How was I going to kill him? I had to because it was my duty to protect the world from the number one enemy. I couldn’t let Dr. Ravana know that I communicated with my target; I would for sure be thrown out of the group.
He continued to stare at me, a laugh playing on his lips. “Have a nice day.” I couldn’t help it. I felt blood pounding to my face.
“Thanks.” I said and it was barely audible as I watched him crawl back to the window by the roof and he returned back into his house. I shuttered at the thought of killing someone; especially someone who looked like him.
The saying might be true that evil is normally disguised by beauty.
Chapter Five: Unbreakable
I FOUND MY way back home. Well, I didn’t exactly know how to get there, but my mind somehow took over as soon as I thought to myself, “how will I even get home?” and suddenly I was landing on top of the glass building. I reached the side of the glass building to find a door open. It was as if the building had one opening and it was only to my room.
Once inside the room, I realized how out of place I felt. It didn’t feel like it belonged to me. My mind continued to race. Why did that boy have to be so intriguing? I couldn’t help but feel attached to him.
I closed my eyes and lowered myself to sit slowly onto the black bed. I smoothed the comforter beside me and leaned back onto the bed. I looked to my side and was captivated by the exquisiteness I saw. My room overlooked the ocean and the room was completely open due to the glass all along the left side. Normally this would have bothered me, but the only thing that would see me was the ocean. I stood quickly to shut the door that had let me in and felt the breeze was somehow welcoming to me. I felt alone except the air felt like an old friend to me.
The house appeared to be floating over the ocean. I didn’t care that it wasn’t possible; it was how it seemed. I wanted to believe that I belonged here but so far I wasn’t so sure.
I beamed at the serene feeling of the ocean but as soon as the door hit to close, noise erupted all around me. I jumped in place as I heard people talking, screaming and laughing. I had to see what was going on. I walked slowly to the white door that seemed to hang awkwardly in the room. I unbolted the door to peer out into the hallway, expecting to see some faces. There was none.
I took a deep breath and walked towards the end of the hallway. I was surprised to see that my room was the only door around. I continued walking but didn’t see anyone or any rooms. I had just heard talking, and I didn’t know if it was just in my head. I turned the corner and that’s when I saw them. There had to be fifty doors down a long, wide hallway. Glass still surrounded me and I could still see the ocean. Where was I? Why was I secluded from everyone?
I was alone in the hallway until there was a buzzing in my ear and every single door opened synchronized. I stood frozen as a ton of people strolled out of their rooms; they all walked past me in the hallway. All of them held books in their hands. I looked for a familiar face but I saw none. I frowned; how was it that I didn’t even know the people that lived with me? They all talked amongst themselves.
Many people nodded to me as I passed and I tried my best to give the best smile I could muster, but I felt too grim. What was this place? It seemed like I was in a dorm hall.
Then a laughing crowd passed me and some even said hello to me. I decided to follow them and listen. I was going to pretend that I belonged even if it killed me to know I didn’t at all.
“Did you see their faces last night?” a boy with dark green hair spoke. He was very handsome but his hair was too strange for my taste.
“She was so afraid and she screamed, “No, don’t hurt Gabe.”” A girl with a leather jacket told them animatedly as she lifted her hands up in surrender. They all laughed loudly. They must have found their targets. I grinned a little. I found mine, and they must have talked to their targets as well. At least I wasn’t breaking the rules more than anyone else had.
“Did you talk to them?” I spoke up before I could stop myself.
All pairs of eyes scanned me. Worry crossed the green haired boys face before he spoke. “No. Of course not.” I felt my face fall. He must have noticed because he stepped closer with a finger waving like a mother to a child. “You are not supposed to treat them like they are worthy of speaking to. We are only allowed to talk to certain targets. Ones that we want to become one of us.” He took another step forward towards me with a menacing look. “Why? Did you talk to a target? You wouldn’t want anyone to know. Now would you?” The others ganged up behind him, and I wanted to cower down but I refused to.
I didn’t answer yet. “Well, answer us.” A girl with a pink streak in her hair said as she stepped even closer to me.
I was baffled. I caught my breath and stepped to them unafraid. I was nose to nose with the odd green haired boy. “No and why would I tell you anyways?”
“I think you need to watch who you talk to. You’re new around here but I am in charge for getting many people here.” I smirked because he wasn’t given my target anyways.
“Oh yeah?” I backed up to watch his reaction. “I was given the number one target.” He gasped in shock and I smirked in the delicious truth in his eyes.
He turned to face the others and recognition triggered in their eyes. He bowed down to me and the group followed. My mouth fell open. “You are the one we were waiting for then.” I felt my face screw up in shock. They were waiting for me?
“Why on earth would you be waiting for me?” I screeched out and wanted to hit myself. I was worthy and I needed to act like it.
“You can change the world. Make us all the rulers. Please tell me your name. I must know it.” He told me quietly as possible. I didn’t see the crowd forming behind him and his crew until now.
“Get up please.” I said calmly.
“Nice to meet you “Get up Please.” They all chanted behind him, and he smiled up at me while still bowing. For the love of God.
“Please.” I said even though I wanted to laugh. I didn’t understand but I recoiled down. “Can we go somewhere to talk?” I asked him quietly, I felt the crowd closing in and I needed to be away from their eager faces. He shook his head willingly while finally standing up.
He grabbed my hand as he weaved us through the crowd as each of them tried to touch me as if I were a famous person. He led me down a hallway and we reached a door. It looked just as mine did in my room, awkward as can be sitting upon the glass wall. I felt my breath take but then I saw the sky. The sky was bluer than any blue I had ever seen. Or had seen in a while.
I felt as if I was floating, but then we were approaching a red bridge. I walked ahead of him and realized that we were walking on a bridge over the ocean. I was absorbed in the beauty.
I reached my arms over the side before I felt a firm grasp on my arm. “Careful.” He let go quickly and instead he held his arm to block me. “Don’t let the water touch you.” I looked questionably down to the ocean.
“But the ocean is harmless.” I said. I remembered faintly that I used to swim in this.
“Maybe once before. But now it burns like a bitch if it touches you.” He hesitated before continuing. “My friend Rachel wanted to test the waters and disobey and she went in the ocean. She didn’t make it and no one could save her because it hurt to even touch her.”
I gulped loudly and he smiled. “Don’t worry. Someone would save you because you seem pretty important. Everyone talked about there being a savior and you are finally here. They won’t let you die.” He reassured me.
“Waiting for me, why?” I asked eagerly.
“I have no idea but we have all known for a long time that a savior was coming and here you are.” I didn’t speak for a while. I didn’t know what I was meant to do or how I was a savior. We continued our journey across the bridge. It was up high so the mist only stung my eyes and as it turned out, my arms burned a bit.
“What can I do for you?” he said softly.
“First, what is your name?”
I asked.
“My name is Theo. What is yours?”
“Well, Theo. I just discovered that my name is Lena. I can’t remember how I got here or where I came from. I only remember waking up here.” I told him confused.
“That wasn’t really how it was for me. I am sorry about that. Lena let me tell you what this is.” I stopped in place and looked at him. “We were killed.” He said in all seriousness.
“Uh.” I hesitated. “Theo, that green’s gotten to your head. We are standing right here.”
“Ma’am.” He bowed a little as if to apologize for his silliness. I was faintly reminded of my target. I felt a sting in my stomach but he didn’t seem to notice my discomfort as he continued. “You were chosen. There is a reason that we can’t talk to our targets. We are dead. We have a master. Dr. Ravana is our master. The men and women we get are coming with us because they have died and are stuck in a limbo. We get them out. We are the protectors, remember hearing that?” I remembered.
I was confused. I just spoke to one and he just saw me. He looked at me first. “But I know they see us. I have seen them see us Theo.” I said cautiously as possible.
“Well, they see us when we are allowed to present ourselves. Like last night, I finally was allowed to show myself to my targets. I had followed them for weeks and they hadn’t seen me. I know you got the number one target but I had pretty important targets.” He told me with a grin.
I smiled. I didn’t brag that I was new to this and had the number one target. “How did you present yourself?” I said.
“Uh, Dr. Ravana activates it. I don’t do anything. He just warns me before they can see me.” I nodded and he put his hands on my shoulder. “Relax, you’ll do great. No one will mess with you and when the time comes you can present yourself and kill them.”
“Did you kill your target last night?” I asked enthused.
“Well, it was two targets. And no. They got away. Nasty smart little suckers. They are evil and I will kill them.” he was enraged but calmed down quickly. “Don’t worry about it. You’re safe here and you are important to the whole situation. You won’t screw up.” he stopped for a second and turned to me. “Dr. Ravana is our leader. He wouldn’t have trusted you with something so serious if he didn’t know you were capable of it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked Theo suspiciously.
“Look around you. This is our heaven. We are in the middle of nowhere. We have been given powers, humans only dream of.” I agreed we weren’t humans, but I knew in my heart, I was no angel.
Chapter Six: The Stakes
I WAS IN awe as I looked out on the ocean. There was no land around us. You could not see anything, not even a strip of an island. It was our heaven but it couldn’t be. I couldn’t be dead. I was seen today. Maybe my target could just see ghosts.
I stopped in place. That wasn’t the only people who saw me. People, who clearly saw me, attacked me. I didn’t mention this to Theo. I felt a chill go down my spine. I was trapped then and people thought I was dead.
“So how did you find yourself here?” I asked curiously.
“Hmm.” He paused and talked like he spent a lot of time deciding what to do with his words. “I woke up in a trance. Like you, I didn’t remember my name. However, you seem to know nothing about the world you used to live in and I had memories of my family and their betrayal of me. I heard voices and they called for me to do the right thing. I didn’t know what the right thing was until I was called to a meeting by Dr. Ravana. He told us that we were a part of a bigger picture. At the time, there were only fifteen members. By the course of three weeks, we were in the thousands. I knew that I would do great things.” He smiled brightly. “I was finally home and I didn’t remember who I was. I don’t know if Theo is even my real name. I was just given this name by my friend, May. She told me I reminded her of a Theodore and it stuck. She is the one who died my hair green. Even though she is gone, I still keep it green.”
I was amazed at the similarities of our story. I told him this. “I woke up not knowing who I was or what I was meant to do until I heard voices. They talk to me even now. Faintly but all at once, they scream for me and I know what to do.” I told him and he listened intently, hanging onto every word.
“It seems like we are the real angels and protectors. Some don’t think so.” His face darkened and contorted in pain. “Some are here and act as if they were devils. I hear of torture and punishment that go on when they reach their targets. I don’t know why they do that to them. Maybe they are punishing the criminals of the world.” He tells me but I doubted it. The anger I felt showed me that I was a monster. I didn’t tell him this.
“Do you ever feel super angry?” I said to him and hoped that if he said no, that he wouldn’t question why I asked.
“Always.” He told me simply. “It is so odd. I feel like I am the protector but I feel wrapped up in anger a lot. And I feel like I am not my own person but instead controlled by something or someone, which would explain the voices.” I nodded because I didn’t feel like I was working on my own. “And the powers we have. I can’t explain them. I don’t know what we are. So I hold onto the idea of us being angels.” He turned away from me. I looked out into the ocean as his voice picked up. It sounded as if an angel was really speaking to me. ”But angels aren’t angry. Are they?” I didn’t respond and he sighed deeply.
“My friend May was my best friend. She was beautiful. I loved her. I really did. We understood one another. Dr. Ravana sent her out on a task and I never saw her again. Do you want to know why?” he hesitated and turned to me. “She let her target go. She set him free. He told us. And you know what she said when she let him go? She said “He did nothing wrong. I heard and saw the truth of Dr. Ravana, and this target should be set free.” She was killed the next day. Dr. Ravana wouldn’t allow her into the compound. I wanted to help, but I couldn’t because I would have been destroyed too.” He hung his head in silence. “There isn’t a day, I don’t regret not letting her up; not letting her just stay with me. We could have escaped.”
I didn’t know him well, but I put my hand on his shoulder. “I am so sorry, I don’t know what to say.”
“I told you this story so that I could tell you to be smart. Watch your back. I know you are the savior and all, but I have to say this, you’re new and I can’t help but think he has a trick up his sleeve.” I stopped and looked to him suspiciously.
“What do you mean?”
“I trust you. I’m not sure why, but I do. Listen to your heart, I promise it’s still with you” I instantly held my hand to my heart. I tried to listen to its beat. I couldn’t help but think I felt some rhythm still there. “I don’t trust Dr. Ravana, he killed May like it was nothing. Please be careful.” Chills ran up my arms as I listened to his warning. “Please don’t tell the others what I have said. It was nice to finally let that out. You seem very trustworthy. Hopefully I wasn’t foolish to let you in.”
“Thanks for talking with me and letting me in.” I told him honestly. “I haven’t had a chance to get to know anyone.” He smiled weakly. “What you have told me means a lot to me. I will take heed to your warning.”
“Well, now you do know someone. We should get in there. Class will begin. It’s so exciting because you will have your first class with us. You can sit next to me.” He backed away slowly as if nothing had just happened and began walking back towards the building. As we entered the hallway, we both shut down. I was frightened that someone had heard our exchange and we were somehow being punished. I caught a glimpse of Theo. My fear was shadowed on his face. Then it went fuzzy.
Suddenly voices rang in my ears, and I knew we were both shutting down together again. I knew because we seemed to be connected. One moment we were staring at each other, both thinking that someone had heard us talking out of line, and the next moment there was darkness. I felt the wind in my ears and knew we were flying away, towards a new meeting.
As we reached the room, I could se
e and we parted. I didn’t know where Theo went but I knew where I should stand. I was in the same place as before, as if we were assigned a space to stand. Dr. Ravana stood before us. There were shouts throughout the entire building.
“Settle down. We are all here.” He said in a lazy way as he waved his hand back and forth. We all were silenced by some unspoken spell. I tried to open my mouth but it was as if it were glued shut.
“We must get along with business. There is some terrible news that I would like everyone to see.” He told us calmly but I felt panicked. The images before us were excruciating. People screamed in all directions as men and women were seen sawing their own flesh to rid themselves of the horrible disease that plagued the world before us. I was so frightened and wanted to stop seeing these images but I couldn’t. I didn’t control what I was seeing. The humans were dying. It was our jobs to make them better.
“I would like everyone to find one human in this condition and bring them here to live among us and I will equip them with the gifts to bring others to safety. I will assign you each a target to go and receive but I must warn you.” He paused for effect. “These humans are hurt. They are beyond hurt. Each time they amputate an affected area, it grows with double the strength to a new area. This disease is so deadly and so masterfully created, that it was made to be indestructible. No one knows how to destroy it but me.”
“I have created the cure that you all possess. This means that you at one point in time possessed the deadly disease of Dermadecatis. You all have been under the impression that you are in heaven but let me tell you, we are the saviors and we are not in heaven. We are the heaven on earth. That is the only way to describe it. The cure for this disease kills people eventually and what is amazing is that death is inevitable when we are given this disease.”
He looked down in a wretched way, but perked up quickly. What did he mean? We would all die from the cure we were given already. “But,” he threw up his hand for dramatic effect. “There is a true cure and it will be brought to the surface. It is also your job to discover the true cure. It is hidden deep within someone. It may even be a human.” His eyes danced across the crowd until they flickered to me and I glanced up in his eyes in amazement. I didn’t know anything about this cure.
Antidote Trilogy: The Complete Box Set Page 22