Red

"Thanks for taking your time to talk with us.

-It is my pleasure, famous Patrick. Known for being the only survivor after many tests.

-Is it really important to mention it right now?

-Maybe your friends wanted to know more about you.

-Are you going to answer all of our questions, Sonia?

-Of course, Patrick. I would try my best and answer all of your questions."

As Josh listened to their conversation, I looked around the room, curious about it. It was a medium room, with a long brown-black desk, a white harm chair behind it, shelves where diverse object we're place. Photos, books, plants, piggy banks, and more unimportant things. Behind the white glass door was another bigger room, where white beds with rails are placed horizontally. On the side of each bed, a machine can be seen. The three of us were seating in front of Miss. Sonia, waiting for one of us to ask the burning question, after the small conversation between him and Sonia. I decided to make the first move...verbally.

"Why do you want to help us?, I asked.

-Is it the question you've been waiting for answers?

-Not quite, ma'am, said Josh. What's the medium red thing that Patrick told us?

-To answer your question, it is a code.

-A code? Like in those emergency ones?

-You could say so. When the patient is being uncooperative, every doctor like me press this button over there, she said showing us the dark, medium button beside a portrait.

-Does it automatically call the security?"

She shook her head from side to side.

"The president? "

Same action.

"Then....who, woman? I asked

Next question."

We all had a confuse look. Why the sudden change?

"But we need more details-

-It is a private information, Patrick.

-But, I though you said you would answer ALL of it questions!

-Johnny, it is what it is, said Sonia with a smile on her face."

That smile...creeps the heck out of me. I have another look at my two allies, confirming the next question.

"Okay, then....Why do you work here, if you said you didn't like being here or support the gouvernement's decision?"

In a matter of second, I could see a change of expression on her face. It went from a happy expression to an emotionless one, or a sad-mad one. It was so fast, faster than Flash McQueen.

"We were six in my family. Me, my mom, my grandmother, my younger brother and my older brother. We had so many happy moments. From the ice cream shop, to visiting Disneyland, it was a day in my life.

-So you are born with a golden spoon?, asked Josh.

-Yes, a big one. My grandparents we're working for the gouvernent. They were extremely close with them, especially the prime minister. After my mom was born, she replaced my grandma's place.

-Oh. But that's not the subject!

-Mister Josh, Johnny asked me why I work here. Revealing an information will never be complete without a context, am I right?

-Tsk.

-I apologize for my boyfriend's rudeness, miss Sonia. Please keep going.

-Yeah! I'm kinda interested in it now. And maybe it can confirm my theory...Patrick said while whispering the last phrase to himself."

She smiled again. Can I strangle her?

"As I was saying, when my mom was around 23 years old, she married my dad. They met in front of the building, near a vanilla cafe.

-Lovely things to do...let's go there when we get out, right Johnny?

-Won't mind. It's vanilla, after all."

He nodded with a smile plastered on his face.

-Sieglo Poritouf, CEO of PF cooperation.

-The man on the photo in the journal was my dad. He died brutally, without a proper funeral. Burning under the sun, his blood spreading on the floor...he was taken by THEM!

-So you are saying..

-Yes Josh. I joined the gouvernement as a doctor because I wanted to know if his body was still somewhere...even if it's been 40 years. I also want to avenge him..and my dead family.

-Oh...what a sad story. My deeply condolences.

-You're way to polite, Patrick.

-Josh!

-Tsk."

I rolled my eyes from his rude attitude.

"Before we head out, I have three questions to ask. Can you answer them, miss Sonia?

-I'll try my best, she said smiling."

Maybe I'll restrain myself. She's nice, actually. Johnny, keep your energy for later.

"Okay. First, how can we escape from this place? Do we only follow the stairs until the first floor or will there be more obstacle? The second one. How is it outside? I've been trap for a few days, Josh too and Patrick...

-For 15 years.

-He didn't see the outside for a while. I mean we. Is everything okay..in the society?

-The society outside is okay. Not at their best, tho. Men started to revolt against us. Well, against the "woman" behind their unfairness. Every masculine gender started to become wild beast.

-Do you know the reason-

-For all of this?

-If my informations are correct, Patrick and Josh, it is because of three young men, especially one who was dragged on the street before arriving here. This must mean something, right Johnny?

-Damn right it does. Finally! Now it'll be easier with the support of others!

-You owe us explanations.

-After.

-To answer the second one, for most of us, the only exist will be the stairs. But because I'm a frequent worker and busy one here, there is a secret passage, that goes 4 floor. We can only use it once a month, tho. It's fine for me. I rarely use it. But after that, you are obligated to go down by stairs. It is right beside the door, on the left side. Only a touch and it will open itself. I have to warn the three of you that as you get closer to the main floor, hardship will come. The key to fight them will be teamwork.

-That's so kind of you, said my boyfriend. But wouldn't be gunner to fight instead of hide?

-Indeed. But better keep energy for later. As she said, we might need a list of it in the next few floors. Yes, you guys may be swans, but I'm only human.

-What do you mean, Patrick? I said shock. Didn't they conduct test in you-

-To see if a normal human being can transform into a magical fairytale.

-I see..."

I have a forgive me look. He nodded.

"Well, here's my last question."

I slowly got up, heading toward miss Sonia, a gleaming smirk forming on my face.

"Why...didn't you press the red button?"

They turned their head at me, Patrick and Josh having a confused look and Sonia with a dark glare.

"And why should she do it? She's been answering all of our questions!

-But she didn't truly answer all of them.

-Elaborate, please?

-Huh?

-If the button wasn't to call security, like any other red button, and she avoided the question, what do you think it truly serves?

-Well, there must be a good reason behind it.

-Miss Sonia, with all due respect, why would you want to share all of it? Yes, maybe you indeed hate those nasty snake, but there's been something sticking me since the beginning...

-W-What is it?

-Stuttering? Already? I chuckled. How did you know...that we wanted to know the man's name, and we had a journal about the 1988 case?"

My boyfriend and Patrick suddenly got up.

"You..Miss-Sonia...You.."

-You are lucky to have such a smart guy on your team, Sir.Patrick

-KICK THE LEFT WALL AND GET DOWN BEFORE SHE ACTIVATE THE POISON, QUICK!"

Without a word, Josh did as I said, and a loud grinding was heard. As the long, black staircase got open, I held that brat's hand and pushing her against the wall, the big space from earlier suddenly got smaller.

"Don't you DARE, touch it. Or else...

-LET'S GO JOHN! IT'LL CLOSE AT ANY MOMENT!

-Please say to the president a welcoming hi from our part, if you come out alive, of course..."

I sprinted to the red button, pressed on it, held Josh's hand and run toward the secret stairs.

"In 2028, red paint can complete a look, my dear lover."

I smirked and let out a dry and evil laugh, making Josh worries rose from the dead. We kept running those endless stairs, before seeing Patrick at the end of those. What have I become? A traumatized man or...a complete psychopath?