Subject 0025

Chapter 5: An Unexpected Visitor

((Playlist: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons))

“Please give us another chance, sir.” Dr. Gable Raciti, Clinical Research Scientist,—as his virtual name card read—broke the silence. “I have a plan in my mind. I am certain it will produce a result. If it doesn’t, I will take full responsibility for that.”

The rest of the group that comprised mostly scientists and a few surgeons, glanced at one another. 

“Go on,” commanded the director.

The other man stood up from his seat before giving a bow to the smaller man.

“Subject 0025 is over the age limit and he is showing no result,” he paused and then open slideshows in the place where Dr. Lance had stood. The series of pictures that depict a variety of animals such as monkeys, guinea pigs, and cows and brief notes caused a few people to raise their eyebrows. 

“It would be a waste if we let him die in there. Instead, I suggest we give subject 25 a few days of rest and do Tafoya Experiment on him.”

A surgeon started, “But it was prohibited to even test on animals. It is so…” The director glared at her and she apologized quickly, “I’m sorry. My mistake. It was unprofessional of me.”

Dr. Raciti looked at her. “Infinity is not just for profit. We have taken the responsibility of saving humankind. When it’s necessary, we have to make sacrifices. It takes bravery, doctor.”

The director ordered her to exit the room. The surgeon headed to the door, shaking her wavy hair slightly. Dr. Aber finally sat down in his seat. “You have a point,” he said. “We have never executed a tafoya on a human. You lead the team and keep your promise.”

When the director left, Dr. Raciti loosened his tie around his meaty neck. He shut the slides by his side; nearly all of which had similarities, such as some animals were mutilated and others had extra legs or claws. 

A while later, in casual clothes, the man headed towards an exit. He looked behind him a few times throughout the last corridor as if he was expecting someone to be there. He must have lost that thought as he stopped glancing back and entered the vestibule before the exit. As he stood comfortably, a stream of light enveloped him. He held his head high and looked somewhat pleased with himself. 

“Your clearance is not enough, Dr. Raciti,” Tess declared.

His expression changed. “I have been promoted. I request a human supervisor,” he said gloomily. “I have enough clearance for the request.”

“Request granted,” the system answered. After a few minutes’ pause, it announced, “Your clarification level has been increased. You may exit the building at any chosen time along with other benefits such as...”

“I don’t have time to listen to that list.”

“Sure.”

Black doors before him slid open to a space where various hovercars were parked. He smiled.

From the dust and bricks, a hovercar rose into the open air before heading outside of the caged city. A few kilometers away outside the building of Infinity, a bulky vehicle flipped on its side was sticking out among the ruins, as it was still newer than the others and in one piece. It looked like a giant bowl with dents and scratches all over the body. 

The abandoned city was silent, with no sign of life.

***

The door opened with a click. They let him out, covered in his own filth. As they dragged twenty-five out of the tight space, cold water splashed him. It was freezing cold and forced him down to the floor with the pressure.

They threw him back inside his glass room. Bewildered, he looked up at the date and time on one wall. Four days. It had only been four days, but it lasted like a month to him. At least he could finally stretch his limbs.

Since his punishment, he found his meals were better. It was larger and more varied than before. He sneaked a glance at the surrounding rooms; his neighbor’s meals were not like his. Yet, everything was the same as before, except that. They woke up, they exercised, had their meals, and did everything exactly as their instructions.

Until a week later when someone unexpected visited his room. The visit itself was shocking. After that, everything changed. 

In the surveillance room, a man suddenly sat up straight from leaning back in his seat. “Who is that?!” he asked with a frown. A few other people glanced at what he was looking at, with bored looks.

Hundreds of screens were displaying every single corner of the building and the views of the nearby area. The tiny views filled the walls, the ceiling, and the floors. At least hundreds of them showed the glass rooms with the kids. 

The speaker enlarged one specific view. There was one extra person in room 0025. The view showed the back of the man who was in a white coat. He was standing face to face with the occupant of the room. “What was he doing in there?” the security officer asked again after identifying the man with a different angle and a scan. A colleague next to him glanced at the screen.

“Does he have the clearance to be in there?” she inquired.

“I’m checking now,” he tapped on the virtual keyboard.  

“What was he saying? Raise the volume,” said another one sitting next to him.

But the man was whispering to twenty-five’s ears. It was inaudible. He was also hugging him.

“Yes. He can enter there. Stupid Tess!” he cursed.

The woman shushed him. “Do you want to hear her condescending voice?!” she whisper-shouted.

“I’m not stupid. I am one of the smartest computers in the world, dear,” uttered the voice. It continued about its reasons for allowing the scientist into the room. “Dr. Aber has not directly ordered me,” it said.

“Alright. Alright,” the man raised his voice. With a lower tone directed at his colleague, he asked, “What the hell is he doing?” He sounded perplexed.

“Maybe this is his experiment. Probably they are close?”

“I have never heard of such a thing as a scientist being close with a guinea pig.”

Laughter filled the room.

MOTION DETECTED! a booming voice announced, interrupting them, and yet, it only attracted a few people’s attention. The marked area was outside the building, one corner in the endless junkyard. 

When they checked it, the area was vacant and lacked of any movement, and the alert stopped as well. “We need to replace the motion detectors. I am telling you. It is not working correctly. It has been more than a week. Whenever I make a request for more budget, it takes like months.”

***

Twenty-five recognized this man as he had seen him in the treatment room. He was taller than him, while twenty-five was tall at his age despite being painfully skinny. The doctor had dark hair and blue eyes. He must have a name, unlike twenty-five and other kids, but he did not remember anyone referring to him with any name, while he had a recollection of most things in detail. 

What he did was unexpected. He stepped closer and suddenly hugged him. When he spoke, he said quietly but clearly. 

“Listen carefully. And don’t talk. You are an intelligent kid. I have looked through all your data. They are going to kill you. This time for sure, son.

“This time, you will suffer. I know what you are thinking. Yes, you have suffered before. This will be more than that. I couldn’t imagine the amount of pain they’ll put you through before they kill you. 

All he wondered was why he was telling him these things. The doctor continued.

“I am not one of them. Not anymore. Before I left, I wanted to do one good thing that was to free you from this. Yes, son. You can be free. There is a whole other world outside this. I am helping you to get there.

“If you let them this time, your death won’t be as easy as your friends. No one deserves this. Not even an animal. And you are a person. Despite what they told you, you are. You deserve much more than this horrible fate.

Uselessly, he tried to swallow the hope.

“I know your birthday was months ago. Here, take this. Don’t open it. This is my gift for you.”

He gripped twenty-five’s hand, putting something inside his fist. It was slim, small, and had a sharp edge that bit into his palm. He told him that this was the gift that would help him escape here. He also instructed him where to hide.

“They all are monsters. I used to be one, but I am not anymore. They deserve that. Don’t be afraid. I will be just around the corner. I will come for you right after you’ve done what I am asking you to do. I will get you out of this place, kid.”