by Candice Lim
☣☣☣☣☣☣
“Turn left.”
Vaxine took a sudden turn into a narrow lane. Houses flanked the two opposite sides. A barrage of honks wailed like rants of tortured souls. Genom swung elegantly, its high-pitched screech drowning the cacophony. Only an inch from knocking into the brick wall. Vaxine zoomed through the narrow way where the end branched off to another main road. She braked hard with another screech. She was almost flung forward when the seatbelt wrenched her back.
Cars hurtled past her like arrows on an archery range. She muttered a curse and slammed the wheel.
“Target relocating.” The GPS beeped. “Recalculating target location.”
“What?” A whisper escaped the crack of her lips. The hourglass icon dissolved away. The winking black dot began to reposition, promenading on the map like an ant.
Genom slowly eased into the empty parking space. Once the roaring of the engine died away, the door flipped up elegantly and Vaxine stepped out. The Court glowed like a radioactive gold nugget against the tar-black starless night. Vaxine snorted with scorn.
However it looked on the outside, like makeup, it couldn’t cover up the ugliness on the inside. She had never set foot on this piece of land and would not now if it wasn’t for Roxy.
Vaxine reached her hand behind and felt the guns at her waist. She flung the door close. The car locked itself. Vaxine went forward, chin held high. The clinking of her heels resonated in the night. The breeze sifted her ponytail and the tail of her white trench coat. Not the slightest hint of fear though it should be. She felt greater than ever.
The doorway soared three floors high in an upside-down smile. Vaxine’s shoes clanked louder on the polished marble as she hiked up the stairs.
The lobby hummed with opulence and authority. Every piece of furniture exuded luxury and smelt like taxpayers’ money. A golden chandelier dangling above, its candlestick bulbs blazing with sickly faux flames. Giant porcelain vases streaked with shimmering gold bordered the aisle to the reception. A middle-aged woman with hair pulled neatly into a French bun, sat behind the reception desk. She shifted about the humongous mountain of paperwork and was talking on the phone.
On each side of the lobby were large spaces occupied by lounge sofas. They looked as though they were there only for display. Colorful bottles and wineglasses decked the bar. Surveillance cameras dotted every corner, guarding the fort.
Vaxine counted and made a mental note of their positions.
The receptionist hadn’t expected visitors at such time. She shook her head as she forced a smile, her thick makeup cracking into fine wrinkles. “In reason we trust. Can I help you?”
“Dr.” Vaxine cleared her throat, half-smirking. Her crisp voice echoed through the reception area. “I’m Dr. Amelia, a close friend of Prof. Jeremy. I just flew in from Whiteshore, wanting to give my old friend a surprise.” She glanced at the receptionist’s nametag. “Can you help me out, Lily?’
“Oh, Dr. Amelia, I’m so sorry.” Lily dropped her face, looking apologetic. “I didn’t know that―”
“That’s all right. May I know which floor is he on, please?”
“Um, as much as I want to, I have to―”
Vaxine held up an ID card.
“Thank you, Dr. Amelia.” Lily’s eyes passed over Vaxine and the card. She picked up the phone and dialed for security. A second later, she hung up.
“We need to perform a retinal verification.” Lily looked up at Vaxine. “I’m sorry for your inconvenience, Dr. Amelia. But this is standard protocol around here.” Lily slid an eye scanner over to Vaxine’s side.
Vaxine put her eye to the scanner that had been flickering readily for her. Her heart raced. If anything should go wrong with the contact lenses, this would be the moment.
Lily tucked in the ID along with a visitor’s pass to Vaxine. Relief wrapped around Vaxine like a warm quilt on a cold night. She’d been surprisingly holding her breath. Deepening her smile, she accepted the documents. “Thank you, Miss Lily.”
“This way please, Dr.”
Vaxine forgot she was now a ‘Dr.’, the upper class. She smiled to herself. Lily left the desk and ushered Vaxine along a short corridor. Both women scuttled side by side. The clicking of their stilettos synchronized against the immaculate marble.
Vaxine followed her guide closely, glancing around until they found the elevators.
Awash in pale amber light, the foyer looked like a time capsule from the old world before the revolution. Two geometric lamps sprouted from both sides of the elevators. Unlike the rest of the building, cozy flowery wallpapers donned the walls.
Lily punched the UP. The elevator pinged as the wooden double door opened. She stepped in, press the 5, and held the door for Vaxine. “Here you go, Dr. Amelia.”
Vaxine stepped in, Lily out. Honey-like sandalwood perfumed the air. Waist up, mirrors lined the three walls.
“Enjoy,” said Lily with a wry smile.
Vaxine’s brows drew together as the door closed behind her. Then, she remembered Amelia whose identity she’d assumed was Jeremy’s secret lover, which was why she had picked her. Vaxine dug her hand into her back pocket where she whipped out the Jammer, ramming it into her tablet and waved it around for a signal.
She stuck the Jammer under her arm and picked at it with her thumbnail, peeling off a thin, translucent film. Rolling it between her fingers, she flicked it away like lint, smiling to herself.
The elevator pinged and the door reopened. Vaxine had already entered the surveillance system and was controlling it. Smiling victoriously at the empty corridor, she punched ‘Close’. The door snapped to her command, the elevator froze, awaiting new orders.
Vaxine produced a small key where she stuck into an orifice at the base of the control panel. She twisted it until it clicked. The metal lid popped open, revealing an array of colorful, blinking buttons underneath. She hit the ‘-5’. A minor earthquake and the elevator pulled down.
The door reopened seconds later on to another endless corridor. Vaxine stepped out, the sound of her heels echoing in the empty space. She remembered this place, not from experience but what she had read from the building plan beforehand.
Every corner, every turn of The Court had become interweaved in her brain like her own name. The hour before, she had searched for and had the entire blueprint memorized by heart. That was how she winged and nailed her degree with First Class Honors: super memory.
She gazed up at the CCTVs. About every hundred meters, the hallway branched out into two smaller corridors. Every wall was lined with dented metal doors.
Vaxine peeked into a cell. A dark vacant room, contrasting with the white hallway. On the side of the door, a touchscreen pad controlling the door.
Vaxine slinked forward, one hand on Zapper. With all ears, she threw her glances everywhere, lest someone would pop up. After everything that had happened, she couldn’t bring herself to put down her guard even for a second. Trust no one.
A long while passed, Vaxine lost track of time. With bottomless hallways and endless corridors, the place was like a maze. Her spirit dampened, her pace slackened into a stroll. It felt as though she was walking in circles with no way out. Finally, she gave up.
Flipping her tablet on, flashing red and green dots peppered the screen. The target was a few steps ahead, her hope refreshed. Pocketing the device, she pulled out the Zapper and held it close to her chest. She glided forward, sleek as a feline but quiet as a mouse, pressing herself as close to the wall as she could.
A flurry of voices stopped Vaxine in her tracks. She tried to ascertain their source. They came from the other side of the wall. She pressed her ear to it and listened. The wall was a good insulator; all she got was a hum of white noise.
Vaxine tightened her lips in mild irritation and moved along the wall until she found a door. Not like the other dented metal doors here. This one was white wood, looked way much in harmony with its surrou
ndings than the others. She neared the door and looked through the peephole where she saw two vague silhouettes. She gripped her Zapper harder.
She reached for the doorknob.
A peal of laughter burst from the inside, making her jump. Incensed, she kicked the door open. The men spun around their seats. They shared the same look of surprise, jaws dropped open but no words came out. Vaxine pulled out another Zapper, aiming the pair at them and pulled the triggers.
Twin laser-like beams blasted out of the muzzles, hitting the men in their chests. A coin-sized hole marked their shirts as dancing tufts of smoke meandered from the burn marks. A cry and a howl later, the two men fell out of their seats and onto the floor.
Vaxine smirked as she stuck the two Zappers into her back pockets and closed the door. Her target wasn’t there. When the tablet was in her hand again, she knew something was amiss. The signal came from the exact position of where she was now. She scanned around and saw Roxy’s phone on the small table. The Rerouter was still on.
She picked it up and wrapped her fingers around the leather, studded device tight. Her mind began to boil down the situation. Her eyes traveled over the motionless men piled over the floor. She was trying to get into their minds, seeing things through their eyes. Something from under the table caught her eye. A sparkle. A glint. A glimmer of hope.
15
ROXY
I slumped against the mildewed wall of the cell. I’d gone from one prison to another. My eyes were raw and full of tears. Fatigue had settled over me, tugging at my already heavy eyelids. I was even getting anesthetized to the sharp odor that stung my nose with every breath. It made me loath living, loath every breath and heartbeat.
I longed for death, the only way to escape this endless torment. Perhaps, that was what they wanted for me. To push me to my limits until suicide was the only answer.
Throughout my life, I’d always deemed myself inadequate, but never as bad as this. I made things worse and now Mom and Dad were in jeopardy when I only wanted to help them. The news of Hershey’s murder was the last straw…although I couldn’t pin that on myself.
“Roxy…Roxy?” A voice whispered.
Angry vengeful souls lingered in this place A chill tickled me. Goosebumps peppered my skin. Someone had recently died in this cell, I could tell from the atmosphere. The previous inmate was probably accused and executed without a fair trial, like what they were about to do to me. How did the ghost even know my name?
“Blot my gel, Roxy, show yourself!” The same voice came again, louder. Now the ghost was pissed off. I picked up distant footsteps, gaining speed and proximity. Expecting one of my captors, my heart leaped to my throat. I struggled against my restraints to stand up but froze in my position.
The footsteps stopped at the cell door. Even with the thick metal sheet separating them, I felt my end was near. The familiar sliding of the metal latch pierced the hush. The door creaked open as a sliver of light penetrated the darkness. I tilted my head, trying my best not to move. I would be safe as long as I stayed behind the door. A woman’s shadow stretched over the light.
Vaxine stepped into the cell, checking the interior.
I held my breath. Vaxine only had to look to her left to find me. I must act first. I waited and dove towards her. Vaxine spun around but was too late. Bringing both of us to the ground, I tried to punch Vaxine but the manacles held me back.
A cry escaped my lips as the chains wrenched my arm. “Blot my gel!”
“Well, that’s convenient,” smirked Vaxine. In a swift movement, she flipped me over.
The world was a blur as Vaxine hurled me towards the wall like a rag doll. My back slapped onto the concrete with a loud thump. I crumbled onto all fours. I fought to tilt my head up in my pains, meeting Vaxine in her vixen eyes. Vaxine had already got on her feet, towering me.
As I fought to stand up, Vaxine aimed a white gun at me. She wore black leather fingerless gloves. With a grim expression, Vaxine shot the chains holding me. “Get up and make no noise.” That was not a request.
Rubbing my sore arm, I pulled myself up, my back throbbing in protest. I could hardly stand straight.
“Hands on the wall,” Vaxine barked.
I bit my lip in sheer displeasure. I turned around anyway, placing my palms against the cold, sticky wall.
“Don’t try anything funny.” Vaxine drew close and frisked my clothes. Like the officers and the President’s men did. How many times did I have to be groped in a day?
Vaxine stepped away. But her gun was still aimed in my direction. “Move.” She cocked the gun at the door.
My mind went back to the night in Connor, at the café where I first met Vaxine and was abducted. She’d threatened me with a knife that turned out to be a mere key. Could this white gun be another prop? How on earth was it possible for Vaxine to get her hands on a firearm?
Spinning around, I grabbed the barrel of the gun, trying to twist it out of Vaxine’s iron grip. I fought with all my might. We fell into the tug of war. “Don’t be silly, Roxy―”
A stampede of footsteps sounded in our direction in a crescendo, gaining and closing. We stopped what we were doing. My hands slipped from the gun. A platoon of troops in black full body armor gathered in the hallway, forming like cancer. They spread out into the corridors. “Apprehend the intruder!” Someone from within the black mass thundered.
A gasp escaped my chest. I charged out through the door and broke into a run. I breezed past Vaxine like a wind, fear thrusting my every step forward. Behind me, Vaxine calmly stepped out and managed to shoot me a glare. Then, she leveled the Zapper at the troops.
I turned the corner. Muffled shrieks and cries interspersed with gunfire rang out behind me but I was losing them. My breathing and heartbeat synced with loud thumps in my skull. The remnants of the chain still attached to my ankle were clanking as though to signal my presence to my pursuers. Every hallway was the same, all part of a labyrinth with no way out.
I turned another corner when a loud zap pierced my ears. A bolt of pain struck my upper arm, catching me off balance. I collapsed on all fours, scraping my tender palms against the floor. Crimson blood spilled out like a fountain. My other hand shot to hold my arm. My sleeve was wet against my skin. The red spot that had formed bloomed and my fingers were slick with fresh blood.
I looked over my shoulder and glimpsed my attacker in the shadows, revealing himself to be one of the armored troops. He lowered his weapon as he closed in, but that did not make him look any less threatening. I kicked the air and scrambled to climb back on my feet. He didn’t slow down. “Leave me alone!”
The armored trooper dropped into a crouch, his gloved hand grabbed my ankle. I kicked hard, pushing him away only to make grab me harder. Two bulky gloved hands hoisted me by the shoulders.
Suddenly, the armored man let out a muffled cry. His grip loosened as he rolled over and dropped dead. His body lay slumped on the floor, next to me. A burning smell wafted into my nose. A fresh scorch mark was blazed across his chest.
A shadow fell over me. I recognized Vaxine and stared at the body.
“How did you get hold of that gun?”
Vaxine pointed at my wound. “So, you got a taste of our government, huh?”
“An understatement.”
“Get up now. We have no more time for chit-chat.”
I pulled myself up, applying pressure on my wound. “What do we do now?”
“Come with me.” Vaxine shoved the gun into her back pocket and steered me into another corridor. I followed suit, constantly throwing glances behind us.
The troops in the hallway had disappeared as suddenly as they had come. Not good news. It only meant they had parted and spread throughout the maze. It only meant every turn was now a surprise. We had no idea when the troops would jump out at us.
“Over here!” Vaxine found a door. Not the ubiquitous metal door, but one with an EXIT sign. A possible doorway to freedom.
She flung it open, revealing a staircase. “Up!” She gave me a push and glanced behind. This was the first time Vaxine’s face was rigid with stress and showed her age. “Hurry! We’re are five floors underground.” Anger was evident in Vaxine’s voice.
I didn’t have to be told twice or want to make Vaxine madder, so I turned around and hurled myself up the stairs. I heard a sharp click of latch fastening, followed by scuffling footsteps.
After ten minutes on the stairs, we paused. Whispers broke out from above. Vaxine skidded to a halt. “Stop!” I braked and spun around, wrinkles of worry lined Vaxine’s face.
“What?”
Vaxine hushed. The voices were gone like a gush of wind and silence enveloped us. The footsteps came back after a few minutes and approached in our direction. Vaxine put a finger to her lips and pointed ahead of me. I tiptoed down the steps. The crimson patch on my arm was still growing and demanding attention.
