Future

The computer screen flickered, mechanical fingers compiling the last piece of footage. Yuka’s camera slightly moved up and down, matching her slow breathing. This was the footage he needed, the sad reality that someone passed out from nothingness; it was absurd in the right way.

I will send these to every anonymous forum. I'm tight on time since Yuka exposed my presence, seeing that priceless reaction on that sick, mad scientist. Even giving me a fun time, aren’t you?

The footage getting edited while transmitted at the same time was almost inhumane; only a mind of his could process both at the same time, like Takeru kneeling above her looking down, tears dropping.

“Yuka, just say something!” The raw emotions were perfect.

With a final edit check, skimming through the video at ten times the speed, he's satisfied to write his final message. Multiple tabs were opened; anonymous forums spread all around the internet, ready to publish at the same time with the exact same evidence. If there was too much spread and too much saved, it would break out; there was power in numbers.

His metallic fingers clicked keys rapidly.

“This is proof, proof of a complex that has done inhumane deeds: files, recordings, watch it all. I’m the first ever to fall victim to these, a person forced into a machine body, forced to derive power not from food or water but from electricity. I failed to stop this sooner, but this is my final attempt before everything dies out."

Finishing the message off, he drops his coordinates from the computer. Nobody knew the facility, but knowing the internet culture of people who would decipher and analyse every single part of any message for hidden meanings, it was an obvious hint either way.

He clicked the send button for every forum he could find on the internet, all around the world; all of them can now witness the deeds that have happened here.

It’s done; we completed our mission. Thank you, Yuka and Himari, and even Takeru, for your raw emotions and your raw reactions to everything. We all deserve a rest.

His yellow glowing eyes stare at the ceiling, the screens static before instantly dying out, setting the entire set into darkness. The room completely shut down, with just a backup power source powering the leader, nothing more.

I have forty-eight hours of backup power; what is there to do but wait then? The entrance is blocked, and the vents are too small for me. I'm stuck underground until reporters and investigators flood in. Will society accept me? Or will I perish before they get here anyway?

…

The internet quickly turned into chaos; the damage control was impossible. It spread far too fast, like a wildfire. It was picked up on by one user, then another, then it spread onto mainstream social media platforms, number one trending around the planet, a place where people were experimented on without knowledge, hidden away from society, which already paranoid didn’t help.

The news stations had to respond fast; everyone was talking about it. Headlines flashed nationally, "SECRET FACILITY EXPOSED: Decade of human experimentation," drawing the local authorities from the city in the distance, the investigators, and the journalists. They all started storming the scene.

Takeru sat in his room, door barricaded, Yuka on the bed steadily breathing yet never moving even an inch, her state always the same. Loud knocks banged every couple seconds, an old harsh voice coming from the other side.

“I order you to open this door!” Takeru wouldn’t budge; he knew opening this door would put them in danger. It was better to wait it out until the police came, until all the people could witness everything.

Takeru just stared at the ceiling, sitting beside Yuka. It was finally over. "We're going to be free, Yuka. Even if you don't respond, I won’t just leave you after all you've done for us."

The outside became chaotic, with people trying to enter and the mad scientist trying to hold them off and sirens from both police and ambulances. They assumed they would need them, and that’s lucky for Takeru.

Using their authority, the police started detaining everyone. Rushing into the complex, Kensaku instantly froze; the sound of men outside the room flooded in before a deep voice spoke, “Is there anyone in there?" I'm giving you the chance to show yourself."

Takeru walked up to the door slowly. "I'm here. I'm an experiment. I have a girl who's in a coma of sorts, I think. We need help." He waited for a response.

“We will get someone; just sit there." One of the men began running back outside, calling paramedics into the building. Takeru unblocked the door before opening it gently; the entire frame of the door was blocked by multiple men in suits and protective gear. Paramedics stood in the background as they ran inside past Takeru.

In the background, he saw Kensaku slammed against the wall, hands cuffed behind his back. He didn’t even try moving; he didn't cry out, just a grim smile. “I will get out one day— My research is the future—”

The men questioned Takeru; he explained everything that happened, how everything was posted from their camera and the evidence and how he will testify in court against the entire facility. It was a lot of pressure, but it was what they wanted. Yuka got hauled out into the back of an ambulance; she was going to go to the city hospital, somewhere Takeru could still go for now.

…

Months passed after the incident.

Takeru opened a heavy wooden door leading into a room; its walls were a sterile white, and it was also clean. The windows opened slightly throughout the entire day, leaving the air fresh. In the corner of the room near the window there was a single bed and a cabinet beside it.

The machines beeped every couple moments. His eyes closed a bit, avoiding the window glare. Yuka lay on the bed; her hair wasn’t as short anymore, her eyes peacefully closed, covered in hospital garments, and she didn’t move at all. Her monitor beeped steadily, not abnormally even for a second.

“I brought you new flowers this week. The last one died, didn’t it? I have been getting help from others. I also testified in court; they will be in prison for the rest of their lives. Sadly, I still can't find that person behind the earpiece.”

…

“The sun looks very beautiful today. I'm pretty sure you don’t actually know what that is, but the light is warm and peaceful; it fills you with energy. The outside is very bright and colourful; you would love it." His hands go over to the cabinet, a vase sitting on top of it with dead flowers, replacing them with sunflowers.

“Hopefully these will keep you company until next week; I will be back, of course, after all. I just hope you wake up one day."

He extended his arm out, grabbing hers, just sitting in silence for a couple moments before standing up, slowly walking away from the room and gently closing the door for her.

“Until next time then, Yuka."