Across A Bottomless Abyss

Chapter 14

"Lia, let's talk after this, okay?" he whispered.

I was about to answer him but Hadley suddenly entered the office while panting. I should have asked her why she's here but I heard the baritone voice of the man who criticized me earlier.

"Hadley Arish, you're already here. Hey, Captain Astronoum. That is my daughter, you already know what I want to happen,'' that man said with full authority.

"Dad, I don't want to go home," Hadley answered.

I was confused for the whole time. That man is her father? I thought his older brother was working here? And what? Her father is the Head Ambassador? Where? As far as I can remember, there is no such position here on Neptune.

Oh my gosh, I'm starting to hate everything. Why does it all seem like a lie? Aren't we her friends? Why did she lie?

"With all due respect, Head Ambassador, she's our seeker. You know we are not allowed to pull out our members," Xipher answered seriously, still holding my hand.

I faced them with so much curiosity. What is really going on? I can sense nervousness in Hadley. Xipher is just calm but annoyed. What do they need here?

"Should I just destroy your planet?" the old man said.

My rifle suddenly appeared because of too much annoyance and anger. How dare him! He has nothing to contribute to our lives.

"Amalia," Xipher warned me.

He's too serious but I didn't mind him. I was living my life in misery for how many years. I dedicated my life just to make this city peaceful and in control.

"Leave," I sternly said.

I saw him squirmed and laughed sarcastically as if he heard a joke. Should I just cut out his tongue and freeze his flesh?

"Are you trying to scare me, young lady?" he smirked.

"Do I look like I'm just trying to scare you?" I answered.

He laughed hysterically and stood up straight. His disciples also stood up. I saw a bunch of arrows from their backs.

"I'm not scared. Should I just burn this planet? Or maybe you want to go with us in Uranus instead of Hadley?" he said and smirked.

"Archers," I obviously said.

All of his followers looked at me and aimed an arrow towards me. I laughed and that made their leader lose his smirk.

"Amalia, let's not make a fight here," Xipher whispered.

For the second time, I did not mind him. I pointed my gun at their leader so they became alert. They even tried to cover him.

"You're such a weakling," I said, just enough for him to hear me.

"Watch your words, lady," someone said.

"Hey, Mr. Ambassador. Let me remind you that a real leader is selfless. Don't let your comrades protect you. You should do the other way around. You're supposed to be brave and lead in front. Don't hide, it just shows that you're not capable of protecting your people."

Despite all his backups, I managed to read his feelings. I smirked when I sensed great annoyance and fear. What a shame. The people in Uranus must be under too much pressure because of their useless, pathetic head ambassador.

"Do you understand me, Head Ambassador?" I sarcastically asked pertaining to their dumb leader.

In just a snap, his protectors moved leaving him behind with his fake, tough expression. He's now trying to act like he's not afraid.

"You're not supposed to tell me those things, lady," he answered while trying to stop himself from trembling.

"I'm Lieutenant, Amalia Desi Abrantes. Don't call me lady. Now, if you're not afraid to die, stay here and let me aim for your head," I added.

I don't know why I acted too cold and strong but then, all I can think about is our planet. We're too sensitive when it comes to our planet's matter and if someone will say something bad about it, this will serve as a signal for us. We will take this seriously and fight no matter how intimidating the opponents are.

"I'm going to let this slide. Please train your fighters with manners," he added before he left the office, defeated.

It took only a minute before everyone from Uranus left my sight. When they're totally gone, I looked at Hadley and she looked away feeling guilty of what she did.

"I'm sorry. I don't want you to push me away just because I don't belong here," she whispered just enough for me to hear it.

"What are you talking about? You're our friend. And why would you think that we'll push you away?. Next time, tell us the truth, okay? A true friend does not leave just because of simple things like this. Besides, you have your reasons. You're always our little Hadley." I smiled after saying that.

She looked at me with teary eyes and suddenly hugged me tightly. I chuckled and hugged her back. After a few more seconds, I realized that Xipher was just staring and looking directly into my eyes.

"What?" I asked him.

Hadley withdrew the hug and that made a huge space for me to see Xipher clearly. I raised a brow when he suddenly smirked. I almost forgot the reason why I came here.

"I didn't know that you're too brave to point your rifle to someone as high as him." he chuckled.

He caressed his hair upward using his right hand, only to reveal some of his baby hairs slightly forming an arc upwards. I totally forgot that I still have my rifle because of his presence.

It's really annoying! I came here to pick a fight but here we are, talking calmly as if nothing happened.

"I need to go. Bye, Lia! See you later," Hadley suddenly said and rushed towards the door leaving me with this man who's still smirking. 

I suddenly remembered my first intention in coming here. He's looking at me as if I did something amusing. I turned my back away from him and decided to walk away but he held my hand.

"Where are you going, Lieutenant?" he asked using his tempting voice.

"I'll leave now. I have a lot of things to do. I've done my part here," I answered and pulled my hand away from him.

"Not a chance," he said and pulled me closer.

Since he's behind me, it already looked like a back hug. I can hear the loud thud of my insane heartbeat. I am afraid that he'll be able to hear it. 

"Let go of me," I hissed.

He chuckled and kissed the upper portion of my head on the back. I blinked twice and tried to absorb what just happened.

"I'm sorry for adding my fingerprint in your unit's door," he whispered before he let me go.

I unconsciously held my chest and tried to calm my insane heartbeat. His voice sounds like thunder which keeps on making me feel nervous.

"Captain!" Alayah suddenly barged in but she stopped when she saw me standing near the door, still dumbfounded because of what happened.

"Why do you look like that? Your face is screaming that you're mentally lost. Did something happen?" she confusedly asked, still examining my expressions.

She maliciously looked at her brother behind me and grinned widely. She chuckled and ran towards her brother to give him a tight hug. I was way too far from them so I couldn't hear her whispers.

I heard Xipher's laugh after Alayah whispered something to him. I raised a brow and left his office. They're too happy to notice me.

"Lieutenant--" someone from the crowd called for me.

I was on my way back to my unit when I suddenly heard that. It's a very familiar voice which tends to move my heart. What was that? Whose voice was that?

"Be careful," she added.

I blinked twice and moved my head a little, trying to identify the owner of the voice. I abruptly stopped from walking and looked around.

"What are you doing?" I heard another familiar voice from behind.

I was about to punch him when I realized who he is. I was too drowned with my thoughts and he suddenly appeared!

"Chill, Lieutenant. Your expression is scaring the hell out of me. I saw the troops of Uranus awhile ago. Don't tell me you talked to them," Matthew asked.

I rolled my eyes and continued to walk. I suddenly remembered our useless encounter. Uranus is known to be one of the most ideal places to stay and live. They said that it's very peaceful there.

The people there are not yet exposed to guns and 6th senses like us but they're too good when it comes to weapons. They live comfortably and they don't even have the time to use those skills.

But then, from what I've experienced and witnessed today, those stories seem to be fake in all aspects. How can they possibly live in peace when their leader is too narcissistic? He's not even willing to put his life in line for the sake of his people. He puts himself as a shadow who loves to hide in the dark in order to survive.

"Just by the looks on your face, I can say that you're the reason why they left." He chuckled as he followed me from the back.

"How's your team?" I changed the topic.

I sensed the tension from him and that made me stop again from walking and looked back.

"Fine," he simply answered.

I know that it's not fine, yet I'm still asking. I just want him to be honest with me. I know that it's painful to mourn and his loss was not light. His sister was too young to be killed. However, rules are still rules. No matter how I pity them, I can't do anything.

"Everything will be fine, Matt," I said and patted his right shoulder before I finally left him.

I was already near the building where my unit is when I heard a very loud thud. I saw another building raging with fire.

"Seeker, Eisel Graeyi Striey of team Bravo, reporting to Lieutenant, Amalia Desi Abrantes. One side of our building for machine builders is currently raging in fire." an informant said after appearing behind me.

"When did the fire start?" I seriously asked.

"It started when Captain Astronoum entered the building," she hesitantly said.

In just a matter of seconds, I felt the weakening of my knees. I don't want to think about negative things but this is just too confusing.

"Lieutenant!" someone shouted in front of me.

I saw an unfamiliar figure rushing towards us. When he reached the closest space just in front of me, he gave me a salute. Just by the look on his face, I already knew that it's something serious.

"Your mother," he started.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to puzzle the words that he's trying to convey.

"What's wrong with my mom?" I nervously asked.

My heart started to break into pieces, as a glint of tear escaped from my eyes. His words were too cruel which made me fall on my knees, weak, unable to speak, and out of control.

"Lieutenant, your mother is missing," he said.