5 A Slight Hope

"Ugh.." Alma groaned. Her body is writhing in pain. It feels like every cell in her body is torn by something again and again.

"Gaaah!" Alma wants nothing more than to end this misery. She wants to be free from the pain that encroaching her body for the last 24 hours. Alma believes if only both of her hands and feet aren't chained she would already strangle herself to death.

'So painful… when these pains end? Someone, anyone, please… save me… or kill me. Brother… did you also go through this pain too?' Alma pleaded between her pains. She can't even cry anymore, her eyes are puffed out from the number of tears she shed.

Alma could see the clear sky outside her room. Usually, on a good day like this Alma would have a picnic in the forest. She would bring some sandwiches, water, and her books. After eating, she then laid on the mattress and read her book beneath the tree's shade.

The door to Alma's room opened, her uncle, Kai entered with some other people wearing a white lab coat.

"How are you, Alma?" Kai asked while writing something in the folder he brought.

"Ugh.. un..cle.." even talking like that spend so much of Alma's energy. The pain in her body keeps her from thinking straight.

"Ah, I see you still can form a sentence, that's good for you right? Your brother also made it to the second day. So I believed you will be able to do the same."

Alma just glared at her uncle if look can kill her uncle will be dead at least 100 times.

"Don't glare at me like that after you passed this you will thank me. I told you, you will get a power beyond your imagination. Everyone in the family will see you as a hero Alma, you should be grateful I give you such honor to do that. Alright, I will check on you again tomorrow, now gag her mouth. We don't want her to bite her tongue right?" her uncle instructed the people in a white coat.

Alma tried to struggle, but her body doesn't move like how she wanted to, she feels more pain when she moves.

"Ah ah, you better don't move your body, Alma. It will only bring you more pain," Kai chuckled when he sees Alma's face contorted with pain.

The man in his white coat swiftly tied a gag in her mouth, making Alma wants to puke at the feeling but she held back. She is already in pain she doesn't want to add puking on top of that.

"See you tomorrow Alma," with that, her uncle left the room.

Alma cursed her stupidity, why she didn't bite her tongue earlier? Now she can't do it anymore. No, Alma knows it isn't like the idea didn't pop out in her mind. The truth is Alma not ready to die. Yes, even when she feels so much pain, she still wants to live and enjoy her life just like how she dreamt. But is that possible? Can she pass three days? When will the pain disappear then? One week, one month, or one year? Alma knows the chance to survive is close to zero because none of the experiment subjects make it. But she still hopes that a miracle can happen.

***

In the afternoon, the door to Alma's room opened again. This time the one entered isn't Kai, but a girl with emerald hair. This girl has a lean body and tanned skin, with toned arms. Anyone can tell that she works out regularly. Her silver eyes looked at Alma with a hint of disgust, as if she's seeing something dirty. Alma knows who is this girl, the one that her uncle ordered to take her, Daphne.

"You look like shit," she mocked. "I'm sure you have many questions right now, but I see that you can't even talk." Daphne walks to Alma's bed, her hand lifts a few strands of Alma's hair before yanking it hardly.

"Do you know why I did that? It's not because your uncle ordered me, I could refuse his order and still be fine because I'm the daughter of a high-ranking person in this family. The only reason I did this because you annoyed me, Alma. Your presence always annoyed me from the start. You're always lazy yet you remain as the best student in the class when that position should be mine. Do you know how much my parent always compare me to you? They always said that I'm useless because I can't even win over someone from a lower family like yours!" she snarled.

"I tried over and over training like my life depend on it. But I keep being your shadow you didn't even make as much effort as me! It's not fair! Everyone gossiped about how the daughter of a higher family can't surpass someone from a lower family! You didn't know about that right? Since you never care about anyone except your family."

"Ha..uuu" Alma tried to speak, but only an unclear voice coming from her mouth because of the gag.

Daphne watched Alma's face for a few seconds before releasing her hair. "Now, it won't be a problem anymore. After this, there will be no Alma Visa again. From now on, the number one will always be me. Goodbye, Alma," she declared. With that, Daphne left Alma's room.

Silence once again returned to the room, but not with Alma's mind. She is thinking about the things Daphne rambled. She never thinks her attitude can make other people hate her that much and willing to make her gone forever for that. Alma can't help but feel regret, if only she knows this will happen she wouldn't become the best in class just for some pocket money.

The truth is, she didn't lack money. Her parents might not be super wealthy like those who come from the higher rank in the family, but they gave enough money every month to Alma. The only reason Alma strived to get the money prize because she wanted to buy more novels with her own money. But there's no use in crying over spilled milk. She just hopes she can still survive tonight.

***

Clack – clack – clack, Alma looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. It sounds like a doorknob that's forced to open. Alma's gaze flew towards the door, someone is trying to open the door and it's not one of the people in here because they tried to open it by force.

Five minutes later, the door finally opened and a man with a burglar mask rushed in. The man rapidly cut the chain in her arms and feet with a chain cutter. He carried Alma in his back and run from the room. He runs towards the area with fewer people and sometimes, he will hide in before continue running.

Alma tried to process what is happening right now, a slight hope growing in her heart that maybe someone comes to save her. Otherwise why this person broke into this place? Looking at how familiar the man with the structure of the place and how he always hides before someone can find them, Alma can conclude that this man must have prepared everything.

He doesn't stop until he reached a door labeled with 'Morgue' which he entered with no hesitation. The man grabbed a body bag and put Alma inside. He then put a silicone mask over Alma's head, transforming her look into a different person.

"I'm sorry I was late," for the first time Alma heard the man's voice. She knows that voice, he's Ray.

"I know you find this confusing, but please believe me. I will get you out from this place," and he injected Alma with some unknown liquid.

Her breath becomes heavy, like some kind of stone placed on top of her chest. Her view and her consciousness blurred. Alma's feeling turned from the relief of getting rescued into desperation. Did Ray lie to her? Is she going to die like this? Fear creeps in Alma's mind, her heart thumping wildly trying to keep alive. Despite her unwillingness, she keeps sinking into the darkness.

"Please die, Alma," is the last thing Alma heard before she stopped breathing.