Saving Humanity

Chapter Six: Something Strange

Chapter Six: Something Strange

Jared

"What do you mean?" I ask, my curiosity at full peak.

Kenneth sighs like answering my question will drain him of his energy. After a few seconds, he finally starts to speak.

"Hindi ko matandaan kung nasaan ako noong tumama 'yung syndrome. Nagising na lang ako dito sa Institute. They said they found me on the streets, one of the few who were still alive at that time."

Who were still alive? "What do you mean by that?" tanong ko.

He looks at me straight in the eye. "Ayon sa mga narinig ko sa mga scientists na nandito, may ibang effects 'yung syndrome na pinakawalan ng mga aliens. Bukod sa pagpapatulog, bahagya rin nitong pinapabagal ang pag-function ng mga katawan natin. Parang nagiging suspended tayo sa time. That's why we're still alive, after months of being asleep without food and water."

That explains it. I nod my head slowly, processing the things that I have learned. Tatahimik na sana ako pero nang sulyapan ko si Kenneth, he's still looking straight at me with an unreadable expression. I can sense that he wants to say something.

"What is it?" I ask.

He looks away. "Hindi ka ba nagtataka?"

"Nagtataka saan?"

"Sa lugar na ito." He gestures around him. "This whole setup. It seems strange, doesn't it?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"This institute seems so perfect. Flawless, even," he answers, shaking his head. "It's too good to be true. Besides, sino ba ang may kakayahan na makipag-communicate sa mga aliens at papuntahin sila dito?"

I wait for him to answer his own question, but I already know the person he's pertaining to.

The president.

Kung alam lang siguro ni Kenneth ang tungkol sa mga documents na nakita namin sa Malacañan Palace, sigurado ako na mas titibay ang masamang kutob niya sa lugar na ito. But I cannot tell him about those documents. It must remain a secret. Besides, hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito. As soon as Holly regains her consciousness, we'll go out of here and find our friends.

As for now, I need to pretend that I'm clueless about everything.

"I don't know, man. I kind of like it here," I lie, just to throw off whatever suspicion Kenneth might have towards me. "Compared to the situation outside, this place feels like heaven."

He shrugs. "Doesn't feel like heaven to me." He stares at me again for a few moments, enough for me to feel uncomfortable. I can feel he knows something about this place, something that makes him doubt its existence. I need to know what that is.

"So," I say, leaning forward and clasping my hands together. "You've been staying here for a month, right?"

Kenneth nods. That means he woke up way before we did. This realization raises more questions in my mind than it answers. I pushed those questions aside.

"It seems like a long time." I take a deep breath. "Siguro, sanay ka na sa mga bagay-bagay dito. Kabisado mo na ang mga rules and regulations, at 'yung mga routines araw-araw." I pause, long enough to look at him. "Tama ba ko?"

He gives a verbal confirmation this time. "Yes."

"Well, have you seen any irregularities?" I tried my best to be nonchalant as possible. "With the routines, I mean."

Kenneth shakes his head. "Wala. Masyado silang organized para magkaroon ng slip-up," sagot niya. "But.. I saw something strange."

My heart skips a beat. "What?"

Before he can answer, a loud ringing goes off. Napatayo ako dahil sa gulat. It sounds like an alarm of some sorts. Napatingin ako kay Kenneth.

"What's happening?" tanong ko.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto namin.

"Sumama ka sakin, Jared," The President says, with a hint of urgency in his voice. "Bilisan mo."

Agad ko siyang sinundan palabas ng kwarto. "Anong nangyayari?" tanong ko. "Bakit may alarm na tumutunog?"

Nagsimula kaming bumaba ng hagdan. Hindi sinagot ng presidente ang tanong ko hanggang makarating kami ng ground floor.

"May nagtatangkang lumabas ng Institute," he states without breaking his calm demeanor. "I think it might be Holly."

Honestly, I'm not surprised. Holly's reckless enough to plan a grand escape on her own. I'm more surprised that she's already awake. Kenji told me earlier that it might take another two to three days before she regained her consciousness.

Mabilis kaming nakalabas ng building. Hindi pa man kami nakakalayo sa entrance, narinig ko kaagad ang pagtawag ni Holly sa pangalan ko. Agad naman akong lumingon sa kinaroroonan niya.

Nang makita ko siyang nananakbo papunta sa akin ay nagsimula rin akong kumilos papunta sa kanya. Pero bago pa ako makalapit sa kanya, hinawakan siya ng isang sundalo sa braso. He's holding a syringe with a clear fluid in it.

"Don't hurt her!" sigaw ko.

The soldier injects the clear fluid on Holly's arm. Her body tenses for a few seconds, then she slumps on the soldier's arms.

Agad akong lumapit sa kanila. "What did you do?!" galit na tanong ko sa sundalo. Kinuha ko si Holly mula sa kanya. "Anong in-inject mo sa kanya?!"

The President puts a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Jared. Pampakalma lamang iyan. She'll wake up in less than an hour."

But I'm still mad. Tiningnan ko ng masama 'yung sundalo. "You could've just let her come to me! I can calm her down without using any chemicals." But even as I said it, I knew that I'm wrong. Holly will do everything just to get out of here. She won't let anyone stop her, including me.

"Let's get her back to her room," the President says, gesturing to the building. I nod as an answer.

*****

Holly wakes up half an hour later. She does not freak out, partly because I'm the first person that she saw as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Jared," she croaks, her voice still weak. "We need to get out of here now. The president is here. Hindi tayo pwedeng magtagal dito."

"I know." In-adjust ko ang pagkakaupo ko upang lumapit sa kanya. "Pero hindi niya pa tayo sinasaktan."

"Not yet," she spits. "Hihintayin mo pa ba na may gawin siyang masama sa atin bago tayo kumilos? Paano na lang 'yung mga kasama natin? Sina Felicity?"

I sigh. How can I explain it to her?

"Look," I start. Tiningnan ko siya ng seryoso. "We can't miss this chance. Nandito tayo sa headquarters ng tao na nagpapasok ng mga aliens dito. Let's stay here for a few more days, para mag-observe. In this way, makakakuha tayo ng mga information."

Holly looks away, but I know she's considering my plan. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita.

"Besides, we can't just walk out of here. This place is practically swarming with soldiers."

She nods. "You're right. We need a solid plan."

"What plan?"

Napatingin kaming dalawa sa pinto ng kwarto kung saan nakatayo si Kenji. Hindi namin namalayan ang pagpasok niya.

"Don't tell me na nagpaplano kayo para sa isa nanamang grand escape." Naglakad siya papalapit sa amin. "Don't bother. Hindi naman namin kayo sasaktan."

Hindi kami sumagot ni Holly. Masama ang tingin niya sa lalaki. Binigyan lamang siya nito ng isang ngiti.

"You're safe here," he says. "Nandito kayo sa proteksyon ng presidente. No one will hurt you here."

I hope he's right.