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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Chapter 3: Bad Genes
I swear I heard Seven mumbling curses under his breath. Like me, he was shocked to see the man following us. We thought everyone was asleep when we left!
"P-please have mercy on me. I-I can't survive in here," he said, almost in tears. He gripped his beanie hat, removed it from his head, and clutched it to his chest. "Please--"
I sighed heavily and agreed.
Seven was shocked and gave me a dirty look. "Are you out of your mind? The plan is only for one. You cannot take anyone with you--"
"But he saw us!" I appealed. I hate to admit it, but I am soft-hearted when it comes to people who look harmless. Even if someone looks dangerous, I still feel pity.
"The more people escape, the higher the risk of getting caught!" Seven said firmly, turning to the man. "Hey, what's your name?"
"B-bean."
Ah, his beanie. I got the reference. Perhaps that was the name given to him inside.
"Hey, Bean, sorry, but it's not possible," Seven said without hesitation. "Go back to the hall and keep quiet about what you've seen."
I noticed Bean frowning, and it seemed to worsen his mood. "O-or... or I- I c-could report you."
No, he's not going to do that. He's too afraid. He’s just saying that to scare us. But Seven is having none of it. He pushed me towards the small space between the rocks.
"Just go," he said. "I'll deal with this guy."
I took a step but stopped when I heard Bean's faint sobbing. I turned to Seven and spoke with determination. "If I go alone, there's still the risk that I'll get caught. If I take him with me, the risk is higher. Can't you see, either way, there's still a risk? I've made up my mind. I will take him with me."
Seven sighed and massaged his head. He closed his eyes as if controlling his temper. When he faced me again, his gaze was cold. "Whatever happens to you two, I'm out of it."
I nodded at him. "The moment we take the raft, we're responsible for ourselves." I looked at Bean and called him. "Come here, be careful."
He looked as happy as a child but still had sadness in his eyes. Before we exited, Seven moved away from us in annoyance. Bean approached him with clenched fists. He opened his hand in front of Seven.
"I'm n-not sure if you will accept this, but this is all I have," he said. Seven looked down at Bean's outstretched hand, where a whistle tied to a black string lay. Seven just stared at it, so Bean took his hand and placed the whistle on it. "This is all I've got, and it's precious to me. But nothing is more valuable than freedom."
