2000

5. Project Twenty Two

Yeji's

I woke up a little dizzy from an almost perfect sleep, since I got there, that was the first time I had slept so well, my memories were almost clear, some vague, but I know I slept in Ryujin's arms. I sat on the bed, looking at the strong sun coming from outside, I think I had slept too much.

I heard the key rattle through my door, my heart racing, expecting to see Ryujin, but it wasn't her, it was a nurse.

He held me in his hands a black bag, which he threw in my direction, then spat on the floor of my room as if he was disgusted to be there, disgusted with me.

"Get on with it, you've slept more than the others, don't make me have to stop my work to wait for you" I rummage in the bag seeing a blue uniform, a t-shirt and long pants in light blue, I remembered that the day before when I took that brief walk in the garden, all the patients wore that, with a difference in the numbers, mine was highlighted in the pocket of the shirt that was a little below the lap "2000" in black "Hurry up, girl, get dressed! I don't have all day!"

"I will not dress with you looking at me" I replied still with my back to him, the man just laughed.

"Dressing in front of me is nothing compared to what you're going to go through, baby girl."

I shook from head to toe after hearing that. Where was Ryujin? I wanted her and not him.

It was humiliating to have to undress in front of that guy, I felt his gaze burning me when I removed my pants, I even heard a hiss coming out of him, making my stomach turn in a sinister way.

Finally, I turned around seeing that his eyes were still scanning my body, I just wanted Ryujin there.

"Not bad, sweetie" he smirked "Let's go."

I followed him with my head down to a place, it was the cafeteria, so silent that it didn't seem like there were several women there, they all looked at me at the same time, making me so uncomfortable and embarrassed, I was guided to a line where I was handed a tray with more of that crap that one-day Ryujin brought me.

I sat in a vacant place among those women, the only sound transmitted was the cutlery and the chewing that gave nothing but that.

"Don't eat that" the woman who was on my right whispered looking at the spoon that I would take to my mouth. "If you want to stay alive... don't eat that..."

"Why?" I question her

"The substances in this food are killing us little by little here" she walked away in the same second that a nurse passed by our side, I saw under the table that she had a bag, which she placed in our midst and there she gave me showed that she threw her foods away "Just do what I do..."

I watched as she brought the spoon to her mouth and then threw it all into the bag, I mimicked her as subtly as possible and before I knew it, there was nothing left on the plate.

The woman got up, looked at me, and nodded for me to follow her, we stopped in front of two nurses blocking a door, the woman showed her empty tray and then they let her pass, I did the same and there we were in the garden.

There weren't many women there, so at last, she turned to me and half-smiled.

"Lee Chaeryeong" extended his hand, I looked at his gesture for a second, not leaving it in the vacuum, however.

"Hwang Yeji".

"I know who you are, everyone here knows. Mr. Hwang's firstborn, everyone knows who you are." Chaeryeong said

"Your last name is not strange to me" I muttered trying to remember where I heard that last name from, but I gave up as soon as she caught my attention.

"How many days have you been here?" Chaeryeong asked

"Four" I answer

"Oh right, you still haven't gone through project twenty-two" Chaeryeong simply said

"What is this project?" she locked her jaw, clasped her hands and got so tense that she scared me a little, her eyes closed so tightly that they could even hurt her that way.

"You need to get out of here, Yeji. You can't go through this treatment, and you shouldn't even ask any nurse about it, do you understand me?" I nodded my head yes. "I've been creating an escape plan for a while, but I didn't find anyone reliable to exercise it with me. No woman dares to run away and I was almost turned over by one of them, you won't turn me in right?"

"N-no... no! I want to go out too! Take me with you please! Please!" I said

"Calm down, the plan is still in half, you need to be patient and especially help me with it."  Chaeryeong said

"OK! I'll help you with everything you need but please get me out of this place!" I said desperately

So I covered my ears as a deafening siren rang, I saw nurses running towards us, grabbing us by the arm and running down the long hallway.

I was separated from Chaeryeong and thrown into my room again, being locked without even understanding what was going on, besides of course being hungry.

I felt something strange in my pants pocket, it was a cereal bar, with the number "2001 Chaeryeong", I smiled opening it with such speed that I could even drop the food.

I closed my eyes in delight at the feel of the proteins on my tongue, that was enough for now.

When everything seemed calm, the door opened, this time showing me Ryujin, with an exhausted, sick, terrified face, but trying to be soft at the same time, she looked at me turning her back and by her movements, she was crying, I was sure of it when she sobbed quietly.

I stood up, tiptoed behind her, and touched her back, pulling my hand away shortly after as she squirmed.

"What's it...?" she denied "What happened?" I insisted on the question, waiting for her to answer me, I wanted to hear her voice.

"I have to get you out of here, Yeji, I need to get you out of here" she whispered turning to me "Project twenty-two... that's the problem..."

_________________________