Chapter 7: “Suspicions”
In a lab, several Kreons were bustling back and forth amidst strange digital devices. The eerie light from their monitors illuminated their many colored faces. The lab was not quiet, the Kreons were discussing something in Krel with their high-pitched shrilly voices. Every Kreon was observing the same person- a black-haired teenage girl bending over a river.
“Subject Trinity is depressed, sir” said a male Kreon wearing a white lab coat.
“Yes, sir, her moods have been fluctuating,” said another.
“It has been doing so ever since subject number four was brought to the scene,” said the first Kreon.
The Kreon who was being addressed, walked up to the other two before a screen.
“Zoom in,” he commanded.
The first Kreon pressed a few buttons on an unusual transparent keyboard and the video on the screen became larger. Subject Trinity’s face could not be seen because her black hair hid it. She splashed water on to her face from the river.
“Colour-code her,” commanded the third Kreon again with his booming voice.
The first Kreon again pressed a few buttons. This time the screen seemed to burst with a wide array of colours, like a rainbow, then it gradually dimmed and subject Trinity’s body was a deep shade of blue.
“You’re right, Zondak, she is depressed; but why?” asked the third Kreon.
“My hypothesis, sir, is that subject number four must have brought grave news to her from the human world, because she has been very depressed since his arrival,” answered the Kreon known as Zondak.
“But that’s impossible. I brought subject number four from among hundreds of humans, there is no way he could know her.”
“Yes, sir, but observe her mood changes every time he’s near her.”
A boy with dark-brown hair sat beside subject Trinity on the bank of the river. Immediately the screen changed from dark blue to pink in a few minutes.
“What does that mean?” asked the third Kreon.
“Sir, it’s…love,” answered Zondak.
“I know that but…they’re humans…I mean they…how can they feel love?” asked the flustered Kreon.
“Well, technically, all living beings have feelings, sir.”
“But, humans? They-they’re primitive!”
“Yes, sir, in terms of technology, I agree, but in terms of feelings…they are one step ahead of us.”
“Are you, a Kreon, saying that humans, a primitive race, are superior to us?” asked the Kreon, angrily, turning into a shade of red.
“N-N-No, sir, I don’t-” started the unfortunate Kreon who had noticed the danger too late.
“Take him out of my sight!” bellowed the Kreon, “I don’t want a half-hearted scientist working on such an important project.”
“But, sir, he’s the best-” started a second Kreon.
“Do you want to join him?”
“No, sir.”
“Then shut up.”
The accused scientist was held firmly by two tough-looking Kreons and was dragged out of the lab. No one knew what happened to him later.
“If that wretched scientist’s hypothesis is true, then subject number four might be a problem,” said the Kreon who was evidently in charge.
“Do you want us to eliminate him, sir?”
“No, not yet. Observe them more closely and keep a record. Sacrificial Day is coming up,” replied the Kreon, “Maybe then you can eliminate him, but, let me think first,” he added, mysteriously.
The Kreon’s eyes glinted in the eerie light radiated by the monitors. The scientist whom the Kreon in charge was talking to sensed trouble, and didn’t like it.
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I splashed my face with the cold water from the river and gulped in deep breaths. I felt depressed but couldn’t point my finger at the cause. I knew it wasn’t because of my deceased brother, for a month had passed since I didn’t breakdown whenever I remembered him. So what was it?
"Hey there, you don’t look so good," commented Alex as he sat down beside me.
"I don’t feel so good," I answered.
"Don’t worry, I'll kiss you and make you feel better!"
"Alex!"
Alex laughed and I joined him.
"See, I made you feel better already." he said.
Then suddenly, Alex put his arm around me and drew me closer to him.
"Alex, what're you doing?" I asked, expecting to see a playful glimmer in his eyes but instead, I saw that he was serious.
"Don't look at me. Look at the river and act normal." he whispered.
I did as he told me but asked, "What's going on?"
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In the lab, the Kreon-in-charge had left and one lone scientist was observing subject no. four and subject Trinity. He noticed that they had gotten closer together. Lovebirds, he thought and smiled.
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“I wanted to tell you this a lot later but I feel like I should right now,” Alex whispered.
I felt my heart beat faster. What was he going to say?
“Trinity, you’re being watched,” he said.
I felt like I just fell from the sky. I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Glance, normally, at the apple tree behind us. What do you see?” continued Alex.
I looked at the apple tree behind us. It was a tall one, with one bright red apple on a branch. It looked normal to me.
“I don’t see—wait a minute.” I said and turned to look at the tree again. One apple?
Alex stopped me from looking, his face inches from mine.
“Don’t take a second look or they’ll be suspicious,” he said.
“Who?”
“Kreons!”
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The scientist looked closely at the monitor and frowned. Something is going on with them. Why would subject Trinity just happen to glance at the hidden camera in the apple? he thought.
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“Trinity, there’s a hidden camera in that apple!” whispered Alex furiously.
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“Don’t you think it’s odd that there’s only one apple on that tree?” he asked.
“Yes but—”
“That’s the camera!”
“Why on earth—”
“The war destroyed everything. There is no place like this on earth. Heck, this isn’t real!” Alex explained in one breath.
“How can you say that? You’re right here. I’m right here. How can this not be real?” I asked.
“The Kreons are not what they look like,” he said, “They are scientists who are studying humans…especially you.”
“Alex…you’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
“Which is extremely hard to believe!”
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The scientist zoomed in on the couple. He wished he knew what they were talking so feverishly about. He had a language translator with him, but he had no idea how to use it. Only the best scientist, who was dragged off moments ago, knew how. Instead the scientist noted down their behavior.
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”Look, I can’t tell you much, so I’ll show you,” said Alex.
I still had vague ideas of what he was talking about.
“Give me your necklace,” he said.
I obeyed. He took the white angel in his hands and split it open somehow.
“What did you-”
“Hush!”
He then took a small tablet, which had dropped from the open angel, and held it in his fist.
“Trinity, I need you to kiss me and swallow this tablet,” said Alex.
“What?!” I exclaimed in shock.
“This is a vision tablet. You’ll see what happens once you swallow it. Now, I know the Kreons are watching us so I can’t risk them seeing you swallow…this is the only way.”
“Alex, I—”
“Trust me, Trinity.”
I nodded. Alex popped the tablet in his mouth as I closed my eyes. I slowly felt his breath on my face and then his lips on mine. The tablet was in my mouth and I swallowed it.
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The scientist did not notice subject no. four slip something in to his mouth but he did see him kissing subject Trinity. Everything looked normal. It might just be one of those human courtship things. Then why did he feel that something was amiss?
