The plan was simple.
Cooperate with the experiments.
Memorise every hallway, every corner and every vent.
Use the crayons and paper to draw the map during lights-out.
Then wait. Wait for the moment their guard finally dropped.
Every day was the same:
Lights on - 6:00
Brush teeth, wash face - 6:00-6:30
Breakfast - 6:30-7:00
Basic physical training - 7:00-11:30
Lunch and playtime - 11:30-13:00
Advanced Education - 13:00-17:30
Dinner and pastime - 17:30-19:00
Formula injections - 19:00-19:30
Bath, brush teeth - 19:30-20:00
Lights out - 20:00
By day 234, even breathing felt like work.
During planks, a yawn slipped out of Seohwa’s mouth before she could stop it.
The Black Mask Instructor, who the kids called Mr Alpha, yelled, “I see you yawning, 8-33! Is my training too easy for you?”
“Sir, no sir!” Seohwa replied instinctively as Mr Alpha huffed before facing another kid slacking off, “8-10! No running away!”
“Pfft.” Seohwa glared at Seoyong who was holding back his laughter as she lightly kicked him.
“8-32! Your form is crumbling! Go lower!”
“Wha—!! Sir, yes sir!” Seoyong wrongfully glanced at Seohwa and whispered, “I’ll get you back for this.”
“You shouldn’t have laughed.” Seohwa stuck her tongue out.
During lunch, as Seohwa was just leaving the line of the cafeteria, some gooey red porridge splashed onto her. She was hit. Warm tomato porridge dripped down her cheeks. She wiped it off and let out a weary sigh. She turned to the direction of where the tomato porridge was thrown, and of course, it was 8-21. She wondered why she chose her out of all the people there but before she could say anything…
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“Why did you do that?”
…Her brother’s voice was near 8-21. Immediately, she knew that her brother was going to pick a fight as he was smiling but his tone was lower than his usual teasing mood.
“Oppa, I’m fine.” Seohwa softly said as she tugged his sleeve but was shrugged off. Oh boy. He was mad.
“I didn’t mean to.” 8-21 chuckled mockingly, unafraid, “I just hated my food so I threw it randomly. I didn’t mean to hit her. Sorry.” 8-21 glanced at Seohwa and sarcastically placed her hands together to fake an apology.
“It’s fine.” Seohwa then averted her eyes away as if suggesting she doesn’t know her.
8-21 tilted her head, curious to why she suddenly ignored her when she was then splattered with tomato porridge, “ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Her voice screeched to the point everyone curiously turned to the commotion. It wasn't everyday something new and eventful happened.
Seoyong then tilted his head and acted apologetically, “Ah sorry, I hated my food so I randomly dropped it. I didn’t mean to cover you with it.”
8-21 was huffing as she stood up, “I’m telling Dr 8!”
But before she could even walk away, Seoyong invaded her personal space grabbing her arm firmly as he slowly wiped the tomato porridge off her face, whispering, “I said I’m sorry. Like how my sister forgave you, you should forgive me too. Isn’t that basic manners?”
8-21 was trembling as Seowha tugged his uniform, “That’s enough. Before we get into more trouble.”
Seoyong released the pitiful 8-21 and smirked, “Well hopefully, something like this won’t happen again, right 8-21?” 8-21 nodded trembling.
Hurried footsteps came about as Dr 8 entered and frowned upon the scene. She sighed, disappointed, “I had high hopes you were the ideal subject considering your academic excellence and physical performance, 8-32. It seems you have proven to me that you are still but a child.”
Seoyong glanced at the supervisor wearing the white mask with the number 8 on it before replying, “Well, I believe in something called basic manners. Though, we aren’t getting much of that here, right Doc?” Seoyong smiled unfazed by her disappointed tone.
Seohwa looked nervously between him and Dr 8, ready to intervene if things go wrong.
Dr 8 pondered, “Well, I do see your point. It is the truth that our experiment focuses on raising capable elite superhumans, but it would not do if they can’t be obedient to simple rules. Very well, I shall inform Dr Oh about a change in the curriculum.”
She turned around before pausing, “It is one thing to change the curriculum but another for causing a disruption. You’ll comply with your punishment, 8-32.”
“…I don’t believe I did anything wrong.” Seoyong stood his ground as he felt Seohwa tugging his uniform from behind as if to stop.
“I wasn’t asking, 8-32. But, since you are so bent on disobeying, 8-32 and 8-33 shall be experimented further after dinnertime.” She then began to walk out the dining hall with her heels clacking louder than usual.
A brief pause. Breaths were hitched. The numbers ‘8-33’ Seohwa received never felt more horrible than it did now. That was her.
Seoyong paled when Dr 8 suddenly involved Seohwa in his punishment as he ran to catch after her only to be stopped by Mr Alpha. “No! That isn’t right! I’ll do it! Leave Seohw— 8-33 alone!” He struggled aggressively as he was put down by Mr Alpha.
Dr 8 resolutely commanded, “Alpha, make sure to watch over them and have them at room 37 for their punishment,” before she closed the door with a bang.
“Oppa!”
Seohwa threw herself at Mr Alpha, grabbing his arms and shoulders.
“You’re crushing him! Let go!”
Her hands might as well have been paper. He didn’t even flinch.
Seoyong couldn’t hear or see clearly as he was crushed under the weight of Mr Alpha. Mr Alpha began to get annoyed by Seohwa’s persistent pulling as he barked, “Hold her! You idiots! And get the sedatives!”
No…don’t hold her… you bastards. Seoyong couldn’t move a muscle as his breathing turned heavy and his heartbeat grew louder by the second.
Badum.
Badum. Badum.
BadumBadumBadumBadum—
A single ear-piercing screech tore through his skull.
Then, everything went black.
