CEMETERY WIND

"Mrs. Hope. We've been expecting you. Here, have some water."

"Where am i?"

"Don't be too scrupulous about it. What's more important, you are save now."

I didn't know who were these people nor tried to trust them. They took me to this place after we were confronted by the Apex Predator. From the outside it looked like an old shack, but when i walked in, there's an elevator to the underground.

"Listen, whatever you want from me, i don't have it," i said.

"Calm down. I'm Kyle, i'm assigned to accompany you. We'll fly to the HQ in two hours. Change your clothes, we have spare in that closet."

"What if i don't want to?"

"I'll ask the ugliest man we have to put it for you," he glowered. "Don't waste your time, Defiant Lady."

I looked at him with contempt. I didn't have a choice after all. At least they didn't try to kill me. I put the spare clothes on. A camo T-shirt and trousers. He deliberately didn't tell me if the spare clothes were man size. It's baggy. I felt naked in this. Luckily i found a belt to cinched these over sized clothes. This was embarrassing.

They didn't say anything when they saw me. Instead, they offered me some food.

"Don't give me that face."

"What if you poisoned my food?" i said.

Kyle put a glass of water on the table. "You're already dead long ago if i want to."

We took off when the sun about to submerged into the horizon. As the helicopter flied, a drop of tear rolled up my cheek. Invariably dripped like a cut opened vein. My throat felt tight as if it was squished by a press machine.

Kyle looked at me, but said nothing.

It felt unreal. Just a week ago i was a normal person. Well maybe not so normal, but at least i felt happy as if everything would always be fine.

"Mrs. Hope, we'll arrive in five minutes."

I nodded. I didn't feel like to say anything.

"You have to change your clothes when you get there. You look funny."

I stared at him. Was this an attempt to provoke me?

"You look like a homeless zombie from Kensington Ave. The only different is you're sober and beautiful."

"Excuse, me?"

"Listen, Mrs. Hope. I understand what you've been through, but cheer up. You are save now. Don't just look outside with that mindless empty stare like Joe Biden on his Teleprompter."

"Joe Biden? Why would you bring a dead person from one hundred years ago into our conversation?"

"Exactly."

I didn't understand. Was that a subtle message or something?

Not long after we landed on a spectacle looking building. It looked immense and distinct with its neo futuristic architecture design. I didn't know where was i at the moment, but i noticed this place was highly secured. Armed guards almost everywhere. Some just lingered around the gates and watchtowers.

A woman escorted me to infirmary. I told her i'm fine, but she insisted to treat the scratches on my elbow and knee. How did she know about my knee? Did Kyle informed her before we got here? She's truly a caring woman. After a quick treatment she took me to another room. The atmosphere changed drastically. Almost like from bad to worse. A scary looking man just sat there as if he'd been expecting me. His intense stare made my knees tremble. Let alone the burn scar on his left face.

"Thank you Adeline, you can leave. Now, Mrs. Hope, please take a seat."

"Where am i? Uhmm I, i'm sorry. With all respect, Sir, i, uhmm."

"Cemetery Wind headquarter. I'm Thomas Henderson, the managing director of this place."

"I, i, i uhmm, it's truly disconcerting. I, i really don't understand why am i here and what is this place and uhmm, i, i've never heard about your organization and uhmm."

"Worry nothing Mrs. Hope. We are on the good side."

"B, but, uhmm, could you elaborate more? With all respect, Sir, i, i didn't mean to, uhmm."

"We are just like Apex Predator. The only different is, we are serving a different bos."

"So, uhmm, Cemetery Wind is a private military organization? Like, mercenary army? I, i just assume, maybe i'm wrong, b, but i don't mean to, uhmm."

"Mrs. Hope, i understand you've been through a lot this week. Just for your record, we don't have a plan to kill you. Yet."

A sudden great turmoil in my chest almost pumped my soul out of my body. What did he mean by, yet? As i thought, i was literally running from a snake's hive into the lion's den.

"We are working for the World Health Organization, Mrs. Hope. I believe this answer would dissipate your doubt and dismay."

Why would a prestige high class world organization such as WHO hired this mercenary army? What's the purpose?

"Uhmm, okay, what do you want from me?"

"The truth."

"And by truth you mean?"

"Tell me everything you know about the Novaya Zemlya incident."

I froze on my chair like a broken door knob. I didn't want to remember anything that happened on that night. In fact, i was haunted by it. Somehow, a sudden compulsion spasm an urge in me to fight the inner terror.

"Fine, i'll tell you everything."

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