Pandora's Box

Chapter 28

“Those are the ones who possess intelligence,” what? I don’t know what to react right now.

“You mean, humans that are infected by the bacteria?” I stated.

“Hmm, there is one but the other two are not human,” the man with the beard said.

I raised one of my eyebrows and I looked at him with suspicion.

“You mean, that the bacteria can enhance the intelligence of one creature?” I asked, and he nodded at me.

That was surprising.

Just like what he said.

“So, what made them even more dangerous than crimson?” I asked.

“They are not necessarily more dangerous than them, the fact that they possess intelligence that matches human intellect or even surpasses the genius of this world is quite enough of a treat to hide it to the public and give it that label,” he told me.

“I mean we encountered one, a malnourished man with a scythe,” I told them the truth. Their eyes widened especially Dr. Sarah.

“The Reaper,” they said.

“Ohh, so that’s what you call it,” I told them. “Well, that one was the one responsible for killing my sister,” I told them bitterly.

“What?” I heard Dr. Sarah, and just like I expected she showed remorse towards me and I don’t need that kind of remorse from her if they cannot bring back my sister to life.

My heart was shattered into pieces.

“It was tightly secured, away from the main path,” I heard the man with the glasses say.

“I told you to keep it in the depths where no one except us to check on him,” I heard Maddie say. The hot researcher.

“Well, the harm is done,” the man with the beard said, and I can tell that he is the one that thinks more rationally in this group.

“This is a lesson learned for us,” I heard the other woman with dark curly hair say, and she has tanned skin, and she seems to be a Filipino like us. Maddie can be British or American, but I cannot tell, because for me they look the same. Only I can tell by their accents, but honestly, some British people can fluently speak with a good American accent.

Jose is a half-breed, Japanese, and Filipino, and that man with a thick beard is Irish I think and the man with glasses, seems to be from Africa or he is a black American dude or a black Britain. I don’t know, I am too confused. And the last woman with purple hair, just sitting on the corner watching us discuss, seems to be Asian. I don’t know where, but I think she is Korean.

This place is filled with people from different countries which made this encounter so special for me. Well, I get to know them.

“My sister,” I mumbled and I feel an arm that is slightly hugging me, and I expected it to be Alexander, but I saw Dr. Sarah. She looks at me and her eyes were filled with emotions. I was surprised. She can be compassionate too.

She smiled at me, and I smiled bitterly at her.

I can’t get rid of this pain that I am feeling right now. I need to get it out as soon as possible.

If there is one thing that I learned from that encounter.

Is that you will never realize how much you appreciate one thing or a person until it was gone. If only I realized that before she died then might be alive and breathing well by my side. I regret everything.

If my mom knew about this, she will hate me, my dad, and my other family, I don’t what will they think of me. Heck, will I ever know if I have a face to show to them? I don’t know.

I let my tears fall from my eyes and she just hugged me tightly. They became quiet because of my sobbing. Dr. Sarah just hugged me and I am very thankful that she did not say anything to me because if she did, I don’t know what I will react. After all, that is something that I cannot bear.

This is more than enough and I don’t feel alone with her hug. I am very thankful.

“I just want to see her for the last time but a corpse greeted me,” I said bitterly. I want to let it all out, and I sobbed more loudly.

The discussion about terra formers and the incident was quickly shifted to mine. It’s too heavy inside.

“I just want to know more about this place, but why did it take my sister’s life in exchange?” I said while I cry. “Why didn’t I search for her the moment I realized that she’s gone by my side alongside her good-for-nothing boyfriend,” I am not holding back with my words.

I don’t care what conflict I create between me and Leon, I just want to let these heavy feelings inside me out.

“Why didn’t I find her? Why did I crave knowledge rather than caring for my sister’s life? Am I greedy? Am I selfish? I just want to know more,” I said and I used my arm to wipe my tears and I can feel Dr. Sarah patting my back. “I just want to see her smiling that’s why I brought her here in the first place, not as a sacrificial girl in exchange for knowledge,” I bitterly said.

“I just want to say my goodbyes to her,” I added.

Then I broke down.

My heart was overflowing with sadness and grief. I let it all out through my tears. I cried out loud.

“Cheryl, I am sorry,” I said.

“She hears you,” I heard Dr. Sarah whisper to my ear.

“I don’t want this to happen to you, I wish that it were me, I am sorry for not being there when you needed my help,” I added.

Those words from Dr. Sarah helped me to imagine that she is here. But I wish that she is here in front of me listening to every word that I say.

“I love you,” I said.

Then moments passed by, I cried and cried. Thankfully, no one interrupted, instead they consoled me. I feel better.

I feel better. Dr. Sarah just sat there by my side. It’s ironic how I think of her as the coldest person that I met in my life, but she is the only one who made me feel that I am not alone at that time.

I mean she was there for me but she is the only one there who reached my heart. His methods seem to be confusing but trust me, she is the only one who reached me in the void of my heart. She is the only warming light, that heated my frozen heart.

She is the only one that I saw picking up the pieces of my shattered with me.

That’s something which I am thankful for.

If only there is a terra former that can resurrect a dead person, I will gladly offer my life for it to do so.

I am willing to give my life in exchange for her.

Other moments have passed by that we just stare at each other and the others seem to be afraid to move because they are probably thinking that they might ruin the mood.

The peacefulness.

To be honest I can feel the tremors coming from up above but we didn’t mind it because we are sure that all of us are safe inside this mini house of theirs.  

I mean safe haven.

Dr. Sarah holds my hand as I stood up because my knees are weakened, and right now I can feel that my heart is just an empty basin, all my emotions were poured out. It feels so hollow.

So much space inside, and I am wondering who might fit the role to fill this hollow heart of mine.

“There are rooms here and I think you should share the room with Maddie, Vanny, and me,” I heard her whisper to my ear. I am glad that she decided to share a room with me. Honestly, I am thankful for that.

I looked at her and this time I smiled at her with sweetness.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

We passed on to Leon and I did not expect that we get to look at each other straight in the eyes. I hate him.

I did not analyze what emotions those eyes contain.

There is only one thing that I know. I hate him.

We reached a white door that opened when Dr. Sarah’s hand was placed on the scanner.

“Let’s upload your handprint to the security door so you can get in and out anytime you want,” she told me.

Then she presented a tablet in front of me and I was surprised. Because it looks advanced. An interface filled with green lines that form greed. I slowly placed my hands onto the scanner and when I did.

It scanned my whole hand.

Then a message pops up.

Scan complete, then a processing loading bar showed which I did not see because Dr. Sarah put it away.

“Now, you can get in here even without us,” she said.

“Thank you,” I told her again, and I will never get tired even I tell her so much thanks.

“It’s nothing,” she told me, and then she made me sit on a soft bed. There are two large beds here. “From now on, we share this bed, if you don’t mind,” she told me and this is the only time that I appreciated her beauty.

Alexander and she are siblings. They resemble each other in a way.

I smiled at her because I appreciate what she is doing to me greatly.

“I don’t mind,” I replied to her.

“We will leave you alone here,” she told me. “To give you the space that you need, so take your time and don’t be intimidated,” she added.

I will not be.

I smiled at her again.

Then she turned her back and she got out of the room, leaving me here all alone.