Agent 205

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏 𝚒 𝚟 𝚎

Lunch, it was still lifelessly boring.

We were given a short time to rest and we didn't let the opportunity go. We slept well and ended up with a headache as we were woken up. Funny how we all stand up in a rush and even lose our senses when we hear the buzzer. It's just sheer panic going through all our veins.

We all were led again to that training feild. No, not again! I thought. I can already feel the burning sensation on my cheeks as the sun roasted all of us. I don't want to look like a burnt potato even If I'll end up dying anyway.

The speakers greeted us with the same sharp noise. How do these people have wide properties and big big buildings but at the same time a bad sound system?

We were going to get trained for combat, they explained.

What is combat? I don't like the sound of it.

An instructor walked in front of us in a small stage set up for him. He was this tall musculine man. I bet he's almost 6'3 or something like that. He didn't break a smile, and he was intimidating. He was the type of person you'd be afraid to make a mistake in front of. We couldn't really look at him in the eye. It was too much tension.

We started off easy with some simple stretches, that was my first impression. But as we progressed, we really felt it straining our muscles and our joints as they increased in diffuculty. I thought this would be easy since we were young and blessed with flexibility, but I was so wrong. I could feel my body at its limit. Finally we stopped. I thought I didn't have my feet anymore. My hips and back were already sore, yet that was just the beginning.

Hours went by with us learning all of these combinations, techinques and breathing stuff. I was exhausted. My lungs felt like I was breathing fire at this time. I realized that I didn't want to be here anymore. Should I just make a mistake and get shot?

Days passed, yet I was still alive. Hours of training and learning and all that stuff. It became ingrained in my brain like a song that was stuck on replay. The hardships soon became my usual routine. We all got used to it somehow.

A week later.

I sighed as I realized that I've been here for a week now. How good is that?

Today was Check-up day. I was elated to see the Doctor again.

He gave me my necklace back. He was keeping it in a box. I was happy to see him again and my necklace. I'm glad to have given it to him last week. I asked him a lot of stuff that day. I'm glad he didn't get angry or anything like that. He just answered each question with a smile or simply said "I'll answer that next time around" to some.

I realized that Sundays are test and examination days. So I have to put my best at it. I realized that the better you are the less you have to do. I tried my hardest and got a better score than last time, although we went through the same training and lessons last week. My workload got lighter.

I was quite relieved. I had some rest this week. I wish it would stay like this, even though we all got separated. We all had five categories each week. And where you'll be placed depends on your scores. It's quite a lot to digest in one sitting for all of us.

The doctor told me quite a lot. He told me that inspections are once every month after the physical exam here. So I'll have to give back the necklace to him.

He told me that we will learn a lot of stuff here in the compound, as he calls it. He also told me that I should do my best in the training. He said it'll help me in the future. I do believe him, he sounds genuine.

I ended that week at the top class. It was quite a feeling. Yet the pressure was on me since I wanted to remain on top. I worked hard. I wanted to be tough. I seeked to be the best at this and treated it like a competition.

I still feel a bit bad for the lower class. They get to do hard stuff. But I guess it's their fault? I don't know. I might just be too caught up with being at the top.

Weeks, Months and years passed. I was stressed out still. I can feel the weight of it all on my shoulders everyday that I spend here. I'm scared to make a mistake as it will cost my life. Sometimes though, I get too careless. Yet I'm still alive and I guess it's all that matters, right?

Now I'm 12 years old. I've been enduring it all for 5 years now and I know more years are ahead. I wonder if we'll have a graduation here or something like that. S

ometimes I'll look at myself at the foggy bathroom mirror and see someone I don't know. I was taller. Way taller. I had defined sleek muscles since we were required to work out. I didn't look 12 at any angle. In fact, I didn't look like anything like when I first got here. I mean, five years are no joke.

The doctor is still my friend. He still haven't told me his name though. He says it's a secret.

I still refuse to back out from the competition I set up for myself. I know I'm the only one setting these rules for myself yet I cannot afford to quit.

Some of our friends, no, our batch mates, as the guards call it. Have made some mistakes that cost their lives.

It's sad as I think about it, but one thing I've learnt here is that it's one man for himself.

No one is going to help you anyway, so why go out of your way to help others?

I just close my eyes whenever I know someone is going to get shot. It just makes it less painful. I feel like it's the only humane thing I can do.

We were going to start learning firearns this year, and our subjects would increase. It just gets tougher as it goes on.

How long will I hold on?

There are nights when I think of getting out of here one day and saving everyone. But that is just a daydream for me. Everyone knows we can never get out.

It was another day again. Test day. I thought we were just heading for a checkup, but this time something was injected to us. Not so unusual. We had vaccines and all that stuff, but Unlike any other injection, they didn't tell us what this was for.

We were doing everything as usual after that. But I knew we were monitored closely. The guards were holding clipboards and writing things down based on our movements.

It was at test room where we all were seated.

Suddenly, someone collapsed. It wasn't a shot, so no one was dead, I hoped. I looked around as subtlely as I could. I feigned dropping my pen to look behind me from below. My hands started shaking as I saw Mee-ji on the floor having a seizure.

Well I had to know what was going to happen to her. So I thought quickly with an idea. I faked it. I dropped also to the floor and started to wiggle and shake my body out. I was desparately trying not to let them know that I was faking it.

Although I knew they believed me somehow. I knew we got injected with something experimental, and we were being kept under surveilance for any side effects or so.

I got rushed to a building with Mee-ji. I could feel them do things to me. And I heard they were a bit shocked to see my vital signs different from Mee-ji's.

I felt a needled puncture my skin. Pain again. I saw Mee-ji calm down and decided I'd prolong mine for quite a few seconds more.

We soon got to a hospital and they put us on the beds. I saw the doctor on our weekly checkups rush toward me and Mee-ji. He looked at me and for a second I felt like he knew I faked it.

He dragged the curtains as we got to our places. Mee-ji still beside me on the other bed.

I took a breath. I hoped he wasn't going to kill me or anything. He looked around and he didn't see any cameras watching. He injected me with another shot. Three injections in one day. Great.

He told me that I could've died. I knew he was mad, yet he let me rest up.

He went to the other side where Mee-ji was. I was feeling too drowsy at that point. Last thing I saw was a flash of the curtains closing as the doctor goes to Mee-ji.

I woke up. I jumped up too quickly to realize there were at least 3 needles going through me.

The doctor went to me as soon as I awoke.

I asked where is Mee-ji with a pumping heart rate. I was scared to lose her. She'd been the only one I counted on.

He didn't reply but instead, checked on me. He said I'd be here for some time. That I was under observation, but I'd be fine. He sounded a bit more cold. I guess that is because Cameras were all at me right now.

I chose my words carefully.

I nodded. He then went out of the room.

Soon I was transfered to another room. It was a nice one. With a big window overlooking the sea.

I got up slowly and gazed at the crashing waves. It was quite a view. I wish I could feel the breeze, yet it was sealed glass.

Someone then went in the room.

I looked around and saw the doctor.

I asked him where Mee-ji was.

He didn't answer.

I asked again.

I could feel him get angry this time. His patience probably has worn out after all these years.

No answer.

I pushed him away as he tried to inject me with another shot.

I demanded to know. With a loud voice. I was also angry. I wasn't afraid.

You really wanna know?

He sets himself straight.

She's gone.

No. No.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to.

No.