Chapter 12: In These Dark Times…

We went towards the next classroom and we were kinda surprised when we saw that there was a class in that room. "Can I help you?" The teacher said. "Uhh… sorry we just got into the wrong room" I said scratching my head. We exited the classroom and we went on our search again. We walked around the building searching for Maya and Miyuki. "Dude, It's 3:00; we should really go back to the classroom" Montaru suggested. "Hmm… It seems like Maya and Miyuki left the school early… Oh well, I'll see her tomorrow anyways" I thought to myself.

"Yeah, let's head back to class" I sighed. We went back to class and saw Maya and Miyuki talking with their group. "So that's where they were" Paul said. "Good, you guys are back, the whole class was waiting for you guys" Mr Tani said as we walked in. All eyes were on us and we were actually glad to see everyone was ok, since the recent tremors and torrential rain were happening suddenly throughout the week the whole class was on an all time high on disappearances and paranoia.

The end of school bell finally rang and everyone made their way out of the school. I opened my umbrella and I ran towards Miyuki to ask her some questions on her opinion on the collapse of Manitoban's Augmentation Facility."Hey Miyuki, Did you see the Manitoban's Augmentation Facility collapse?" I asked her "Yes I did, sadly enough" She replied

"Are you ok about it?"

"What do you mean by ok?"

"Well it's just that your dad's company is the head of all the augmentation facility and Manitoban's Augmentation Facility is a big part of it"

"Well, I'm ok with it but I think it wasn't because of the tremor that caused the building collapsed, I think it was something else that caused it"

"Don't you think it was lucky that the collapse of the building happened in a Augmentation facility holiday"

"Yeah… lucky" She said whispered to herself. I looked closely at her and she had an expression that I couldn't explain; her expression was a mix of both anger and sadness from what I can guess. "Sorry Darach, but I have to go now" She said as she walked away "Ok, i'll see you tomorrow then" I said back but she didn't respond.

I was curious on what was on her mind on that time. But I had to mind my own business in these kind of times. I walked towards the city and the rain started to stop and I can finally put away my umbrella. I went towards the supermarket to buy some new supplies and as I went inside I instantly looked at the T.V. because I heard them talking about the collapse of the Manitoban's Augmentation Facility."… furthermore the Amaya Augmentation Facility has chosen not to be interviewed at this kind of time. In further news Hatsune Miku has just finished her world tour and is now one of the world's top five artist, she will be performing in a disclosed location in Tokyo…" The news reporter said.

"Hmmm… this world's gone to hell since the augmentation boom" The mysterious looking Cashier said as I gave him the money for the stuff that I bought. "Tell me about it" I replied "Did you know someday in the near future all of us will have augmentations?" He said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the building collapsing is all staged, so that in the eyes of the world they'll be the victims"

"So what does that have to do with the augmentation future thing?"

"Prices on augmentation will go down, more augmentation requirement drugs would be produced, high profile people walking in the street, on the billboards, on the news endorsing human augmentation… before you know it, the world's humanity will be gone"

"Who are you and how do you know all this?"

"Well, I'm a researcher and author, but I kinda keep my real name secret; but you can call me "Blackeye"

"Ok, Blackeye; I have to go now; here's my phone number if you want this story to get out to the media or if you just wanna talk"

"No, I don't take phone numbers, but i'll give you mine" He said as gives me a piece of paper with his phone number on it.

"Uhh… Ok then, thanks" I said as I walked out of the supermarket.