JANUARY 6TH RAS 3

“Wait, what? how is that even possible?”

We exclaimed.

Last night, Alex shared with me the truth about what happened the day he murdered his stepfather. Ever since then, it’s been difficult to look at him the same. I’m in a state of moral conflict.

Is it justice that victims have to spend the rest of their lives reliving what monsters did to them and possibly never recovering from the trauma of it all, while the Molesters get to live out the rest of their lives trauma-free in a cozy cell with three meals a day and living perfectly healthy happy lives?

Has the justice system failed us?

Is Alex the one who actually has it right?

After lunch, we went to Recreational Area 3 to commence his training. This area is relatively vacant as it is less popular than RAS 1 and 2. It’s not uncommon for the inmates to spar; there is an area for that after all. So, I don’t think the guards suspect that anything’s up. Not to mention, we’ve been laying low these past few days. I’m on my best behavior.

Raymond and Duran interrupted our training session as Ray was supposed to let us in on how he can contribute to our escape plan. He brought something to the table. And boy was it something!

“Didn’t you say that you were both handcuffed and thrown in jail for the murder of Professor Stellar?

“No…if I remember correctly. I said that we were accused, and I was handcuffed. I didn’t tell you what happened to Anne.

After we found Mrs. Stellar frozen, in a pod in his secret office, Anne immediately triggered the fire alarm.

“What are you doing?” I, the great scientist, the one who was supposed to be in charge, the one who was supposed to be the man to take charge of the situation was completely stupefied.

“Anne, what are you doing?” I reiterated with breathless draws for air. “We have to get out of here!”

“No!” She fired back. “This is wrong! We have to alert the authorities.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Aghast and jittering, we found ourselves at the mercy of the Professor. He came back to his office to get something, subsequently catching us in the act of exposing his secret.

“What you’re doing here is wrong, Professor. Ilia Stellar was pronounced dead over 5 years ago. What is she doing here hooked to life support in a secret lab?”

The Professor moved in closer and I hastily stepped over to Anne to protect her.

“Professor, what’s going on here? Is this some kind of misunderstanding?” I pleaded in hopes for a more logical explanation than what was evident before us.

“She’s not dead.” He gave out. “Ilia is still alive, and I am only keeping her in stasis until I can find a cure to save her.“ He explained. “I built this machine,” He walked closer to the controls, “It is supposed to be able to transfer a person’s consciousness into a machine: a robot or cyborg, granting them immortality.”

“That’s sick!” Anne blurted. “You’re a madman. Human beings weren’t meant to be immortal. Death is a natural part of life; it’s our true source of humanity. You're mad for wanting to mess with the natural order of things”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” He smiled.

*zoop*

He ran his fingers across the computer screen and the metal door sealed shut behind us.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to leave.”

“He tried to kill you both?” Alex interjected.

“Yeah, he did.” Ray sighed, “But with our youthful strength and quick wit, we were able to overpower him and his gadgets working as a team.”

He gently rubbed his fingers across the face of the I.D, “We didn’t mean to kill him. We only wanted to subdue him, but things got out of hand. When we finally got the door open, the authorities were already there and after 2 days of questioning and video footage of me and Anne snooping around the office that night and with no cameras in the lab to show what actually went down, Anne and I were sentenced to Prison.”

“So, she’s across the Island in the female holding center?” I asked, “But wait,” I interrupted myself, “How would she have gotten the fake guard I.D?”

“Because she was never imprisoned, to begin with…” Raymond enlightened, “After we were being held for questioning, Anne tricked one of the guards and escaped.”

“How?” I pressed for details.

“Well, while we were in the lab, she hid one of the professor's gadgets in her bosom. When she realized that things weren’t going in our favor, she asked for a bathroom break and used the opportunity to pry open and get through the vents.”

“Really… that easy?”Alex wavered.

“Back then, not all buildings were operated in part by A.I's. People had to depend on good old fashioned surveillance we call computer monitors.” He jeered. “Anyways, I never saw her again until a year after my imprisonment.

She visited my cell one night sporting a new look. She had new hair and eye color and she got her nose done. But I knew it was her for only she and I knew what happened that night. Moreover, her kisses were the same.”

“Whoa, hold up … that’s too much information. I did not need to picture that.”Alex lampooned.

Brushing away his remark with a semi-annoyed look he continued, “Bottom line is, we spent two years hatching an escape plan, only for her to go missing less than 3 months before it was set to go. Without her, I couldn’t follow through with the plan, and I’ve been stuck here ever since.”

It was a lot to take in, but I managed to gather my thoughts, piecing everything together to see how well they fit.

“If what you’re saying is true, then you must have a lot of intel about the prison’s overall security and infrastructure beyond what we were told.”

“Yes, something like that.” He reclined in his seat.

“Is that how you know about the override code for the shipment room?”I lean in.

He nodded, “Like I said, Anne and I had a plan of our own before things went sour.”

“Do you have any idea where she is?” Alex chimed in.

“No, I don’t,” Ray responded. “That’s why I have to get out of here. I have to know what happened to her.”

It was hard to tell whether this concoction of his was fabricated or not. While his words appeared genuine, his eyes told a different story. This man was a master of manipulation.

How did you really get that I.D?

If his story is true, then, we really have a lot more to work with than what the two of us have to offer combined.

But, are we walking into an elaborate trap? I don’t trust him. And yet, I have no choice but to go along with it for now.

“I’m sorry that you’ve been separated from your fiancé for so many years.” I empathized, “That must have been rough.”

“It was.” He responded.

“But now we have a chance,” I beguiled, “A chance to escape. Teach me how to override the systems and I’ll get us out of here.

PRESENT

*Ring*

*Ring*

“Well, there’s our queue.” Raymond fervidly snickered, “Showtime boys!”

Alex rose up from between my arms and stared me down in disbelief. “Are you sure that we can trust this Norman guy?”

I cupped his head in my palms and looked him in the eyes to assure him, “I don’t. But that doesn’t matter, because the only person I depend on is myself.”

He scoffed then bumped his brows together in a scowl.

“I’m not referring to you.” I laughed and then threw both hands around his waist to bring him in closer. “Just stay with me at all times okay?” I ordered.

Rolling his eyes as if to say that I was being a pain, he bumped his forehead up against mine.

His silent compliance was understood and for a moment he sat still. The burning sensation to stick my hands between his thighs and fondle him was almost overbearing, even with what seems like our impending doom at hand.

“Nick…” he whispered.

I answered, slightly alarmed, “Yes.” He had never whispered my name so softly before.

“If we get out of here, and start a new life…” He paused as if fighting to get his words out. I brushed his hair back from out of his face.

“What is it?” I pushed him.

“If we get out of here… do you still want to be with me?”