1 Jesther Sylvestre

"Little girl, don't you know how dangerous this vicinity is?"

I looked behind and saw a young boy with creased brows and dark eyes intently looking at me like I did something wrong. Calling me little girl with that small figure of his?

"Dangerous? Do you know who you are talking to?" I raised an eyebrow.

"This is off limits for kids." He sighed, ignoring my retort. What's wrong with strolling around this place?

I looked around the open space. Meters away northward, there is a dark and creepy-looking forest. On my side, there's a ranch house and a ranch behind it.

"You're no adult. This place is supposed to be forbidden for you, too."

"So stubborn." He shook his head and ran toward me.

I froze, unaware of what to do next.

He gripped my wrist and tried to drag me out of the open space and into the dark old building.

"Let go of me! If you don't, I'll make sure you will rot in jail!" I shouted and tried to escape from his tight grip.

As we got inside the old and dirty lobby, he let me go. My grandfather is somewhere inside this building.

"How impudent! I'll let my grandpa know how you treated me rudely!"

"First off, my grandparents gave me permission to be here. Your grandpa is with them. You should not be going too far away from here or you'll get lost. I'm sure you don't want your family getting worried about you. Don't compare yourself to me because unlike you, I know the detours of this place. Go and tell the authorities about how rude I am to visitors like you." He said with pure sarcasm and left me to go to God-knows-where.

I'm trying hard catching my breath just as I woke up.

"Young Miss!" The medical apprentice attended me. I gasped for air.

That dream just now. I was six years old when grandpa took me to Guarra. I can't even remember why we went to that place.

"Do you remember things now, Young Miss?" Candice asked.

I nodded. This is the side effect of the labyrinth. I experience partial memory loss due to the adjustments of my brain components.

Waves of memories came gushing in. I closed my eyes in overwhelming pain.

"How long have I been sleeping?" I asked in a raspy and slightly trembling voice.

"Two weeks..." she answered with hesitation.

"Thank you for looking out." I smiled at her.

"No problem, Young Miss." She bowed her head.

"I remember telling you to call me by my name. It's Claudia."

"No, you know I can't do that. Your father will send me out of here." Candice shyly rejected. "It's time to take your maintenance prescriptions."

"Hmm. Later."

This is what happens every time the labyrinth gets discharged. I fall into deep slumbers and when I wake up, I slowly remember things. The only things I couldn't recall are those memories I do whenever the labyrinth is installed.

"You need to take it now, Young Miss."

I am about to say no when the door of this laboratory suddenly opened.

"Young Miss." A man in his late thirties got inside the laboratory. He bowed before walking to where I am currently sitting.

"I was told to report to the president once you gain consciousness."

"It's fine if you won't inform him right away."

"But this is an important matter, Young Miss. And tonight is an important event."

I gave Candice a questioning look. What's for tonight?

"Uh, there will be an announcement tonight, Young Miss. I think it's about the new guy. And Mister President agreed to have a formal party."

Weak as I am now, Candice forced me to take my maintenance so I can regain my immunity and strength to face the people outside this prison.

"You look glamorous, Miss Claudia." Candice smiled at my reflection.

"I feel so free tonight. I'm finally going out of this place even just for now."

I stared at Candice. I know we are feeling the same way. Always been stuck here in the Triad Laboratory, used for the labyrinth, only coming out if necessary. And Candice... she has always been with me. If I'll stay here for life, so will she.

I strode my way across the basement up to the main hall of the upper chamber. Candice is behind me, along with some men in black ordered to accompany me to where the event is taking place.

Government officials wearing their best suits and long gowns filled the main hall. I tried my best to hide myself from my father.

"This way, Miss." A receptionist greeted me with all smiles. I greeted back and went to the direction of the cocktail table she pointed out for us.

People are greeting each other and talking about their political stands. Waiters and waitresses are everywhere serving drinks while the bodyguards are guarding the opening of the main hall and the insides of this place.

"Good evening, everyone. We are gathered for a sudden executive party." The master of ceremonies announced. "Tonight, we will be celebrating the success of the current president. He will be out so soon."

There aren't so many people in the main hall. Only the high ranking officials, special VIPs, commanders in chief, and the officials in the left and right chambers are here.

It did not take long before the president came out. He walked toward the lectern on the mini stage and started with his soulful sentiments.

I rolled my eyes at the thought of him faking out in front of his subordinates.

"Today is a good day, isn't it?" He laughed soundly.

The people around me laughed with him. Of course, why wouldn't it be? Everyday is a good day because of the labyrinth.

"I did not allow the media to take cover of this event because I have invited some confidential people in my palace."

"Miss Claudia, tell me if you need anything." Candice spoke lowly. I nodded at her.

"I'll let you know." I smiled.

"The matter regarding the remaining members of the largest activist group has been taken care of." A round of applause filled the room.

I stayed sitting still, my hand carressing the cloth of my tight dress.

"Congratulations on that, President." I heard someone said from the small crowd.

"Smaller activist groups are no threat to us. Especially if they learn about their mother group being destroyed." My father smirked, overconfident about his plans. "For now, I am only concern about those private firms who go against the government, and those who are after the labyrinth."

Murmurs filled the hall. Some are talking about the hidden labyrinth. I suddenly feel bad about these people.

Funny how they gets controlled by it even without having a glimpse or a bit of information about it.

But to whom should I feel bad about? Should I feel bad about these people because I see the fools within them? Or should I feel bad about myself for knowing everything yet still getting controlled by the labyrinth, too?

"Going on to the next matter, I won't waste time in introducing someone who is worthy of joining the Presidential Team." Louder murmurs filled the room.

Is that the new guy Candice was talking about? And the Presidential Team?

"Who's the lucky frontiersman?" A woman sitting in front of me asked the one beside her.

"I have no idea. I went to the Office of the Air Force Commander but he did not deploy someone from his team."

"There aren't any promotion as of now. So where did that guy come from?"

"I would like to introduce Jesther Sylvestre, the newest member of the Presidential Team." He pointed out the guy near the mini stage, along with the other members of their team.

The guy in black suit only looked around the people in the room like we are under his influence. He did not even flinch in hearing words if disapproval from the higher-ups.

Typical snob, yet I can't help but get intimidated by his formidable gaze.

"May I speak, Mister President?" A man in his late forties stood up. All attention drifted from Jesther to him.

"Go on as you please."

"This is the first time you have decided to recruit a man that we don't know of. The Presidential Team is your priced trophy. No one can easily get themselves up to the pillar of hierarchy, not even our best agents in the Armed Forces. Could you please enlighten us with this sudden announcement?" Distaste and doubt filled the faces of the people, especially the members of the Claverian Forces.

"My decision is final and irrevocable. And just to inform you all, Jesther is not a man I picked from nowhere. And someone with that caliber could not be compared to the lower forces..." the president explained. "He is directly sent to me by the Global Security Agency. I'm disappointed by your sudden reactions."

Everybody seems to be guilty of doubting my father. I can almost hear their apologetic expressions.

Jesther Sylvestre? From the Global Security Agency?

"Now, have you cleared your thoughts?"

People nodded, satisfied after hearing that the new guy is not just some scum who happened to get his way through the top.

"I know he's lying." I whispered to Candice while staring at the man. "He's not from the GSA."

As if on cue, he stared back at me like he just heard what I said to Candice. My eyes widened as our gazes locked. I looked away and I just felt the urge to run away from here.

How could he possibly look at me like I did something wrong? The way his eyes stared at me like he's trying to see what's beyond my soul.

"Are you alright, Young Miss? What are you saying?" Candice faced me.

"I-I... nevermind. I want to go outside and take up some fresh air." I stammered and tried so hard not to look at him again.

I excused myself as the crowd started getting up for the party.

Am I just imagining things? Maybe I'm still not feeling well because I just woke up after two weeks. I cannot be bothered by a simple... no. His stares weren't simple. Those were heavy stares. His profound and mysterious dark eyes may be mesmerizing but his gazes are startling me.

I know he's not someone from the Global Security Force. In due time, I will know why my father is lying. I will identify that man's background.