Beyond Control

Chapter 23

"Felix." I almost shouted out of surprise.

The darkness devoured his face when he stood before me. He grabbed my wrist and began pulling me down the hallway without saying a word.

For a moment, I completely trusted him that he's here to save me since the first attempt was almost a success. Then, a thought came to me and admonished me that I shouldn't give out my trust this easily, especially when I'm hunted.

I asked whilst running, "Where are we going?"

I tried to slow down but then I tossed that idea away since I didn't want to trip over.

"Taking you out of here." He answered without turning back, his tone calm and unannoyed.

I turned my head back and scanned the surroundings, as my guts were telling me to go back.

Then I recalled what I missed, "Wait, do you know where my mother is?"

He led me to a hallway which I presumed to be their office since I could see the vague shape of the desk and a few computers on them.

I thought of going on one of those devices to send the world a signal but he led me past those rooms and pulled me into a staircase room.

He turned to me, which I was expecting an answer to my previous question but it was not. He said, "People almost never use these stairs, so stay here till I return."

I opened my mouth to protest the idea of it but he broke me off, "If you need to go, go up these stairs. Count till the sixth floor and look for room number 216."

He then pushes his hand into his pockets where I hear metal knocking into each other as he says, "It's not locked, go in and wait for me."

I then felt a pull on my wrist and felt a cold metal touching my hand. I heard a click and felt the hand holding mine shook a bit. After that, I felt the heavy bracelet lifted off from my wrist.

I saw his figure turn as he spoke, "I have to go now, they'll begin to suspect me soon."

I took a step back and hid away from the door he's about to open. My mouth dropped open but I couldn't think of a word to say since I didn't know if I should thank him or be mad that he's leaving me on a cliffhanger.

Before he left, he reminded me of my safety, "And don't leave on your own way, they'll be at places you never expect them to be."

"Thanks," I said, which sounded more like a murmur, but I don't think he caught it since he's out of the shady room in no time.

After that, I didn't wait for time to pass. I sprinted up the stairs and counted my way till the sixth floor. I tapped on each door as I hiked up the stairway, and kept my hands on something at all times since I didn't want to fall because of the darkness.

A few moments later, I reached the sixth door and turned it open after ensuring that the hallway behind the door was completely silent. I pushed the door open, bracing myself for any squeaks the door was going to make but thankfully it remained silent.

The hallway was dark but compared to the stairways, the hallway was better since they had glow-in-the-dark lights installed on the wall trims while the entire building was suffering an electric outage.

It was another opulently embellished hallway which I perceived to have dark blue carpets and gray walls.

I was amazed by the prosperity of the interior building that I'd forgotten what my purpose of being here was. I switched my attention back to the current situation and searched for that room number.

I began at room number 225 and counted down to 216, stepping incredibly close and squinting my eyes to view the tiny number plate indicating the numbers.

When I found the room, I began to hear speaking noises somewhere in the building. I got into the room and locked the door without sparing a glance at the room itself.

For a moment, I realized that this could be another trap. It could be a trap to send me to some other laboratory for a great price, or human trafficking crime.

I swept my gaze around for any suspicious devices, but all I could see was a flashlight switched on, placed face up on the table beside the bed. I reached for it and pointed it around the room as if showing myself around this new place.

There was a decent sized bathroom, a small living room with a double seat couch facing a blank wall with no television. Then, there was a bed with white sheets, similar to any bed people used to see in hotels.

This room is nothing different compared to a 4-star hotel.

I set myself down on the couch, even though I really wished to leap onto the bed after sleeping on the hard white concrete floor for months. I placed my hands on the clothed couch and felt the fabric underneath my fingertips. The material of the couch which reminded me of home had my heart beating fast.

I looked around the room, thinking that I'm actually being treated like a human now that I'm in a proper room made for guests instead of being trapped in an empty concrete room for life.

There is food in the refrigerator. I recognized frozen meat, chocolates, canned drinks and a few biscuits boxes.

Who puts biscuits into the refrigerator?

I then spotted a window, small enough that I almost missed it.

I rushed towards it and saw the natural lighting illuminating into the room under the curtains.

I paused before it and pulled it aside gradually. I took a peek out the window and an ocean came into view. But there is no beach, there are no signs that tell me we are near a city.

My gaze explored the entire sea view and realized that I am currently on an island large enough to build an entire scientific facility underground. There is no other land in sight, I glanced further and perceived that we are in the middle of nowhere.

We are on an island with a hotel built in the middle and a few huts surrounding it, which I assumed to be the security team's site.

I saw yachts but I saw two people walking back and forth on the dock, seemingly guarding the vehicles.

Before I could explore the surroundings further, I heard footsteps in the hallway.

I revolved around and searched for a place to hide. My gaze landed on the couch. I sprinted towards it and rolled myself underneath the couch.

Despite having the door locked, I was still concerned that they may have another keycard to unlock the door, or they might just break the door down if this room became a suspect.

I kept my gaze on the door then realized how my vision became so clear. I turned back to the window in the cramped space underneath the couch and realized that I'd forgotten to pull the curtains back to its previous position.

I wished to crawl out of the couch to set it back but I only heard the footsteps getting louder. I retained my position and squeezed my eyes close, wishing not to know what will happen when the people in the hallway see this specific room brightened up despite the electrical outage in the entire building.

The footsteps marched past the room but the door opened on its own even after the footsteps were long gone.

I felt my heart freeze for a moment but then I saw a pair of shoes which I assumed belonged to a man. The door was shut closed in a gentle way. My gaze tracked the pair of shoes which approached the middle of the room.

Then, the man who called himself Felix spoke, "Crystal," he called my name, "are you here yet?"

I hesitated before speaking, "Yes, I'm out."