Short Story

 

Short Story 

✩°𓏲⋆🌿. ⋆⸜ 🍵✮˚

Cloud’s Couldn’t 

Group Two

     “Come on… come on… hurry up!” A loud bang was heard in the narrow space of the building where the three teens were standing nervously as one of them slammed the metal chamber of the hardlyguarded equipment. The machine is loading… 76%... 82%... 99%... as the machine slowly progresses to a perfect hundred, some steps can be heard in the outside of the room. Toot! When the machine worked and slowly unraveled the equipment, revealing blocks of gold and pots of silver, the door fell suddenly from a kick by a troupe of uniformed men. “There’s no time, Argus! Connor! Run!” one of the boys shouted, voice anxiously shaking. “What should we do? Father Bonks would kill us down there if he knew this!” Argus added as they breathlessly ran for escape. “We’ll die either way! Might as well die to where we came from!” “Wait! Where’s Connor?!” the two conversed while running for their lives, jumping through the tables, rolling under the tight vents, and eluding the people lining up at the bank where they were supposed to rob. The two, with beads of sweat on their body, breath unstable, and shut eyes are slumped down in a dirty corner of an unknown street, successfully deceiving the armed police that is chasing them. “Victor! You selfish man! We left Connor hanging there!” Argus exclaimed while wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “Don’t worry. He knows where to go. We all know, right?” Victor replied. “Right. Home. Or is it really?” they both sarcastically chuckled as Argus rubbed his wrist, a visible small mark was found. On the other hand, Connor found himself on a circling path of the building, not knowing where to leave nor what to do. He slowly slowed down his pace, gasping for air. Until he was found by the authorities again, with their numbers doubled and the only aim was to seize him. Alerted, he directed to the other path of the hallway but he felt a piercing metal on his upper left shoulder, slowing him down. As he took little by little steps in the passing second, another bullet hit him. This time on his right thigh, causing him to fall down. He forcefully sat on the corner of the hallway, his eyes getting heavy, as he heard the grumbling steps of the blue-suited men, aiming their weapons. While his eyes are shut, memories come flashing down on him. It lit up where he was a five-year-old boy playing with a young man, whom he called his father. They were in an old, small, dirty space, barely having food to eat. So instead, they played on the pavements outside their place hoping the time to pass soon. However, a little metal emerged from the bottom of the soil, and it slowly started to form a claw-like three-wheeled machine that was almost the same height as the nearby trash bin. “It’s time, young man,” a robotic tune was heard by them as his dad protectively put Connor behind his back. “No. No! Go away! You’re not true!” the father shouted. “The period is done. Let me take that healthy boy now.” The machine’s neutral sound was once again heard. “Connor, go inside the house,” the man, with an alerted aura said. “Whether you like it or not… the kid will be our possession in 3… 2… 1…” as the machine sound came again, “No! Connor!” the father froze as he saw his son, melting like ice but metal pieces scattered in the place, slowly absorbed by the floor, while Connor felt nothing but a huge piece, pulling him down. “Dad?” as Connor’s memory flash ended, he slowly closed his eyes, his neck bending down, and his hand on the left shoulder dropping, feeling like a tired and helpless dog, sleeping. “Type and crossmatch for four units of O-negative blood. We may need it urgently. Also, order a trauma panel and FAST exam to check for internal bleeding.” In the busy building where the people are fighting for their lives, the stretcher from a nearby ambulance can be heard running in the hallway. There, the doctors are rushing to save the life of a 19-year-old man who was said to have been shot by the police as he tried to rob the bank. The patient lost consciousness, barely having blood in his body. The medical team rushing to the Emergency Room was joined by two middle-aged men who were said to supervise the operation. “Incision will be along the anterior aspect of the arm. Let’s be careful of the neurovascular structures. Scalpel, please.” As the middle-aged man operated the teen, he oversaw a stitch on his right wrist. A small, yet visible strip of line can be seen. “Claude, what’s that? A stitch?” The other man wearing a scrub stated, eyeing the wrist as he removed the bullet in the teen’s thigh. “Do your job, Johnson, it’s nothing,” said Claude as his curiosity piqued him, telling him to open the stitch. With the machine only the source of noise, the nurses and another doctor are busy doing their job, Doctor Claude opens the teen’s stitch, revealing a small glass, almost plastic jar, with an unidentified black microchip inside. Unbeknownst to everyone in the room, he slid the jar into his white suit as he finished the procedure. “Doctor Claude, the patient you did surgery to, escaped the hospital. He jumped out of the building and he was nowhere to be found,” the doctor, comfortably sitting on his chair shockingly stood as the nurse told him the story. “We do not have any contact with the family. He is not paid yet,” the nurse added. Several men and women with white coats were found scanning the room of the mystery patient while still keeping their distance as scattered glasses were all over the floor, with one big hole in the window. “He managed to break the handcuff?” “I bet he’s a trained criminal.” “What should the hospital do to the unpaid payment?” The curious faces of the medical professionals can be seen in the room. It seems like their first time having encountered the scene. Doctor Claude, confused, creased his forehead with the event. His eyes lit up like a lightbulb when he remembered something. He bet he just had the key to the random teen’s disappearance. Weak and injured, Connor went down to the building silently, hiding in the dark. He just broke the glass window but he seemed like he wasn’t affected by it. It looks like the invention was working, right? He thought. Connor continued his mysterious adventure from stepping through the thin blocks of the tall side walls to hiding behind the shadows of the equipment, he is like a ninja, a predator veiling his prey. He just wants to escape this nonsense act of the people. He doesn’t need it anyway, he reflected. Connor walked, jumped, and ran, to reach where Argus and Victor at. As he successfully ran away from the hospital, he took his path to his friends where they are probably waiting. There were woods, trees, and a lake, with the light of the dark guiding him to a grassed, unnoticeable bunker where he pressed a four-digit code. “Clack!” The sound of the machine echoed as he pulled it open. There, he walked to a long hallway until he reached the end where the society where he lives was found. He was about to enter when the alarms of the door’s frame alarmed. “What’s happening?” Connor asked. He tried to enter again but the alarms rang repeatedly for the second time. Good thing, he found Victor and Argus approaching him. “I can’t get in! What’s happening?” Victor went to him and pulled him inside. “Seems like the experiment he did on us has lapsed,” said Argus as they walked inside where they found other teens in their own worlds. Some were with furrowed eyebrows, with paper and pen, and some were busy pressing something out of the controlling machine with a huge, cinema-like monitor in front of them. There was also a human-sized jar, with a human body inside, and unusual, creepy materials that seemed normal to them. “It took you so long,” Victor greeted while lying down on the soft chair. “Those pathetic people gunned me down and operated on me,” Connor irritatingly replied to him. Argus was about to talk when a long-haired, tall girl called them. “Father Borks is looking for you three.” With a little knowledge and dedication, it was only a matter of seconds until Doctor Claude went out and tried to access the microchip through his laptop. “Of course, it’s a highly secured chip. Who am I fooling?” The doctor smiled forcedly while shaking his head. “What am I even going to do with this?” He was about to shoot the chip into the small trash bin near him until a news flashed on the television near him. Teen found dead at Riverdale Forest last night. His eyes widened. Could it be? It is not impossible, right? Time went by as the doctor worriedly continued checking the updates of his patients. However, he couldn’t shake off the thoughts that had been bothering him. So, Doctor Claude inquired about the problem to a specialist that led him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A few moments later, one of the rooms of the FBI was filled by a busy, serious aura. The investigators can swear it was one of the most challenging situations they’ve been in. It was all easy until it was not. When Doctor Claude was interviewed, they thought that it was an easy problem to solve. However, by the time they started to decipher the microchip, the process couldn’t continue. It was a special TPM that only a few people can access. Seconds passed by so quickly. Seconds turned into minutes, into hours of working sternly to find out the secret behind the restricted card. Until one of the cyber experts wearing black headphones, sitting straight, and face unreadable widened his eyes. “What is it? Have you opened it already? What does it say?” Doctor Claude, went from sitting and head low, to standing up and peeking in the monitor. He was curious about what is this matter all about as it took them some time and effort to reveal it. As the person managing the computer pressed the open button, the interface only revealed a combination of random letters and numbers, and two map coordinates. “What? Is that all? All that for a random information?” The doctor exclaimed. “It is completely not random, Doctor,” said the investigator. “That may be a number profile and a location,” another added. As he processed the information, it hit him suddenly. Right. It might be where the teen went. But what does that number profile mean? Urgently, the FBI decided to go to the place’s coordinates, checking what was wrong and what was the cause of all of this. They traveled through the unknown as trees and tall grass surrounded the place. It was hard for normal people to see the scene. As they reached their destination, it revealed only a place full of grass and soil. However, the five-man team of the FBI, together with Doctor Claude is determined to find something. They found the bunker that was hidden under it. As the leader of the team opened the equipment, they only found a pitch-black of space. Before they venture into the danger of it, they call for backup in case something happens. They also advised Doctor Claude to stay outside but he kept on pushing himself, making the team decide to include him. They went down through a ladder as a long, scary, and closed hallway revealed in the ground. It amazed Doctor Claude how a simple bunker could have a place like this inside. The hallway is closed as a passcode key is in its middle, indicating to enter the code first before getting inside. They opened it with ease as the cyber expert typed something out of the board. As the tunnel opened, they continued walking in the hallway, hoping to find light soon. “Why does anyone even create a place like this?” the Doctor wondered. As they chase the light in the tunnel, the team almost dies out of shock at the scene that they discovered. It was unbelievable. People were living in the underground of the Earth. They work and do things like a normal person does. Except they are in the underground. Is it the hollow Earth? The team got confused about what was happening and what they were seeing. What even confused Doctor Claude is how the people sustain their lives in this society. It was almost impossible to happen. However, the scene he is seeing now is true. It was all worked by the civilization living there. As the investigator was about to step foot on its path, rays of lasers surrounded them as if locking them up. The team panicked while they tried to escape into the spaces between the lasers but they failed as the force pushed them back. They are now locked inside the bars of lasers where they couldn’t find a way to get out. Soon, the people who got curious all went to their tasks at the same time, confusing the team. Not long after, three people approached them with a smirk on their faces, with one completely startling Doctor Claude. It was the one who was wearing a black casual suit, with circular glasses, and hands on his pockets. The doctor, with widened eyes and opened mouth, pointed at him. “You! I’ve been looking for you!” Doctor Claude exclaimed, making the team of investigators with him confused. “You are the reason! You are the cause why they took my son! Where did you take him, huh?! Answer me, Doctor Borks!” the doctor added, fuming mad at the revealed person. “It was you who made that choice,” Doctor Borks replied shortly. “If only… If only you didn’t offer me that! You caused it!” Doctor Claude’s anger aroused again, with his eyebrows about to meet each other as his forehead creased. “And you accepted it…” the other simply replied again. Doctor Claude didn’t know what to feel as the memories came flashing back on him again. “Your son has an Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It is rare for a baby under the age of 2 but your son inherited the disease caused by genetic mutation randomly. Unfortunately, from the last five years, only 30 percent of people survived,” the doctor sadly stated to a young, thin man in the hallway of the busy hospital. “No… no… it can’t be…” the man slowly enveloped his sobs. “Is there anything that can help my child? Anything. I will do anything… please just save him…” the man added. “Unfortunately, this hospital has no developed machines that can help him. We are sorry to announce that your son may need to be transferred to another hospital that has advanced technology,” the Doctor replied. “But it is mountains away from our province, Doctor. Please help me. We don’t have enough money to travel for that. I don’t have someone to help me. His mother left us already… please help us, Doctor,” the man couldn’t contain his sobs anymore. His problems are taking him down but he is trying to be strong for his baby. He is desperate to make his child well. The man got confused as the doctor suddenly pulled him to his office. “Sit down. You are going to do anything for your baby, right?” “Yes, Doctor. Can you help me?” the man’s face lit up a little. “Well… I have an offer for you… This is only for you. What is said in this closed room is kept here, got it?” the Doctor seriously stated. “Yes, Doctor. What is it?” “I am Doctor Borks. You might not believe it but… I have a connection that can help us with the machines,” the man nodded as the Doctor introduced himself. “This connection is no joke. And only a few people know this. On this planet, not only the people living in the crust layer exist. There are many more secrets that are yet to be discovered and scientifically explained,” Doctor Borks added while the man furrowed his eyebrows and thought that the doctor is going insane. He doesn’t believe him. “There are more advanced people in the underground Earth. The beings there called it the Aesteezas. The space after the place where normal people live. The people there are just like us; living human beings from the apes,” the doctor went by, telling the story of what he called the Aesteezas. The man didn’t know whether the doctor was telling the truth or not. It seems unbelievable but he continued to listen to the nonsense just to find out the way to make his son live. “However, as I’ve said, the people there are more advanced than us they continue to discover the things that can help their society,” Doctor Borks continued, the man confusingly asked. “Wait. What? Why did the people reach that part of the Earth? You’re fooling me, doc.” Doctor Borks answered him, “They are from the ancient civilization. Our ancestors. As the generation changed and passed on, they were afraid they might die. That’s their main concern, they want to continue living. They knew that in some time, the planet would be disturbed by different disasters that could kill them. So, they looked for ways to bypass that.” “And the way they found is to go under the Earth? That doesn’t make sense.” “The Kroner part of the society back then is really advanced. That’s their nature. Kroner is known for being knowledgeable about science and mathematics. So, they used that to pursue their goal. To continue living. They thought that since people are digging soils for resources, why can’t they use it for their place where they will live for centuries together?” “And… how can that help me? My son?” “The Aesteezas couldn’t make such advances that can help them get through different disasters in the upper world. They need workers, they need humans that can help them get information and work for them. My offer is that… we need your child,” Doctor Borks presented. The man, desperate, considered the offer. “You’ll treat my child in exchange for him working in that whatever world?” “Yes, sir. That’s my offer. However, since your son is still a baby, you can raise and bond with him first. Until he’s five years old. If he turns five, he will be in our possession forever already. That’s the deal.” The doctor breathed deeply and talked again. “Do you want to accept the offer and we’ll create the machine just for your son to be treated, or do you want to make him suffer more? You said you’ll do anything, right? Your choice.” The man thought deeply, pondering what could happen. He still partly does not believe the world the doctor said as it was unbelievable. “Okay… how long would it take to heal my child?” The man asked. “Good. You agree, right? It is unfortunate to see you and your son suffering that’s why I offered you this. It wouldn’t take too long. I’ll go there tonight and probably tomorrow we’ll have a treat for your baby already.” The doctor smirked and nodded his head while talking. “Okay… good.” As their conversation was nearing to its end, the doctor took out a paper from his table. “Since you are agreeing already… I want you to sign this contract. This is the paper to certify that you said yes to the offer in case you resist someday, which I doubt would happen. By signing this form, once your son turns five, he will automatically be in our possession. Forever.” The man just nods his head to the words that Doctor Borks is saying as he believes that it wouldn’t happen. It is impossible. “What’s your name again? And your son? The doctor asked while handing the contract and the pen to the man. “I’m Claude. Claude. And Connor’s my son.” “Why can’t you talk? Remember it now?” the familiar man named Doctor Borks chuckled while asking Claude. “Don’t worry, we took care of your son. This is his home now. It is where he lives. And I am their father. Everyone here. They all call me Father Borks.” Doctor Borks smirked while looking at Doctor Claude inside the lasered-circle. “And the workers here, they are all offered of something. So, don’t worry. Your son’s not the only one betrayed by his father. Hahaha. Besides, he’s gotten company now. He found friends here in his home,” Father Borks added. “Where is he?” Conner’s father, Doctor Claude asked. “WHERE IS CONNER?” he shouted with rage as the investigators’ team behind him was completely silent, giving them time to talk, or quarrel. “Chill, young man. Or should I say… Doctor Claude? You’ve gotten rich now, huh? Can afford to pay for your son’s treatment now? You know… if you didn’t do it before… you and your son might still be suffering until now.” Father Borks replied, irritating Doctor Claude. While they were talking, three teens passed by in their direction. “Oh! Speaking of!... Conner! Argus! Victor! Come here.” Their Father Borks called the three. Doctor Claude, on the other hand, widened his eyes as he saw Conner. It was the person whom he operated before! Was it his son? Is it because he found a microchip in his wrist? Questions flooded Doctor Claude as he saw the teen. “Is… is he my son?” He questioned while Conner and the two remained puzzled. “Uhh… who are you?” Conner asked. “He is not your son! He is my son! I am their father Borks!” Father Borks interrupted, pulling Conner away from Doctor Claude. “Your son? But you let them rob the bank before, knowing that they’ll be in danger?” Doctor Claude questioned. “It is all part of the experiment you don’t understand! People like you wouldn’t understand!” Father Borks answered as they walk away, leaving the group locked up.“Wait! I’m still talk-“ Claude’s words were interrupted as they heard gunshots. It was the FBI’s backup, with guns and high-powered equipment, ready to take down the Aesteezas. Soon, there were bullets everywhere. The Aesteezas' advanced technologies, even though more powered, tried to safeguard their people but failed as Doctor Claude’s side was more planned, analyzed, and thought of. It was planned thoroughly while Doctor Claude and Father Borks are talking. Father Borks, with his ancient society, tried to escape the end of their lives. “How dare you all destroy our society! Our world! We didn’t do anything to you! We just wanted to live forever!” Father Borks angrily said while Doctor Claude approached Conner. “Why did you say that I am your son?” Conner asked as he was also puzzled. Earlier, when Father Borks called them, Doctor Claude’s face was already familiar in his mind. It was the one in his memories. “Because I am your dad, Conner… I am sorry. I am sorry I took too long.” Doctor Claude said to his son. “It’s still not clear… why am I feeling like this… Why is my heart aching…” Conner replied as Doctor Claude hugged him tightly, tears falling in the busy and noisy place. The father and son were hugging each other until one of the agents shot a button, causing the people of Aesteezasto fall down. “Conner? Conner? What’s happening, son?” “Something… the button… I feel weak… maybe it’s because of all the inventions they tested… to us… I might die…” “No! You wouldn’t die! The chip! The chip that I got from your wrist! Can’t we use it?” Doctor Claude panicked. “No… that’s for identification. Hahaha. That’s why I couldn’t enter the door earlier… I thought it was just a lapse…” Conner weakly said. “Conner? Conner! Don’t sleep! Don’t close your eyes!” Doctor Claude tried to rescue his son beyond his power as he saw numerous people from the underground slowly die, including Father Borks and his so-called advanced men who wished to live forever. Soon, as the scientists facilitating the place weakly perish, Conner slowly loses consciousness too. While Doctor Claude tried to rescue his son, he weakly fell, like a flower wilting, not having air to breathe. As the machines slowly die with the experts who created them, Doctor Claude and his team also fall to the ground. “Conner… conner…” “Yes…?” They weakly conversed. “Sorry… sorry, dad couldn’t save you for the second time…” “It’s okay… I’m okay, dad…” Doctor Claude smiled a little as his son called him dad for the first time. “I will still choose to be your son… Let’s meet each other again soon, dad…” Those are the last words that Claude and Conner said as they all die together. For the second time, Claude couldn’t save his son from misery. Maybe because it is already inked in the destiny that no scientists can explain. Or can they? Perhaps, maybe it was already marked in the books of research that bodies have limitations. That Claude couldn’t do everything. That Claude couldn’t be a hero. That Claude couldn’t. Like clouds couldn’t.