HUC, a university college, had an underground building built in the hills. The building had two sections which were the main offices in the main foyer and the corridors. The corridors were where all the classrooms, computer laboratories, lecturers' offices and wireless network were. The corridors were also where the HMC department had most of their classes. If it was viewed from above, it was like two long narrow rectangular attached to opposite ends of a square with exits at various location. At the other end, there was stairs leading up to a room above before exiting to the outside world. It was the department of student affair's room or also known as the DSA room and it was also where the new council room was located. Briefly, that was what one of the three HUC buildings looked like.
Jeremy was sitting on one of the chairs at an oblong table meeting table in an epileptically room. This room was a secret room, only known to few. In front of the oblong table was a large screen, switched on, with a dark figure in it. On the tables, there were five files.
"Mr. M," he started with slight annoyance, "What brings me here?"
"I need you to do something for me," the figure on the screen answered with a deep and digitally altered voice.
"Remember what happened the last time I did?" asked Jeremy.
"Yes, I do," he replied, "But this time will be different. You won't be doing it alone."
"What about your other team up there?"
"This is different."
"How is it different?"
"You'll soon find out."
"And what if I decline?"
"I can't force you to do it but if you do decide, you know where to find me," said Mr. M before the screen turned black. Jeremy leaned back on the chair, stumped, before he stood up and left the room, leaving the files untouched.
---Ticktock went the clock.
Jeremy walked through the corridors, taking a light stroll to clear his mind. He strolled past the people who were busy heading for class. It was ten minutes after the class interval and those who were walking by were either late for class or simply hanging about.
He wondered if it was the right decision. He recalled the last time he dealt with the devil, danced with death. When compared with playing with fire, it was totally different and it was much saner to play with fire. At least there was a possibility that fire would help. He had the bullet wounds to prove his last painful so-called mission. It was all before the holidays. That reminded him about the holiday he had. It was only a month, but it was a good month. He went to the beach.
He glanced into the glass windows of the double doors to one of the classrooms. All classrooms had blue double doors with windows on each side. When closed, the windows formed a semicircle. He ignored the empty classroom until he heard something buzzing. It was not obvious at first, but it was getting increasingly louder.
He stepped back and opened the double doors to the empty classroom. Doing so made the sound much clearer. It played to a tune. It played to a particular and familiar tune in fact. The tune sounded as though it was an intro to a song. The song played on and he came nearer.
I think I'm drowning, asphyxiated.
Jeremy approached closer to the source of the tune. Chairs with attachable flipped tables were nicely arranged. The sound seemed to be coming from the left which was the large desk placed for the lecturers' use.
I want to break this spell that you've created.
Even though it was not that obvious, there was something soft in the background of the singing. It was some sort of buzzing, much like a vibrating mobile phone.
You're something beautiful, a contradiction.
He headed towards the desk and took a look underneath it. There was a mobile phone attached to some sort of black box. There was a digital screen on the box with bright red numbers. Wires went all over the device.
I want to play the game, I want the friction.
The number counted down. He had thirty-eight seconds left. Straightaway, he knew exactly what that was. He grabbed the box and lifted it in his hands. It was not as heavy as he thought and he managed to hold on to it. He needed to.
You will be the death of me; you will be the death of me.
He quickly ran out of the classroom and headed for the nearest exit which was at the large square area of the corridor.
Bury it.
He struggled with the box as he climbed up the stairs to the ground above.
I won't let you bury it.
Above ground, there were offices, restaurant and outlets. There was a maze of roads between the buildings above HUC. He had to do something quick.
I won't let you smother it.
He grabbed something small heavy and placed it on the ground. Conveniently, he found a piece of plank next to a shop that was being renovated. He balanced it over the brick. He placed the mobile phone box on one end.
I won't let you murder it.
He climbed up the stairs nearby and jumped onto the other end of the plank. The black box catapulted into the air.
Our time is running out; our time is running out.
The number counted to triple zeroes but it did not explode. The black box detached itself from the mobile phone and let out a very high pitched screech. Everyone in the area immediately shut their ears with their hands.
You can't push it underground.
Once it stopped, the box flew somewhere else but the mobile phone dropped right in front of his feet. He picked it up and the timing was perfect. It was the end of the chorus.
You can't stop it screaming out.
He stood stunned. He stood on the scene of autumn, where leaves were made out of glass. His surrounds looked like a graveyard of shattered windows. Everything and anything fragile exploded into a million pieces. Everyone else was stunned as well and some were injured from the occurrence. He did not; he stepped away from the splinters of glass as it fell behind him. He scooped the mobile phone on the ground, pocketed it and ran down the road and headed for where the black box. He scanned the area but he could not find where it had flown. He climbed down the stairs, back into the college university.
---An hour and a half passed.
"Mr. M-" spoke Jeremy as he noticed the screen coming to live, "I've decided to take the job."
"Sure," replied Mr. M from the screen.
"Just so you know I'm not doing this for you. And I might just leave if I feel like it," he informed.
"That's fine by me. I just need you to be in the team for one month at least," Mr. M said as a silhouette of him could be seen in the screen taking out a file and opening it.
"There are five people I've considered. There are files on all five of them but only three of them are somewhat completed. I have details of another but not the name and the last person has completely eluded me," Mr. M explained, "It's up to you who you want on your team. You can take your time but you cannot delay it for too long. I'll give you your first task when you have your team."
"Yes, sir."
He glanced through the five files placed on the oblong table. Each of them led very different lives and he was going to add spicy to that. He was pondering on which one he would approach first. And whether getting into this mess was the right thing to do. And whether getting someone else into this mess was right as well.
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