbed the canned orange juices at the bottom where the vending machine dropped them.

It feels cold.

I smiled because I am sure that this will cheer her up, and I won’t allow myself to see her cry again. I want to see her smile, just a little bit.

Even her heart is too broken right now, that little smile will always help her.

On my way back to her, I saw more nurses running, in the opposite direction. They are running with speed so if I try to block one of them will surely cause a commotion, so for now, I decided just to avoid them.

Besides, I don’t want to delay Jen’s comfort drink.

I walked in the sides to make sure that they won’t bump into me.

“Hey,” I called to her and there she is like expected crying alone. She wiped her tears quickly and looked at me with her red eyes.

“Here’s your orange drink,” I told her.

“Thanks,” and then I handed her the can.

She grabbed it and I sat beside her again while we wait for any updates. More nurses are running and it seems like that she does not care.

I am so curious.

Then when all hope seems gone, there is a nurse that stopped in front of us, catching her breath.

“Excuse me,” this is my chance to know what is happening, and then she turned to me. “What is happening here, it seems like something happened?” I asked her.

She looked around and it seems like that she is hesitating to answer my question.

I won’t tell anybody.

“There are reported dead bodies outside the facility and there are tons of them,” she answered my question.

“What caused it,” I asked her.

“We don’t know,” she said, and then she proceeds to run again.

I have left her without the answers that I wanted but I will not force myself.

I stayed here.

She still does not care what is happening after what she heard from the nurse earlier.

I guess...

I have to find out later.

A mass murders.

No...

A m*********r mystery.