In this place, the same thing happened every day. Everyone had to work from morning until night. When they finished their tasks, they were given thirty minutes of freedom in the corridors — just enough time to use the toilets and eat. But when the time was over, they all had to return to their cages which was technically a huge room with slaves locked inside.
***
Mike had been worried all day. James had acted strangely the day before, and today he hadn't seen him anywhere.
He held the plastic tray with whatever disgusting food they had given him and forced himself to eat. It tasted awful, but he had no choice if he wanted to survive.
When he finished, he placed the tray where everyone left theirs and headed toward the toilets. He walked through the gray, lifeless corridors and stepped inside to the toilets.
The toilets were a large open room with no privacy at all. Men and women relieved themselves in the same place.
Suddenly, Mike felt a hand grab him.
It was James.
Before Mike could speak, James pulled him toward the back of the room, into a corner where no one could see them.
"Climb."
He pointed to an air vent high on the wall.
"What?"
"Quick."
James shoved him, practically forcing him to move. Mike climbed up, and James followed right behind him. The vent was narrow and cramped, and Mike hated tight spaces.
"Hey, Mike — here."
Mike turned his head and saw a small hatch below. He opened it and dropped down from the vent.
He landed in a small room that looked like an abandoned storage area.
When he turned back toward James, he froze in surprise.
There were other people inside.
Mike had a thousand questions, but the only words he managed to say was
"What is this place?"
James smiled.
"Look over there."
Mike followed his gaze. The floor was covered with papers — sketches, diagrams, and several maps.
"What all of this?"
"This is how we escape. We're leaving this place."
Mike's eyes widened.
"Wait… what?"
"We've been planning this for a long time," James said. "We found a way. But we need your help."
Mike was stunned. He wanted to ask why James hadn't told him sooner?Why now? why they needed him ?
But one thought drowned out all the others.
There was actually a way to escape?
James placed his hand on his shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Will you help us?"
Mike stepped back.
"This is impossible. How could we get out? They watch us constantly. If they caugh us, we are all dead"
"We have a plan—"
Before James could finish, an older man stepped forward. The number 175 was printed on his uniform.
"If we stay here," the man said quietly, "it will be worse than death."
Mike and James turned toward him.
"They have plans for us."
"What plans?"
"They don't want us to be human anymore. They want machines — workers they can control whenever they want."
"They already do that,"
Mike said.
"Right now, you only have one collar, boy — something that tracks where you are and shocks you whith electricity if you resist. But soon… you won't even have the right to go to the toilet."
"What do you mean?"
James answered his question.
"They're going to implant devices in our bodies. We won't get any rest at all. They want us working nonstop… without even feeding us"
"That's impossible,"
"Everyone would die."
"I don't know"
"But they have plans for us"
Mike didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to react...He was afraid.
He wasn't like James.
"I can't do this."
James spoke calmly.
"Sometimes they assign you to clean the supervisor's office, right?"
"What?Yes…"
"If you change your mind, there's a red folder in his office. Bring it to us. It's the last thing we need."
He paused.
"If you don't want to help… then do not"
Mike lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry. I have to go."
Maik pushed past the others and climbed back into the vent.
The numbered 175 looked at James.
"Are you sure he'll do it?"
James gave a faint smile.
"Yes. I'm sure. Next week… we'll have the folder."