Ch.84Cocktail Chocolate 5

Misha took me, who was staggering, into her room.

Her room, as expected, had “03” written on it.

After seating me on her bed, Misha fetched cold water from the water purifier in the corner of the room.

Then she calmly began to talk about that room.

“Inside there lives the person who was the 9th test subject.”

“Is it… a woman?”

“Biologically speaking, yes.”

As my predictions increasingly align, my heartbeat grows louder.

My trembling voice leaks out bit by bit through my quivering lips.

“Does she have black hair… and red eyes…?”

“How did you know that?”

Misha stopped abruptly while getting water.

Unlike the smile she had shown until now, her expression became completely serious.

“…”

I couldn’t easily answer her question.

I could only stare blankly at the girl with my bloodshot eyes.

“Did something happen between you and 09?”

“No. I just… must have confused her with someone else.”

Having barely regained my composure, I denied recalling her.

I couldn’t possibly reveal my past to Misha, and even if I did, what would change?

Besides, if Misha is also a member of the Counters, blood is thicker than water.

She’s more likely to take 09’s side over mine.

Even if she admires me.

After all, wouldn’t family be more precious to a human than an idol they like?

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

I shook my head with a pale face.

But despite my words, Misha’s expression remained troubled.

As if she knew about the evil deeds 09 had been committing, she approached me and sat on the bed.

Then she leaned in with her bright blue eyes.

“Nothing happened between you and 09, right?”

“No, really. I must have confused her with someone else.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Misha withdrew her gaze with a dejected face.

I gently patted her shoulder.

“Hey, Misha.”

“Yes, Siho-nim.”

“Could you stop using that ‘Siho-nim’ expression?”

“Then what should I call you?”

I pondered the appropriate title for a moment.

Then I suddenly recalled the students I had met at the academy.

“You can call me unnie.”

“Hmm, I wonder if unnie is right. Not by age, but if that’s what you want…”

Misha pursed her lips, rolled her eyes for a moment, then gently wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

Then she looked up at me with a bright smile.

“Yes, Siho unnie.”

I nodded in response.

Although the term “unnie” felt very awkward and unpleasant, it was much better than being called “nim.”

“I’m really thirsty. Could you make me some warm milk?”

“Of course. Would you like to wait here? I’ll quickly make it at the lounge bar and bring it back.”

Misha shook her head with clenched fists, telling me to just trust her.

I stroked the confident girl’s hair.

“Make it as hot as possible, please.”

The blonde girl said she understood and then left the room.

I listened intently to her fading footsteps for a long time.

And when they were completely inaudible,

I slowly rose from the bed.

Then, on tiptoe, I very stealthily headed for the corridor.

The corridor of Lab 2 was very quiet.

I stare at the problematic Room 09.

My thighs tremble as I once again face this number of death.

But I couldn’t stop walking.

If the being inside this room really is the person who killed me, my comrades, and my sister…

If it really is that person…

With a pale hand, I grabbed the doorknob.

And carefully turned it to avoid making any sound.

The doorknob slid smoothly with a “tick” sound.

It opens.

As the gap in the cold metal door widened, I pushed my body inside.

Inside was a lab so large it was difficult to call it a room.

Unlike 03’s cozy room, this one was very spacious.

Moreover, the lights were on, as if someone had been there until just recently.

With a mouth full of saliva that I swallowed, I slowly walked to the center of the room.

In the center were several glass cases on display.

And inside those glass cases were several metal rods that looked like weapons.

Missiles, perhaps…?

As I stared at those missiles, I approached one glass case that particularly caught my eye.

And the moment I realized what it was, I fell backward.

Because the object inside that glass case was so familiar and terrifying.

How could I forget?

The gravity bomb that had ground up Hyunsu and Gyuhyun.

The sleek and sharp gravity staff, so smooth it was suffocating, was prominently displayed in the middle of the room.

“Th-this…”

A metallic sound escapes from my mouth.

It’s the moment when all my inner doubts are confirmed.

My side throbs madly.

As if remembering the wound from when I was stabbed with a dagger.

My left arm trembles terribly.

As if remembering the sensation of being torn apart.

Collapsed, I curled up and muttered frantically.

How could this come from a facility of the Association that claims to protect the country?

Upon witnessing the truth I didn’t want to believe, my complicated thoughts became clear.

And the conclusion at the end of that clarity is escape.

I need to get out of here first.

Somehow I managed to get up.

And I hurriedly moved my feet to get outside.

But just as I reached the door, I heard footsteps from afar.

Has Misha already returned?

Misha’s footsteps, which until now had only seemed cute, are terrifyingly frightening.

Like a small demon, extremely scary.

The footsteps are getting closer and closer to this place, not to Room 03.

I hurriedly looked around the room.

Damn, what should I do…!

“—.”

Room 09 opens boldly.

The doorknob crashes loudly against the wall.

Soon the room is filled with loud singing.

A woman entering leisurely with music playing on her phone.

Dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants, she has a white towel around her neck.

She’s drenched in sweat as if she’s been exercising.

Hidden in the cabinet, I peeked at the woman through a gap in the door.

Black long hair, and red eyes.

The same color match as the Red Lion, but she has bangs and even messy stray hairs sticking out.

Soon she threw the towel from her neck onto the bed.

Then… the “09” tattoo on the woman’s neck becomes clearly visible.

Facing the enemy who killed me, my comrades, and my sister, I find myself breathless.

With my panting lips barely suppressed, I observed 09 carefully.

She soon threw her phone playing loud heavy metal music onto the bed as well.

Her t-shirt, soaked with sweat, clung stickily to her body.

09 begins to irritably remove the clinging t-shirt.

“Damn… still not used to this.”

During the undressing, her left arm twisted grotesquely.

I focus especially on that arm.

Soon the clothes stretched and came off her body.

Then, without a bra, smooth white skin is revealed.

From her modest breasts to the impressive curves where her ribs are clearly visible.

It’s like seeing myself before being taken to Chinatown.

But what’s important isn’t her figure.

09’s smooth body is covered with disturbing stitching marks.

Especially the left arm that has been moving strangely since earlier.

The moment I slowly raised my gaze to that left arm,

My brow furrowed completely.

Because 09’s left arm had a different skin color than the rest of her body.

It looks rugged and has a darker color.

Like a man’s arm…

When I realized this fact, my body involuntarily flinched.

Perhaps due to that vibration, a small rattling sound echoed from the cabinet.

“…?”

09 immediately caught the sound that could have been easily ignored.

Her deep red eyes turn toward the cabinet.

As if pierced by that gaze, I froze.

Eventually, she began to approach my direction.

What should I do?

Yes, the moment she approaches, I’ll kick the door open.

And immediately run outside.

After all, Misha had already broken all the doors.

If I can just reach the elevator, that’s all I need.

But… can I escape from 09 with my slow running?

What if Misha or 04 catches me in the corridor?

My chest aches.

But there’s no choice, this is the only way to survive…

I count to five in my mind.

When I reach five, I’ll kick the door open and run out.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…!

“09!”

Just as her grotesque left arm was about to touch the cabinet,

09 stopped abruptly.

Because someone called her from the corridor.

Before 09 could leave, Misha enters her room.

The girl was holding steaming milk in her hand.

“What’s this, why aren’t you wearing your skintight suit today?”

“I told you not to call it that, didn’t I? It’s a great invention.”

“Anyway, what brings you to my room?”

The woman with her breasts exposed encounters 03.

Misha frowned at her appearance.

“Has Siho unnie come here by any chance?”

“Siho? Who’s that…?”

“You don’t know? She seemed to know you…”

Misha rolled her eyes, smacking her lips.

09 shrugged at the girl.

“Who would know me besides the Counters?”

“I guess… even if there were any, you would have killed them all?”

Misha smiled brightly, saying she had asked a stupid question.

09, seemingly bothered by the term “unnie,” asks 03:

“But this person, if you’re calling her unnie, how old is she? She must be almost a grandmother.”

“No, she’s 21. About 160cm tall. And very cute with a beautiful figure…”

Misha explained about me with a sensual smile, as if just imagining made her happy.

With her other hand, she made a wave motion as if tracing my figure.

“Ah, could it be that bartender you said you wanted so badly?”

“That’s right! You remembered well.”

Misha nodded gratefully.

The cup of white milk sloshed along with her movement.

“Ugh, acting like a child while seducing people, who taught you that… That woman has really fallen for a terrible girl.”

“What are you talking about?”

Misha’s face turned serious at 09’s sarcastic remark.

Seeing Misha’s serious expression, who had always shown a smiling face, gave me chills.

“You always say you fell in love at first sight and bring them here under the pretext of employment.”

What is this about?

I listened carefully to these ominous words.

“Yes, I really did like those people. But this time is different. Siho unnie will be the last.”

Misha narrowed her eyes and gave a lewd smile.

The kind of sensuality that would be difficult to come from a fifteen-year-old.

“So I need to find her quickly! It would be troublesome if she dies while wandering around!”

“There are CCTVs. Use those to find her.”

“Ah, right! There are CCTVs.”

Misha smiled maliciously.

Soon the girl placed the milk on the table and moved to check the CCTV.