Four

The corridor was buzzing with noises as the guards kept on moving in and out of each prison cell to take out the young and innocent girls who were locked up inside. The girls who were unlucky to be dragged out were wailing in disobedience. Their loud voices echoed throughout the entire basement level and if someone heard it, their eardrums would break.

The sound came from the dim prison cells that were found in an underground basement of an abandoned building somewhere in Rizal and owned by an organization called The Red Dragon Society. On the outside, this building looked ruined, but a grisly crime was being done inside. There were no guards stationed outside but the entire perimeter of this building, which stretched into kilometers, was protected. The guards were actually living in a small hut not far away from the building and beside that small hut was a barn where they stocked up on their illegal weapons in case of an enemy invader. Not just that, the entire hectare of this land was covered with concrete walls, and bob wires were coiled on top to protect the vicinity from trespassers.

Inside the said abandoned building was a lot of CCTV for extra security protection. There were also mechanisms that would activate the traps when they were triggered by non-members. Once you fall from that trap, you have no chance to go out. You will either be put in the torture chamber or be fed to the lion's den. In the first level basement where the offices and the control room were located, lasers were everywhere that acted as an identity detector. If you are not an RDS member and have no member to accompany you, you will be shot dead.

While the girls were wailing in defiance, Lot 520 was watching silently inside her room, or safe to say, prison cell. These wailing girls were the new ones that the guards brought last week. The girls that didn't grow up in prison. She was unaware of where they came from but it got her attention to why they were crying and refusing badly. These girls didn't want to be in prison.

The boss above told them that once they were brought out of prison, their lives would get better. They will live extravagant lives because someone will buy them out of prison cells.

That's why Lot 520 didn't refuse or wail.

Unlike them, Lot520 was born and raised by the syndicate. Ever since she was young she has been taught only how to accept everything that her boss said. She, together with the other twenty-nine girls, are the products of a test-tube baby. They are raised to serve their boss and their soon-to-be masters. In short, they were slaves. But she didn't know the meaning of that. She grew up without knowledge of anything besides sex and killings.

They are known as Lots, and she was called Lot520. It was tattooed on her right wrist which also serves as their tracker because there was a microchip implanted inside. The bosses also used that chip to control the Lots.

Lot 520 doesn't know who their donors are or their parents. Like they are made out of nowhere to be raised as a slave.

When Lot 520 was six, she knew how to hold blades, guns, and drugs. And when she turned ten, she was taught about sex.

Since then, they have been taught about all variants of sex on how to seduce and make their partners happy. They always watched on a big screen or live demonstration where people were having sex.

Sometimes there were a lot of people banging each other. It looked exciting to Lot 520, but she hadn't tried it yet. The bosses said they needed to preserve their virginity for their soon-to-be masters because they are special.

Lot 520 also learned how to kill and how to use different kinds of weapons and poisons to use with their masters. The bosses said they would be a spy for their master, but they had to keep it secret. She didn't understand what he meant, but she could only say yes because if they were to defy his orders, they would suffer great punishments.

They were caged inside the prison for eighteen years and they couldn't go out. They can only get out of their cells when they are brought to the second level for their training and sex education. This was to prevent them from escaping. Nevertheless, Lot 520 didn't think of escaping.

Lot 520 was happy where she was, together with her other Lot. Their first time going out was indeed a wonder for her. They went to a place called a medical facility and the bosses said it was exclusive for those who live inside that prison. That's where she met Doctor Lacsamana, the handsome doctor that always attends the Lots. He is not just handsome, but kind and gentle too. She likes him.

To help keep the Lots healthy, and not disappoint their future masters, the bosses send them for a medical check-up every six months. Lot520's batch was the first batch of the test tube baby products and the higher-ups protected them really well to prevent losses.

There was a time when Doctor Lacsamana asked Lot520 why she wouldn't want to escape from the prison. But because she couldn't talk loudly, afraid that the bosses would overhear them, Doctor Lacsamana spoke as softly as he could until he was mouthing his words.

"Masaya ako kung saan ako ngayon. Marami rin akong natutunan doon. Isa pa, gaganda ang buhay ko kapag naibenta na ako sa kliyente ni boss." I am happy where I was. And I learned a lot there. One more thing, my life will be better when I get sold to my boss's clients, she answered enthusiastically.

The Lots were only taught in the Tagalog language and not others, so they couldn't make contact when they were outside.

"Alam mo ba kung ano'ng klaseng negosyo mayroon ang boss mo? Isa siyang lider ng sindikato." Do you know what your boss's business is? He is a crime syndicate."

Lot 520 moved her head to look up at Doctor Lacsamana while still lying on the hospital bed. He was drawing blood from her.

"Ano'ng sindikato? Hindi ba sila ang tutulong sa amin para gumanda ang buhay namin? What is a crime syndicate? Aren't they the ones that will help us to have a better life?" she asked.

Lot520 had heard the word syndicate but she really didn't know the meaning behind it.

Doctor Lacsamana shakes his head while staring at Lot 520 with a sad look.

"Pinalaki kang inosente para lokohin ng mga gagong iyon. Makinig ka, Lot520. Masama ang sindikato. Sasaktan ka lang nila. Hindi ka nila bibigyan ng magandang buhay tulad ng sinasabi nila. Sa huli, kapag hindi mo nasunod ang gusto nila, papatayin ka nila. Ganoon sila ka walang puso. You were raised innocently to be fooled by those assholes. Listen, Lot 520. The syndicates are bad. They will only hurt you. They will not give you a good life like they told you all. And in the end, you will still end up dying. That's how ruthless they are."

Lot 520 couldn't understand what Doctor Lacsamana was saying. She doesn't have a proper education. She only learned a few basic words and how to use weapons to kill enemies.

Lot 520 smiled while still looking at the handsome doctor. "Ano ba ibig sabihin ng masamang tao? At ano ba talaga ang sindikato?

What is the meaning of bad guy? What exactly is a syndicate?"

"Sila ang mga taong kumidnap sa akin para magtrabaho sa kanila kahit ayaw ko. Mayroon akong sariling buhay at asawang nagmamahal sa akin. They are the people who kidnapped me and made me labor for them. I have my own sweet life with my husband back home." The doctor lowered his head. "I missed him so much!" His voice came out softly. It took him a while before he started to talk again and at that moment Lot520 just waited for him. She could see that Doctor Lacsamana was in pain.

"Bata ka pa, Lot520. May magandang buhay na naghihintay sa 'yo sa labas ng kulungang ito. Kapag nagkaroon ka ng pagkakataong tumakas, sana ay tumakas ka. You are still young, 520. There is a better life waiting for you outside of this shithole. I hope you will think about escaping if you have the chance." The doctor's voice was soft and hushed while talking to her. He doesn't want anyone to overhear what they are talking about. That's why she was talking to him in the same tone...

Lot 520 still couldn't understand why Dr. Lacsamana was talking to her in a low voice but she copied him. She has a warm feeling for him. She doesn't know why, but she always feels happy every time she sees him. So, even when he was telling her to escape, Lot 520 didn't feel bad. When others tell her to escape, she always feels upset. Mostly, those newcomers in the prison were telling her to find a way to escape far away and leave that demonic place.

But these newcomers taught Lot 520 new words she didn't know. They are always enthusiastic because she was a fast learner and she could pick up everything that they taught her for the first time. They are telling her that she was a clever person and she can't help but grin about that.

The kidnapped girl also explained to her about a place called the school, where students go, to study and learn properly. Her smile didn't leave while listening to the stories the newcomer told her. It looks like, outside this underground prison, life is really beautiful, but she can't bring herself to escape even if it is fun like what they've said.

Lot 520 was not alone in her prison cell. She has someone called Tesla. Sometimes Tesla taught her how to write and read secretly because they would be dead if they were discovered. And the word dead was the last thing on her mind. She still wanted to explore the world, to see what beauty this life of hers had.

"Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka sa susunod ay turno mo na?" Are you not afraid that someday it will be your turn next?"

Lot 520 jolted her lazy body and retracted her gaze from gazing outside the corridor when she heard Tesla's voice.

When she looked back, she saw her sitting on her bed. She was looking at Lot 520 with eyes filled with concern.

The noisy wailing of the girls while the guards forced them out of their cells can still be heard. Lot 520 walked back to her bed and sat beside Tesla.

"Hindi! Mas nananabik ako. Kahit gusto kong tumira rito, gusto ko rin naman na maranasang tumira sa lugar na tinatawag na bahay. Kung saan ay tinatawag ako na master." Nope! I am actually excited. Even though I wanted to stay here as this was my comfort zone, I also wanted to live in a place called a house. Where there is someone whom I call master." Lot 520 grinned before glancing at Tesla. "Gusto ko rin mamuhay tulad ng sinasabi mo." I also want to live a life like what you had told me before."

Tesla was always telling Lot 520 how her life was before she got kidnapped. That gave Lot520 the excitement of trying to live like a normal person.

"My life outside is different from the life that you will take, 520. And worse, you know that your mission will be activated once someone buys you, right?"

Lot 520 shrugged her shoulders and leaned her head on Tesla's shoulders. Tesla raised her hand to comb Lot 520's hair like she always does. The latter felt ecstatic just by the way Tesla's hand moved to smoothen her hair.

"Oo, papatayin ko sila. Iyan ang mahigpit na bilin sa akin ni Boss at parurusahan ako kapag hindi ko iyon nagawa." Yes, I will kill them. That's the rule our bosses keep reminding us of. I cannot bend that rule no matter what or else a heavy punishment will be imposed on me."

The crying voices of the girls subsided and the corridor returned to its stillness. But Lot 520 and Tesla still talk as softly as they can. The walls have eyes and the wind has ears. She couldn't risk Tesla's life just because of her curiosity.

"What if the master that bought you is kind? Would you still kill them?"

"Oo, hindi naman siguro sila mahirap patayin. Yes! It's not hard to kill them, right?" Lot 520 turned to Tesla and smiled innocently. "As long as my mission succeeds, my boss will be happy and they will compliment me."

"It is not easy to kill someone, 520. What if they are kind and not bad people?" Tesla insisted. She kept on combing her fingers on Lot 520's hair and Lot 520 felt soothing and relaxed.

Lot 520 couldn't understand her. Why does Tesla do not want her to kill her master when that is the mission of the bosses? Does she want Lot520 to go against the bosses?!

Lot 520 felt scared of that thought. She felt silent all of a sudden and she closed her eyes to control her emotions. Her hands are curled into a fist. Tesla is good and threatens her better, so she doesn't want to argue with her.

"Your turn is coming, 520. Based on the bracelet tag on your arms, you are turning twenty-one. It will be soon that they will take you out and auction you. You are one of the prettiest, smartest, and the best among your peers. I am sure they will also give you the best master. But let me remind you, 520. We are handled by syndicates. They are bad guys and I am sure the people attending the auction were rich and powerful, but they belong to black society."

Lot 520 smiled softly but she could feel the excitement boiling inside her like a raging inferno. That's how excited she was about the upcoming auction.

It's not even a week yet and Tesla's prediction came true. It was time for Lot 520 to be auctioned. Whether she will get an amazing owner or not, time can only tell.