Laboratory - Red

Chapter 38 (Special Chapter/Catrina Beatrice)

Tomorrow, around 12 p.m. Joseph and I boarded Joseph's car, splitting the rain from the sky. The sky seemed to cry out all the sadness. The dark, cloudy color seemed to symbolize my feelings raging now.

I'm worried, I'm tense, I'm afraid, I'm anxious. All mixed into one. And the central point of my troubles remained: Erina. Last night I kept thinking about it, whether it was during a meal or before going to bed.

I always wondered to myself. Is she okay? That's the main question, the center that will connect all the subsequent questions. Second, and so on is; has he eaten? Already rested? What the hell is he doing? And so forth.

Now I give in, unwilling to burden Joseph with all my questions. Always same. It must be: "Is Erina okay?", "How do you know Erina's situation now?", or "How did you find where Erina was after all these days of searching?". And keep it that way.

So, because I didn't want to make Joseph dizzy because of me, I just kept quiet all the way. Murly stared at the raindrops from behind the car window. If Joseph asks a little, then I answer him by nodding or just shaking (without smiling).

After waiting for that long journey, finally the rain subsided. The sky was bright again in the decoration of the rest of the water that wrapped the city on the asphalt. Joseph's car slowed down, entering one of the courtyards. A beautiful and simple house, with the impression of serene and peaceful. Before we even arrived, we passed through shady trees and a long river bank. I have never been through a place this comfortable.

We both got out of the car. Joseph walked casually knocking on the door of the house, and I just tailed while making a wry peek.

Many times Joseph called (with greetings only). And now slowly the door creaked. Someone opened it from inside. I peeked.

How happy I was then. That's Erina. The woman I'm looking for now meets, makes me feel good. Good Lord! I hugged my sister, no matter the tears that came. Erina! Erina you survived! Thanks God...

Many times I hugged her, then kissed her, hugged her again, pinched her cheek. And silence Erina, with a red face. Silent like I was just hugging an electric pole.

"That's it, brother.I'm fine. Extremely even," Erina prevented my shoulder, clumsily answering.

Finally we were 3rd, with Joseph of course, in the house. Foreign house, a simple house that if when entering it carried away by a comfortable atmosphere.

We sat in the living room. I looked around, the empty walls were springing up (i mean here; there were no wall hangings like photo albums for example). Then the roof with a white ceiling is clean without dirt, and of course the floor is like never even a foot.

I'm happy, the rest is moved. Until I forget my questions. First about the stocky woman and the laboratory owned by Bu Neny. Second of how I can be with Joseph, take the train anyway. Third, how Joseph knew this house, how Erina was to know it, and how Joseph knew my sister. It's freaky.

But I let those questions disappear for a moment. Relax, there is still plenty of time to ask. Most importantly now, we were able to gather safely, without the slightest disturbance.

***

After an insignificant pleasantry, Joseph waved, smiling for permission to go home. He nodded not forgetting to shake my hand.

After that, I started to think about those 3 questions. I immediately asked, under the illumination of this porch lamp. At night, drizzle wrap. And we were accompanied by hot tea and fries.

"Lucky Brother met Joseph. I'm sorry I left yesterday without saying it first" Erina took a sip of tea.

"Eh? You know Joseph?"

"Yes. It's been a while actually. Sorry we just told you. We know there is a time when Brother will ask us a lot of questions. Then I answered, slowly, one by one."

I'm a beard, don't ask much questions. Just give up, I'd rather listen than continue to interrupt Erina, so she's hard to explain.

"Joseph's coworker brother, has a side job, and I'm kind of surprised, too. How could he manage such time in order to do both so easily." Erina explained. While occasionally poking the fries in small pieces of it on the sauce on the plate.

But, Joseph? Side job? Immediately I concluded. If Erina could get to know Joseph and Erina also worked in the laboratory, then of course it can be guessed Joseph also worked as an employee in the laboratory. But how can it be? So why don't I know about that until now?

"Yes. Joseph is a veterinarian and an employee of Bu Neny. It's been two years since Joseph worked in that lab." Erina said, as if she could read my mind.

"Sorry.I'm sorry, brother. What you're worried about me is not wrong. Brother deserves to worry about me, worth what I'm doing." Erina's cheerful face turned sad, she placed the tea glass on the table, then looked at me concerned.

"Honestly, I was confused about where to explain my work. But clearly, Joseph and I had a grand plan that could indirectly save us all."

"What do you mean?" I became more and more clueless. Heye? Joseph really is Miss Neny's employee?

"Joseph and I are going to destroy all of Miss Neny's inventions. Including that baby tube, you plagiarist. Already can not make, why should be willing to steal anyway?"

We were silent for quite a while, leaving behind the sound of water falling from the sky, soaking the ground at night. Until then I remembered the laboratory, immediately urged Erina to answer.

"Erina! I just remembered, that stocky lady, Bu Neny's employee, she injected me with a strange liquid, I don't know what, and then security! The guard is dead! It's bleeding, and I don't know what's causing it. The woman told me a story about a king and a traitorous coachman then combined it with you!!" I exclaimed, no matter what my statement just now was vague and indigestible.

"Yes, Brother. Joseph took you, took the train. He escaped by saving you, carrying you with a little resistance from Bu Neny's employees. Then that security guard, I don't know that much either."

I'm glaring. Joseph's?

"so. Let's just say that Joseph and I are partners, or you just think of them as allies. We are valued as traitors for trying to thwart all of Ms. Neny's plans. The woman is crazy throne and treasure for the sake of her grudge.

"Then I was looking for a safe place for a while, not expecting that Big Brother would look for me, then get involved in the matter. I'm sorry.." now Erina's bowed deeper.

"Don't fight him, Erina." I glanced (also I don't really know why the word could be spoken at once).

"Why?"

"You're going to lose hard, trust me. If either side wins, there will be one victim. My feelings are still raging." I sighed, sipping warm tea.

"No, Brother. We will fight without bloodshed. Is not the age advancing now? War is not just about physical fighting. We're well-informed, so there's plenty of ways to thwart Bu Neny's dangerous invention." Erina clenched her fists, excited to say so.

The drizzle started to subside. Clouds and sparkling stars began to re-energize the sky. It was as if he had come out of his hiding place. I looked up to see such a beautiful night sky. Moon, beautiful.

But starting at night, I looked up at the watch on my left hand. Half past ten in the evening. Erina and I decided to rest. Take a moment to clean the dishes and tea glasses, then close the door and go to rest. Sleeps.

***

I draw the conclusion. So it's been true of my bad feelings all along. For days I was haunted by negative thoughts that always arise until I gave up thinking about bad things that will happen in the future.

Especially about Erina's work that always makes me angry. I have no right to forbid him from doing this. After all, I've explained that being a scientist is his dream since he was still in the braid of two. Alias is a child.

Remembering me, when Erina won the national biology race, chuckling with a golden trophy into the house, then cheering hugged my mother, father, and me in turn.

Mammy? Daddy's? Since when did they leave our family? I forgot, obviously it's been years that Erina and I have lived independently. I have always taught independence and courage to women since childhood.

And...

I, Erina, and Joseph ended up getting involved with that fucking lab. It forces us to be strong and not weak. How troublesome such a thing is. The rest interfered with my work, always making me unfocused when I was struggling with tools in the clinic.

In fact, Joseph turned out to be an employee of Bu Neny, two years instead. Really am! How could the two of them be allied, then not tell anything about the job. That's why Joseph pretended to calm me down as I groaned about my vigilance at Erina's work.

But yeah, that's it. Now the best thing is the safety of both of them. The safety of my sister Erina, and the safety of my colleague, Joseph.

***