Bang! Bang! Baang!
As I punched the glass tube, the sounds of the collision echoed throughout the room.
I put my all into the punch.
I used my mind power to suppress my pain receptors. I used gravity on the glass and stretched it apart.
Every time I raised my hand, I created a strong force of gravitational attraction between the glass tube and my fist.
Bang!
As a result, I kept punching the glass tube. With all my strength.
My punches were relentless and time flowed on.
But even when I tried my best, the glass tube didn't even creak.
At some point, the transparent glass tube had dark bloodstains on it.
No, it wasn't just some small bloodstains. But a lot of blood marks all over the lab, as if someone took a paintbrush dipped in red and splattered it over all the tube.
'Huh?'
While I noticed this change, I didn't pause. It was my blood, of course. But I didn't care.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Slowly but surely, my arms turned sore. I can't do anything about it with my mind power or I'd have.
At first, I could still punch, albeit a bit slowly. But as time passed, my arms felt heavy.
It was an uphill battle just to raise my arm, much less punch.
But I continued.
I didn't know I could persevere to this extent. But I think I know why. After living with a guy who never gave up, I was also changed.
Unknowingly, I put more strength into my arms and punched.
It was the same spot. Again and again and again.
But there wasn't even a single crack.
Rather, I began to feel something else.
I was…dizzy.
'What?'
My vision zoomed out from the one spot I was punching at and I looked around again. Only then did I realize that the whole glass tube was painted red.
So much blood…
My world spun and I crashed to the ground.
The last thing I remembered before everything turned dark was a bot rushing towards me.
*** *** ****
"Day 1."
I woke up to those words. The moment I opened my eyes, I used my mind power to remove all feelings of drowsiness. I was on high alert.
"Day 1."
The voice sounded again and raising my head, I saw Roxanna.
She was still in the same attire and looked the same as yesterday. But there was one difference.
There was a mad look in her eyes.
I flinched at the sight and took a step back. But the farthest I could go was the glass tube's wall.
Roxanna didn't even care about my reaction as she circled around the glass tube like she was inspecting some good.
"Your blood..." Her eyes shone. "It's very useful. Thank you for proving so many test samples."
I gritted my teeth and glared at her. While I didn't want to die, I'd never show a weak front.
Not to this woman.
I wasn't sure if or how, but I vowed that I'd kill her one day.
'Sia, remember, if anyone crosses a line that shouldn't be crossed, retaliate! While trying to save the human race is a noble goal, we shouldn't take beatings.'
His voice sounded in my mind as if he was sitting beside me and giving me strength.
I straightened my back and looked fiercely at Roxanna.
"Oh my." Roxanna chuckled. "A specimen that doesn't know its place. Wonderful. I love helping you things realize your true worth the most."
"Is your worth all that? Spending life in a lab when you don't even have a life?" I asked sharply.
I didn't want to be the silent victim. If I could, I'd rather retaliate.
'Sia, if you are going down in a battle anyway, then damage your enemy as much as you can. While your defeat will be uncomfortable, never make it a happy ending for your enemy.'
Roxanna's eyes narrowed. There was a dangerous air around her, almost like she was a butcher who slaughtered hundreds of humans. Perhaps she really did. This crazy woman, why wouldn't she?
She looked me in the eye and said in a nonchalant tone. "The life support system of the glass tube you're in is my latest creation. It'll ensure you'll survive and don't malnourish."
"…So?" I had a bad feeling.
"So you don't have to plot things like 'Oh, I'll be able to escape once I get out of this glass tube." She said in a mocking tone and smiled.
That smile… was terrifying.
"Because until I get what I want, you're not leaving the glass tube."
Thump!
My heart pounded in my chest as my palms sweated. Even if I tried my best, I couldn't control the rising fear.
What if she asks me something I can't answer or won't answer?
What if she never decides to release me?
In the first place, I don't trust her words at all!
I…I might spend the rest of my life here. I might die here.
My chest grew heavy, but I wasn't going down like this. I had my own pride. If Varian's pride is to become the savior of the human race, my pride is I'd one day travel the stars!
'Sia, what will you do if I die?'
'I don't want to hear such words.'
'Well, how would you think I'd want to die.'
'…Come on!'
'We're awakeners. We have dreams. We chose our life. But we must also choose our death.'
'…what do you mean?'
'If I were to die one day, I won't beg my enemy for mercy. Before I breathe my last, I'll make sure I inflict as much pain on him as I can.'
'What if they're too powerful even for that?'
'Then I'll die with pride. I'll deny them any satisfaction from killing me. I'll die with a defiant smile. They'll kill me, but my defiant smile will live in their hearts.'
Sia clenched her fists and smiled at Roxanna. It was a defiant smile.
You captured me. You have me trapped. But you can't break me.
The smile conveyed her message and Roxanna didn't miss it.
Roxanna's eyes narrowed and the smile on her face vanished.
"Defiant doll. Good, good." She nodded in a chilling tone.
I would've flinched at her expression, but after recalling Varian's words, I was brimming with courage.
Roxanna noticed the change in my behavior immediately. But instead of feeling unease, her shining eyes told me that she was even more amused.
"Strong toys are good. They don't break easily." She said in a low voice.
"Huh?" I didn't understand what she was saying…
"Kaah!"
Until I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
"Cough. Cough." I knelt on one knee and ended up in a fit of coughing.
My chest…my chest was burning. As I continued to cough, I felt a sweet taste in my throat and—
Splash!
Red blood splashed on the ground.
Like a broken dam, I started to cough out more and more blood.
With each time, the pain in my chest grew. I clenched my fists and endured the pain.
"Interesting poison, isn't it?" I heard her voice.
I moved my sore neck upward and met her eyes.
Even though my chest hurt, my heart burnt with rage.
