Chapter 25- Red Room

Lanie's POV:

I used the pamphlet I'm holding to fan myself. It's really hot, I can feel the scorching heat coming from the sun.

It's already past noon but the sun is still up there, showering us with it's heat.

Today is the Festival's first day, and the Deities really blessed our department. We were flooded by high profile visitors, they are all amazed by our products, bought them and even brought their friends to our booth.

Chemistry Department's perfumes are not that cheap. It's not affordable, in fact it's quite expensive. Today's the first day but we're almost out of stocks, even our second products are sold in just a blink of eye.

"I think, before this day ends, we can reach our target. And I bet, Chemistry Department will be the one with a highest sale at the end of the festival." Isaiah said. He is in Chemistry Department also.

I glanced at Isaiah. He's tall, fair and handsome. He looks like a modern prince charming who came out from a fairytale book. Having an atrractive face, body and mind, he's perfect. He is one of those so called-fantasies of women, unfortunately, he also fantasize men.

Isaiah used two pamphlets at the same time. He is sweating in a prince-like way.

"That's for sure. I never thought that we'll get a lot of customers. I thought they're panic-buying or something. I almost told them that they can try the other department's booths too." Merryl commented. Unlike Isaiah, she's sweating like crazy. Even her hair is a mess.

"Haggardness hits you, girl!" Isaiah blurted. "What happened to you?"

Meryll giggled," I never thought that this Festival would turn me into a mess."

"Don't you worry, Girl. There are so many good looking male species here and here's one, coming towards my beauty." Isaiah's eyes are sparkling and twinkling.

I tilted my head as I saw the reason why they are all became excited and acting cute. I saw Primo walking towards us.

I avoided his eyes. It's been days since we talked but since then we have not been able to talk again. We both got busy with our responsibilities as students. I have so much things to do for my department and for the Journalism club while he is busy with his assignments as a exchange student.

And... I'm also avoiding him.

"Lanie..."

"Oh! Shoot, the heaven chose Maelanie over us. How unfortunate!" Isaiah playfully tapped Primo's chest. Primo just laughed at Isaiah.

"I'll be back after a while." I told my group mates and went out first. I felt Primo in my back, he's following quietly.

I chose the hidden part of the garden. There are no students here, only trees shadowing the whole place.

Most of the trees here are Acacia, I stopped beside the huge one. I leaned on the tree and Page did the same.

We are both staring at front of us. I kept my eyes on the trees in front of me while Primo kept sighing.

I just stood there while waiting for him to talk.

Five minutes have passed. But Page did not even move. He didn't even look at me.

I waited a few more minutes but he still stood there. Page sighed a few more times, I decided to just go back.

"Red Rom." Page uttered, making me stop from leaving.

"What d-did you say?" I asked, stuttering. I misheard him, right?

"Red Room." He repeated, emphasizing the two words.

Red Room. Two words. But those two words made my knees tremble in fear. I know what Red Room is. And what it means. It is a hell-like place in the darkest part of the net.

A Red Room is a composite of urban legend and it is a dark or hidden website service available on the Deep Web where you can participate in interactive torture or murder. This red room generally contains explicit harassment and torture subjected by a command given by someone online.

That someone is like a customer, who pays through bitcoin, a type of digital currency used in internet transactions.

Those customers are high profiled people, some are business tycoon, some are politicians and some are those who you can't imagine doing a bad deed. They can request any activity in Red Room. Any kind of game of torture is possible inside that room.

Obliteration or the removal of body organs from an alive victim, butchering the victim, rape or sexual live performance, anything. Name them and all of that are possible in Red Room.

What the customer wants, the unknown hooded figures will do that then. Everything they ask for, those hooded figures will execute it.

The hooded figures and the red room itself, are the victim's biggest nightmare. Whoever entered that room as a victim will be treated like an animal, actually, much lower than animals.

Room of Pain, another term for Red Room. Brutal and heinous activities, all of that can happen in Red Room. No one can guarantee if the victim will live. It depends on the "customer", on how he want to play with the victim's life. And all of that are for entertainment, for their own satisfaction that I will never be able to understand.

"The clip you've watch is part of the video from Red Room." Page said after a while. It took him a while to say that.

I almost forgot how to breath. I even choked myself when I tried to catch my breath.

"The activity was a private request from one of ADS clients. What you saw is obliteration." Page added.

I tried to calm my heart. I gulped as I tried to breath.

"ADS?" I asked, this time, even my back can't handle the fear I'm feeling. I leaned on the tree again, hoping that doing that will help me handle my body's weight.

"Aronzaga's Dark Society," he answered bitterly. His voice is full of disgust and anger.

"How did you find all of that?" I asked, hoping that he will tell me that this is just a camera prank. That none of these are true. That he is just playing with me.

Primo faced me, he looked directly at my eyes," I hacked your computer. I know you already know that. I was there..."

Confused, I stared at him.

"I was there," he continued. "When you watched that freaking video, I was there. I saw it. I came, but I'm a few seconds late. And when that son of a bitch or whoever he is, traced your computer, I tried to stop him." I saw how he clenched his fists. "But for the first time, luck hated me. A power interruption occured at my place."

Is that the reason why you're here? Why you became an exchange student for Saint Augustine? Why Master Recoon stopped all the activities in DWD's?" I asked him directly but he averted his gaze.

I sighed.

I got busy, yes. But I know that they are the reason why we can't enter our groupchat. And our accounts for deepdiving, we can't use that anymore.

"Yes for all of your questions." Page said.

I smiled bitterly. Yes. That's it. Just yes for all of my questions. No more explanation. Just Yes.

"Lanie... Where did you get that?" He asked.

My forehead creased.

"That fucking video." He scoffed.

His question reminded me the place where I found the flashdrive.

At the back of the Academy, behind that mini-forest. Sorrounded by thick trees and bushes. The place where I can smell the freshness of the woods, the  smell of a dew, the moist, and the nature's scent!

My eyes widened. The scent of spring! I almost curse. Why did I just think of those now?

How stupid of you, Maelanie! I said to myself sarcastically.

"Maelanie..."

"Huh?" I glanced at Page. I almost forgot he's with me.

"You're pale... Are you alright?" He approached me, he's worried.

I tilted my head. I put my hand in my pocket. I tightened my grip on the perfume I'm holding now.

"What is it again, Page?"

He heaved a sigh. "Tell me where did you get that video or better give me the source of that clip."

I shook my head. That video is literalky connected to Red room. And red room means danger. I won't put him in danger. Never! "I'm sorry but I don't want to do that."

"Maelanie!" His voice rose. His ears and neck turned red. He's mad.

I shook my head again. "I'm sorry Primo but I can't do that. I should go back to our booth."

"It's dangerous, Lil Pup. Please..." He begged. His eyes are weary and tired.

I smiled. That's why I'm keeping it. I don't want to put you or anyone in danger. I said silently. I tapped his shoulder. "Thanks for telling me those things. I'll go ahead."

I turned my back then run. He called me but I ignored him.

Apologies, Primo. But I won't let you be tangled with my stupidity and carelessness anymore.

❤