Near The Truth

Chapter 13- A Syndicate

Anton was feeling pain through his entire body, but the biggest suffering came from his hand. He knew there was something unusual about that chamber. Anton could see wounds appearing in his right hand. He shouted for help but nobody came. Anton started running inside the dungeon to find a way to escape. The walls were cold, like they were frozen. He saw the skeletons and their clothes again. The clothes were like soldier uniforms, but had a different color from the usual one. They were white with horizontal red stripes. Finally, Anton had the courage to take one of the uniforms and investigate it. He noticed a strange symbol that was in fact formed from the red lines. In the right shoulder they formed stairs. The pain in the right hand became unbearable. Anton threw the uniform away and ripped off his white patient clothes to see what was happening with his body. What he saw was the grey color, his hand had taken. It looked so weak, like a dead body. Anton suddenly thought he was going to die at that moment. His breathing became faster as he was punching the jail door. Anton's screaming for help could be heard in the entire tunnel. The noise could also be heard inside Ross's meeting room. He was still staying there and thinking. After one hour Ross could still hear Anton's voice. He lost his patience and went outside the room. After walking for a while he entered a room called "Investigation". Inside the room, there were 10 soldiers working together. Ross shouted inside the room and everybody stood up scared.

"Is there still nothing?"

Two of the soldiers responded at the same time.

"Well, sir we are trying."

Ross shouted even more. Now his voice was louder than Anton's.

"You should try harder!"

Suddenly one of the other soldiers reacted.

"I found something!"

Everyone looked at him hoping for good news. The soldier continued to speak, scrolling down his computer screen.

"It seems this is the symbol used from a group named "The A Syndicate". The group has not killed anyone, but they had been accused for secretly urging religious protests. They met once in a year in German forests and worshiped Aliens. They thought aliens were the elders of humans. It is strange how this group had developed this much, while people said that this "people of the woods" stayed in a group of only 8 people. People who had seen them, said they wore white clothes, but they also said their luck had changed since they sneaked in their meetings."

Ross reacted surprised.

"Their luck had changed? What did they mean by that?"

"A man called Manfrit Hacket told, his wife and his only child died in a car accident, while Manfrit himself, was half-paralyzed for his entire life. Another one was drown in unknown circumstances, 2 weeks after telling his story to his friends."

Ross calmed a little.

"Where did you find this information?"

"I searched sites in deep web, sir. A site named "The Truth@co" included strange stories from different people. This is all the information about "A Syndicate". However, the group is inactive since a terrorist bomb attack in Princeton four years ago."

"Could it be? It seems Anton has not lied. I want to ask him personally then. Somebody bring him here!"

A soldier went outside the room. Anton's screaming could still be heard. In an instant an earthquake shook the entire place. Everyone was expecting an attack but it looked like it was just a normal earthquake. However, Ross reacted swiftly.

"Everyone take their guns. None knows what will happen. Ready for war!"

Everyone started to run to the ammunition rooms. Anton stopped screaming, although his pain did not leave. His crying had already formed black areas around his eyes. He felt curious about that earthquake. Suddenly his prison door fell down by itself. Meanwhile 4 soldiers had already died from falling inside the holes, the earthquake was causing. Ross came out of the room and shot his pistol three times in the air. Strangely, the bullets stopped just two meters away and disappeared. Ross was shocked. He had never seen such a thing. Immediately after, three soldiers near him were shot dead. Ross run inside the "Investigation Room" again, but all of the 10 soldiers were crushed in the walls. Ross turned back and shouted.

"Everyone fall back! Everyone leave the tunnel!"

He was now trying to leave the tunnel together with a few soldiers that have survived. The dungeon was shaking, but strangely Anton could balance himself. He got out of his "hell" and was running to find the exit of the tunnel. His two injured guards followed him. They shot him, but none of the bullets could reach him. Anton was surprised, but continued to run. While running he saw a woman running towards him. He turned back to see the guards again, but he couldn't see them. He thought he might have been faster. The woman was still running towards him and suddenly punched him in his face. Anton fell stunned. He opened his eyes and saw the woman again.

"It's you! Ashley! How is it possible?"

The woman in front of him was Allan's fiancé. She looked well and wore a white hoodie and white trousers. She spoke with an angry voice.

"You caused more trouble than I thought you will. Come with me, we need to go."

Even though Anton had not forget his past, he felt he should believe her words. He stood up and followed her to the exit of the tunnel. After a few minutes, Anton was outside the tunnel and also outside the room where he found the doctor robots. Ashley spoke again, but this time it seemed she was talking to herself.

"Did you bring it?"

Anton was feeling more curious about her strange way of talking. He didn't expect that her question would be answered by another person. The voice came behind him, but he couldn't see anyone.

"Yes."

After the voice, three people appeared behind him. One of them was Allan. He looked very well and happy. Allan started laughing.

"Huh, it was a hell of fun, wasn't it?"

Anton shouted scared.

"What is this nightmare?!"

^AchingThoughts^.^