CHAPTER 15

Neither of us uttered a word after he finished speaking. I kept my mouth shut, waiting for his next words—but he didn't say anything else. A soft, non-threatening hum filled the silence as the elevator glided downward.

I was slightly surprised to hear the familiar sound of the elevator when it reached the floor. I was waiting for the door in front of us to open, but it didn't. Then I almost jumped in surprise when I suddenly heard the door open, and it was the one behind us.

I was right, there were two doors in this elevator.

When I looked at Atlas, the corner of his lips rose and he shook his head. He gestured with his head towards the open elevator door to signal me to go out.

I swallowed and followed him. I had been imagining that the place we would get out of the elevator might be scary, but it wasn't. I was greeted by a big lounge. It was plain white, and there was nothing else but gold linings in every corner. The environment was very bright because of the lights attached to the ceiling. There was a small reception desk at the entrance of the elevator, but there was no one there.

There was a large flatscreen TV in the corner that I think was like a living area. There were many chairs scattered around for some reason. On the side of the living area, there was a long table with a coffee machine and other food besides biscuits and chips.

"Welcome to my basement, Sarah," Atlas said.

He walked ahead of me and went straight down a hallway. I hurried to keep up and just before entering the hallway, I glanced to the side and noticed people in a room wearing lab gowns and face masks.

Is Atlas a doctor? Or maybe his job is related to that? If so, that's too far from what I studied in college. The people inside were also too serious, and I could see that they were looking at something under a microscope from where I could see it.

Some were walking around, and some were doing something. I could see them clearly because of a large glass window. A woman and I made eye contact when she probably noticed someone was looking at her. She had long hair and curtain bangs. She was holding test tubes and other equipment.

"Sarah?"

I quickly looked away from the woman when Atlas called me. He was already standing at the entrance of the hallway, one hand in his pants pocket.

"S-sorry," I stammered.

I glanced one last time at the woman, but she was gone. She seemed to have returned to work. I walked towards Atlas, and he turned away from me to go to his office.

He opened the first white door on the right and went inside. I was greeted by the very cold air coming from the split-type air conditioner that was placed on the side of his office. There was a black table there and a brown leather swivel chair. He sat down and pointed to a brown Sydney chair on the left side in front of the table. There were two of them, and the other one was on the right.

"Take a seat," he ordered me, still pointing to the chair.

"Can you now tell me what job you're going to give me?" I asked when I sat down.

I was restless, and I wanted to know so I could go home. It's already late, and it's almost dawn.

"I saw what they were doing there earlier. What I studied in college is far from what I will do here if you hire me—"

"Just give me a second. I'll just do something," he interrupted me.

I closed my mouth and waited for him to finish what he was doing. He talked to someone on his cellphone, but I couldn't understand because his answers were just yes and no. He also finished what he was doing quickly when he got the two papers from the printer that were on a drawer displayed on the side.

"The area that you saw a while ago is a laboratory area. That's just Area 1 because there's an Area 2. My basement is much larger than you think," he began.

He handed me the two freshly printed papers along with the pen he took from his desk drawer.

"Read the paper," he said as he handed me the pen.

Laboratory area? My eyebrows almost met because of what he said. I can't imagine what Atlas's real job is and why he has an underground basement. The paper was upside down when I took it, and when I finally saw the top, my forehead wrinkled even more.

"Contract for Membership in El Orden Del Abismo..." I read softly.

This Agreement is entered into by and between __________, here in after referred to as the "Member," and El Orden Del Abismo, here in after referred to as the "Organization," on this _________

El Orden Del Abismo? Organization? My ears almost went deaf because of the loud pounding of my heart. I quickly read the rest of what was written there, especially 2.1 and 5.1, which I swallowed.

2.1 Commitment: By signing this agreement, the member agrees to become a permanent member of the association. The membership is irrevocable, and the member cannot withdraw or terminate this agreement.

What kind of organization is this on paper? My hands were shaking with fear as I continued reading.

5.1 Irrevocability: The Member acknowledges that this Agreement cannot be terminated or rescinded. The member's participation in the organization is permanent.

I was right that this wasn't good. Besides not knowing what kind of organization was written here, I had never heard of El Orden Del Abismo before.

"That's Abyss Order or El Orden Del Abismo."

My breathing quickened as I glanced at Atlas. He was now leaning back in his chair, looking at me seriously. My eyes widened when I saw that he was holding a gun in his right hand.

His right hand holding the gun rested on the table while he was still leaning back in the swivel chair. His left elbow was resting on the arm of the chair, while his left hand was also resting on his chin.

"W-why do you have a gun?" I asked him nervously.

I felt like I was going to lose my mind at what I saw. He looked scary now because his eyes seemed to darken as he looked at me, or maybe I was just imagining it?

"To let you join our organization," Atlas replied, and now I could see his mischievous smile that made my hair stand on end.

I felt my body heat up again because of my fever. I wanted to slap myself because why did I even go with Atlas!? I don't know him that well, but I went with him, and this is the price I paid for what I did! I think I'm going to get into trouble because of my foolishness to get a job.

I shook my head and dropped the paper I was holding, but I stiffened in my seat when I heard the gun cock and he pointed it at me.

"I-I'm going home, Atlas. Please let me go. My mom will look for me at home," I said to him tearfully, the side of my eye heated up along with the formation of my tears that I could no longer hold back so they flowed down my cheek.

I heard his low laugh, and he shook his head.

"You can't fool me with your reason, Sarah. I know your mother doesn't care about you," he replied, which made my chest tighten. "You're not her favorite child because you're made from an accident. That's why your mother hates you. You're made from sin, and you're the consequence."

I was feeling a mix of emotions. My tears flowed non-stop as I shook my head in front of him. Even if he didn't say those words to me, I knew it.

I know I'm just the result of the rape of my mother. But how did he know that!? No one else knows about that besides us!

"H-how did you know that?" I asked him, sobbing. "How did you know that!?" I shouted in anger.

I know my mom doesn't care about me, but don't tell me that to my face. I wiped my tears and returned the contract to him while shaking my head.

"I won't accept your offer. I'm leaving here, Atlas—"

I stood up and tried to walk to the door but I didn't succeed. I let out a muffled scream when he pointed the gun at me. I raised my hands and shook my head like crazy in front of him.

"Please let me go. I want a different job, not like this," I sobbed to him.

"I didn't even tell you about our organization, Sarah. You just judged our organization like that? That's rude," he replied in a mocking tone.

I was begging in front of him. My body was visibly trembling because of what was happening. I don't know if it's because of fear or because I'm feeling my body temperature rise again, my fever is coming back.

"I have a bad feeling about your organization, so please let me go home. I won't leak anything about your organization if you let me go. I promise that, Atlas," I begged and clasped my palms in front of him.

"You're already here in my basement, Sarah. El Orden Del Abismo is a secret illegal organization, and you saw our organization with your own eyes. Do you think I'll just let you go now that you know our organization?" he stood up from his seat and walked towards me.

With every step he took towards me, I stepped back so he couldn't get close to me. Until I was backed against the back of the door while looking up at him because he was so close to me now.

Hot tears flowed down my cheeks again when I felt the muzzle of the gun on my chin. I automatically closed my eyes in fear. Atlas ran it along my jaw while looking at me, I could feel it even though my eyes were closed.

"You don't have a choice, Sarah. Because there's someone who is letting you in here as a replacement," he whispered softly to me while the gun was still pressed against my chin.

"P-please, I want to go home, Atlas. Let me go, please," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

I heard his low chuckle. When I opened my eyes, our gazes met.

"El Orden Del Abismo has two rules, Sarah. First, once you entered the organization, you can't back out," he said in a low, serious tone.

A moment ago, the gun was pointed at my chin, but now it's at my neck. It feels like I could pass out at any moment because of what's happening. I can't control my body shaking from fear.

"And last, if you're going to leave our organization, you need to find a replacement, and if you can't find one or you don't want to, we're going to kill you. It's just simple, right? You have a choice, Sarah. Find your replacement, or I'll kill you right now, and if you don't want to be killed, you don't have a choice but to join El Orden Del Abismo."

SHANGPU