Across A Bottomless Abyss

Chapter 18

It was dark, cold, and empty. I heard some loud whispers from my surroundings. I slowly opened my eyes, which revealed the ecstatic vision created by the stars upon the ceiling.

I can feel the soft comfort of the bed and just after I tried to move my head, I saw Xipher resting on one of the sofas.

Max was busy with his phone while Hadley was playing with her vines. I wanted to ask them what happened but I can't even say a word.

After a few seconds, Xipher turned his gaze to me. When he found out that I'm already awake, he stood up and slowly walked towards me.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

His voice was so tender and became a music to my ear. He gently held my left hand and looked at me with his serious eyes.

"I'm fine. How about--" I was about to mention her name but Xipher stopped me.

I suddenly felt how my heart sank because of too much betrayal. A glint of tears escaped my eyes as my soft cries created a signal to him.

Hadley hurriedly came closer and wiped my tears. I still can't accept the fact that she betrayed me. She betrayed the whole city. What good can she get when she's with them? Isn't she happy with us? I thought we're already happy? I thought we're enough for her.

"Everything will be alright," Hadley whispered, still wiping the tears which kept on falling.

"Hadley, you should go. The mission departure was rescheduled, you need to go now," Xipher daid, pertaining to Hadley.

She sighed heavily and wiped my tears for the last time. She smiled weakly and pinched the right part of my hand, trying to assure me that everything will be fine.

After a few seconds, she left together with Max who's also worried about me. How can things drastically change as if this is just a whirlwind of a game?

"What happened to her?" I whispered, trying to make my voice louder.

Her face when I saw her was very different when we're together. She's too good to be a traitor. The idea created by the wilderness which was passed through me during that encounter was incredibly painful.

"I also don't know. I never imagined that she's one of them," he said with a low voice.

The whole thing was unbelievable and unbearable. I tried so hard not to let my tears fall but the bone-deep pain caused by her betrayal was too impossible to evade.

"But she's my mom," I exclaimed and cried louder.

All these time, we're worried about her. We even let the troops search for her. We really thought she was abducted. Little did we know that she's already one of them.

I suddenly remembered what Matthew told me the moment he lost his sister. So this is how painful it is to punish your loved ones with regards to the rules. She'll die under the hands of her husband. How crucial is it to deal with that?

"How could she kill my cousin," I said in between my sobs.

He just returned from a very long journey. He survived in a foreign place but ended up dying on his own home. I haven't even told him how much I miss him. We didn't even have the chance to create more memories. How could the skies let him vanish like that?

"We still don't know the answer, Lia. I have bad news for you," he hesitantly said.

I looked at him, still with my teary eyes. His voice doesn't sound so good right now. I know he's hesitant because I might get shocked or disappointed. Just by the thought of having my mother as a traitor, my whole sanity was already lost.

"Just tell me," I told him.

Before he could say a thing, he sighed heavily and held my hand tighter. He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at me intently.

"Your mom is nowhere to be found. She was under investigation for about an hour ago but she suddenly disappeared," he said worriedly.

My brows furrowed because of that. My mom is smart but she's not capable of escaping, especially since she has no ability.

"That's impossible, Captain. She can't easily escape from the agents," I confusedly said.

I've known my mom for my whole life. The only thing that she has is her intelligence. She doesn't even have the strength to fight. Yes, she can hold guns but that's it.

"That's the thing that makes me wonder. What if she's not your mom?" he said with a low voice.

I tried to think about the issue. If ever the culprit was capable of escaping, then she's probably not my mother. But then, how could someone use my mother's face for their dark schemes? Is there someone who has the ability of making clones or copying others' faces?

"Aside from you and Alayah, who else can perform teleportation among the troops?" I seriously asked.

If she disappeared quickly, I'm pretty sure that she can do teleportation. The speed ability can't also help the person escape in a closed area.

"There are too many agents who can do teleportation in Class A, Lia. For now, let's just pretend that we don't know about any of these. That will make you safe. As long as the enemies think that we don't have any clue, they will not attack you," he said.

Half of the doubts that I had for my mom were gone. I really hope that that's not her. I can't even handle the situation lightly.

"Okay," I answered.

He nodded before letting go of my hand. He came closer and that made my heart beat faster. What will he do?

I felt a heartwarming feeling when he kissed me. That was just a short kiss but it managed to touch the very bottom of my heart. How could he affect me greatly?

"I was very worried, Lia. If something happened to you, I might also consider killing myself," he whispered after the kiss.

I was still dumbfounded and couldn't find the right words to say. I should be grateful that he saved me from that situation. I owe him my life.

"But I'm safe," I said after a few more seconds.

"Yes, you're safe because I saved you," he answered.

"Thank you, Captain," I whispered.

I'm too wrong to doubt his loyalty to the whole city. Why did I even think about the negative things for him? He did nothing but helped the city to gain peace and prosperity.

He's living to save his people. He sacrificed a lot of things just to maintain the orderliness of the whole place. It was him who led fully with his heart.

"I hope you're now satisfied with my loyalty, Lieutenant. As far as I can remember, you doubted me last time. And what? You let Gastrolenon hug you!" he hissed and ranted.

"That was weeks ago," I answered.

He just looked at me seriously and sat beside me. We stayed like that for how many minutes, trying to absorb the chaos and secrets upon the whole place.

"Rest, Lia. We'll see your cousin tomorrow," he said before kissing my forehead.

I closed my eyes and tried hard to stop my tears. After a few more seconds, I fell asleep and dreamed about the memories I had with my cousin.

The loud sound of the bell woke me up. That sound is used to praise the soul of a brave agent who sacrificed himself just for the sake of the city. In short, one of our heroes.

"Your dress is already here, Lia. Change now and I'll wait for you outside," Xipher said.

I slowly stood up and walked towards the table where the dress was placed. I heard the sound of the closing door, giving emphasis that Xipher was already outside.

Just beneath my dress, I saw my cousin's cloak. In just a second, I felt my tears again. I really can't believe that he's now gone.

I caressed his name which is embroidered on the upper right side of the cloak. I cried too hard after reading his name.

Captain, Xenon Stronicus Abrantes

Our memories began to appear in my head. He's away for about two long years. He just came back but ended up losing his life.

I fell on my knees and cried out loud while hugging his cloak. The excruciating pain created by his sudden death caused me too much trauma.

If only I let my senses work that time. If only I was alert and strong to protect him, maybe he wouldn't leave this place at this moment.

The whole me was full of remorse and regret. I can never accept the fact that he's gone after a few hours of coming back.

If only I knew that this would happen, I shouldn't have let him come with me. If only I was considerate enough to let him rest, he wouldn't lose his life. He's too young to die.

"Amalia. Come on. He won't be happy to see you like a wreck," Xipher said outside.

I wiped my tears and forced myself to stand up. I wearily went inside the comfort room and changed my clothes.

When I opened the door of the room where I was in, I saw Xipher patiently waiting for me. He's wearing his cloak while holding mine in his right hand.

He gave my cloak to me so I decided to wear it. We're already on our way to the hall where my cousin was, when I felt my head spinning.

I abruptly stopped and held my head. I tried to massage it just to lessen the pain but it won't go away.

"Amalia, are you okay?" Xipher worriedly asked.

Before I could answer him, someone bumped me with too much force. I began to slowly lose my consciousness while hearing Xipher's voice.

The person who bumped into me was mercilessly walking away without even looking back. In just a snap, I felt that this happened before.

Someone bumped into me but never said sorry. Before I could fully lose my sanity, I saw Xipher's worried face, perfectly placed just in front of me.

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"Lia, hey! Why are you sitting like a lost girl there?" a familiar voice said from behind.

I examined the whole place and it seems,--unfamiliar. I checked out my clothes and when I saw myself wearing a pair of uniforms, my heart began to pound harshly.

Where the hell am I?

"You," I said, pertaining to the girl in front of me.

"Lia, are you talking to me?" the girl asked.

My brows furrowed when I realized that Xipher was not here anymore.

"Where's Xipher?" I said in panic.

She looked at me like I'm losing my mind. Where the hell is Xipher? Where am I?

"Who's Xipher? Is that your new crush?" she said before laughing too hard.

When she realized that I'm serious, she stopped laughing.

"Is this a prank, Lia? If it is, gosh it's not funny. Your expression is scary," she said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"What the hell, Lia. It's me Kassandra!" she hysterically said.

I tried so hard to remember her but I really can't. Her face was just too familiar for me but I can't remember where and when I saw her.

"Am I in Neptune?" I seriously asked.

"My gosh, Lia. Are you nuts? We're on earth of course," she said, which made my world stop spinning.

Just where the hell am I?