I was having a hard time trying to determine whether I was dead or not. I didn't think I was dead...but I have been known to be wrong. Even though me being wrong is a rare occurrence, it is still possible. My head ached and felt like it had been stuffed with cotton wool. If I was alive, then it was probably the drugs making me feel like this. But if I was dead, it was most certainly the fact that they had stolen all my secrets and packed the empty space with nonsense. When I say nonsense I am referring to pointless things like how differentiate a polynomial and the order of U.S. Presidents. You know, useless shit like that.
It hurt tremendously to open my eyes, but I was determined to find out where I was so I forced them to obey my will. The light in the room, although dull, instantly forced my eyes shut again. Slowly, I was regaining feeling in my limbs again but was horrified to discover no matter how hard I tried to move them, they wouldn't. Surely I wasn't paralysed? No, I couldn't be. I could feel the light touch of the sheet on my skin. What was going on? Why can't I move? And what the fuck is that beeping sound?
Blinking rapidly I reopened my eyes, wincing at the light. As my eyes adjusted slowly I realised I was in a hospital bed. Why the hell was I in the hospital? What happened? Fuck me. My eyes darted anxiously around the room, taking in all points of possible exit. The beeping sound grew steadily in tempo as I did so.
I was most obviously alive, but why? Hadn't they gotten what they wanted? I started running through the secrets in my brain looking for the ones they had stolen. I had reached the letter 'H' in my inventory when the door opened and Markman stepped in quietly. I wasn't panicking yet; everything seemed to be in order, so far.
"Are you in pain?" Markman asked gently.
I didn't answer her; I was just making my way through 'K' and all the vital secrets were fast approaching. I didn't need any distractions right now.
"Is the bandage too tight?"
I faltered in my inventory as she questioned me. My breath caught in my throat as I realised the pressure on my head was caused by a tight bandage. I didn't need to complete my inventory anymore; Markman had just confirmed my fears herself.
It had been real. They did cut into my head. They had taken my secrets.
"What are you thinking?" she pressed. I frowned and a burning pain shot through my forehead. She was trying to trick me into talking. I knew she was. But I had learnt my lesson, I knew better this time. They were capable of tracking my voice.
I tried again to move my arms but discovered I was being restrained by padded straps. Furiously I tugged and fought against the straps but with no avail. This was my worst nightmare, I was completely defenceless. Didn't she realise? The fact I was still alive meant they hadn't succeeded in their plan to steal my secrets and kill me. And because the world wasn't in peril and ending, it was obvious they had taken the wrong secrets. It meant they would be back, soon, while I was still weak. I jerked violently against the bonds. It wasn't too late. The world wasn't over, yet, there was still a chance. I could defeat them.
Markman realised what I was trying to do. "I can't remove your restraints, Hyunjoon. Please calm down."
Calm down!?! What was she thinking? That's what they want!
"She's working for them, Hyunjoon. You know she is. It explains everything, doesn't it?" Jasper appeared out of nowhere and perched himself on the edge of my bed. I gaped at him. She was working for them? Surely not?
My mouth remained open in shock as my head swivelled to stare in disbelief at Jasper and to eye Markman cautiously. Jasper raised one grey-flecked eyebrow at me. "Don't be stupid," he said patronisingly as I dared to doubt his accusation. As much as I hated Markman, she was one of the only people I felt I could trust. She had never done anything to make me think she was in league with them.
