Zara Bonaventura
Cold. I woke up feeling cold. My whole body was aching and my head was throbbing.
I opened my eyes only to be blinded by light. I tried to cover my eyes with my hand, only to see that both of my hands were tied to the chair's arm rests. My feet were bounded together as well.
I took a deep breath and I opened my eyes again. I'm in a lab, the kind of lab where everything's expensive and such. It was fancy and if it wasn't for my predicament, I would be marvelling at the grandeur of the lab. It was futuristic and fancy.
"I see you've woken up," a voice said. It sounded like it came from an intercom and I furrowed my eyebrows, confused. Where was I? I know I'm in a lab, but where is the lab located exactly? And the biggest question of all: Why am I tied to a chair?
I didn't hear anything else after that and my eyes roamed my surroundings. Serums and injections were scattered on the table beside me. Along with knives, scalpels, and tweezers. Above me was a lamp connected to the table. It looked like I was in a dental office but I knew better.
On another table, farther away from me, were microscopes and papers. Beside it was a whiteboard with formulas written on them. I didn't understand what I was seeing and my headache was getting worse by the minute.
I looked around one last time and nothing could've prepared me for what I saw next.
Bodies were enclosed in giant tubes. They were floating in some gooey liquid and I bit my lip hard to supress the scream I so badly want to bring out of my mouth. I didn't stop the tears from flowing. I am in danger and I don't know what to do. I don't know where I am and I'm scared out of my mind.
The computer-controlled doors were opened and a man entered. He was wearing a lab coat over his clothes and he had unruly grey hair. He looked mad – not angry mad – but crazy mad. He looked like Einstein, only he was the evil version.
"I'm Doctor Magnus," He smiled evilly and he went to get some papers from the table. I didn't speak, I can't even open my mouth. Everything that was happening to me was too much to take in. I didn't expect that at such a young age, I'd be experiencing this. I didn't expect people were this cruel – cruel enough to victimize a three year old girl.
But I guess, I had it coming. My dad has enemies. Surely they would want revenge and what more than to kidnap his helpless three year old daughter who, even though underwent training, still can't protect herself from fully grown men.
"I'm a mad scientist," Magnus began once more. I don't want to call him Doctor since that's basically showing him respect. He doesn't deserve any ounce of respect from me.
Magnus went over to the board and flipped it over, revealing a clean slate. He started to write more formulas and I kind of zoned out since I don't know what the heck he was doing. When he finished though, I turned to look and my eyes widened in surprise. At the very bottom of the board, this was written: Zara = mutant.
I had no idea what that meant but I don't want to find out. Unfortunately, I'm not lucky and Magnus walked over to me and sat beside the chair I was sitting on. It was inclined and I was facing upwards slightly.
"I've been working on a special serum, you see," Magnus began, looking at me like I was some sort of experiment. His hands grazed the serums and needles on the table as he spoke. "I experimented on animals, but they wouldn't suffice. That's why you're here." He grinned, showing off two golden teeth and one silver one. I internally cringed and tried to look away but he huffed and made me look at him. His hands gripped my cheeks and chin tightly and I looked at him, scared. I'm showing weakness but I'm only three, so cut me some slack!
"You'll be my guinea pig!" Magnus laughed maniacally and I shivered in fear. I'll be his guinea pig. I'll be his experiment and you know what sucks? The fact that I can't do anything about it.
Magnus walked away and was about to leave me in the lab alone when I finally found my voice. "How long have I been here?" my voice was hoarse and I tried to hydrate my mouth with my saliva. "You were gotten yesterday morning, it's night now."
And with that, Magnus left me – terrified, alone, and confused.
***
Maximus Bonaventura
"What do you mean you don't know?" I screamed, my veins appearing. The principal flinched and so did his assistant. "I'm sorry but when we saw the footage, they both have left the premises." The principal's voice was shaky and I scoffed.
My daughter's been kidnapped and this is all his fault. If he took my advice and installed better security or if he allowed my daughter to have bodyguards, then we wouldn't have this problem!
"This is your fault, you bastard! If you allowed Zara to have bodyguards or if you didn't hire incompetent guards, then maybe my daughter would still be here!" I slammed my fists on his table and I heard it crack. I was close to committing murder and I won't hesitate doing it.
"If you didn't have enemies, no one will go after your daughter," the principal retorted and that was the last straw. I picked him up by his collar and slammed his body down the floor. I picked him up again, by his head this time, and I slammed his head on his desk. Blood oozed out of his head and that encouraged me further.
"How dare you speak to me that way?" I held him by his throat and pressed him against the wall. "I told the owner of this school to hire you. You are under my control. I pay you," I seethed and my grip on his throat tightened. His pathetic assistant was whimpering in the background and a low animalistic growl emanated from my chest.
"I'm giving you the chance to run, Betty. Speak of this to anyone and expect us to come after you," I told her as she ran out of the room, crying. She doesn't get the right to cry. She's not the one whose daughter has been kidnapped. I'm that person and do they see me crying? Hell no.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Bonaventura but I'm not the one who watches the surveillance cameras," the principal tried to speak and that only increased my anger. "Don't blame someone else for your faults."
I'm seeing red. The principal was turning blue, his hands desperately trying to pry mine from his throat. He was gasping for air and I removed my hands from his throat. He fell to his knees and he put a hand on his neck to relieve the pain. He panted, filling his lungs with air as he clutched his heart, afraid it would stop beating.
"Lock the doors and cover the windows," I ordered my men and I watched them do it. Ivan stood beside me with a stern expression. He glared at the principal and gritted his teeth. He handed me the gun and when the principal saw this, his eyes widened in horror. I didn't feel bad.
"No, no, no," he cried, getting on his knees. "Don't, please don't," he begged and he reached for my feet so he could kiss it. I simply kicked him in the face and I loaded the gun. Tears were flowing from his eyes and he pleaded once more. "Don't kill me, please. I have a daughter and a wife at home."
I chuckled sardonically and aimed at his head. "I do too but because of you – you imbecile – my daughter's nowhere to be seen." If it was possible, he cried harder and he clasped his hands together and bowed down. "No, please. My wife and my daughter, my wife and my daughter," he cried and I hit him in the head with a gun.
"When you're dead, they'll follow you. Don't worry," I sent daggers with my eyes and he looked at me, horrified. "No!" He shouted just before a gunshot was heard. His dead body fell face first to the ground and he laid in a pool of his own blood. I exited the room, trusting Ivan will clean up the mess.
"Status report," I said as I held onto my ear piece and waited for someone to report about their findings. "Negative, sir. They both have left the city. We've searched every building, every street corner. Insiders also went through security footages and saw the car leave the city." I clenched my fist and pushed open the door hard. The hinges blew off and the door fell to the ground. "Meet me at the headquarters."
***
"Search for the car. Did anybody get the plate number?" I asked my men as we're having the meeting. Everyone was tense and on edge. We never expected someone to be this cunning. We thought we got rid of all the gangs and mobs plotting to kidnap my daughter, unfortunately, we thought wrong.
We didn't even find out about their plan and we most certainly do not know who they are. That's what irritates me. We have no idea who took my daughter and it's been a day since she went missing. We never saw it coming.
"It doesn't have a plate number, sir. But it's a red Hyundai Sonata," One of my men said, handing me a picture of the car. Due to advance technology, the picture wasn't pixelated, it was in high definition.
The windows were slightly tinted and I could see a silhouette of a man in the driver's seat. In the back seat, a child was seated. The car looked normal from outside but it was anything but. I knew the child is my daughter, call it father's instincts.
"Don't contact the police. I don't want an Amber Alert and I don't want them getting involved. Contact our allies and ask them for help," I dismissed them with a curt nod and I put my head in my hand.
Ever since I found out Zara's missing, my mind kept on displaying morbid scenarios about what her captors are doing to her. I tried to rid my mind of it but it just kept on coming back to me. It aggravated me. I feel like the worst dad ever. I put my own kid – my own flesh and blood – in danger!
Zara's a tough kid but a three year old can only take so much. Kids her age are naïve and innocent. Her peers are probably at home right now, with their families. Kids her age are playing with their toys but my daughter?
She's somewhere unknown – alone and scared.
***
I came home that night, though I didn't want to. I wanted to keep on searching for my missing daughter. I didn't want to give up or take a break. It's been days since we last saw her and everyone's taking it badly.
Hayes isn't himself. He's keeping to himself and I can hear things breaking in his room every night. In the morning when I check up on him, everything will seem to be in order but I know they're not. He misses his sister and he's shutting us out.
My wife's been crying herself to sleep. She doesn't come out of the room and she's starving herself. I don't even remember the last time she's eaten. Her hair's in disarray and her clothes consisted of baggy clothing. Her red-rimmed eyes are evidences of her melancholy. Her huge eye bags showing signs of sleepless nights.
My family's in a dark place. We're dysfunctional and we blame ourselves for Zara's disappearance. However, I know Hayes and Priscilla has nothing to do with this. This is all solely my fault.
"Any news about her?" Hayes asked me as he came down for dinner. He stinks badly. He skipped school today and I'm guessing he hasn't taken a bath since yesterday morning.
"Nothing," I muttered, embarrassed. Who would've known that Maximus Bonaventura would have a hard time tracing the whereabouts of his kidnapped daughter?
"Don't worry, we'll find her," my wife's voice cracked at the end and it pained me to see my family like this. Usually, Zara will be the one to cheer us up but now, she's missing and we're left to drown in our own misery.
Silence fell upon us and we ate quietly.
"This is not fair," Hayes began, throwing his utensils back on the plate. "It's not fair that we're here, eating and okay when Zara could be anywhere, starving to death and nursing possible cuts and bruises!" Hayes shouted and hot tears flowed down his cheeks. "It's not fair," he whispered tiredly, as if his blow up suck out all the energy in him.
But maybe it did. Maybe all this is sucking the energy in us. Maybe Zara's disappearance is slowly making us go insane. Maybe everything that's happening is too much. Maybe, just maybe, nothing will ever be the same. Maybe we'll be left here, the will and energy in us slowly being sucked out of our bodies.
***
Zara Bonaventura
"Eat," Magnus handed me a tray of food and I looked at it in disgust. It looked like pig's food and I scrunched up my nose so as not to smell the horrid odor of the food.
"I don't want to," I said stubbornly and turned away. I've been here for days and I rejected every single meal they tried to serve me. I'm hungry, yes, but I won't eat the rubbish they're trying to feed me. I was hoping once they realize I won't eat their sorry excuse of a food, maybe they'll let me eat a decent meal.
Magnus sighed and left the room. I looked at his retreating figure before slumping back down on the chair. I knew better than to do something when I'm alone. Cameras were installed in secretparts of the room and I'm being watched 24/7.
Ever since I arrived in this lab, I've been tied to a chair and nobody's been hurting me. The only interaction I got was when Magnus introduced himself and when he offers me food. That's it. I find it weird that nobody's harming me but I'm not complaining. Sitting around is surely better than writhing in pain.
The doors opened and a man I don't know entered the room.
"Hey Zara," he nodded his head and I looked at him curiously. Why am I getting this feeling I know him? "I'm Valentine." I've heard of that name before but I can't remember when and where I heard it. Maybe it was on Valentine's Day? No, it can't be. I know I heard it before, mobsters were talking about him.
"I'm a mobster, if you're wondering." Bingo. I studied his actions. He was as old as my dad and he looked sinister. He walked closer to me and sat on Magnus' chair. "Nobody here will hurt you. You'll just be our experiment," he began. "But we can't have the experiment if you're not eating."
I stared at him. "Well I surely won't eat the food you're offering me. I'm not a pig," I retorted. He smiled evilly and nodded his head in understanding. "Okay, you won't eat it then." I sighed happily after hearing that. Finally, someone will give me decent food.
"We'll just inject it into your system."
Say what?
Soon, more people entered the room. All of them were wearing lab coats and I shrunk back in fear. What they plan to do with me, I don't know and to be honest, I don't really want to find out.
A lady came over and she smirked at me before she got one long needle from the table. Liquid spurted out of the end and I gulped slightly. I was anxious. These people were clever, they have many tricks up their sleeves and I'm a pawn in their game. I'm a puppet and they control me.
The chains that bind me became tighter and I was pressed back onto the chair and even though it had cushions, the action was still painful. A new chain wrapped around my neck, immobilizing my head and forcing me to face the lamp above.
I tried to free myself but the chains only wrapped around me tighter. My blood circulation in some parts of my frail body was being affected by the tightness of the chains but the people couldn't care less. I could die here and they wouldn't even bat an eye.
"This is what stubborn girls get," I heard someone say before needles punctured through my skin. I could feel my blood flow. A think substance was being incorporated into my blood and I clenched my teeth, hoping that would ease the pain.
When the substance ran out, I breathed a sigh of relief. But I spoke too soon.
More needles pierced through my skin and I cried in pain, I squirmed in my seat but that only made it more painful. The people had solemn expressions, some were awestruck. I felt disgusted and violated. I didn't sign up for this and they were treating me as if I'm a science experiment. In a way I am, Magnus said that's the sole reason why they kidnapped me but still, I can't take the pain. Tears escaped my eyes and dread filled me.
This is only the beginning. More pain is bound my way.
***
Magnus was working in the lab again. The pain from the multiple needles injected in me had subsided but the emotional pain I'm sure will last a lifetime. Magnus knew what happened and he didn't even feel any remorse.
They're cruel people.
"Why am I here?" I asked him and he turned around to face me. "I guess it's time to explain," he sighed and went over to a cabinet. He got a briefcase and set it down on the table.
"For a few years now, I've been working on a serum," he began as he opened the briefcase. "This serum will mutilate a person's genetic makeup, thus making her not human." Magnus showed me several test tubes on a test tube rack. He set it down beside the briefcase and he rummaged through the contents of the briefcase again.
"I tried experimenting on animals but it wasn't working," he shook his head, as if he was reliving a horrible memory. "That's why you're here." I narrowed my eyes at him. I already knew most of what he told me and I want to hear brand new information.
As I was about to open my mouth, he raised his hand to stop me. "Not human, in the sense that she will be a mutant," he began once more and my brows crinkled in confusion. "She will develop inhumane capabilities – if the serum works well-"
"You mean super powers?" I cut him off and he glared at me in return.
"Why yes. I'm glad you're catching up."
Even though I'm only three – hard to believe I am since I'm going through something most three year olds don't go through – I'm perfectly aware nobody has super powers. It's impossible and superheroes or people with 'inhumane capabilities' only exist in movies and comics. That's why it was extra hard not to laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Magnus frowned and that only made me laugh harder. "You know, if the serum doesn't work, you'll end up dead." That made me shut up. Those words only made the situation I was in realer. Magnus, noticing my distress, only smirked and went back to work.
"Say your prayers, Zara. We start later." I gulped.
Magnus chuckled at my scared expression. Most of the time, people here forget I'm just a three year old child. I just so happen to be the daughter of Maximus Bonaventura, but I'm still a child. It irks me that they're capable of doing this to an innocent little girl who has no idea what she did wrong to deserve this.
Maybe this is karma. Maybe she's biting me in the bum because I'm a spoiled brat. Maybe she's biting me in the bum because I call my classmates peasants. Maybe she's biting me in the bum because I love messing with Hayes. The list could go on and on. But not one of them is enough for me to land up in this lab as an experiment.
Magnus coughed, successfully snapping me out of my trance. I looked at him as he pushed a machine towards my chair. He set it beside me and he grinned cynically and I cowered in fear.
The tough little girl act is gone and I'm going to admit I'm terrified for my life right now. Magnus is capable of a lot of things and he won't hesitate to hurt me in the most painful way possible.
Two of his assistants came in and helped him set up. I watched them with dread and fear.
The machine was huge. It had four robotic arms loaded with needles and such. On the middle of the machine stood four gigantic tubes which they were filling with Magnus' special serum. On the side were the controls and I could faintly see the power button.
'When that button's pressed, I'm dead' I thought to myself as I shivered.
"Aha!" Magnus exclaimed as he turned on the machine. It didn't make any noise, and it simply lit up like the fourth of July.
The two assistants tightened the chains around me and Magnus fixed the machine's settings. It was coming closer, its four robotic arms dangerously close to my small, tiny frame.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted to shout but it's as if a cat got my tongue.
As soon as the machine connected with my limbs and neck, bolts of electricity coursed through my body. I could feel my blood thickening. I could feel things moving through my veins painfully. It's as if something was eating me up from the inside. Veins protruded from my body and my vision was turning black. I clenched my teeth, thinking it'll ease the pain. An extremely bad headache started to erupt and a rebellious tear escaped my left eye. My whole body was aching, bleeding was better than whatever I was feeling right now. Something was clawing up my insides, tearing everything apart then stitching it all up together again. It was pure torture, something a child like me couldn't handle. I refused to give up but the pain was something I cannot endure any longer and for the first time, I was glad that the darkness consumed me and I revelled in its temporary comfort.
***
I woke up with a jolt. The temperature was freezing and I shivered. My body was shaking, both from the pain and the cold.
I looked at my body only to see it look perfectly normal. What they did to me, it was all on the inside. It probably lead to internal injuries, injuries I can't see but I can feel.
"Good, you're awake," a girl said. She was old enough to be older sister but young enough to not be my mother. I would've been overjoyed to see her, she seems like a nice person but if she's working for Magnus, then she's obviously not. "Good, you can see the obvious," I smart mouthed her and I immediately regretted it. I made no move however to take back what I said.
The girl sighed and got a basin from the floor. She wet the cloth and squeezed out the water after. She started patting the cloth on my body and I had no choice but to let her since I was still tied up.
"I'm sorry," she murmured quietly but I heard her. I ignored her since she probably doesn't mean it. If she was sorry, she wouldn't do this. If she was sorry, she'd help me get out of here. But she didn't. "You don't deserve this."
I fought back the tears but at this point, I can't anymore. I let myself cry and for the first time in days, the chains were removed. I quickly hugged my legs to my chest and I hid my face between my knees. Sobs racked my body and I'd do anything to have my mom hug me right now.
The girl bit her lip and hesitantly put her hand on my back. She tried to soothe me but that only made me cry harder.
I was no longer crying, though. I was sobbing. My heart-breaking sobs echoed around the lab and anybody who can hear it will probably be brought to tears as well. I let tears flow freely down my cheeks and I'm positive I'll be getting a cold soon. I didn't care, though. I wanted – needed – to cry. I'm releasing all my pent up anger and fear by crying, sobbing.
"Please stop crying, Zara," the girl said. She sounded pained. I looked up at her and saw unshed tears in her eyes. "Why are you crying? You're not hurt!" I can't help but get angry. The girl has no right to cry since she's perfectly fine. I'm the one who was kidnapped and experimented on, not her.
The girl sighed and let one tear escape. She quickly wiped it away as she stood up. She chained me back to the chair, although she told me she didn't want to. She gathered the basin and the cloth before she left me alone in the lab once more.
I don't know how long I stared off into space but when I finally cut myself out of my daze, Magnus and his minions were already setting up the machine. I just stared at them, all will in me gone. I didn't want to fight anymore. What good will it do to me anyway?
I'm not fit enough to fight them. I'm not strong enough. Fighting them will only increase the amount of pain they will put me through. I'd rather welcome their experimenting with open arms than fight them even though I know it will lead to nothing.
I closed my eyes and waited for the gruelling experiment to start. However, I guess Magnus had something different planned.
The minions unchained me and they led me to another room. The room had only two things in it: a computer and a giant circular machine.
One of the assistant dragged me towards the machine and chained me up again. I was hanging from the ground and my legs were spread apart and so were my arms. I looked like a starfish floating on air.
Nobody uttered a word. It was deadly silent. It was like the calm before the storm and that only heightened my fear. I knew this will be much more painful than what I endured the last time.
'You can do this,' I reassured myself just before my torture began.
This time, I didn't stop myself from screaming. I let ear-piercing screams leave my mouth as a new kind of pain was inflicted upon me. I felt heat erupt from within me and I started sweating profusely. I felt as if I'm burning and my insides were melting. I clenched my fists but that only made my nails draw blood on my palms. I was panting like crazy and I was having trouble breathing. My heart was beating faster and I felt things eating up my organs.
It got to a point that black dots started to cloud my vision. I wasn't going to pass out though, I was dying. My heart was beating faster, then all of a sudden, it started to beat at an agonizingly slow pace. I wasn't breathing through my nose anymore since that proved to be a struggle. I inhaled and exhaled through my mouth and I ignored the chest pains.
Magnus and his minions were in distress. They were shouting things at one another but all I could hear was my blood flowing.
I breathed one last time before everything turned pitch black.