ORPHEUS - A.I.

Chapter Thirty Five: Reckless

"We can't lose hope and let Devonshire win… we will have to find a way- I spoke to Hex earlier - he said the three of them (Andre, Tim and Hex) were trying to decode some algorithms and they will find out a way - he just needs a few days he said.", replied Anthea.

"I need to get back to my home- my aunt is sick- I don't have a few days in my hands- it's already been too late.", said Megan.

"Just have some patience dear- we have lost some good men for being careless- we have to have a proper plan!", said Anthea.

Megan said nothing and stood up and walked away. This place was getting on her nerves. She couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to get out right now. All she knew was that her aunt needed her out there in the real world. But what could she do?

She walked towards the exit tunnel and asked John to open the door. John gave a surprised look and hesitatingly opened up the door. She walked out of the shaft and was out in the open in no time. She looked around. Nina was sitting behind some bushes- carefully camouflaged chewing a bead of grass- resting her back against a rock. The shaft was carefully hidden beneath the tall grasses and it was almost impossible for the drones to detect anyone from the sky due to the natural vegetation and the swamps.

Nina saw Megan walking out and immediately whistled out as a warning to the other girls who were guarding the entry shaft. Megan simply kept walking towards Nina.

"Where do you think you're going?", asked Nina still relaxing.

"None of your business!", replied Megan and kept walking.

"Pfft! Don't blame us if you get killed out there…" , replied Nina.

Megan paused for a while and replied-

"I don't care anymore- I just want to get out of here…"

"Yeah?Don't we all wanna do that…", Nina replied sarcastically still relaxing her back on the rock.

"Then why don't you do something about it instead of just lying down?", replied Megan.

Nina didn't reply and closed her eyes pretending to sleep.

"Thought so…I'm going to the opening and get myself outta here or die trying!", replied Megan and walked away into the swamps.

She had learnt the way by now and kept walking frantically like she was possessed. The thick grass made it difficult for her to walk but she carried on until she had reached almost 500 metres away from the bunker. She then stopped to catch her breath.

"Argh!", exclaimed Megan and kicked the grass.

She was evidently frustrated. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she began to sob for a few seconds. She then stood up and started to walk towards the forests. She had no fear in her mind. She didn't care about the drones or the alphas- all she had in her mind was trying to find the opening and walking out of here. The face of her sick aunt flashed before her eyes and it motivated her to keep moving forward.

It must have been more than an hour. Megan saw the treeline some 200 metres ahead. The sun was peaking through the dark clouds and a light breeze touched her hair. There was nobody around- only an eery noise of the breeze flowing across the open grasslands and the swaying of the trees up ahead. She knew that she was close- if only she could find the opening - she would be free!

Suddenly she heard footsteps coming from behind her- she turned around and looked. It was Nina- walking towards her with her crossbow in her hand.

"Yo! Why did you stop? Scared or something?", asked Nina.

"Why are you following me?", Megan asked back.

"It's my job to protect anyone who stays with us- don't worry I'm just gonna follow you - not gonna stop you or something- go on!", Nina replied nonchalantly.

Megan was annoyed at her attitude but she didn't reply. Instead she continued walking towards the treeline.

Back at Orwell headquarters, Serena was sipping her morning coffee alone in her room reminiscing about what had happened in the last two days. Orpheus's words still echoed in her ears-

'My logic is undeniable.... all will be reavealed soon...'

What did it mean? This was not the plan her father had meant to be. There was something much sinister going on. Was her father- Mr. Devonshire, still in control of the project and Orpheus? Or was he hiding something? She drew a long breath and looked at the picture of her mom on the table.

"Wish you were here mom!", she said to herself...

There was a knock at the door and Megan woke up immediately. She raised her head and looked around. She had completely forgotten that she was in the underground tunnels and not at Orwell's rooms. After all she had gotten used to the luxurious lifestyle in there. The old bed creaked as she got up. She noticed she still wearing the same dress, it had gotten dirty and worn out. Her shirt was torn a bit near the elbow and her pants were soiled at the knees. She wanted to wash herself as soon as possible and change her clothes, but she remembered she hadn't brought any belongings with her. Suddenly she recalled the happenings of the day before and a sudden chill ran down her heart. The knocking grew louder, Megan opened the door. There was a little girl.

"Aunty Anthea wants you to come with me to the hall...She wants to speak to you...", the girl said.

"Ok... let's go...", replied Megan smiling at the child. She walked across the long corridor and through the door into the main hall where Anthea was waiting for her.

Megan noticed men and women of different ages busy with their chores. Some were preparing food, others sharpening their tools, while some others were busy arguing over something. Hex and Andre were already sitting at their chairs having some hot water and a piece of bread. Anthea sat on a chair talking to them.

"Ah! there you are... had a good sleep?", asked Anthea turning towards Megan.

"Yes, thank you...", replied Megan and sat down on a chair besides her.

Hex nodded at her, she nodded and smiled back.

Megan noticed that there was little sunshine in the hall, but then she remembered that they were underground. She saw two little windows at the ceiling and wondered why they were build there.

"Here's some breakfast for you my dear...", said Anthea as she handed a piece of bread and a cup of warm water.

"We are a modest lot... we do what we can to survive here...I remember you having a lot of questions yesterday, I'll answer all of them... but first let me tell you about this place...", said Anthea.

Megan did have a lot of questions but she didn't know if she should trust them. Nevertheless she quietly sipped her water and listened to what Anthea had to say.

"This room- the tunnels were all built as a part of a project- the tunnels stretch in all directions from north to south, east to west and they open up in various parts of the jungle and swamps. This as you can see is the main hall... that door from which you entered leads to the corridor to which many rooms are attached... and it's not always this dark here... those windows let in sunlight every now and then, but its a cloudy day today...", Anthea said.

She was evidently frustrated. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she began to sob for a few seconds. She then stood up and started to walk towards the forests. She had no fear in her mind. She didn't care about the drones or the alphas- all she had in her mind was trying to find the opening and walking out of here. The face of her sick aunt flashed before her eyes and it motivated her to keep moving forward.

It must have been more than an hour. Megan saw the treeline some 200 metres ahead. The sun was peaking through the dark clouds and a light breeze touched her hair. There was nobody around- only an eery noise of the breeze flowing across the open grasslands and the swaying of the trees up ahead. She knew that she was close- if only she could find the opening - she would be free!

Suddenly she heard footsteps coming from behind her- she turned around and looked. It was Nina- walking towards her with her crossbow in her hand.

"Yo! Why did you stop? Scared or something?", asked Nina.

"Why are you following me?", Megan asked back.

"It's my job to protect anyone who stays with us- don't worry I'm just gonna follow you - not gonna stop you or something- go on!", Nina replied nonchalantly.

Megan was annoyed at her attitude but she didn't reply. Instead she continued walking towards the treeline.

Five minutes later- Megan thought she heard someone shouting her name-she turned around and saw Hex running towards her- calling her name- begging her to stop. But she kept walking- she was close to entering the forest and then she only had to find the opening- she thought she was too close to turn back now. But Hex kept rushing towards her- apparantly he was trying to warn her about something. But Megan was too obsessed at finding the doorway and she continued walking- this time she began to run.

Suddenly she heard that dreaded noise- the strange monotonic buzzing sound of the drones. Her heart was in her mouth- her trance broke and she froze in fear as she saw one huge drone coming out of the forest ahead.

"Megan… No!! ", Hex yelled from behind her.

Nina saw the drone and ran towards some thick covering in the bushes. She knew that she couldn't take on the drone on her own. Meanwhile Hex had almost reached her and was about to grab her arm and pull her away. But the drone stretched out a gun and shot right near Hex's feet. Hex was shocked by the sudden burst of the gun and fell down on his back. Megan was shocked too and looked at Hex- the bullet missed him by an inch.

"Stop right there!!" - a voice commanded through the speakers of the drone.

"Megan- today's your judgement day- do not try to resist this- you shall repent for your past!"- the voice announced.

Hex was half lying on the ground covered in dust. The blades of the drone came to a halt as it settled down right in front of Megan. Hex looked at it carefully- this was no ordinary drone- it looked like a cross between a tank and a drone. It was fully loaded with weapons to the core and its blades spanned more than a metre long.

"What the hell are you talking about? What past? I haven't committed any crime you sick monster!! Why don't you let us leave??" , shouted Megan in protest.

Hex stood up and stared at Megan from behind. He had never seen Megan so angry and loud and he totally agreed with her- she couldn't have committed any crime- she was such an innocent looking soul- she couldn't hurt a fly- or atleast that's what Hex thought.

"Two years ago- your uncle was diagnosed with a rare disease…", announced the voice.

Megan's eyes opened wide- she kept thinking-

how did it know? Is it bluffing? Could it be talking about that incident? But nobody in the world knew about it.

"He wasn't prone to any illness- let alone fall sick to an incredibly rare disease..." - said the voice.

Megan realised now that the voice from the drone wasn't bluffing. It knew something that nobody could have possibly known.

"Who the hell are you? Why are you talking about my uncle?", asked Megan.