Chapter 2 - Subject 843

Shekar thought he was in an isolated place, but he and many others like him were still unaware of each other's presence.

Feeling strange, Shekar looked around. What was all this? What was happening? He began to double-check if this was even the right place for a medical test.

The monitor in front of Shekar turned on. The logo "MEDS" was displayed on the monitor and on a sign above it. Since he wanted to become a police officer, Shekar was observing and remembering everything carefully. He knew that to be a police officer, one needed a little extra talent.

But how could Shekar remember everything? Wasn't he an average student? He was the kind of student who would cram everything at the last minute for an exam. He wouldn’t remember everything, but he would remember the important things, which was enough to pass by studying only the important questions. This wasn't a special talent unique to Shekar; many people prepare at the last minute and pass.

A camera and a scanner on the monitor began a full-body scan, checking his eyes and face. At first, it seemed like a normal medical procedure, but then, from a hole in the corner of the monitor, cable-like wires appeared. They acted like hands, taking a blood sample and performing other check-ups. Shekar found this advanced setup very strange and was surprised to see such high-tech equipment at a low-budget police medical test location. He had never seen such a facility before, and no one had ever told him about it.

Looking from above, the other candidates were not as calm as Shekar. They were screaming, panicking, crying, and trying to run away. When one person tried to run from his chamber-like place, a metal door came down and locked them in. This meant that once you were in, you couldn’t get out.

Shekar panicked as he saw the robotic arms emerging from the monitor. At first, they only drew blood.

Suddenly, belts came out of the chair's armrests and locked him in place so he couldn't move. Now, blood was being collected from both hands.

Shekar's fear intensified. A few needles came from the back of his rolling chair and pierced his spine.

The robotic hands from the monitor grabbed those who had tried to run away in fear and forcefully sat them down in the chairs.

From above, they all looked like lab rats, their suffering and struggles on full display. How did a normal police selection ground turn into this?

Another wire hand came from the monitor's corner, and the long needle it held pierced the left side of Shekar's neck. The large needle caused blood to flow from the puncture site. Shekar felt an unbearable pain. His pupils widened. The neural transmitters in his brain began to fire even more rapidly. His brain couldn't handle it. Drool came out of his mouth. Flashes of memories surged through Shekar's mind. He was becoming delirious, on the verge of falling into a coma. Many memories flashed before him.

Aaaaaaaa.....

Father: You have to get selected this time!

Ah hee haa (strange sounds)

Random street person: Go straight and take a left.

Asoooogggg (strange sounds)

The person selecting for the police test: Go take a medical form.

Ddsfsd (strange sounds getting weirder)

The strange police person with the mask who handed him the box: Go to the left corner.

Sosidfafdf (strange sounds getting even more weird)

...

...

..

.

A bright white light filled everything.

Because of the bright light, Shekar couldn't open his eyes properly. He somehow managed to open them to see where he was.

In front of him stood a person who was selecting for the police test. He was splashing water on Shekar to wake him up. The coach was in a civil dress. His voice sounded very low. Shekar's ears were still blocked.

After his hearing cleared a little, he heard the coach speak.

The police selection coach said with some irritation, "What's wrong with you? You come for a police selection and you faint like this. Where is your medical form?"

Shekar, still in a daze and not understanding what was happening, handed the medical form to the coach.

The police coach said, "It's fine, you're on the borderline. Right now, if I wanted, I could fail you and send you home. If you really want to pass, give me some money and I'll pass you. Look, because you're on the borderline, I can't do anything without this money. Otherwise, you would have had to give me more. So, you decide."

At first, Shekar couldn't understand what was happening. He was still in fear and a daze.

In a groggy, exhausted voice, Shekar said, "Sir… they are doing something wrong in the name of a medical test there, sir… I… I was…”

The coach shouted at Shekar and said, "Hey, stop! What is this? Are you putting on a drama just because I asked for money? Are you saying it's my fault that you got borderline marks on the medical test? If you want to give the money, give it, otherwise, get out of here. You've failed." After saying this, he pushed Shekar away.

Shekar, who was not fully conscious, couldn't do anything and looked at the coach with a pleading look, hoping he would listen for once.

But the coach, even more irritated, said, "What are you looking at? Go away from here," and insulted him.

Shekar couldn't stay there any longer and left.

Shekar was on the road. He was walking on the noisy and crowded street. It was very chaotic. He felt dizzy, as if he could fall at any moment. His mind was not conscious. He crossed the street without thinking and came onto the main road. Vehicles were coming very fast. Everyone was honking. Shekar was walking in the middle of the road as if he were drunk and in a daze. With the police selection paper, stamped "Fail," in one hand and a bag in the other, he didn't know where he was going or what he was doing.

Due to the heavy traffic on the main road, a biker who was coming at high speed couldn't brake suddenly and made a sharp turn. He tried not to hit Shekar but his hand hit him. The paper in Shekar's hand flew away. Due to the impact from the bike, Shekar spun and fell to the side, and a bus came and ran over him. Shekar's body was completely crushed.

Lying on the road, Shekar thought: I thought everything was positive just a moment ago.

Is this the end of the story? If Shekar is gone, how will the story continue? Is there more to the story? Let's see.