The P.U.L.L || #Wattys2017

Chapter 41: Rick's Secret?

"The only thing that could stop the power source are the two unlockers that Joshua and Gladiola have." Mr. Quiller broke off the silence. "But now that the power source is about to reach its maximum potential, it would be pretty bad. Right now, the world must be coming to an end because of the mastermind. It's only a matter of time before the mastermind rules over the world by finishing the P.U.L.L. project. We stopped the project due to the risk that it poses if it goes haywire. But the mastermind found the secret of the P.U.L.L. and he continued it. We should have burned all the evidence about the project but since he's one of the workers in the corporation, he knows everything about it. It's only a matter of time when he got rid of everyone connected to the P.U.L.L."

"And he kidnapped all of us since we're somehow connected to it." Mrs. Quiller continued. "Now that he had captured everyone, no one could stop him now."

"So, in order to turn off the power source, you need the two unlockers?!" Rick exclaimed. "But that's impossible! We don't even know where Gladiola is!"

"Yes, that's the problem." Mr. Russel grimly commented. "The mastermind, I mean, the power source is unstoppable even though we escape from here. So, right now, we truly need a miracle."

"Are there any other way to stop it?" Emma desperately asked.

Everyone, except Rick, heaved a heavy sigh of despair once again. It seems like, all the adults already reached the end of the line. Rick and Emma knew that there's no way out of here. Mr. Russel and the others were right, all that they could do is wait for a miracle to happen.

"So, how did you get here? I mean, how did you end up getting captured?" Mr. Quiller asked, aimlessly trying to calm the situation through changing the topic. "I'm guessing that you weren't captured in Oklahoma by the mastermind."

"Oh, the three of us rode a plane here." Emma simply answered.

"A plane?! That's too dangerous! Lots of disasters happen in the sky, you know!" Mrs, Tratzky exclaimed. "You could've been killed by the P.U.L.L.! Good thing they didn't target you in the sky."

"No, but we almost did get killed." Rick interrupted. "The plane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of England. Three orcas, I mean, killer whales, were in the area as well, waiting for us."

"F-f-f-fortunately, the orcas fled when the airplane crashed...hehe." Emma interrupted Rick. She intended to white-wash the story so her mom wouldn't go hysterical.

"No, we crashed and we got trapped in the pl..." Emma covered Rick's mouth while trying to force a smile on her face. She gave Rick a mighty good pinch to warn him not to tell anything anymore.

"Hehe." Emma smiled as she looked at her mom. "But one thing's been bothering me, though." She began changing the subject. "We've been into a lot of accidents and disasters but Rick and Joshua never had a single injury. I mean, every time we get into an accident, they just get sore or something like that, they don't even get a broken bone. I'm not saying that it's not a good thing but it's too good to be true. Sometimes, I found myself asking if Rick and Joshua were really human."

Rick adamantly removed Emma's hand that's been covering his mouth. "I am human! What are you talking about! If you want some proof...well, I bleed too, you know. If I'm a cyborg or anything like that, then I won't have blood, won't I? I'm just athletic, that's why my strength is above average."

"Relax! I was just wondering, you know." Emma responded.

Rick ignored her as he stood up and walked away. Emma just looked at him, baffled, as he approached the metallic door. Rick just stood in front of it. This door is the type which opens from top to bottom. If I could get a grip underneath it, then, it would be easy pushing it up. But if the machinery controlling this is stronger than me, then, I won't be able to open it. If that happens, I could prove to myself that I'm not a cyborg or anything like that. I'm a human and I should not be able to open this machine-controlled door. However, I won't hold back on opening it since it's our only way out of here. Well, both choices are quite suitable for me. But the latter, if proven, would be quite bothersome. Rick said to himself as he bent down and tried to grab the bottom part of the door using the small gap between it and the floor.

In any case, I also wanted to find out why I'm this strong. The only conclusion that I could think of is I'm above average.

"Rick! What are you doing?" Emma asked. "Look, I'm sorry, okay. I didn't mean to say that, Rick. Really. I'm really sorry." She apologetically muttered.

"N-no, it's all good." Rick responded. "I'm not angry with you or anything, I was just wondering as well if I could open this thing."

"Wait, could you really open t-that thing?!" Emma exclaimed.

"Wait wait! Don't talk to me right now." Rick seriously told her.

What? Emma thought.

"I got a handhold!" Rick continued. As he grunted. Everyone looked at him in disbelief but they could see that Rick was really able to get a handhold. All of them were so surprised since they tried lifting it up before by joining forces. But now, seeing that Rick could grab a handhold so easily like that, made them rethink how weak they were. All of them were able to gain their composure a few seconds after they got shocked though. It's as if they were both expecting and not expecting Rick to be able to do it.

Mr. Quiller, on the other hand, has a different expression compared to everyone else's. Emma could see the glint on his eyes as he stared at Rick. Mr. Quiller looked more proud compared to Rick's father which was at the other end of the hall.

Why does he have that expression? Emma asked herself.