I wiped away the sweat running down my face. I've been walking forever yet I still have no idea where I am. I turned around for the fifth time. I have been sensing someone following me but whenever I turned around, I see no one. Not even a shadow or an animal. Waking up in a freak hospital must have made me paranoid and jumpy.
I thought escaping that place will make things better but being trapped in this isolated cold place is not good either. I almost lose hope when I saw a group of people not far from where I was standing. Finally! I walked hastily to them with hopes finally restored. I eavesdrop among them and learned they were speaking in a different dialect... is that Tagalog?
"Excuse me?" I politely greeted them.
They faced me in unison and I looked around to check their faces. I scanned them from head to toe they have piercing in their faces, tattoos all over their bodies, cigarettes in their hands, weapons in their waists, motorbikes beside them, and most importantly ugly faces. Their looks literally scream trouble. One you'll see mostly in prisons. All I can say is; I just encountered a group of goons! Luck is definitely not on my side today but I've worked long enough in the business industry to know not to judge even the filthiest person. I can use them to my advantage.
"Pare! May englisherang palaka dito!" One of them shouted, did he just call me an English-speaking frog?
Unbelievable but I expect nothing less from the way they dressed. What do you expect from a goon like them? They really have an undignified sense of humor and lame insults. I'm already in an extremely sour mood but I need patience. Patience, Elena. Although they seem uneducated, let's talk business to get this over with. I've never spoken to thugs before so how do I speak their language?
"I just want to—"
"Boss, where do we go now?" I was cut off by one of the thugs with a piercing in his nose still speaking in their dialect.
I tried to call out their attention once again but they weren't even listening. It's as if I didn't even exist! I let out a sigh as I massaged my temple. They're giving me a migraine. How unlucky am I going to be? With these barbarians, proving I'm Elena Perez will be difficult. Someone unexpectedly bumped into my shoulder, causing me to fall to the ground. He has a large scar on his face as well as thick lips. The thug glanced down at me with a darkened expression, as if he was implying that I should just scram and die. I stood up and faced him.
"I just need to borrow your phone. I need to talk to Dad. I'll pay you if you want," I fearlessly faced him speaking in Tagalog as fast as I can.
This is all or nothing. I need to contact my family first even if I have to face these thugs. I need this to survive. Grandma trained me in martial arts; I can defend myself but I want this to be diplomatic as much as possible. I want to avoid violence.
"You're not in a position to demand anything from us, nene!" He uttered with a stoic expression, "and shouldn't you apologize to me first?"
Apologies? He was the one who bumped into me! Why should I apologize? I mentally rolled my eyes. Patience, Elena.
"Just do what I said while I'm being nice. I'll wire you the money once I talk to Dad," I answered him unapologetically.
I am no hypocrite, why should I bow down to these low lives? He just stared at me and his gang laughed loud at my statement. I really don't understand their humor.
"You already have an ugly face and you also have an ugly attitude. Aren't you such a gifted young girl!" he sarcastically exclaimed to me, as his colleagues laughed heartily. "You talk too much. You talk big for someone who appears to be poor."
These guys... they're making fun of me with their cheap insults. I won't let anyone look down at me. I won't let anyone bring Elena Perez down. If it weren't for that hospital I could really bring them down in a minute. Tsk!
"How about this, can you tell me this place instead," I asked in frustration, still trying to come into terms with them.
There's no talking with these thugs. I should give up trying to borrow their phones. They gave me a scary look. I felt my knee tremble but Elena Perez doesn't back down. I matched their glares and didn't back down. They should know where they position themselves and who they are talking to!
"Stop playing games," suddenly exclaimed a man with a well-built muscle in the middle of the crowd. His neck has a scorpion tattooed on it and his lips have an old cut on them. His aura stands out from the gang, it was intimidating and sends pressure to you just with his glare.
The guy who had a scar on his face gave me a sly smile then suddenly gave me a punch in the stomach with no hesitation. I was thrown away and coughed out blood. I can't believe I became this weak, this is all that freak hospital's fault.
"Oh? You seem to quite down, eh?" The guy walked towards me and laughed.
"A rabbit who voluntarily enters a lion's den," I heard someone shout from the crowd.
My vision is becoming fuzzy, and I'm still coughing up blood. My mind is blank and not processing information adequately. I'm almost unconscious; I felt a pain in my stomach and back and didn't realize they were kicking me.
"Sto—" I can't even utter a word!
They continued kicking me like I'm some sack of garbage in front of them. I felt so weak. This must be a bad dream, this must be a nightmare! There's no way this is happening to me! I am a Perez.
"So what now? Did you learn your lesson now?" Someone asked me while I turn numb from all the pain.
I can't let anyone see me like this... well not like they can tell that it's me though. I glared at them and spit at their feet. You can physically hurt me all you want but I will never—
"Woah, matapang ah," I heard one laugh out mocking my bravery.
I won't ever bow down to these thugs. Not in this lifetime. Every kick they gave me is slowly devouring my consciousness. Their voices are getting further. Feels like I'm... It feels like I'm floating!
A low voice uttered, "Tsk. If you can't handle yourself, you shouldn't run away!"
I didn't force myself to open my eyes. I silently tried to sense my surroundings instead. Someone's carrying me! Who is this person? How long was I unconscious? Is this person Luke? But I tried to move my hands but I was too weak to gain control of my body. I felt myself being laid down to bed. I tried to open my eyes but it's too heavy. I want to see Luke... I want to see him. I have to open my eyes. When I was able to finally open my eyes, all I saw was a silhouette of a man.
"L-Luke?" I finally mastered to say as tears stream down my face.
He didn't even bother to look back. Why Luke? I tried to call him out again but my voice betrayed me, all I was able to do was shed a tear before the darkness finally devoured me again.
"May? Miss May?" I was awoken by a small voice calling out the name I detested.
I slowly opened my eyes. I saw the familiar uniform I was trying to run away from. I'm back— in this cage with insane people! I let out another long sigh in frustration. I tried so hard to run away but I find myself locked up here again.
"Doc, the patient is awake!" she shouted facing the door.
The next thing I knew, Doctor KZ was beside me again. Her brows were furrowed as she stared at me. I look away and let out another exasperated sigh. I wonder how many sighs I will make today.
"May, I know you have a hard time understanding everything, but this is reality, May," she softly stated. What is she talking about? Reality? Are they trying to feed me lies? Do they think they can fool a Perez? "You claim other people's memory. Maybe this Elena that you're talking about is a close friend of yours and in that accident, you claimed to be her."
I was bewildered by her statement. I shook my head violently in protest. How can you claim other people's memory? That's scientifically impossible. She should know better as a doctor!
"No! You're wrong! Don't try to fool me! My name is Elena Perez and you can't change that!" I hysterically shouted to her and repeated myself for who knows how many times
"We will help you, May. Don't worry," she said to me in a sweet comforting voice.
No, what she just said was complete nonsense. It's a lame excuse for their experiment. Yes, that's it!
"Only you could help yourself May. Nobody else can help you if you refuse to accept the reality... If you can't accept the truth, remember, no one else can help you but yourself."
Stop trying to brainwash me with your mouth filled with lies. There's no way this person is telling the truth. I won't be a victim of their brainwashing plan. I closed my eyes and exhaled. Calm down, Elena. Making a scene here won't help and running away doesn't either.
"Okay," I answered.
I'll play along with your games for now but I swear I will exploit this place's dark secret but I need a solid plan first. I can't be reckless or let my emotions run wild again. I will know the truth and what really happened.
"Thank you and please don't think of escaping again May," she said before disappearing from my sight.
I peeked out my door and saw I am now heavily guarded. And this is making me more suspicious. Instead of wasting my energy, I will rest and think of a way to escape and find the truth. I heard a knock that disrupted my thoughts.
"Miss Gonzales," called a baritone voice at the other side of the door.
That detestable name again. The door opened and a tall young man with a round face, short spiky dark brown hair showed up carrying a tray of food. Our eyes met and I saw his surprised ocean blue eyes behind the eyeglasses he's wearing.
"M-May?" he called out that name in surprise
"Don't try being friendly with me and get lost," I coldly answered him.
He bitterly smiled at me before putting the food tray on the table. His eyes showed unspoken fear and longing. Does he know me?
"Are you still upset with me? Even though it's been two months, everything is still vivid in my mind," he stated, looking straight at me.
I heard my awkward stomach grumble in hunger. Whatever this psycho is talking about is none of my business. This is really a freak hospital.
"I don't know what you're talking about Mister—who are you again? But if you're done with your work please leave," I simply ordered.
"You don't have to pretend you don't know me," he stated and pain is evident in his eyes. I ignored him which made him sigh. "I'll be back after my work."
I guess the commotion the other night and the endless mystery made me hungry. Add up this guy who started spouting nonsense as soon as he entered my room. I took up the spoon and fork that had been placed on the tray. When you're hungry, even the bitter hospital food appears to be delectable. I was ready to take a bite when I came to a halt in midair. What if they poured some strange things in here?
I shouldn't carelessly eat foods served in this place then I heard my stomach grumble again. I guess my little worms are getting mad and I need to feed them. Just when I finished eating, the man who had brought my lunch returned. He smiled as he glanced at me. Again, his eyes are like a deep ocean drowning you in a dark abyss. What's with this guy?
"It's good that you've eaten. You must eat in order to gain strength and heal," he said as he put away what I had eaten.
My brows furrowed with his statement. Is he talking to me? Why does he act as he knows me? What's wrong with this place? Whatever.
"Once you're done, please get out," I stated, ignoring him once again.
I heard him sigh. I saw how his smile slowly turned into a frown of sadness. I suddenly felt a pang of slight guilt. No, Elena. This is part of their plan, he is part of their plan. I just lay down and closed my eyes. This has been a very long day. There's always another day to plan. I guess I'll just rest for today.