IDENTITY: FIVE
ALEX POV
"What do you mean by 'answer'?" I asked Sky in bewilderment. I've never understood this guy.
"Never mind," he replied, then entered the vacant room I had opened. It's so narrow that it becomes awkward when the two of us are stuck here together. "Aren't you coming?" he asked me. I raised both my eyebrows at his question. "Just get in," he said, pulling me into the cramped room, and surprising me. Fortunately, I managed to balance my body.
He let go of my hand, and I adjusted my clothes. I thought that was the end of his foolishness, but I was mistaken. I saw from the corner of my eyes that he was about to close the door. From that moment, I felt the same thing I felt earlier.
"Please keep this a secret," he requested, increasing my fear. What is he planning? Suddenly, I felt him looking at me. I'm not sure, but it seems like he's staring at me. My body started trembling with fear, and sweat formed on my forehead. Both of my eyes were dilated, and I couldn't breathe properly.
As I heard his first step towards me, I closed my eyes. I couldn't feel myself because numbness started to take over. All I could hear was the sound of his footsteps.
Lord! I don't know what this guy has eaten, but I hope he's not up to something mischievous. I'm not ready, especially for this!
"Excuse m-"
"Slow down! This is my first time!" I interrupted with a shout, hugging myself tightly and gripping my clothes. With both eyes closed and biting my lower lip, I prayed.
"What are you talking about?" he asked. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked at him. The first thing I noticed was his gloved hands and his confused and puzzled face. We stared at each other for a few seconds until it dawned on me that I had misunderstood. I immediately lowered my head, and my cheeks started to heat up.
Damn it, Alex! This is all your fault. You're such a jerk!
"Excuse me...again," he said, and I stepped back to give him space. He walked to where I was earlier and placed his hand on the wall. "My suspicion was correct," he said, removing his hand and looking at his watch. He pressed something on his watch, causing the room to make the same mechanical noise we heard earlier.
What is this guy doing now? Is he trying to kill us?
A rectangular door frame appeared on the blank wall behind us. I couldn't react properly because everything happening right now was too fast for my brain to process. But I tried not to be left behind because I would be the one in trouble if that happened.
"I'm going in. Wanna come?" he asked. I just nodded in response, and he pushed the wall, making it look like a door. Unlike the door of the room, this one didn't make any noise. The door completely opened, revealing a dark and gloomy descending staircase. We didn't know what awaited us downstairs, so we decided to leave - "Let's go."
What? Is he serious? What if something dangerous is downstairs?
"Le-let me go first," I stammered. Sky began to walk and descended the dark staircase. After a few steps, I reluctantly followed him. As soon as my foot touched the stairs, the lights turned on, transforming the once dark, gloomy staircase into a well-lit one. I stopped and looked at Sky, who continued to walk.
This guy is really something!
I continued walking until I noticed Sky stopping. He was facing a door that was very different from the one above. I could feel its thickness, unlike the door on the upper floor. I looked at Sky, who was just staring at the door as if waiting for it to open on its own. We fell silent for a few seconds because neither of us wanted to speak. I had nothing to say because my mind was still processing what was happening.
"It's useless. This door needs an I.D. I can't open it."
It's good if that's the case because I really have no plans to continue.
"So~...let's go home?" I suggested.
Sky let out a big sigh and started to climb the stairs. I didn't hesitate to follow him; I might get trapped here. It's too risky. When we got out, the door closed on its own. I wasn't surprised because there are many automated doors nowadays.
When we got out of the room, Sky immediately closed it. We heard the same mechanical sound again until it stopped. After the door fell silent, Sky and I went down and left the house.
I have a strong suspicion that Sky will come back here. I didn't know why, but he's kind of mysterious to me. It seemed like he was hiding something, but I wasn't that interested. I had more important things to focus on, and uncovering his hidden agenda was not on my list. We decided to stop at a convenience store because he said he needed to buy something. When we arrived, he went straight to the noodle section. Is he only eating noodles?
"Is that all you eat for every meal?" I asked with concern while he was busy choosing a flavor.
"I don't have a choice," he replied. No choice? Like, he could buy a butane stove and a few kitchen utensils if he wanted to. "Also, I'm not good at cooking," he added. Something embarrassing suddenly crossed my mind, but-
"Nobody moves! This is a holdup!" suddenly shouted a guy, catching both Sky's and my attention. We looked at each other and hid.
"It's a good thing he's alone," Sky said in a whisper.
How did he even know? This guy is scary.
"How did you know?" I asked, and he raised his index finger as if pointing at something. I followed his hand and discovered there was a concave mirror hanging near us.
Sky was right - the guy was alone. Unfortunately, he was holding a gun. He was at the cashier now, threatening the cashier with his gun. Due to fear, the cashier had no choice but to obey the robber's demands.
"Kill him."
"What?!" I exclaimed. I looked at Sky, who seemed puzzled by my sudden outburst. "Did you say something, Sky?"
He furrowed his brow. "Nothing."
"Kill him."
There it is again! Who is that?
"Kill him, Alex."
"Who are you?" I shouted.
"Hey! You there?!" yelled the robber, whom I found out was the holdup guy. Surprisingly, I didn't realize I had stepped out of my hiding place. So, here I am now, facing the criminal. My body, once again, started to tremble for the second time as I saw his gun pointed at me. For some unknown reason, I suddenly couldn't move my hands. "Come over here slowly," he commanded.
Although trembling with fear, I walked slowly in the direction he indicated. I kept my eyes on his gun, which seemed to be staring back at me. Suddenly, I stopped when I reached the spot he mentioned.
"Throw your wallet and cell phone to me!"
Damn it! Why can't I move my hands?!
"Hey! Are you listening? I said, throw your wallet and cell phone to me!" the robber ordered angrily. Due to fear, I couldn't do anything but raise both my hands as a sign of surrender.
I nodded in agreement. Surprisingly, I couldn't move my hands.
Damn it! Why can't I move my hands?!
"Hey! Stop joking! If you want to live, just follow my orders!" he shouted.
"I'm trying, but I really can't move my hands!" I complained in frustration.
"Tsk! You asked for it!" I closed my eyes as he uttered those words. I was sure this was the end.
Wait. Why didn't I hear a gunshot? Am I already dead? I didn't even feel any pain.
A choking sound filled my ears. Slowly, I opened my eyes and immediately looked at my body for any wounds or bullet holes, but I found none. I didn't feel any pain either. I looked back at the robber, but I was surprised by his condition. The money he had stolen from the cashier was now on the floor, and his gun was pointed at the side of his head. It seemed like he was trying to resist someone who had control over him. His whole body trembled as he attempted to stop the movement of his own body against himself.
From that very moment, the unexpected happened. The man pulled the trigger of his gun, leading to his untimely death. A series of shouts and loud running footsteps echoed throughout the scene as I stood there, dumbfounded, watching the man slowly collapse to the floor.
The world seemed to move in slow motion, and my vision started to spin. A memory suddenly appeared in my brain, transforming this very scene into a new one.
I was lying on a bed. I didn't know whose bed it was, but it seemed so familiar. In front of me were a couple lying on the floor, surrounded by two men. However, what caught my attention was a man beside me wearing a white tuxedo. He was holding a syringe. I couldn't see their faces clearly, but I knew for sure that this had something to do with me. Something was part of me.
I felt myself waking up as if I had just fallen asleep. I looked around the room and realized that I was in a room now.
"You're awake," came a familiar voice. I turned to its source and noticed a person sitting a few meters away from my bed. I couldn't see his face because it was obscured by the book he was busy reading, but only one person had an emotionless voice.
"What happened?" I asked. Sky put down the book he was reading and looked at me. He stood up and approached me. I sat up and waited for him to explain.
"You passed out."
"And..."
"That's all."
I thought there would be a long discussion. Sigh...
"By the way, Sky, what happened to that guy?"
"Dead."
"I know, but what I mean is, what happened to him? Why did he kill himself?"
"That is something that I do not know, Alex."
I just lowered my head and thought about what to do today. Maybe Maica has some idea.
"Sky? My cellphone?"
"In your pocket."
I quickly took my cell phone from my pocket and opened it. Upon opening it, dozens of messages from Tita greeted me, but this time, I felt nervous. Something happened that I might not like.
Despite being nervous and scared of what I might read in Tita's message, I continued. I couldn't confirm my suspicion unless I read it. I quickly opened the latest message sent by Tita. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for whatever I might read.
My heart was racing, and I could feel my hands shaking. I opened my eyes and slowly raised my hands to read whatever was in Tita's message.
From: Tita
09-22-19
11:47 pm
Maica is not home yet. I'm getting worried. I can't reach her phone. Can you contact her for me? Thanks, Alex.
My suspicion was indeed correct. Something wrong might have happened to Maica. Suddenly, a flashback of the dream I had one night came rushing back. "18...9...3...11."
I quickly got up and started getting ready. I went to the wardrobe, changed my clothes, and grabbed my jacket. I looked at my watch and found out that it was exactly midnight.
"Where are you going?" Sky asked, stopping me.
"To Maica's house," I replied directly.
"But it's already midnight."
"Maica is not home, her Mom said. Something wrong might've happened to her, and I don't want to just sit here doing nothing," I explained, silencing him. I heard him close the book, stand up, and walk out of the room.
But before he could leave, he paused. "Wait for me outside. I'm coming with you," he volunteered, surprising me. I was stunned for a few seconds but quickly returned to fixing myself. After finishing, I turned off the light, closed the door, and coincidentally, Sky came out of his room, so we left the boarding house together.
Just as we were about to exit through the main door, someone stopped us. "And where are you two going at this time of night?" Lola Vemine asked, expressing concern.
"Maica's mom texted me. She hasn't come home yet. Something might have happened to her. We're going there to talk to her mom," I explained.
Lola became even more worried. "Is that so? Can you drive a car?" she asked, which surprised me.
"I can, Madame."
"That's good, Sky," Lola said, tossing him the car keys.
"Are you sure, Lola?" I asked with a furrowed brow.
"You'll get there faster, and it's safer," she explained. Without hesitation, I hugged her, and then we left. I let Sky drive the car since he was the only one who knew how to drive between the two of us. As soon as he started the engine, we headed straight to Maica's house.