Capítulo 1: Al principio

Otro año de pocos descubrimientos esperanzadores, de novatos inmaduros, tontos e ignorantes. Todos los años pasaba lo mismo, los doctores Berger y Austin no estaban muy sorprendidos por la llegada de nuevos aprendices. A veces sentían que odiaban su trabajo, pero no tenían otra opción.

- "¿Estás listo, querido colega?" - dijo el Dr. Austin

- "Parece que está hablando con demasiado sarcasmo. Note mi entusiasmo" - respondió el Dr. Berger

- "Quizás este año tengamos suerte. Sé perfectamente cómo te sientes. Pero es nuestra responsabilidad, lidiar con los rookies"

_ "Solo espero que tengas razón. No me gustaría perder el tiempo de mi vida volviendo a explicar términos bastante básicos, sabes que me gusta entenderlo"

- "Escuché de un joven de 17 años, dicen que tiene mucho potencial. Esperemos que sea cierto" - dijo Austin

- "¿Tiene solo 17 años? ¿Es una broma?"

- "Aparentemente es el más joven de esta clase. No sé mucho de él, pero probablemente lo veamos hoy en la reunión de bienvenida"

- "Me temo que se posponga un poco la reunión. Según me dicen, se necesita un investigador"

- "No te preocupes, me dijeron que viene para acá. En media hora quizás esté aquí"

- "Más vale que sea cierto. Mi paciencia tiene un límite" - dijo Berger

- "No nos queda más que poner nuestras mejores caras y esperar un milagro" - dijo Austin

Era mediodía y hacía demasiado calor. Nunca había sentido tanta libertad en su vida hasta que decidió seguir su camino. El Centro de Entrenamiento no parecía lo suficientemente acogedor desde fuera, pero el entusiasmo de William le hizo pensar de otra manera. ¿A cuántas personas impresionaría en esta institución? No estaba seguro, pero creía que en este punto del juego probablemente tendrían más respeto por él que en la universidad.

Finalmente llegó a su destino y dos científicos de unos cuarenta años lo estaban esperando. William salió del vehículo y detrás de él había algunos empleados de Umbrella.

- "¿Y quién se supone que es este chico? - dijo Berger

- "Es el otro investigador que se necesitaba"

- "¿Qué? Es solo un niño, ¿qué se supone que debe hacer aquí? ¿Es hijo de algún investigador importante o algo así?"

- "Cálmate amigo mío. No es hijo de alguien importante ni nada, simplemente es otro investigador prodigio que tuvo la suerte de ser seleccionado por la corporación Umbrella. Ahora sigue mi consejo: sé amable y finge que te gusta tanto. podemos terminar pronto "

-"Mierda"

Cuando vieron al niño un poco indeciso de moverse hacia la entrada, el Dr. Austin miró firmemente al niño y le dio una sonrisa amistosa. Detrás de él, el Dr. Berger sonreía con un poco de dificultad.

- "Buen día. Debe ser el Dr. Birkin. Por favor, pase al frente"

- "Gracias" - respondió William con timidez.

El hombre que lo acompañaba llevaba su equipaje y entró detrás de ellos. Luego se detuvieron en el vestíbulo. William miró con preocupación la ubicación de su equipaje. Sus ojos miraban nerviosamente a todas partes.

- "Oh no te preocupes por tu equipaje doctor, en este momento ha sido enviado a tu habitación" - dijo Austin amablemente

- "Está bien" - acordó William

- "Me gustaría presentarnos formalmente, soy el Dr. Franklin Austin y mi socio aquí es el Dr. Rudy Berger. Ambos trabajamos en el Centro de Capacitación y nos encargamos de la formación académica de los futuros investigadores de la Corporación Umbrella"

- "Es un placer conocerte, soy el Dr. William Birkin" - dijo, estrechando la mano de Austin

- "He escuchado grandes cosas sobre usted, Dr. Birkin" - dijo Austin sonriendo.

- "Nunca he visto a un investigador demasiado joven en mi vida" - dijo Berger

- "Sé que parece extraño, pero estoy bastante contento de estar aquí" - dijo William

Berger kept seeing William oddly. He had been studying and working in virology longer than William had been alive. Dr. Austin, seeing the awkward silence that formed, decided to continue with the tour.

- "Well Dr. Birkin, it's time to show you the training center. As you can see, this is the lobby. In the right section you will find the kitchen and cafeteria. We have a strict schedule for each activity, I hope you understand. Please join us "

William nodded and followed the two investigators. Austin showed her around the cafeteria area, the library, and the entertainment area. William smiled when he saw a chess board because he was so good at it. "Maybe on one occasion I can play chess with someone and defeat him"

- "This is the conference area. In an hour the initial class will begin. So if you allow me, I'll show you the bedrooms "

- "Perfect" - he answered energetically

Berger said almost nothing about it. Austin was doing the best he could and William felt that neither of them liked him. "At least Austin is pretending to be nice to me."

- "And this is the bedroom area. This is your room. Please remember your room number and before I forget, this is the key to enter. Don´t lose it "

-"Agree. Ehh ... I see a bunk bed, will I share a room with someone else? " - He said a little uncomfortable

- "Yes, that's right, doctor. You´ll have a roommate "- said Berger

- "May I know who it is?"

- "At the moment I don't have that information, but it won't take long to be notified. Apparently modifications and adjustments are still being made to install all the trainees "

-"I get it"

- "Well, I'll let him settle down. I guess it's been a long journey, huh? And remember that in an hour we will be starting. We´ll see you in the conference room "

-"Perfect, thank you very much"

-"See you soon"

The scientists closed the door behind them leaving William alone in the room. When they left, he felt enormous relief. He began to examine the entire room. There were two desks, a few sofas, and the bunk beds. Then he went to the bathroom and examined everything, took the time to wash his face with soap and looked at himself in the mirror: "I'm finally here."

Then he flung himself onto the lower bunk, sighed deeply, and crossed his arms behind his head. He was finally free.

An hour later he headed for the conference room. There were many people older than him and the youngest were in their twenties. He felt a bit ridiculous to be among those people, they kept looking at him strangely and he hated being looked at. He made an effort to ignore them, not to try to belong. Apparently no one was interested in speaking to him, so he sat down.

He was alone, again. Fortunately, he had a notebook and began to read some of his notes to pass the time. As he did so, three other apprentices were judging him.

- "What is that brat doing here?" - said an apprentice

- "I have no idea but it looks so pathetic among all these people. I guess it must be some kind of practical joke or something like that. "

- "I'll go find out what's with him. I'll be right back "- said one of them, winking as he left.

He went over to see what William was reading. The guy was surprised that he was reading about Ebola. This struck him as strange.

William felt the apprentice's gaze on his notes, then lowered them and stared at him.

-"Oh hello. Sorry for the interruption. I didn´t want to intrude but what you were reading made me very curious "- he said, smiling falsely

-"Hi"

- "My name is Tyler, and you are?"

- "William Birkin, a pleasure"

- "Oh William, may I ask what you are doing here?"

- "I come to the talk today"

-"You? Really? What are you supposed to be? "

- "I am a researcher, like everyone else. I come to the talk today. I am preparing to work at Umbrella. So difficult to understand? " - He said with an annoyed tone. It happened before, it was happening again.

- "Shouldn't you be in high school or something? Look kid, this is too complicated a place and a person like you wouldn´t have the capacity to tolerate the amount of work that is assigned around here "

- "Do you think I'm a joke? Look, I don't want to have problems with anyone, you understand? I just try to train like the others "

- "The rest of us are researchers, we are not children. There is a question called "maturity" and I doubt that you count on it "

- "Well and I think that I don't give a damn and I would advise you to stop telling me stupid things that are irrelevant. If you'll excuse me, I'll go read somewhere calmer where they don't spoil my reading with pathetic phrases "

Furious, William took his notes and stood up. Tyler grabbed him by the shoulder and started laughing.

- "Doesn't it seem cute? God, you should go back to school, or else, to your mother's womb. Surely you don't want to know what responsibilities are "

- "Leave me alone" - he said angrily withdrawing the hand that was holding him.

- "Who the hell do you think you are huh? Do you think you can do whatever you want around here? Take my advice, go back to your mother "

- "I don´t understand what your insistence is to be fucking me. If you don't believe what you see, well, ignore it and that's it. I´m not here with the intention of having problems, I have come to work for a major company, but what do you think? My expectations went to hell when I realized that I have to deal with pathetic people who instead of prioritizing the academy, waste their time bothering others "

- "Well, if you don't think so, you have the option of retiring. You´re still on time boy"

- "I'm afraid that the one who will end up retiring is you. You better not underestimate me "

-"What did you just say?" - Tyler said, taking him by the neck of the robe.

- "Fuck you" - said William

- "Repeat it spoiled brat"

- "Oh I see, now you want to hit me. Go ahead, do it and we'll see how it goes after that, although I doubt you have the courage "

That was the straw that broke the camel's back, Tyler was enraged and was about to beat up William when someone stopped him by the shoulder.

- "I think that´s not a good idea. Leave him now "- said the young man

- "Now you come to defend him? Whoops! He will certainly go far "

- "I am not here to defend anyone. I'm just saying that if class is interrupted again for a stupid cause, I will be very upset and believe me, it's not a good idea. Leave him for a damn time "

Tyler slowly released William. He was upset, he couldn't give William what he deserved.

-"Who are you?"

-"That's none of your business. Just leave him, ignore him"

- "I didn't know you had a babysitter. Do you think that this brat is a researcher?

- "If he wears a lab coat and a badge with the company logo that identifies him, there is no doubt that he is. Simple common sense. Furthermore, it would be very unfortunate for a person like you to be so lowering himself to the point of wanting to intimidate a minor, or rather, an investigator. What will your superiors believe about you? You will be nothing but a nuisance "

- "Okay, stay with him. But you won't get very far, good luck "- he said, smiling maliciously and withdrew.

William watched the guy go. He was relieved that there was no inconvenience, but when he turned to look, the other boy was gone. He followed him to thank him.

- "Hey, thanks for that" - he said shyly

- "Why do you thank me? I didn't do it for you, but for myself "

- "Ah… well, but anyway I thank you for putting him in his place. I didn't want to miss my first class either "

-"Oh yeah? Well, if you want some advice and to be taken seriously, you should keep your mouth shut. Don't think you were innocent, you were causing it "

-"But…"

Suddenly the conversation was interrupted when they heard the voice of a megaphone.

-"Attention! Attention! This is Dr. Marcus. Please be silent as we reflect upon our company motto. Obedience breeds discipline. Discipline breeds unity. Unity breeds power. Power is life."

All the apprentices began to be silent and took their seats, when William turned to see, the boy was no longer there, he had gone to sit who knows where. Since he couldn't distinguish him from the others, he sat down next to an apprentice. She felt a bit uncomfortable at the presence of young William at her side.

In a matter of minutes, Drs. Austin and Berger appeared behind another scientist even older than themselves. He was a slightly short man, his dark hair was just beginning to bleach with gray, and he was wearing a stylish lab coat. William assumed that this man would be the manager or the director. When the old man reached the podium, the other two scientists who accompanied him were left behind.

- "My dear students. Welcome each and every one of you. I want to congratulate you all for being here. I recognize that it hasn´t been easy but the important thing is that you are here and for very important reasons. Before I want to introduce myself, I am Dr. James Marcus and I am the director of the Training Center. Our mission, as you know, is to train new scientists based on the company's work philosophy. It´s important to let you know that many of you will be able to pass the tests and others won´t, unfortunate no? But that is the reality."

"Ha! I will surpass all these idiots, I am sure that I´ll achieve it" thought William.

- "Since it is your first day, the talk will consist of the most basic. We won´t do practical activities today, we´ll talk about the general rules of this facility. Each of you will be assigned a room which has a key with the respective room number. Later they will be given their personal identification cards to access the laboratories. In addition, the cafeteria and the entertainment area will be open at respective times. Starting at 9:00 pm there will be a curfew and we don´t want to see any of you outside your rooms at that time. Early tomorrow, we´ll start the master classes. They´ll have their teachers who will assign them work such as making reports, essays and other practices. I hope you can agree with them and I hope that you won´t be a problem "

And he went on and on about the history of the company, its objectives and all the protocols for the use of laboratories, etcetera, etcetera. William was very bored, since administrative matters and others weren´t his concern. He was looking forward to standing out in a laboratory to show others what he was truly capable of.

While he was distracted in his thoughts, the meeting was about to end and one of the doctors spoke. When William returned from his mental journey, he noticed that Marcus was already gone. He shook his head and tried to pay attention to the last part of the meeting.

- "Alright people, here I have the list with your names and surnames and the teacher that corresponds to them, please when everything is finished, check that your names are well written. The last notice that we had for today is that you can take the rest of the day off, as long as you respect the schedules as previously mentioned. That's all I have to say. Austin, do you want to add something? " - Berger said, looking at his partner.

- "I just wanted to welcome you all and I hope you can settle in. Each was assigned a room number. Please, trading or anything like that is not allowed. Without further ado, you can withdraw "- he said with a smile in this last part.

Everyone began to get up from their seats and some were already beginning to leave the room. William walked over to see the listing where his name was, but due to his height and the presence of other older apprentices, they prevented him from seeing. Tyler noticed and laughed mischievously.

- "Aww poor thing. Are you having trouble seeing the list, little one? " - He said shaking William's hair with his hand.

- "I think it has become a bad habit of you to get into matters that are not your concern. Take your hand off me "- he said, fixing his disheveled hair again

Tyler frowned when he heard what he said. Remembering the incident from a few minutes ago, he didn't dare to bully the boy again.

- "It seems strange to me that he haven´t come to help you" - he said looking around

- "Puedo cuidarme solo, no hay problema. Entonces, si me disculpan, tengo cosas que hacer" - dijo, dejándolo a un lado para ver la lista.

Con la vista, comenzó a buscar entre los nombres hasta que finalmente pudo localizar el suyo. Sonrió y notó que su nombre estaba bien escrito. Junto a su nombre estaba la casilla con el nombre del profesor que le impartiría el curso a lo largo de los meses. Suspiró y se fue. Escuchó a Tyler y su grupo de compañeros reír, probablemente se estaban riendo de él, pero William los ignoró.

Decidió volver a su habitación, un poco desanimado porque nada había superado sus expectativas. La misma maldita historia otra vez, el mismo maldito tormento, maldita gente.

Giró la manija de la puerta y notó que no tenía llave. Alguien estaba adentro.

"Probablemente sea mi compañero de cuarto. Solo espero que no sea otro idiota"