The Forest
Rohan found himself bound, gagged, and blinded. He knew he was inside a moving vehicle, and he knew that there were others in the car with him. The eye patches put on him felt more like swimming goggles. “Whwefh wgraer wghe wghonug?” (Where are we going?) Rohan asked, his words muffled and incomprehensible. No one answered him. As time went on, Rohan felt increasingly deterred. He estimated that the car ride had lasted at least three hours. He had wondered if the car ride itself was part of his punishment, but it seemed more like a general inconvenience. Though he wouldn’t have questioned it if boredom was a part of the malice instead, to which he suddenly felt grateful for. He knew that if a worse punishment were to come, he’d be longing for the same silence allotted to him in this incredibly boring car ride.
Suddenly, the car came to a harsh stop. Rohan stumbled forward from the impact and woke from his sleep, but was caught by one of those who had been in the car with him. Someone ushered him outside the vehicle, where a guard freed him from his stimulation blockers. Upon their removal, Rohan rubbed his eyes in response to the residue and grime that had accumulated under his weary eyes and tight-fitting goggles. He spat all over the floor as well, trying to rid himself of the aftertaste of plastic that he had been tasting for about five hours. Someone handed his glasses, and by the time he had put them on, he saw a sight he could never forget.
It wasn’t natural, but it was prestigious. There were no signs of organic material, but the area was filled with innovation. Rohan looked around, taking in his surroundings, and was amazed by what he saw. It was a colossal research facility adorned with technological advancements unseen to the public eye. Researchers in white coats, with a sense of purpose, strolled across the pristine, white epoxy-coated concrete. Hazmats walked with crates and boxes in their hands. Rohan couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Monitors with hologram displays, advanced androids, automatons trained with state-of-the-art intelligence models, weaponry, and decoration built with the highest levels of imagination – it had looked like a dream. Rohan felt ecstatic. He thought that this was somewhere he had always dreamed of belonging to one day.
However, his joy was short-lived when a group of researchers surrounded him and ushered him into a rectangular chamber situated near the center of the facility. Rohan hadn’t noticed it before, but as guards ushered him, he saw an enormous structure in the middle of the facility, and that the rectangular chamber had been right in front of it. The structure looked like a wall when viewed from up close, but Rohan was able to make out instances of glass near the top and curves on each side of the area. He was able to deduce that the giant structure was a sort of curved enclosure – or a dome. A researcher kindly asked Rohan to walk through the chamber’s door. A researcher opened the door with a key card, and Rohan entered a well-decorated briefing room, its aesthetics consistent with the pristine white look the entire facility seemed to adopt.
“Please sit down, sir.” One of the researchers said, pointing to the chair in the briefing room. Rohan sat down in the chair, silent. “You’re here because a third party has offered us an excellent opportunity to assist further a study we are currently conducting,” she said. “We think that you’ll be of great help to us, especially. Mr. Rohan. We see that you have an excellent background and record in the area of academics and applied sciences.” Rohan remained consistent, his feet relaxed on the floor. “Yeah. Thanks. Glad you did your research,” he said. “So — how? Will I be helping you guys, or will I be a sort of test subject because I know the ones who sent me here treat me like a pest?” The researcher kept her smile and tilted her head slightly. “A little bit of both. Though with your capabilities, we are confident that you’ll help us rather than hinder us.” Rohan scoffed. “I think I’ll help you either way. You guys are examiners. You take failures into account and treat them like a number – same goes for successes.” The researcher’s smile unwavered. “Do you not think the same way? Anyhow, we kindly ask you to sign this compliance form.” Rohan took a pen from the holder in front of him with no hesitation. “And if I said no?” The researcher took a sheet of paper from her folder and neatly placed it in front of Rohan. “Your actions say otherwise. It seems as if you know how things are supposed to play out.” Rohan swiftly signed the compliance form. “If I knew that I’d have the freedom to make a choice, I’d be reading the contents printed on this paper and search every speck for the smallest of hidden fine print.” The researcher took the paper from him. “Oh, why do you say so?” Rohan raised his eyebrows and leered at the researcher’s eyes. “I don’t know.”
The researcher did not question his answer, smiled, and then wrote something on a small card before placing it inside Rohan’s shirt pocket. She told Rohan to open the card ‘once he was inside’ and left Rohan alone with the other researchers, who hinted that he should stand up and follow them. “Huh. You guys got recruited that way, too?” Rohan asked, to everyone’s silence. Rohan followed the other researchers to a deeper area in the room, where they walked to a smaller space that resembled a decontamination chamber. The researchers suggested that Rohan walk in alone, to his compliance.
Inside the decontamination chamber, specks and gusts blasted Rohan with advanced air showers designed to cleanse him of whatever it was they did not want him to bring. Strangely enough, no one gave him equipment or attire that might aid him in whatever it is they brought him here to do. He stood in the chamber in silence, staring at his white dress shirt, belt, and black pants. He was allowed a brown sling bag containing only a notebook and multiple pens.
“You’ll go in,” said the voice from a hidden speaker. Rohan looked at the door he didn’t come from. “What’s in there?” he asked, furrowing his eyebrows. The door opened inward as mechanisms unlocked themselves.
“The forest,” it said.