The Value of Life.
The professor aims his gun at Marco, the cold mouth of the firearm pressing against Marco's forehead. Slowly, the professor places his finger on the trigger, descending with deliberate rhythm.
Marco, eyes wide open, maintains a determination that defies the imminent threat.
"They know too much. This new energy source isn't something the world can handle. It's not ready for it," his tone severe, his empty gaze devoid of forgiveness. This man is ready to end him.
'I'm going to die.'
I desperately try to catch my breath, search for any possible action, but Marco's memories rush at me head-on.
I relive his travels with his parents, his games with friends, the time he confessed his feelings for a girl for the first time, and the moment he was praised by teachers in school.
I remember the fear he faced entering university at a young age, the initial loneliness, and the joys of meeting various people.
I recall his constant efforts to always be the best.
In the end, only determination remains.
'I can't die now. I have to save them all.'
The professor pulls the trigger, and a small click resonates in my ears, a sharp sound piercing the calm. Marco is surprised to realize he's not dead.
I feel my blood, like an icy torrent, leaving my body, creating a chill that spreads from my neck to my feet.
For the second time, I experience a cold that leaves me breathless.
The professor walks away towards the exit, leaving Marco defeated, kneeling on the icy ground. His tremors echo in the metallic click. The professor turns to see Marco's back, giving a smile and saying:
"Make the most of the party to say goodbye. You need to decide soon; otherwise, don't expect to walk away unscathed," the professor warns coldly.
Marco is left alone in the room; he simply stares at the machine. There's nothing, no emotion. The emptiness Marco feels right now is nothing but absolute lack of understanding.
'It's me or them,' he thinks, placing his hands on his face. He gasps, clenches them, but ultimately releases them.
"Don't do it," my voice, desperate, tries to reach him; my emotions flow with hope that one might pierce through time and help him escape.
'I have to make a decision now, whether I'll let them steal our project and use it for evil.'
I look directly at the screen, trying to help him.
"Don't dwell on it, Marco, please."
Your well-being.
'I was wrong, I know I always act without thinking of myself, that I always do things no matter if I get hurt, I...' Marco clenches his hands, placing them in fists in front of him.
'My parents wouldn't forgive me, even if I have to put them in danger.'
His thoughts reach me, but I don't accept it, I don't accept the suffering he's going to have to endure. All for wanting to help others, for wanting to be a hero, for wanting to be a person he believed idealized.
'Are these the consequences of doing good actions?'
"You can be selfish, really. Just accept it!" I shout at the inert screen, hitting my seat forcefully. I know my words are horrible, I know they don't align with my ideals, I know they don't reflect my emotions.
I know I would have made the same decision Marco is making now.
But it's not the right one.
"I have to save them, I have to do everything possible to save them all, even if I have to die."
"DON'T DO IT!" My shout, laden with emotions, resonates in the room, but it seems not enough to pierce through time.
Marco stands up and shuts down the machine. He takes the pyroxene crystal and makes it glow; he seems to have decided something.
"I can do it, I can do it because I'm the one who's meant to do it," Marco declares, meticulously storing all his research and executing actions that still escape my understanding.
After a while, Maria comes to fetch him.
Upon seeing her, Marco feels a mix of fear and determination surging within him. His body whispers that he must act, that he must save everyone. He stands there, gazing at her, with chaos raging in his heart. Yet, there's also a steely resolve.
'I must pretend that we're organizing the party, seize the chance to reveal the truth to everyone,' Marco decides. He's made up his mind, crafted his plan. I've seen it all, and that's precisely why it hurts.
"Even I can admit I feel pity," Echidna smiles.
I clench my fists, trying to restrain myself. I'm not myself right now... I've never been like this; now that I experience Marco's feelings, I morph into someone else.
First things first...
'Am I the girl trapped in the crystal?'
'Am I the person who wants to lead and do good for everyone?'
'Who am I being now?'
"Don't worry, we'll start preparing the party right away," Marco smiles, struggling not to vomit. He puts his hand on Maria's head, caressing her with a calm look. He stays strong, despite holding the lives of his family and friends in his hands.
As for me...
I stare at the screen, the chill lingering within me. I can only shiver, trembling in search of a little warmth. I long to feel that warmth, the warmth I experience when I'm with him.
I...
Maria kisses Marco, he embraces her, cradling her against his chest.
"I love you, Maria, that's why..." Marco hugs her tighter. "I want you by my side."
Maria responds to the embrace, without uttering a word.
This warm sensation, this heat trying to invade my body, is now overshadowed by the cold.
A cold so icy it makes me shiver.
My gaze weighs heavy, just by contemplating what's about to happen.
That feeling I found in Beatrice's books. That emotion I dreamed of; I thought feeling it would fill me with happiness, but this sensation...
'Why do I have to go through this?'
'What did Marco do to deserve this?'
"I'll protect you," Marco's gaze changes, my heart beats hard, my lips tremble.
The cold has already reached my bones, invading every inch of my being.
The fear he contains, the pain he feels. He hasn't even considered the true threat to his life, nor has he thought about what actions he should take to protect himself.
'Why?'
'Why is this happening to someone like him?'
Marco and Maria retreat to their room.
'I must pretend perfectly.' Marco uses his phone to play music, takes Maria and lays her on the bed.
Maria smiles: their emotions coordinated. Marco seizes the moment to kiss her, as they both begin to undress. To the rhythm of the music, a small guitar seems to encourage them to caress each other.
'I must tell her, she must know.'
Marco caresses Maria's body delicately. I can feel his warmth, I can feel the pressure he's experiencing. I can feel the fear that overwhelms him at this moment.
"Maria, it seems like I messed up."
Unaware, Marco embraces Maria tightly. Her surprise is reflected on her face, with wide-open eyes and outstretched arms not knowing where to go.
"Marco?" Maria asks, and Marco leans close to her ear.
'I'm going to make sure everyone survives, I will... Even if I have to ally with evil.' Marco has made a decision, one that I already know what it will cause.
Whispering, he hugs her tightly, as if he were escaping from something.
"Maria, the professor has betrayed us," Marco kisses Maria's ear carefully. "Try to play along, as they might be listening to us."
Maria hugs him, while the music deafens the atmosphere. The pain in my heart threatens to drown me, but I restrain myself.
"It seems like he's finally using his brain a bit," Echidna bites her cookie, enjoying the scene. Marco's voice breaks, releasing a small murmur.
My tears flow, yet Marco isn't crying.
"I'll fix everything, I promise."
Maria begins to tremble; noticing, Marco kisses her again. Over and over, he kisses her until they both run out of breath. I clench my hand to my chest; I just don't want anything bad to happen to her.
The screen goes black, and we're directed to another scene.
"The interesting part is coming soon," Echidna looks at me, but I don't meet her gaze. She wants me to fall, to not hold on.
Everyone is gathered, Maria nervous and downtrodden.
The chosen place is nothing more than a party hall. Marco took care to thoroughly inspect the place, every part, every crevice; he checked everything to avoid bugs and analyzed the cameras in the place, all while pretending to clean.
Marco looks nervous, looking around smiling, as if he were already drunk.
"He's getting more paranoid." I look at Marco, trying to understand him. This feeling in my chest, this oppression.
I can feel his emotions, but, unlike him, I don't feel like I can connect with him.
'I want to understand you.'
'I want to help you.'
After a few hours, Marco starts gathering them all. The music is blaring to drown out any trace of conversation. Everyone's smiling looks are overshadowed by Marco's absolute neutrality.
'This is going to worry them.' Marco thinks, squeezing his insides tightly.
An intense burning grows inside me. An oppressive sensation, my fury growing for my helplessness.
'You must be strong!'
Marco hits his face hard, so hard that his lip ends up splitting. My lip starts bleeding, but not because the damage has been transmitted.
"It seems like you're crazier than him." Echidna scoffs, but I ignore her. I have to be strong; I have to be strong if I want to overcome this.
Everyone is surprised and they gather closer to Marco, who takes the opportunity to look them in the eyes.
"Listen carefully, because I won't repeat it." Marco smiles, trying to calm himself down. "The professor has allied with the government and the United States; they all want to finish us off."
The looks of everyone turn expressionless, as if it were a joke. Marco begins to explain what the professor told him, omitting the part where he suggests betraying them; instead, he says he overheard it.
Marco plays an audio with the professor's voice, an audio he secretly recorded as evidence. It seems that all phones store information about where they are, as well as what is heard around them.
"We have to flee, that's why I've contacted someone who will come for us."
Marco had already made a plan in just seconds. Almost like part of luck or a cruel fate.
"I don't need you to doubt me, I don't need you to overthink, I need you to follow me," Marco looks at them all, a look full of fear and determination.
'Is Marco someone strong?'
I don't know, I really don't know.
"Go to sleep, don't prepare clothes or anything, each of you have a gun ready," Marco says determined, trying to convey security to his comrades. Everyone looks at him with fear, and, subdued, they start looking at the ground.
Security weapons given to students with a high rank.
The atmosphere feels tense, the music lively and full of instruments I don't recognize, but at this moment nothing reaches my heart.
"At midnight you must go to the laboratory. By any means, we will escape."
People seem not to understand Marco's words. Everyone looks at Maria, but her fearful expression is a vivid proof that Marco is serious. People start trembling, some fall to the ground, others lean on each other.
"It seems like the drinks are kicking in! HAHAHA, HAHA!" Marco starts laughing, laughing so hard that his throat begins to hurt.
'I can't fail, everyone's lives are in my hands.'