NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Recovery and The Drug Production Lab
I awoke after what felt like an eternity.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself looking at a familiar ceiling.
It was none other than the ceiling of the sick bay.
Attempting to move, I was met with excruciating pain that radiated throughout my body, keeping me immobilized.
Suddenly, someone called my name softly.
A woman’s voice, so gentle and kind.
I looked to the side and saw her stirring from her nap on my bed. It was Lana, my savior.
“Hey, you’re awake,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
“How are you feeling?”
My voice was raspy and weak. I managed to utter one word. “Water.”
She nodded and filled a glass from a pitcher on the table. She lifted it to my lips and let me sip it slowly.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, trying to smile through her tears.
“Why did you do it? Why did you lose your temper this time? Why did you lash out at that scum? Wouldn’t it have been easier if you had just ignored them and let them do what they wanted? Wouldn’t it have been easier if you just… if you justttt…” She broke down and sobbed, clutching my bandaged arm.
I felt a pang of guilt and sympathy for her.
I reached out to her with my trembling hand and gently brushed her soft hair. She was sobbing uncontrollably on my chest, soaking the bandages wrapping my body with her tears. “There… there. Don’t cry. I did… it all because… I couldn’t stand by and watch you get humiliated and groped because of me. Why did you do it, Lana? Why did you sacrifice yourself for a stranger like me?”
Lana lifted her head and looked into my eyes with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. “To be honest, I don’t even know myself! I just wanted to help you, that’s all! You felt familiar to me somehow. Maybe because you remind me of my father, who was also brave, kind, and gentle. Maybe because I couldn’t save him when he needed me, I felt like I had to do something for you. Or maybe because …. Ohhh never mind!”
She cut herself off and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Then she stared at me with a serious expression.
“Listen, Xeno. For the next couple of days, I’ll be your nurse and take care of your wounds until you heal. This was the chief’s order, but I don’t trust him one bit. He has some twisted plans for you, I’m sure of it. He said something about you being the perfect specimen and that he would send you to the drug production lab after you recover. I have no idea what horrors await you there, but please, Xeno, please don’t give up hope. Don’t let them break you. You’re the only person who ever cared for me in this hellhole and I don’t want to lose you.”
She got up from the bed and headed towards the door. But before she left, she turned around and smiled brightly at me. “Ohhh right, I almost forgot! Ryuji gave me this for you. He said it’s important and that I should give it to you along with this note.”
She handed me a small, curved device that looked like an earring and a folded piece of paper. Then she waved at me and closed the curtains behind her and left.
I was left in my bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about Lana’s words that I had heard from her before.
What did the chief mean when he said I was the perfect specimen? What’s behind that door?
What kinds of tests and drugs I would undergo and be given? And how will they affect me?
Will I become a lifeless and soulless puppet like the rest of the people, or will I become something much worse?
I tried to push those thoughts away and focus on the note and the earring that Ryuji had given me. They were my only hope of escaping from this hell.
I took the paper first and opened it. On it, the following was written: “I’m sorry, Xeno. I tried my best to get the information you asked for as fast as possible, but I was unable to. However, I was able to get some information about you and the reason why you were brought here. It is still not complete, but when it is, I will surely send it to you via paper as I promised before. P.S. I got you the HT with as many diverse books as I could, but this HT does not have any communication functions or online search functions since those can be tracked inside the facility.”
After reading the paper that was handed to me, I burned it, smiled, and exclaimed: “Finally, my books are here!”
I clipped the device onto my earlobe, feeling the cold metal against my skin.
I whispered the command “Boot” into the device. A series of sharp beeps and a metallic voice sounded in my ear.
“Secondary user identified, checking for permission…. permission granted.”
“Booting…. Welcome user! How may I identify you as?” I told it my name and family name without hesitation.
The AI processed my answer and replied. “Greetings, Xeno. I am HT-01, a high-tech device designed to provide you with various functions and services.
You have been granted access to use me by the primary user, Ryuji. Please state your request.”
I was amazed by the device and its capabilities. I wondered what Ryuji had in mind when he gave it to me. I decided to ask the AI about it. “HT-01, what is your purpose? Why did Ryuji give you to me?”
The AI responded in a neutral tone. “My purpose is to assist the primary user and any authorized secondary users with their needs and preferences. Ryuji gave me to you as a gift and a tool. He said you would need me for your escape plan.”