-Alexi-

AS SOON as she cast her eyes on me, I tried to remain calm. Preventing myself from showing any signs of uneasiness. Hoping she wouldn't recognize me. We're doomed if she does. I saw in my peripheral vision that the people here bowed their heads a bit so I did. Now it proves how Red Lady respectable is. Para bang kasalanan kapag hindi mo siya binati o magpakita ng senyales ng respeto sa kanya. I felt goosebumps on my skin. She really has this intimidating aura and it feels like you're not a normal person if you don't feel it.

"Pagbati sa'yo, ma'am"

"Yeah, hi" walang buhay na sagot ni Red Lady. Maya maya'y naramdaman ko nalang ang iba na umusog sa gilid para bigyan ng espasyo si Hermione dahil dadaan ito. That's it. Hermione only needed to see how the people shows their respect to her or worship her like a goddess when she's around.

"I swear, I much scared of her than Ghost Lady's creepiness" bulalas ni Shane sa kabilang linya. I've known Shane for quite some time, and it's her nature to voice out whatever unnecessary comments she has to say.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang lumagpas na sa amin si Hermione. Malaya kaming nagpatuloy sa paglalakad at makihalo sa mga taong nandito. I thought the short intense moment of meeting Red Lady finally gone but we all stopped moving again like a robot who was being paused by a remote control.

"Wait"

My heart never calmed down. It's still beats faster because of anxiousness. I could feel the beads of sweat in my temple even though the whole hallway was as cold as at the North Pole. Pinilit kong hindi lumingon dahil ayokong magtagpo ulit ang aming mga mata. I feel like I had a sudden paranoia that her pinning her gaze at me would create a spare chance to recognize me behind my mask and glasses. These eyeglasses are transparent, and I met her a lot of times. I'm just hoping she hadn't paid any attention to my eyes whenever we had an interaction.

Narinig ko ulit ang maingay na takong ni Hermione kaya doon na ako napalingon sa kanya. Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko nang makitang papalapit siya sa aking direksyon. Nag-angat ako ng tingin gaya ng normal na reaksyon ng taong naiintriga at walang iniiwasan. She raised a finger and pointed it at the girl who was standing within a meter from me.

"You" matapos niyang ituro ang babaeng hanggang balikat ang buhok ay sunod niya akong tiningnan pati ang babaeng nasa likuran ko. "And you two, I want you to make a test from this sample. I want results within two hours" sa akin niya inabot ang maliit na bote na naglalaman ng asul na likido. Malapot ito na parang dugo. I know it's her normal tone but it didn't fail to send chills on my spine, terrified of being caught under my act. Her aura screams authority with menace. At ang utos niyang ito ay tila mas importante pa sa buhay namin.

Agad din itong umalis at hindi na hinintay ang sagot ng isa sa aming mga inutusan niya. I looked at the other girl whom Hermione first pointed. It was Coleen. A sigh of relief silently escaped from my lips. Hindi namin kilala ang isa ngunit sinenyasan niya kaming sumunod sa kanya. Good thing our faces was hiding behind the mask and glasses. It didn't appear how intense I was in front of Red Lady.

The girl in the same lab coat as us has short hair. I remember that's what exactly Coleen's hair length was before, which now grew a few inches. We followed the short-haired girl while Coleen and I exchanged glances, trying to manage the act. May mangilan ngilan kaming mga naka lab coat at guwardiya na nasasalubong. I tried to recall all the directions I reviewed on the map since this wasn't the way where we were supposed to go first.

"Nasa'n na kayo?" Kaiden was the first one to break the dead air on the other line.

"We're following this lab tech girl," Coleen answered in a lowly voice. "We'll connect to you guys later"

Hanggang huminto kami sa tapat ng pinto na gawa sa frosted glass. Nilabas ng babaeng lab tech ang kanyang access at ini-swipe yon sa gilid ng pintuan. The door smoothly opened with thin amount of fog effect greeted with us as we entered. The lady laid her palm to me. "The bottle?"

I quickly fished the bottle out of my lab coat's pocket without looking uneasy. As soon as I gave it to her, she immediately closed her palm with the bottle and retrieved her hand. I took a quick peek around the surroundings. We're inside the lab room, where various laboratory materials and equipment are scattered around with no arrangement. Some flasks and test tubes are filled with colored liquids. Meron pang bote na umuusok habang ang lamang likido sa loob ay kumukulo kahit hindi naman nakasalang sa apoy. Muntik kong masangga ang hilera ng mga test tube na may laman dahil sa transparent glass box na may lamang...utak ng tao.

I almost jumped in repulsion. Coleen shot a glance at me when she noticed my reaction. She stared at me behind her glasses as she uttered "careful" on the other line. Bago ko makalimutan ay nakadikit nga pala sa tenga ko ang ear device. I immediately retreated myself from shock, realizing it was normal for them to have those things though it was my first time to see a human brain in flesh.

The lady who tagged with us stood in front of the microscope, starting to make some tests from the sample bottle I gave to her. She lifted her gaze to us both, who remained standing doing nothing. I'm not a lab tech, and I'd never study medical stuff or do experiments in a laboratory, so I don't know how to keep the act without being suspected.

"You two. Get your test" sa isa niyang kamay ay may dalawang syringe at inabot niya 'yon sa amin. Unang lumapit si Coleen para kunin ang isang syringe at sumunod naman ako. Coleen's studying a medical course so I know she's familiar with this stuff. I watched her as she inserted the needle part of the syringe inside the bottle and pull the plunger. Pinasa niya sa akin ang sample bottle at ginaya ko lang ang ginawa niya. Umangat ang tingin nito sa taas kaya napatingin din ako doon.

"No camera" Coleen managed to whisper without getting heard by our other companion. I could imagine her curving lips behind the mask. Maybe they kept this place really secret because they couldn't afford the risk of putting on any surveillance device, fearing it might hacked someday.

"Hey guys are you okay there?" Biglang lumitaw ang boses ni Shane.

"Should we head first to the third floor?" Reigan's voice followed after.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Coleen, parehong hindi makapagsalita para sagutin ang kanilang mga tanong. Both of us can't risk to speak freely knowing we have a stranger with us in this room. Hindi kami pwedeng magtagal dito kaya tiningnan ko ulit si Coleen. Sana'y mabasa niya sa aking mga mata ang pagtatanong ko kung ano ang susunod na gagawin. Mukhang naintindihan niya naman 'yon dahil nagsalita ito sa kabilang linya. She can't speak loud enough since our distance weren't close and she's wearing a mask.

"Watch"

Pagkasabi niya no'n ay lumapit ito sa babae. Mabilis ang paggalaw nito na hindi namalayan ng lab tech lady na nasa likuran na niya si Coleen. May hawak siyang mabigat na bagay at dali dali niya 'yong pinukpok sa batok ng babae. I watch how she lost her balance and passed out on the floor. Naiwan sa microscope ang ginagawa niyang test. She took off her mask for awhile to speak on the rest of the team.

"Sorry for the delayed reply. Yes, mauna na kayo. Susunod kaming dalawa ni Alexi. Let's meet at the 3rd floor's lobby. Make sure everyone stays cool and don't cause any suspicion to the people there if you want to stay alive in the next few hours." Even though it's just a simple reminder, she made it sound like a warning to emphasize how serious this situation is. Sunod itong bumaling kay Chad. Each of us is connected to the line, so even our can be heard unless one is on mute. "You heard that, Chad? Third floor. Hack every surveillance there"

"On it" agad na pagresponde ni Chad.

"Reigan" I called his name. "Please keep everyone safe"

"Roger that" he replied.

After a short update with the others, we temporarily off our lines. We have a rule on staying offline and connected to the line. Napag-usapan lahat namin 'yon sa meeting. We can go off our lines if we do or say something that doesn't need to be updated with the others to prevent distraction. This device is sound-sensitive, so even small scratches are audible. We all have to stay focused, so we should avoid small distractions. That's Reigan's idea by the way. But our lines will be automatically on if someone is calling us.

"Anong gagawin natin sa babaeng 'to?" Tanong ko kay Coleen. "We can't leave her like this can we?"

"Yes we can" Coleen answered dismissively before she walked towards the door. Nang maramdaman niyang hindi ako nakasunod ay mabilis lumiko ang ulo nito sa direksyon ko. Hindi ito nakasuot ng mask kaya kita ko ang pagtatakang puminta sa kanyang mukha. "Mind to tell me why you're still standing there?"

"I think we should hide this girl" I suggested. "Kung sakaling may papasok dito at maaabutan siyang ganito, they'll immediately call the guards and order them to search the person who caused her like this. And when they do, they might look for us. If they start the search then---"

"Okay okay I get it" Coleen raised a hand to cut me off. Matalim itong bumuntong hininga kasabay ng pag-ikot ng kanyang mata sa kawalan. "Good suggestion but time wasting"

Pinagtulungan naming hilahin ang babae sa tagong parte ng silid na ito. Nang masigurong walang maaaring makakita sa kanya ay pinunit ni Coleen ang halos kalahati ng damit nito sa ilalim ng suot niyang lab coat at ginamit 'yon upang talian ang bibig nito. "Just in case she wakes up, she won't create a sound" she remarked. "Or..."

Saglit itong tumayo. Naiwan akong nakabantay sa babae at wala pang isang minuto ay agad na bumalik si Coleen. May hawak itong syringe na may lamang likido.

"What's that?" I asked curiously.

"Tranquilizer," Coleen answered proudly with a mischievous smile drawn on her face as if she was so smart to come up with that idea. "To make sure she'll stay asleep in the next few hours"

We left the lab safe and sound with the use of our access cards. Payapa kaming naglalakad sa pasilyo ng first floor patungo sa elevator. We even acted having small conversation while walking to lessen the suspicion in the sight of the people we passed by. Hanggang ngayon ay tinatrabaho ko padin na huwag magmukhang balisa na kahit pagtingin sa mata ng mga estranghero sa paligid ay hindi ko ginagawa.

"Put your hands in the pocket, Alexi. You looked tensed" Coleen said without looking, her eyes were glued on the way. I envy that she can walk graciously and act like she's working here. Saglit na dumapo ang mga mata ko sa aking kamay. They were trembling, so I immediately inserted them inside the lab pocket. I silently took a deep breath to relax myself. Maybe what adds to my anxiousness is the armed people we're passing by. Kakaunti lang ang mga lab coat na nasasalubong namin dahil karamihan ay mga guwardiya na.

We headed towards the first elevator we saw. We stopped there and waited for a few seconds until it opened. Sa pagbukas ay may iilang tao kaming nadatnan doon. Six people when I counted them by sight. Ang iba'y umurong upang bigyan kami ng espasyo. We silently get ourselves in. Everyone inside has a mask on, including the two armed people in black suits with us, except for the man with glasses. He's also wearing a lab coat but there's something in his aura that tells me he's not that just an ordinary person here. My hunch tells me he has a high position in this building like Red Lady. Maybe because of the way he stands. Our gap is only covered by the lady in a lab coat who's in the middle of us.

"I heard Doc Arrellano's dead already. Is that true?" I heard the man in glasses speak.

I fought the urge to flinch or to create any small reaction upon hearing someone mention his name. I'm still not over at Mr. Arellano's death. Instead, I keep my ears to them.

"Yes, Mr. Barri"

Mabuti't walang salamin sa harap namin dahil makikita sa mata ko kung paano ito namulagat dahil sa gulat. Coleen who's standing beside me must be surprised as well. Who wouldn't be? The person who's the reason why we're here is with us. Now it confirms kung bakit iba ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya. He's Coriolanus Barri after all.

"I see. I think it's a good thing, I guess. He can rest." his tone doesn't have any ounce of sympathy, and I even heard him letting out a small bubble of soft laughs. My teeth gritted.

"Sir Sonkan ordered to kill him" the lady Mr. Barri talking to added. Thinking adding more information would give her plus points for promotion.

"That is more satisfying to hear" sa pagkakataong 'yon ay mas lumakas ang kanina'y maliliit na tawa ni Mr. Barri. Kung magsalita ito'y parang wala siyang pakialam kahit isipin ng mga taong nandito sa masikip na espasyo na wala siyang konsensya sa taong namatay. "Binalaan ko na siya dati. His morals wouldn't bring any good. He didn't listen. I hope that served you a lesson young lady. Always use this..." My eyes were itched to flicker on their direction so I took a quick glance at them. Nakita kong nakaturo ang daliri ni Mr. Barri sa kanyang sintido. "And not this" he then next pointed his chest.

That left the lady to nod, marking on her mind what the middle-aged man, who seemed to have a lot of life experiences, advised her.

"Always choose where you can benefit the most" Mr. Barri added.

Nagkaroon ng saglit na katahimikan. Bumukas ang elevator sa 3rd floor kung saan dapat kami patungo pero mukhang parehas naming napagdesisyunan na manatili sa loob ng elevator kung nasaan si Mr. Barri. We need to track down where he was going. The two people in lab coat with us sauntered out as the elevator goes in 4th floor. Sa sunod na pagbukas ng elevator ay may isang lalaking naka lab coat naman ang pumasok. Bahagya itong yumuko nang makita si Mr. Barri.

"Good evening Sir, Barri"

I saw in my peripheral vision Mr. Barri gave him a nod to acknowledge his greeting. "Have you reported the sample I made to Hermione?"

Now he's talking about the Red Lady. Speaking of that witch, she's asking for a result from the sample after 2 hours. I hope we get the mission done within two hours.

"Yes, sir. They're making some test of it"

The elevator went up until it reached on the 12th floor. Nang bumukas 'yon ay doon na lumabas si Mr. Barri. Nakasunod ang dalawang guard sa kanya. Bago magsara ang elevator ay lumabas na din kaming dalawa ni Coleen at nakihalo sa mga nakalab coat na naglalakad na salungat sa direksyong tinahak ni Mr. Barri. Coleen immediately joined on the line. "Paging Kaiden and Callista. Kindly go to the 12th floor. Now. Mr. Barri is there. He has a name badge. You can recognize him"

"We bumped him in the elevator just a moment ago" I added.

"Okay, okay. Copy" bakas ang pagkabigla sa boses ni Callista. In the notebook, Mr. Arellano advised us to go to the 6th floor because that's where Mr. Barri's office is, but now we have a sudden change of plan.

"Chad? What's your status there? Can you hack the 12th floor? Make sure every surveillance there wouldn't catch any glimpse of Kaiden and Callista"

Maya maya'y lumitaw sa kabilang linya ang maingay na pagtitipa sa keyboard. That must be Chad's. "On it"

"Al Capone? How about you guys?" Coleen called the attention of Reigan and other folks.

"We're still here except for Caleb"

"What? Where is he?" Coleen almost snapped.

"The guy came earlier to get some of the few men to accompany Hermione. Isa siya sa napasama. I acted patrolling so they didn't include me" Reigan explained.

"I'm still here" Caleb's voice suddenly appeared on the line. "Chill and alive. Don't worry about me guys"

Coleen exhaled sharply with a sarcastic smile stretched on her lips. Her eyes rolled. "I am much more concerned that you might be the cause of our arrest when you don't act well there and be stupid"

"You have a sharp tongue, young lady. It needs to teach a lesson shouldn't we?" Caleb's tone becomes coarse but playful, like he was intentionally doing it to annoy Coleen or maybe..

"Woah, whoah. That sounds sexy. Are you flirting with her?" The voice who piped in next belonged to Shane. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Reigan. Maging ako ay umiwas na lamang ng tingin at tinago ang hagikgik.

"What the no!" Coleen almost yelled but was still mindful of her voice. Her eyebrows were knitted. I know she's becoming Veronica when she can be easily pissed off.

"We're heading now there. Wait for us" sambit ko para putulin ang kanilang nagbabadyang asaran at bago pa may madistract sa amin. I lifted my eyes to Coleen and give her a nod, signalling we need to go to the third floor.

I want to exhale deeply if I'm not wearing a mask because of relief when we successfully made it through the third floor. Riding in an elevator went smoothly with no violence or surprise attack coming on. I tend to overthink every possible way we could be arrested since we're in disguise and consider the fact that it is a restricted place and we shouldn't be here, but we're just brave souls to take the job, which is something I consider an achievement in the span of almost an hour. Agad kaming dumiretso sa lobby kung saan dapat kami magkikita. I saw the three girls scattered around like pieces of continents. Nakamask man sila at nakasalamin ay nakikilala ko padin sila.

Sa kabilang side ng railings ay nakatayo si Reigan. Kailangan ko pa siya titigan ng ilang segundo bago ko siya makilala. Hawak nito ang rifle at diretso ang tingin. Seems he's portraying the character that serious. Para siyang guwardiyang doon sa pwesto na 'yon naatasang magbantay. When he heard the sound of our approaching heels, his head turned in our direction. He quickly pressed something on his side and it made the mask automatically opened. He pierced his eyes through me and I gave him a small smile.

Maraming taong dumadaan dito sa lobby at magiging kahina hinala kung lalapitan namin ang isa't isa kaya tinawag nalang ni Coleen ang kanilang atensyon sa earpiece.

"Let's begin guys. We don't have much time left"

**********

Thanks for reading!