I stopped in the middle of the road. Vehicles continued to pass by me. But it seemed like I couldn’t hear them. Only then did I hear Gabriel’s voice again. “They will kill him just like they did to the others.” Like the others? I thought. When our eyes met, I heard his voice again. “Tell them now.” “This woman has woken up.” He took his phone. And called.
— Run!
Gabriel suddenly shouted on the other line. I hadn’t heard him like that before.
— Sofia, run now!
I don’t know why. But I ran. I followed the man. His heavy voice echoed in my ears. I quickly ducked out of the way. My chest almost burst from fear.
— Turn around!
Gabriel’s order came quickly.
— There’s a mall in front. Go in there. Don’t go out.
I followed him. I ran into the darkened alley. After a few minutes, the man who was chasing me disappeared. I hid in the bathroom on the third floor. I could hardly breathe. My legs were shaking. The phone was still stuck to my ear.
— Gabriel…
My voice trembled.
— Explain.
— What is really happening?
He had been silent for a long time. Then I heard what he was thinking. “You shouldn’t be involved in this.” “But it’s too late.” A few moments later, he spoke.
— Sofia.
— Do you believe in things that science can’t explain?
I slightly shook my head.
— After all that happened today, I no longer have the right to believe.
I raised my head. And that’s when I recognized him. Gabriel. I saw a white room. A young man tied to a chair. Surrounded by people wearing white lab coats. An old man holding a folder.
— Subject Number 27 was successful.
— His ability to receive mental signals is higher than expected.
The young man raised his head. And that’s when I recognized him. Gabriel. I gasped. The memory suddenly vanished.
— Sofia?
I heard his voice.
— Did you see it?
I trembled as I spoke.
— You…
— Were you locked in the lab?
He was silent. But that silence was enough.
— My God…
— Is that true?
He answered softly.
— We are their experiment.
— Children created to read minds.
My whole world seemed to collapse.
— Us?
— How many of you were there?
— Twenty-two.
I stopped breathing.
— And only a few left now?
She didn’t answer. But I heard the answer in her mind. “One.” I froze. Two. One left. Only one life. Gabriel’s. Suddenly, I heard a sound from outside the bathroom. Click. Click. Someone was trying to open every cubicle. I closed my eyes.
— Gabriel…
— They’re here.
I heard a strange thought from outside. “Find every corner.” “He can’t go far.” My hands trembled. Cold sweat poured down my face. Immediately, Gabriel spoke.
— Sofia.
— Listen carefully.
— From now on, don’t trust anyone.
— Not even Angela.
My eyes widened.
— What?
— Even Angela?
“Haven’t you heard?” “I don’t want you to get hurt.” My heart raced.
— Is there anyone else involved?
No one. Only Angela.
She stepped out of the bathroom. Her pale polo shirt was soaked in blood. She was gasping for breath. But her eyes were still fixed on me. At that moment, I heard her true thoughts. The cold voice was gone. The anger was gone. Only one thought remained. “Thank God.” “She’s still alive.” But behind Gabriel, a woman slowly emerged from the crowd. When I saw her face, my heart stopped. Because she was Angela. My close friend. The person who had been with me for many years. The person who helped me get closer to Gabriel. The person I trusted. And the one she’s thinking about now is shaking my whole body. “Finally, I saw you too.” “Sofia.” “Don’t blame me.” “I’m just following orders.”
**THE END OF PART 2**
# PART 3: THE BETRAYAL OF THE ONE I TRUST THE MOST
My whole body stiffened. Angela is standing only a few meters away. He still has the same face. Still has the same sweet smile. Still my best friend I’ve been with for years. But his thoughts were like a knife that slowly cut through my heart. “Don’t put the blame on me. ” “If I don’t give them you, they will kill me. ” I stepped back. Gabriel immediately approached and blocked between us.
— Don’t come closer.
He has a cold voice. For the first time, I saw him really serious. But Angela wasn’t scared. Instead he was caught sighing.
— Kuya…
His voice shook a little bit.
— Until now you still can’t forgive me?
I see Gabriel’s forehead wrinkled. And then I heard her thinking. “If Sofia only knew what they did to your family… ” “If she only knew how they used you… ” I’m confused. Family? Used ? What does that mean?
— Gabriel.
My weak call.
— What the hell is going on?
He didn’t respond right away. But Angela did the talking.
— Sofia…
Tears welled up in her eyes.
— I never wanted this to happen.
I immediately heard what was in his mind. “That was true. ” “But I had no other choice. ” I’m even more confused. For the first time since I had the ability to hear, I don’t know who is telling the truth. Gabriel? Or is Angela? Suddenly a shout from the end of the hallway. Some men in black are approaching. Gabriel was cursed immediately.
— Let’s get out of here!
She held my hand. His palms are hot. And as soon as our skins glued, memories suddenly burst into my mind. I’m out of breath. That’s not my memory. That was a memory of Gabriel. I saw a little girl. Twelve years old. Crying in a dark room. Sitting on the floor. Holding a broken necklace. And then a man walked in. Elders. In black. This is a smile. And it was said:
— From now on, you’re ours.
Suddenly the memory fades away. I got a hold of my head.
— Sofia!
Gabriel is worried.
— What did you see?
I was not able to speak in a heartbeat. Because I met the girl. That’s Angela. A few seconds later, we exited behind the building using the emergency exit. It’s raining. The wind is heavy. Gabriel rushing to give me a ride. As soon as I was sitting down we were on the move. Quiet the whole ride. Only sound of rain and machine can be heard. Gabriel peeks in the rear-view mirror occasionally. Looks like someone is hoping to catch up. After about an hour, we stopped at an old house by the sea. It has no light. Looks like no one has been around for a while. As we entered Gabriel immediately closed all the curtains. Then she turned on a little light in the living room. Then I noticed that he has a wound on his arm. There is still blood.
— Nasugatan ka.
He looked at the wound as if it was nothing.
— Not important.
But I heard what he really thought. “I hope she didn’t see it.” “””I don’t want him to worry.” “My cheeks suddenly turned hot. Even in this situation. It’s still like this. I still can’t help falling in love with her. I immediately avoided looking. I don’t know if he noticed. But there was a faint smile that crossed her mind. And then a painful thought. “It shouldn’t be. “””She shouldn’t be near me.” ” I was bent. Once again. Two opposite feelings. It’s like two Gabriel’s in one body. I finally couldn’t resist.
— Gabriel.
He looked at me.
— Why does it seem like there are two people in your mind?
Suddenly, the whole room went silent. And for the first time, I saw fear in his face. He didn’t respond right away. A few seconds. Until she closes her eyes completely.
— Because we’re really two.
It seems like something exploded in my ear.
— Ano?
— I’m not joking.
He breathed very slowly.
— When they did the experiment on us, something went wrong.
He was staring at me.
— I just didn’t get the ability to hear the mind.
— There’s another consciousness built up inside me.
I caught a cold.
— You mean…
He nodded.
— That cold voice that you hear.
— It’s not me.
As if the world has stopped. And suddenly everything makes sence. Thoughts filled with anger. Words filled with hate. The moments his feelings are opposite. He has another personality in him. And I hear it too.
— Who is she?
My weak question.
He didn’t respond right away. But before he could speak, there was another voice suddenly I heard. Close up. Very close. “That’s enough. ” “Tell it to him. ” My eyes got bigger. That didn’t come from Gabriel. Not on me either. It came from the corner of the room. I immediately looked back. There is no human. No one. But the voice goes on. “They can see you now. ” “It’s too late. “I got away from the sofa.
— Gabriel…
My voice is shaking.
— Did you hear that?
She turned blonde all of a sudden. Looks like there’s something he’s been afraid of for a long time.
— Hindi.
— What did it say?
I was swallowed up. And said everything I heard. After I spoke, he was completely sat down. Seems like he’s lost his power.
— Imposible.
— Ano?
He looked at me. And now I can clearly hear the nervousness in her head. “It shouldn’t have been. ” “It shouldn’t be now. “
— Sofia.
— You just can’t hear the mind.
My eyes just got bigger.
— Ano?
— You’re starting to hear memories.
— And of the people who are no longer here.
It’s like cold water poured all over my body.
— People who are gone?
He nodded.
— Old experiments.
— Children who died.
Got me standing up. I can’t believe it. But before I could ask, suddenly the lights went off. The whole house is engulfed in darkness. Meanwhile, we heard a noise from outside. One. Two. Three. Back to back yapping. There are a lot of bags. There are so many. Gabriel stood up immediately. He grabbed a gun from under the table. I got a hard time.
— Gabriel…
My weak call.
But he didn’t answer. Because I heard what he was thinking. “They have arrived. ” “This is where the concealment ends. “And at that very moment, a loud gunshot echoed outside the house.
BUM!
One window was smashed. At the same time the cold air entered. There was a familiar voice that cried out from the dark.
— Sofia!
I got pulled over. I know that voice all too well. Because this is Angela’s. But what he said next completely shook my world.
— Don’t believe Gabriel!
— He is the reason why all the young experiments died!
**TO BE CONTINUED WITH PART 4… **