Across A Bottomless Abyss

Chapter 2

My chest tightened and my mind became blank. I can't put enough air within myself even if I tried so hard. I opened my eyes but I closed it abruptly when I felt something spinning. It's as if my world squirmed and let go of it's orbit.

After a few more minutes, I found myself still kneeling, crying. I heard a scary sound of gunshots everywhere. I opened my eyes despite of the nervousness. My eyes grew bigger when I realized that I'm in the middle of a battlefield.

I thought I'm just imagining things so I tried to shake my head and blink twice. I hugged my knees because of too much fear. What's happening?

"Amalia! What are you doing?"

I heard someone's stern voice from behind. I'm not sure if I'm the one he's calling but I still chose to look at him.

"Get up!" he strictly said and helped me.

I heard another gunshot so I fell on my knees again, still crying. I don't know what's happening anymore. Where am I? What am I doing in the middle of this war?

"Amalia! I told you to get up!" I heard that man's voice again.

I'm Amalia right? I stopped crying when I realized something. Who's this man? I tried to remember what happened before I got here but I can't, even just a glimpse.

I literally have too many questions in my mind but this man's eyes became more scarier. He looked at me with his raging eyes. I can see fire behind it. My knees became weaker. Am I hallucinating things again?

He offered his left hand to help me stand up. I was about to take his hand when I heard another gunshot!. I covered both of my ears with my hands trying not to hear the sound of chaos. I became more horrified when I saw him aimed for another villain with his pistol.

I'm already planning to cover my eyes when I saw fire came out of his gun. I trembled with fear again.

"Who are you?" I asked him while trembling.

He just looked at me as if I asked him something unbelievable. His eyes suddenly became red. Someone from behind burned himself and rushy turned into ashes.

"Amalia! You need to escape. This is not the right time to dwell with what's happening around!"

I automatically looked back from the man who kept on calling my name. I don't know him. Why would I obey? What if he will kill me too?

"You're not normal," I unconsciously said.

He looked at me darkly. He squirmed and held me tightly. It's not gentle so it made me trembled with fear again.

"Of course, we're not normal. I told you not to go here and stay at the Headquarters but you're too hard headed!" he exclaimed.

Am I hallucinating again? I can see a glint of concern and fear in his face. But then, the raging feeling he's giving me contradicts his emotions. His touch felt so cold yet, his raging eyes screams fire.

"I don't know you," I said while trembling.

"Amalia, what are you talking about? You're supposed to be at the headquarters. It's dangerous here," he sternly said.

I managed to kept my stare in his bottomless, raging eyes. He held my arm and pulled me somewhere. I'm still trembling with fear but his presence made me comfortable. Gunshots were still present and that made the whole place a wreck.

When we finally found a place to hide, he pushed me lightly behind the huge pile of stones. He's still holding his pistol while bending lightly to hide himself a little.

"You need to stay here. I will call Matthew to accompany you. The team needs me. I hope you'll be obedient this time," he seriously said while looking at me intently.

Without further contradiction, I nodded. He looked behind and turned his gaze to me again. I can't read what's on his mind. He's just too serious. He looked at me for a second and decided to go.

I hugged my knees when he's gone. This is traumatic. I can't remember anything except for my name.

I forced myself to stay calm ang buried my head within my knees. I tried not to mind the sound of the gunshots and bombs. I was about to cry again when I heard some footsteps coming to my way.

I lift my head to see who's coming. My knees are still trembling. I tried to find some escape route but I can't see any place or spot safer than where I am right now.

I walked backwards when I saw a man holding a minigun mk2. I blinked twice to assume that he'll disappear eventually but when I focused my eyes on him again, he's still there.

"Amalia, you shouldn't be here," he said with so much concern.

My brows furrowed when he mentioned my name. How did these people know me? I don't even know them, even this place.

"Who are you?" I asked him, still trying to increase the space between us.

His eyes grew bigger when he heard my question. He knelt just a meter away from me. He tried to reach my hand but I moved it away from him.

"Lia, it's me, Matthew. Captain told me to guard you here," he said, with brows furrowed.

It's as if he's curious why I can't remember him. I squirmed when he tried to move closer. His brows furrowed. I felt the cold surface of another rock from my back, giving me a hint that I can't get away anymore.

"I don't know what happened to you but please trust me. I will not hurt you," he calmly said.

I focused my gaze to his eyes. I tried to hid my fear so I won't look like a pathetic weakling in front of him. I can't trust some stranger. He can manipulate words.

We stayed like that for how many minutes. I can still hear the bloody sounds of death behind these pile of rocks. I was scared and I'm alone with this stranger. I suddenly remembered what that man said, the first man I met. He talked about ordering Matthew to accompany me here.

I sighed roughly when the traumatic sound from behind began to slowly disappear. Napatingin akong muli sa lalaking nagngangalang Matthew. He's now leaning on one of the large stones just a meter away from me, now sitting. His eyes were closed. He rested his right hand on one of his knees together with his gun.

"Where are we?" I asked him.

He slowly opened his eyes. They were actually unique. I did not notice that earlier because fear invaded me. I can see a glowing green gem from his left side and glowing blue to his right eye. How did he have those beautiful eyes?. He did not cause any harm to me so I guess he's a good guy.

"We're in Neptuñar. Can't you remember?" he confusedly asked me.

I tried to remember something again but it seems like my mind don't have any memories or datas. I can only remember one thing---my name.

I slowly move my head showing disagreement. He caressed his forehead a little and smiled at me awkwardly. He was about to say something again when I heard someone interrupted.

"Mission 00700 is done. Command everyone to go back to the headquarters," I heard him sternly said.

Matthew stood up immediately showed his respect to the person in front of us using a salute. I've realized that they both have glowing eyes. Not just glowing but two different colors.

"Roger, Captain," Matthew snappily said.

My eyes grew bigger when I heard Matthew called him captain. Are they somewhat like a military team?. I suddenly erased that conclusion in my head. They were both wearing a simple shirt and jeans underneath their gray cloak together with their combat boots.

"Amalia, come on, let's go," I heard him again.

Mathew walked away leaving me with this man again. I stood up and followed his lead. After a couple of minutes, we reached the desert part of this place. The sun is slowly ascending and that gave us a glint of light. I looked back and pity those dead people. My chest tightened when I saw a lot of dead bodies and blood.

I returned my gaze to the man who's behind me. Even his existence seems to be magical and u explainable. He stopped just in from of a huge rock. He came closer and pushed some vines present on the rock. My eyes grew bigger again because of too much shock. A small hole suddenly appeared showing me a path going down the ground with an endless staircase.

"What are you waiting? Go down now," he said while pointing his finger to the stair downwards.

I gulped after seeing the dept of this whole. It's too dark here and the only source of light was the rays of the sun trying to set its place.

"Where are we going?" I worriedly asked.

His brows furrowed and his eyes suddenly became black. The glimpse of the sun helped me to see his face clearly. Why did the color of his eyes changed? My heart pounded when he held my hand and pulled me down the stairs.

"We're going home," he finally said.

As we took the path downwards, the sun finally set its place. My gaze turned to the upper right side of his cloak. There is a logo of a planet encircled with different kinds of guns---perfectly embroidered. I saw his name underneath. I slowly read it in my mind. Still confused about the situation, I managed to read his name out loud.

Captain, Archemial Xipher Astronoum.

My heart skipped a beat and realized something good and heartwarming. Just by reading his name, despite of the unfamiliar face, I felt familiarity and security.