HIS NAME, ONLY NUMBERS (REVISED)
1495 Words
Visions of the dead, screaming and crawling, everything is red, and the next moment 18061819's eyes blinked awake.
The disturbing images vanished in an instant, leaving an eerie silence. A pair of pupils dyed in crimson, looking beautiful and otherworldly and emotionless, stared at the white ceiling.
Not even sure what had awakened the whole person, but his heart beat faster than its normal pace, and his mind was completely blank for a while.
Outside, the alarm was ringing all over the facility, followed by heavy footsteps. The running figures of people in long white coats are tangled between the moment of euphoria and jittery.
Who would have thought there would be a day in their lives worth waiting for?
After hundreds of years, the well-known unauthorized closed White Room Floor finally shows movement, and this particular room is one of the most expected doors, White Room number 1819.
Inside, on the bed, sat a man with long flowing straight black hair, staring back at the group of elderly people who were watching in front of the square screen.
The eyes are dull and cold, and when faced with no emotions, others can't help but feel very uncomfortable.
"Is he planning to kill us?" Another, with a worried heart, reluctantly asked.
Dr. Reversel, the chief scientist, snorted. He knows firsthand that many of the younger scientists in their building are still sissy-pants and dissatisfied. " If you are infected by the Emperor Virus, why not?"
"Is that true, Chief? I thought it was just misinformation."
Dr. Reversel rolled his eyes at such foolish words. "That's why you need to go back to learn again at the Academy of Science!"
"I sincerely apologize, Chief, for my incompetence!"
"Hmph...if everyone here is still in the dark, go back and renew your license, we don't need you here."
Everyone gulped, nervous and didn't dare to speak.
This silent rage from their senior's expression had made everyone inside the monitoring room think twice about their next words, or else they'd be sent back down there. The thing they don't want right now, let alone while personally witnessing a historical event.
"Amazing. He is amazing!" Another senior scientist gasped, tinged with delight and disbelief. He sounded similar to how each of them felt when they saw the results of their research.
"His vitals are all completely fine, as if he was reborn, not someone who has been in a coma for a long time, which is better than any of us..."
"... Not only that, but despite sleeping for a century in this white room. Right now. When he was awake, every cell in his body was more than active, constantly changing to something new and faster than before, unlike when he was sleeping."
"This is like a divine existence!"
"No, this is not your average human."
The chief scientist didn't bother to look back at the monitor screen showing 18061819's record.
Without second thoughts, Dr. Reversel ordered calmly. "Quick, inform the higher ladders with this great news. I bet that those big-belly bosses would rather hear this issue than those societal dynamics in the metropolis."
"Yes, Chief!"
"Oh, don't forget to contact the stinky Old Mr. Svenial."
Before the assistant researcher could move or say something back to his senior, 18061819 spoke suddenly in a mild tone.
"Unlock the door." He stood, facing the monitor's camera surveillance direction with his cold face that was staring ahead at the group of bewildered scientists.
Again, 18061819 speaks, but this time there was a hint of impatience in his words, even if they appeared monotonous.
"Open the door."
Silence followed.
And Dr. Reversel brows frowned.
Others looked expectantly at the Senior Chief, waiting for a response and wondering whether they should let such a dangerous subject out or face some kind of life-threatening situation. After all, the other party isn't something you can call a normal human anymore.
"Chief...are we?"
"Let him out? For what?" Dr. Reversel grumbled. He wasn't wearing a happy face at this point, but he suddenly remembered an important statement from his predecessors.
His expression changed in an instant, as if someone had finally dropped the guillotine. He turned around. Then he began ordering everyone with such a solemn face, he took aback everyone around him.
"Call the Military Air Defense Base right away and ask about the recent reports from the High Tower! Have Dr. Svenial come as soon as possible and open the White Room 1819."
"Senior Chief?" Everyone became more alert and tense at the same time.
"Wait-Chief! Why are you leaving 18061819? Isn't that a bit reckless?" One of the junior scientists exclaimed, without even thinking properly, and then slowed down after realizing he sounded a bit rude and asked, "Please give us an explanation, we can't just let out a dangerous monster along with us."
"What did you just say?" Dr. Reversel snapped back.
"Monster? Did I just hear you say monster? And to whom? 18061819?" He bellowed, black face, brows meeting, index finger pointing to the white-clad figure on the screen who was watching back at them in silence.
"What did you think this figure looked like to you? Does this figure look like a man-eating dead creature that you see above you, or outside these building walls? Are you willing to be ripped apart alive? Or maybe this figure looks like those hungry seven-meter-tall disfigured beasts roaming all over this world to you?"
With that, the room fell silent for a long time. Nobody expected the Chief Scientist to have such a strong reaction.
"Chief..."
Dr. Reversel closed his eyes, allowing the blood to cool. " Do what I said right now."
"Yes, Chief!" The monitoring personnel responded, hesitantly but quickly working on the order. He kept tapping in front of the high-level floating screen technology, and his slender fingers were placed on the virtual keyboard, confirming access, and soon the door to White Room 1819 was successfully opened.
"It's all right now, Chief."
Dr. Reversel looked at the mysterious figure leaving the White Room 1819 and fell into deep thought before saying, "Don't ever disturb 18061819, leave him alone, but keep an eye on him if you want. I will meet him later as soon as I get back his baby."
A slow smile spread across the old man's lips. Dr. Reversel never imagined he'd be one to step onto the Untouchable Floor.
He was destined to be the one whose name would be written in the annals of history, unlike many of his predecessors who were already six feet under the ground. If they find out about the big news and that old uncle who likes to torture him with research, they may vomit blood in jealousy.
There's a strange sense of schadenfreude in thinking like that, making an old man like him feel ten years younger. The sour mood of hating the idiots around him washed away.
"Assistant Pansvi, please accompany me."
"Yes!" Pansvi Qyulian, terrified by his Senior Chief, reacted so quickly that he nearly tripped over his own feet.
Dr.Reversel was dumbfounded.
Why did he have such a clumsy child?
"Chief," Someone had called out weakly, it was the middle-aged scientist who spoke about 18061819 being a monster.
"I'd like to apologize for my careless thoughts. I'm just..."
Afraid.
Dr. Reversel was well aware of the situation. He simply raised his hand, waving it as if nothing had happened, and said nonchalantly, " Mr. Wease, I hope not to hear this ugly word again, especially in reference to the figures inside the White Room Floor. If you believe the White Room figures are monsters, you are free to leave; we do not need you here, as I previously stated. Remember why are you even in this building in the first place..."
He then turned away.
Pansvi Qyulian followed his Senior Chief out of the room, asking, "Chief, where are we going?"
"Untouchable Floor."
"Wha..What!"
Dr. Reversel ignored the young man's stunned expression.
"Chief! Chief! That is the forbidden floor, we cannot go there without permission from higher-ups, and only the big bosses can step onto it, right?"
"Oh," Dr. Reversel said with a low chuckle. "Then, as of today, I'm one of the big bosses you're referring to."
"Oh. . ." Looking strangely at the older man, Pansvi's brows only frowned a bit. "Then, why are we going there?"
"Well, take some things out," Dr. Reversal replied casually. However, it was added quickly and with more obvious excitement. "Anyway, it's for 18061819."
Why does his Senior Chief seem happy?
Pansvi Qyulian's mind flashed at something that he was itching to know. "Neh, Chief, I'm curious as to why we're referring to the figure in the White Room as 1819--18061819. Doesn't this one have a name?"
Dr. Reversel's eyes condensed in a silent glance, and he replied with a rather thoughtless response. "No name, only numbers, that's what he is now."
Pausing.
"And never, ever forget it."
- Writer
