Chapter 8 Follow The Path

The corridor was dark as Red walked along the path before her. That is, until she heard a weird sound up ahead, a chirping murmur as the light refracted a few meters before her. She stepped forward, following the people before her, already sprinting towards the brilliant light ahead of them. When she neared the end of the corridor, Red's eyes narrowed. She stepped on a green grassy surface with damp soil and a blue ceiling. Green trees, sycamores the likes of which Red had never seen, surrounded her. Birds were flying around, and it was from there that Red heard the sound for the first time. Red approached one of the bushes and stroked the strands. It felt strange and moist and gave out a cool aroma; Red had never felt anything like it in her nineteen years on Earth. Was it because Ohm's ship was involved? So, on a spaceship, things that are inconceivable on Earth become possible? "What is this place?" she wondered herself. Red took a step away from the crowd, who had the same reaction as herself when she emerged from the corridor. Everyone was mesmerized. Red's left eye scanned her surroundings and returned only valuable info. What was there were biological creatures, both natural and not artificial. Red was astounded. 'But how is it possible?' she thought. There are no living species on Earth other than humans. Not long later, Red noticed Call running over, which was remarkable because Call was wearing a belt with two guns. "Where did you get that?" pointed Red. "There are several sorts of weaponry available throughout the path; the corridor is pretty lengthy, isn't it? And the ones I saw were all guns. But I was able to only take one type." "How did you know you couldn't take more than one?" probed Red. "Because after I took these, the other weapons disappeared.” "Oh … I see. It looks so cool, Call," Red said in awe. "It is." Call exuded confidence. "So what's your weapon?" he asked, looking at Red's body, which had almost nothing on it but the clothes on her body. "Nothing." "Nothing?" repeated Call, who looked confused. "What classification did you take? Metaphysic? Support? Most of them aren’t armed. As far as I can see.” "Tanks." "Tanks?" Call in disbelief. "Everyone who goes into the Tank classification gets a shield and whatever weapons they want, Red. That's not possible." "But who am I meant to report to?" Red grumbled softly. "All I see down the hall is pitch black; I can't see any weapons, shields, or anything else." "You can ask Child." "Child?" This time it was Red who turned Call's words around with her question. "Who is he? Is he your new friend?" Red was completely confused. "The AI who waiting at the doorway. They are gathered at several Support exit thresholds. We'd better meet them. There might have been a technical glitch when you entered the corridor." Red hesitated. Call had no idea she had bounced off the three doors of Gunner, Support, and Swordsman; if she reported to the Child-type AI and then discovered anything was wrong, Red may be herded someplace and her cover exposed. Red didn't want to risk anything. "Wait, Call. I'm afraid if the Child investigates me later," Red snapped. "What if they do something to me, then my identity is revealed?” "Ah, you're right." Call realized. "We'd better get out of here. Do you know where we should go?" asked Red. "I don't know, I heard from one of the Childs that there's some kind of place up ahead ... we'll just follow the path," Call replied. He glanced at Ursula. "Come on, robot." "Her name is Ursula." "Oh, okay. We're leaving now, Ursula," Call invited. Yet Ursula remained still, and Call just blinked confusedly. "How come she doesn't react to orders or invitations?" "Don’t know. I've only had this robot for two days." "Are you sure you didn't steal it from someone, Red?" Red has yet to respond. She approached Ursula and took two bottles of mineral water from her backpack. One she handed to Call, who gratefully accepted it. A few people cast him envious looks since they, too, were exhausted and hungry but had no water or food. The two kept walking along the path. "I'm sorry," Call said. He looked at Red. "For what?" "I said something mean to you." He cleared his throat. "For accusing you of stealing Ursula." Red chuckled softly. "It's okay." "If you had stolen her, you wouldn't have bothered to save me or anyone else." "Where did you get that theory?" "Well, I should have realized that you're a good girl." "What if I'm like ....?" Red paused to think. "...You know that old story? I forget the title, the one about stealing for the poor?" "Peter Pan?" "No, gosh." "Oh, I know. Robin Hood?" Red snapped her fingers. "That's the one. What if I'm like him? Steal Ursula away for good?" Call just shook his head uncertainly. "I don't know. It sounds so absurd." Call, who had barely half a bottle, approached an eight-year-old girl sitting near the bushes. Call handed the girl the mineral water without any consideration. "What if the place the Child is referring to is still far away?" asked Red. "Why did you give the mineral water to her." "In that case, I'll be able to quench my thirst for a little longer. I'm quite tough." "Luckily, I still have a couple bottles in my backpack." "You don't have to share it with me again if you don't want to, Red." Call diplomatically nodded. "Give it to children, mothers, and the wounded. They need it even more. That is if you wish to help them." "Hm ...." Red just mumbled in response. "You risked your life to save nearly three thousand others." Call laughed. "I doubt your heart is that hard to share with others. I was right, wasn't I?" "So, you can now analyze people's personalities?" Red shook her head, trying not to laugh. "Outstanding, Young Master Callum." "Not so. I knew you were a good person from the start." Call lowered his gaze to the dirt path they were going on. "When we were gathered in the city center, the Ingo gave us a choice. Either hibernate in a capsule tube or fight with the possibility of death." "You said the people were chosen by the AIs." Red looked at Call. "Those who will be put to sleep, and those who will be allowed to join the Ohm ship." "That's true. But only about fifty people left unslept, and only the five of us chose to board the Ohm ship." "Oh, so that's why... each transportation ship, a different number of people get out of there?" Red began to think about that possibility. "Yes, in each city, each district... it is determined how many people enter the arena. The rest are put to sleep. Whoever volunteered, they were brought here." "And to be annihilated in the end," Red grumbled. " But back to what we talked about, you helped my sister. Because Lein didn't want me alone on Ohm's ship." Call flashed his pearly whites. "You might have just slept like everyone else, Red." "So you didn't know what would happen to me?" Red made a shaky motion with her head. "No way, Call. I'd rather face all of the troubles that await me. I'd rather die knowing nothing." They walked for a long time with other humans worldwide until they arrived at what looked like a city. They passed through a massive, towering gate with two poles raised and the six-symbol flag fluttering. Red had never seen those buildings before. There were glass windows, roofs, and doors, objects visible on information tablets that, in ancient times, seemed like human-made buildings. Each building has a screen that displays a name with moving letters. It was a big city, but only Troy, Ingo, and Child traveled back and forth. There were no other humans around. Everyone was led to the Cirque. It was a massive, sprawling building in the city's center, a half-open circular. They both entered the Cirque, intrigued. They waited in line for a long time before being allowed to enter the building. They sat on stepping stone benches. There was an empty, sandy field in the center of the structure. "Is this what you said earlier about the arena?" Red asked.