In the year 3020X, as the population continued to surge while economic growth declined, the government faced an unprecedented challenge. When the economy hits rock-bottom and spiraled into despair, the government made a solution- to leverage human g...
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29: silent escape
For the past few hours, my mind had endured more than it could handle. From our act of rebellion, to Seven and Kruger's supposed paralysis, to my own identity—down to the true nature of Bean.
And now, Seven and Kruger are... fine?
Hindi ko na alam kung nasa tamang pag-iisip pa ba ako. I was relieved that they were okay, pero hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang lahat ng nangyari.
Seven tossed something toward Bean, and he caught it instantly. It was the belladonna—or was it?
"Masyado kang naging kampante. You got so excited that you didn't even check if it was really belladonna," Seven sneered. "This is a berry na sa unang tingin ay mapagkakamalang belladonna, pareho ang kulay, hugis, texture, at amoy. Even the taste is almost identical, except that this one isn't deadly and so sour to the point na mararamdaman mong tila mapaparalisa ka, for a minute or two, depende sa dami ng kinain mo. Other than that, this berry has no harmful effect."
Bean was as stunned as I was. His face was a mixture of shock and frustration, then rage when he realized he'd been outsmarted. His first reaction was to hammer repeatedly on a red button, but a look of panic flashed in his eyes as nothing happened, kahit ilang beses siyang pumindot.
"If you're looking for your lackeys, they're probably in dreamland," Kruger said, smirking. "Your fault for keeping too much plants that induces sleep."
Bean took a shaky breath at kinalma ang sarili habang patuloy siya sa pagpindot ng kung anu-ano sa holographic display na nasa harap niya. He pressed several others, but each one failed to respond.
"It's over, Marave," Seven said firmly, stepping to my side. Agad akong sumiksik sa tabi niya, as if finding the solace I'd been desperately seeking. Kahit walang kasiguraduhan kung maaasahan ko sila, I felt that I could finally depend on them.
Bean's voice trembled as he tried to sound reasonable. "W-we can talk this out, right?"
Seven smirked, unmoved. "Can we?"
Unti-unting napaatras si Bean. "Gaya ninyo ay biktima lang din ako ng sistema!" He tried to turn things around but we should know better not to be too trusting.
Kruger raised his hand in the air, moving his thumb. A holographic display of letters and numbers appeared mid-air, and with a few quick taps, the surroundings glowed, transforming the scene back from the lush plant-filled facility to the sterile lab setup that lay beneath.
Kruger's expression was cold as he addressed Bean. "At some point, you were a victim, but when you began manipulating the system as if it were your own, mas masahol ka pa sa mga autoridad na nagtatapon ng tao, stripping them of their rights without a second thought." Kruger's voice hardened. "The Glass family may be wrong for not giving second chances, pero ikaw—you wanted absolute control. Your ambition is out of control."
