35. Ray of Hope

V221KA and C1RC221 held on to the pipes which were strapped to the roof and made sure that the robot and the workers didn’t notice them during its work. The robot was quite slow in working, as if the model was too old and outdated, unlike the ones they used to see in and around the prisons. The two people were checking the machines, and they seemed to be from the maintenance team of the island. They were surely quicker than the robot as they rushed through each of the machines in the room. But the robot still accelerated on occasions while keeping a look all around for anything to clean.

“We should apply for a new robot today itself. We have been working with this thing for too long. This one is lagging and also making too much of strange noises” one of the workers said.

“I can only hope that they agree to this. They usually say that maintenance and cleaning can do with the old model robots all the time because there is rarely the need, and even when there is a small need, the robots start working” said the other worker.

“This is the moment. Right now, through the door as fast as you can” said V221KA as the two jumped down and rushed through the door into the corridor while the robot slowly turned around to see nothing, and it went back to its work.

The corridor continued with rooms on both sides, and as they looked, there were machines everywhere except for one or two rooms which seemed empty. They reached a hall with a stage in the middle. A large number of chairs surrounded the stage which was decorated with flowers. There was something written on the wall in a strange language. The colours of the room kept changing between blue, red, white, green, yellow, brown, orange and purple. Video cameras and big speakers were set everywhere, but they were not connected or charged.

“Something special is going to happen here soon. Everything seems to be set and someone will be coming soon. We can’t stay here for long without risking capture again” said V221KA.

“It is going to be a very strange function, I would say, unless it has already happened. This is very unlike the total setting of the island” said C1RC221.

There were three doors in front of them with different designs, the left one coloured brown and with the sign of the trees, the middle one coloured black and with the pictures of the stars and the right one coloured red and with the images of the lion, tiger and eagle. The middle one was the largest and the left door the smallest. They took the left door which led them outside, to the foot of a mountain. They looked around to see the prison on the side, but it seemed separated from their present location by something in between.

“There seems to be more than one island. This should be the smaller one compared to the grand island with the prison, guard homes and the training facilities; the one which appears in the maps” said C1RC221.

“This should be a support island and the connection is actually made underwater through the corridors which connect the rooms. The need for some extra power and resources was always present. There could be more of such smaller islands around, but we never see them because we always follow a certain path according to the instructions” added V221KA.

“They have a lot more in store here. I wonder if their own people know this. There have been no stories about multiple islands. The absence of rumours amaze me” said C1RC221.

“They got the money and lots of resources. It is always easy for them to create an extra artificial island and expand their world. They have been stealing for a long time, and building something like this would be always easy for them. After all, they also steal the brains” added V221KA.

They walked to the end of the beach and touched the sea. It was all real and there was no forcefield there. There was no illusions there either as they could feel the sea. There were also crabs wandering around, and the sun was strong. There was no human being in sight anywhere around.

“At least we have managed to be closer to the sea here. There is not much of a security here and may be this is the perfect area to make an escape to the mainlands. We have to be careful, but also agile” said C1RC221.

“Which direction do you think we should go?” asked V221KA while looking at the sea.

“But there are no boats. The direction might not be the first thing to worry about” said C1RC221 as she looked around.

“There are none here, but we can make our own boats” said V221KA as she moved towards the trees.

“This idea is going to take a long time. We should look inside these buildings. At least one of them might have a solution, may be even an inflatable boat. After all, we are so close to the sea” said C1RC221.

“May be we should take the risk then. I can’t find anything sharp either. Lets give it a try” said said V221KA as they started walking towards the closest building on the other side of the island.

They entered the first one to see that it was empty and there were just ashes around. It seemed as if the place was the burnt ruins of what used to be home some time ago. The second building was the same in effect and it remained so as they continued looking inside thirteen buildings, and the only change came inside the fourteenth as they witnessed something other than just ashes. It was not something that could inspire them.

To be continued…

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30. Free Pessimism

The sea was furious as the wind got stronger. They could see it from a distance, and wanted to get there no matter what happened after that – death by storm was better as they could die as free humans. But it was not going to happen. There was something standing between them and their freedom. It was a defensive invention of science which meant more good than bad, but not this time; not for these two. They were almost there, but still not free. Freedom seemed near impossible right now for the escaped prisoners.

“This is not good at all. The plan was actually better than this. I mean, I had big ideas to implement after we get to the boat and then while we go on and on. This was never supposed to be there. Come on, I never saw this or even read or heard about it. I should have known because I had eyes and ears everywhere” said V221KA.

“This was never supposed to end well. The happy endings are banned by these creatures in the form of humans” added C1RC221.

“Look out” murmered V221KA as she pulled C1RC221 back behind the rocks.

The group of soldiers looked around to see if anyone was around. The sensors attached to their guns searched for any movement around. They noticed the blood on the ground and spread around the area. C1RC221 and V221KA were left with nowhere to go. As they looked around the rocks, the two girls hid further deep under the rocks.

“Search through each and every corner. Things have to be perfect. These drops of blood seems to have another story to tell. Let’s take no risk here as the society outside is giving us some tough times” screamed the leader.

“There is a small passage which seems to go inside. A very small one if you ask me” C1RC221 murmered.

“Can you fit into it? Can you at least give it a try?” asked V221KA.

“I don’t know. This seems to small. I was not good at this during the training too. This was something which brought me too many lashes on the back” said C1RC221.

“Send for the drones. Also, keep the search mode at a higher level. Let the machine detect even the slighest movement. Even if it is just some grass, fire on it. We have to find the reason for this blood and report in less than three hours. Only then can we end our duty” further screamed the leader.

“You have to try. It is only a matter of time until they find us. They know that we are here and soon, they will be bringing extra help including the drones which will find us with ease if programmed with the sample of blood” said V221KA.

C1RC221 tried to get into it, and couldn’t go in at the first attempt. But with her friend’s help, she somehow managed not to get stuck at the middle forever. V221KA was thinner, and she made it through in an easier way.

“I thought you would be stuck at the hips, and they would get only a full me and half you. I say less food and more training for you” said V221KA.

“Yes, very good joke. Now, can we get moving and keep the comic side for another day?” asked C1RC221.

“Okay, just say which direction? It is just darkness all around. You hope for light in the end of the tunnel for no reason? I don’t think that this passage will allow us to get up soon enough. There is also a chance that we might get stuck here. The passage might get smaller and we will have nowhere to go. Or, the whole thing can fall on our heads”.

“Now, you are the one being pessimistic. Right now, I am having better hope. You have brought us all the way here. Now, stop talking abour chances and keep moving. We are not going back” C1RC221 urged.

“You are saying that because you are not sure if your hips can make it through that entrance again. I am not being pessimistic. It is clear from the inclination that we see above and considering how the ground seemed before we got in here. I am just going with the logic and calculations again. Still, let’s move a little bit and see how things turn out” adviced V221KA.

“Whatever! Just keep moving. Don’t waste time” said C1RC221.

They dragged themselves through the passage until they felt that there was no space to crawl any more. There was the terrible smell of waste all around, and it felt like a sewage pipe had cracked somewhere. It seemed as if they were stuck, and the darkness was full with no idea what was there in front or in the back.

“See, I told you. Can we move back all the way now?” asked V221KA.

“Wait. I think there is noise coming from under” said C1RC221.

“Hope they are not gunshots coming from the top. We need to move back, and may be sneak under the eyes of the troops if possible” said V221KA.

“Sssssshhhhhhhh…make no sound” urged C1RC221.

“Is that a machine? That voice that keeps ticking?” asked V221KA.

“Yes, it surely sounds familiar. There are pipes around and there are machines too. Something should be happening around us. We are not stuck in the middle of nowhere. There is hope. Come on, push down and dig through. Just take that stone and give it a try”.

“You are really getting optimistic, aren’t you?” asked V221KA.

“As if I have any other option right now. We need to get somewhere. I am tired, and have to make something happen before I faint” said C1RC221.

“Well, I have some of the optimism left within me. I shall work with it again” said V221KA as she started digging.

They digged and digged until the land began to tear away from underneath them. They fell down into a huge bowl of water which was so cold that they struggled to get out of it. They looked out to see another part of the chaotic island which they hadn’t seen or even imagined before.

To be continued…

28. The Dark Clouds

The dark clouds were coming together on the sky, the certainty of rain was there. The wind was getting stronger and they could feel the power of nature ready to unleash on the island which has had the history of going under the sea at times. But they were sure to be safe this time as they were the chosen ones to be transported to that heavenly body which was to decide their fate and not anything on Earth.

“Begin the count” instructed the warden.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero. Let the exercise begin” shouted the guard.

“Be good today. This is your last day. Don’t make any excuses or mess things up. Do your regular exercise and go back to your cells” shouted another guard.

As the tides threatened to rise higher and higher, they started running forward. The sea was just like their minds with troubles deep inside and hoping to destroy all which were the opponents. The security was a little less concerned on the day as they knew that anyone who tried to escape on that day would be a big idiot, considering the weather conditions. It was a day with almost no good way out.

“Lets slow it down a bit” whispered V221KA into the ears of C1RC221.

“Okay, but keep your eyes on the right. I shall look for anything on the left” added C1RC221.

“That guy on the right outpost is worth killing. Do you remember that guy who gave us the torture? May be we will get a chance another day” murmered V221KA.

They slowed down as the other prisoners went past them with ease and the cameras were more towards the areas which had more people concentrated around. The outposts had a small stretch without significant presence, and not wasting a second, V221KA pulled C1RC221 and went under the rusting iron railings, rolling to the area under the pavement. They were just slightly hurt as they checked for cameras around.

“It seems that we have got down at the best possible area” remarked V221KA.

“I think it is clear. Lets go” said C1RC221.

“Wait a minute” V221KA whispered as one of the security bots ran through the beach.

The security bots were the smallest among the most effective drones available to the bloc. They were quick and equipped with lethal needles which could be shot from their shoulders. They were used on the beaches because of their ability to tunnel and hide under the sand in case of emergency. But there was no history of escapes or attacks on the island and therefore they just roamed around hoping to use their old needles some day.

“Now” said both of them together as they ran to the beach after the bot was far enough.

They were running at their best possible speeds and almost reached the end of the beach which had an area which looked like a lagoon. They could see three small speed boats there with weapons, as the key to their grand escape. All of a sudden, C1RC221 who was on the front fell on the ground with hands on her nose. V221KA stopped to look for her.

“This sucks. Or may be a lot more than that” said C1RC221 while covering her nose.

“Get up, we are almost there” said V221KA.

“No, you can’t go past that” said C1RC221.

“Go past what?” she asked.

“That thing” C1RC221 said as she pointed straight ahead.

V221KA took a few steps forward to reveal the force field which was set there which prevented anybody from reaching the water. It was transparent, but as she walked near it, she could see the field becoming more and more visible with a blue shade. There seemed to be no way forward, unless may be there was something that could destroy, deactivate or override the force field systems.

“I know what you are thinking. It is made of pure energy. You can’t destroy it. As it is a permanent structure, you can’t even stop or pause it for a moment” said C1RC221.

“How can you be so sure?” V221KA asked.

“It is a deflector shield. This is not the regular force field. Otherwise it would not have harmed us, but sounded an alarm. This is a deflector meant to deflect the animals and scare them enough never to come near the barrier again. A regular force field comes with an alarm and less thickness. I have seen the models on the table of the warden” she added.

“You need access to the control system to pause or stop it, yes. But how can you be so confident that it cannot be destroyed?” V221KA asked.

“It is not made from anything of this world. So it can’t be destroyed by anything on Earth. There are many stories about the new inventions made by the bloc which spreads through the prisons” added C1RC221.

“Come on. This can’t be the end. The boats are there just somewhere within our reach. We have to think of something” said V221KA.

“What are you going to do now? Planning to throw stones at it again and again?” asked a pessimistic C1RC221.

A small team of soldiers were traveling to the spot on the deflector shield where there was some disturbance. The instruction was to check for any deviation from the usual days. A hit on the deflector shield from the inside was surely a deviation and a strange happening, especially because it happened near the beach area which was rarely visited by the members of animal kingdom.

To be continued…