Chapter 13: Comrade
1153 Words
The person standing in front of us was wearing a black hoodie that covers his face. You could only see his white teeth whenever he smiles.
"Now, would you kindly introduce yourselves one by one?"
Hikari politely said. It seems like everything was normal to him. What's making this situation odd was that there are people that's spectating from afar.
"Hm? Who would go first?"
We stared as we can't do anything. The people around doesn't make noise though you could feel their presence from their stares.
"You. With the eyeglass."
The only ones wearing an eyeglass was Karri. It seems like Hikari has his attention to her.
"What do you want me to say?"
Karri said. She doesn't show any signs of fear. Or maybe, she doesn't let us notice that... I should do something. But what can I even do at this point?
Hikari walked closer to Karri. He put up his left hand hand and lifted Karri's face. On the right hand, was a knife that was pointed to her neck.
"Aren't you listening earlier?"
The knife touched her skin. There's no signs of blood, but if Hikari forced it, I'm sure it would spill later. What kind of situation did we just got into?
"What's your name pretty girl?"
I looked in disgust. Just what does Hikari wanted to us. It was just months, but people started to act weird already.
"Karri."
"Hm? What's it? I kinda have a bad hearing."
Hikari looks normal, though he's doing something burglar. I can't keep up with this situation.
"I said it's Karri!"
Karri shouted. I could see saliva coming from her mouth while talking. It would eventually reach Hikari's face.
"Disgusting."
Hikari pushed off Karri. He then hid the knife and returned to the platform.
"Citizens of Hikarian! What you're about to witness is to how these people turn into one of us! Celebrate, rejoice and shout with all your hearts!"
Hikari bowed and did a spin. Everyone screamed. It was deafening. Even the soldiers are raising their guns.
"Bring them to the cells."
Hikari said. The soldiers then started moving and brought us on one of the building's corner. When we got inside, there was huge cell divided into many parts. Each has around 3 people in it. What's worse is that some are already dead, rotting away.
"What in the world is this..."
Loraine whispered. I could see the eyes of the people that witnessed brutal things than us. They show fear, depressed and sorrowfulness in their face.
"Stay there!"
Before we're put to our designated places, I realized that the burger that I got earlier was still on my pocket. I decided to give it to Rias at the last second.
"Thank you."
Rias said. The guards noticed our transaction and so he started to speak.
"Hey! Stop with that!"
Luckily, the guard didn't do anything. We were at the last part of the cell. I was with Rodner and Karri while the rest was in front of us.
The tapes were removed, but we're still lock in here. Rodner stayed at the corner while Karri sat on her her place.
I looked at Karri for a while. She must have hold back fear a while ago. I should at least do something.
"Hey Karri, are you fine?"
Karri didn't answer. She was looking down and staring at the ground. I then decided to ask her again.
"Karri, you did good there."
"What?"
I moved back. Karri looked at me with a dreadful eyes. It was as if she wanted to say something.
"Did good out there? What's good in being locked up here with a psychopath leading this place? Even the progression of the cure for this damn apocalypse was burned into ashes! How's that good huh, CJ?"
I looked away. I don't have any rights to say anything anymore after that. I sat down and lay my face to my knees. It was a way to hid myself from everyone.
Time passed. I found myself waking up lying on one of the corners of the cell. I checked around and found out that all of them are already sleeping.
I took sight with the time outside. There were no signs of light and it seems like night time already.
I decided to lie for a moment and think of the things that happened. Suddenly, someone spoke from the side.
"Hey there 'mister-that-got-scolded-by-a-girl'"
I turned my head onto it. There was an average looking hole that passes through the others side. I could see a guy with a mole under his left side of the nose.
"Don't just stare. You could at least try talking you know."
I glared. He's somehow looking carefree even though being inside this cells.
"What do you want?"
"Freedom I guess? By the way, the name is Mark."
I looked at Mark after his odd answer and introduction. I don't understand this guy's motive.
"My name is CJ."
"Yeah. Already knew that as 'miss-hot-tempered' mentioned your name earlier."
This guy loves calling other names for different people. Worse, he was mocking them.
"I'll go back to sleep."
"Wait a minute!"
Mark said immediately after hearing my words. He really need something from me.
"What?"
"Well you see, my group had already a plan to escape."
My eyes widened in hope. I don't know if it's a joke, but I'll take this seriously.
"So what's the plan?"
"Well to be honest, the plan was aborted due to your group's arrival."
My eyebrows raised. Again, I have a feeling that this one is a joke.
"You see, my girl could fit in this hole. We were midway through breaking that part of the wall."
Mark pointed at the other end of the wall. I could see that the wall was somehow shattered. Just a little more push and we could escape the place.
"So what do you want us to do?"
"Break it."
Just as simple as that. If I were to do it now, I'm sure we could escape in no time.
"Okay then."
I was about to stand up when Mark suddenly spoke.
"Hey wait!"
I went back. Mark looked at me like I'm doing something dumb.
"Seriously, you lack some brain cells in your head aren't you?"
"What?"
"Have you even thought of the landmines planted outside? If you were to break that, what would you do next?"
"Make it explode by throwing stuffs on it?"
Mark did a facepalm. It wasn't that long when he started talking.
"Hey 'dumb-guy', the explosion could kill you and your friends instantly."
I looked in shame. I haven't thought of that thing. Just how smart are the people around me?
"Now what?"
"Then we'll need something hard to block the explosion."
I agreed at Mark. He seems so desperate to leave the place already by his words. Though, if you were to just look at him, he would just be some sort of "happy-go-lucky" person.
"Let's call it a night. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Mark covered the hole with a pillow. In this room, we were only given a pillow with a rugged blanket. I borrowed the cloak and rolled it to act as a head comforter. I then closed my eyes afterwards.
"Just how long do we suffer?"
- Writer
