Bye Arsène

Chapter 5

"You're really driving me crazy! You didn't call. You could have died! You have to stop fighting on your own!

-Are you kidding me? How do you dare yell at me when it's all your fault? Do I have to remind you that you were the one supposed to protect me? So explain to me how come eight people, not one but eight! Did manage to escape your surveillance? You promised me that I could enjoy my evening without a problem but once again I find myself fighting and once again you are yelling at me. And you know what? I'm fed up! Don't touch me! Go away! I don't know you!"

My screams brought Arsène back to Earth and he lost every ounce of anger on his face. He looked down in shame, but I was too beside myself to be interested in his feelings. I had the impression that we were not moving forward. That I was stuck in a loop and it wasn't pleasant at all. I stood up and removed the water shield to free my friends.

"Don't worry Artelo. These people will do everything to fix your house. It will be just like new in an hour."

The latter did not answer too surprised by the events to worry about his house. I wanted to join my friends to talk to them but Arsène grabbed me by the arm.

"We should take care of you first."

I broke free from his grip.

"I don't need to be groomed. I'm fine.

-Ah yes? So how do you explain this blood on your forehead?

-It's nothing. I've seen worse. "

Arsène started to get angry again.

"Don't be stubborn, Atalante. You need to be groomed so sit on that couch so I can take a closer look.

- I told you to let go of me. "

I started walking over to my friends to make sure they were okay when the next second I found myself on my back, lying on the couch with Arsène sitting astride me. I clenched my jaw.

"You better let go of me right away or else I"

I didn't have time to finish my sentence as Arsène grabbed my injured arm and squeezed it unceremoniously. I was screaming in pain and a few tears flowed even without me wanting it.

"A well-being person doesn't scream like that when you touch their arm. Please let me heal you."

My friends had walked to our level and asked me to let myself get treated. Thus I gave up and Arsène got up to get a better view of my injuries. His hold on my arm became extremely soft and I let myself go to his care.

"Are you okay? asked Emma."

I smiled gently at her.

"Yes it's nothing serious, don't worry."

She didn't seem convinced but didn't say anything. Seeing them looking at me again worriedly brought tears to my eyes. Arsène understood immediately and wiped a tear gently from my cheek.

"We have to ...

-I know..."

I wiped away my tears.

"You say you have to but you have no reason to erase their memory.

-They want to erase our memory? Artelo asked. "

Arsène royally ignored him.

"I know them well. I know they won't say anything to anyone. They pose no threat. Please ...

-I'm sorry Atla ...

- If at least you would had thought about it for a second ... "

I turned my head in protest. I should have done more. I wanted to, but right there I didn't have the strength. With each breath I felt my rib move and it didn't allow me to calmly argue or even fight for my ideals. So I was serching of another solution.

"Atla."

I didn't answer.

"Atla, where else are you hurt?"

I continued to ignore him and started to get up, but was quickly pinned back to the sofa, Arsène holding me back with a firm arm. He put a finger on my broken rib and barely pressed as I was already writhing.

"You have a broken rib ... I have to take you to the infirmary.

- You didn't have to press it to find out.

-You just had to answer me.

-I didn't want to talk to you.

- Come on, I will help you get up.

-No need."

I pushed his outstretched hand away and somehow sat up before looking at my friends.

"I'm sorry you had to witness this scene. I'm just getting you in trouble again and again.

-Don't say that.

-Yes, it's not your fault. You protected us.

-Personally I would have prefered not to have to do it."

Emma put a hand on my shoulder.

"Go to the infirmary. Don't worry about us.

-No, I want to stay until the end. I don't want to leave you alone.

-Out of the question. You need to get treated so go.

-But...

- Come on or we'll hit you. "

I laughed at the violence of these words.

"Okay if you insist but first I have to do something."

I turned to Arsène.

"If we really have to erase their memories then I want to be the one to do it.

-But you've never erased anyone's memory yet.

-I could do it. You explained to me how you did it once.

-And you remember that?

- Take me for a moron, thank you.

- Okay, but promise me that you don't want to do it just to let them remember it.

-I see that you trust me. Don't worry, I understand why it's in the protocol. Humans are notorious for waging war on those who are different. I am against erasing their memory, but I can understand. It's just ... They're my friends. I want to be the one to do this to them. "

Arsène hesitated a moment before nodding. So I got up and my friends followed me to a corner of the kitchen. Artelo smiled sadly at me.

"Don't worry, we don't blame you. We understand. You have no choice.

-We always have a choice."

I breathed for a long time before entering their minds in turn. I did not linger and looked directly for their memories of that evening. I left everything intact until the eight's arrival. Once I had finished I wanted to leave as soon as possible and followed Arsène to the car. He helped me sit and wanted to tie me up but I told him I could do it. He set off and a heavy silence fell between us. Arsène ended up breaking it:

"I know it must have been hard for you. You didn't have to do this on your own. I could have done it for you.

-Yes, but in this case I would have been cowardly. I would have been angry with you for having deprived them of their memories when the only one I have to blame is myself. I shouldn't have let you do it. So I can blame myself in peace.

-You are too strict with yourself. You are a much better person than you think. -It's nice but I don't need you to cheer me up. I'm fine."

Once we got to the infirmary, the lady from the last time took care of my rib and insisted that I stay in the infirmary so that she could observe me. I accepted exhausted and not wanting to go anywhere. Arsène wanted to stay by my side but I insisted that he went home. I told him I was fine and that I was just going to sleep for hours. So he ended up leaving and I found myself alone. I closed my eyes but the sleep evaporated. I kept thinking about what I had seen in the minds of my friends.

I smiled. I was proud of myself. I certainly should have done more, I should have fought, defended my friends, but at least I hadn't been left doing nothing. I hadn't left their memories untouched, but I hadn't erased them either. They were too precious for that. I had just put a lock on it until next week and had even done something else. I really hoped they didn't realize it and as I told myself this I realized something else:

I was hiding things from the institute. I was rebelling in a way and it brought me closer to the revolutionaries who have wanted to talk to me for some time. I shook my head. Just because I didn't like something didn't mean I was a revolutionary. It was more complicated than that. But the chief's words suddenly came back to me and I struggled to let go of them for a good hour.

I ended up falling asleep without realizing it but woke up very quickly with a strange feeling. A feeling that told me I had to get up. I had to go somewhere but didn't know where. So I got up from my bed and still in my pajamas I began to pace the empty corridors of the institute. Everyone must have gone back to sleep by this time and the place seemed very lonely and sad. As I turned in a corridor I came across a dark figure. I didn't know this person and immediately felt that he had no right to be here. I knew by looking at him that this person was not ont the same side as the institute and I took a step back reflexively. But the next second the stranger found himself behind me and put a hand over my mouth, whispering in my ear:

"Don't scream. I don't mean any harm to you unlike others. You are really naive to believe that these people you any good. They are only using you. If you follow me you will know the truth."

I felt right in my gut that I had to follow him so I did. Without a word, I therefore followed in his footsteps. We walked out of the main institute building and found ourselves in front of a smaller one-story building that looked like a hangar. The stranger motioned for me to follow him to the roof and not to make any noise. We stopped in front of a small window and crouched down so as not to be noticed. I could see a large room filled with several machines that I was unaware of the usefulness. The largest of them sat at the back of the room and attracted all eyes.

It looked like a gray metal rocket in which passed multitudes of wires as well as to which were hung a few antennas. The whole thing looked absolutely like nothing. The stranger pointed to this machine and said:

"See that big machine in the back? It's a Sivzeur. This kind of machine is capable of storing significant amounts of magic."

I waited for him to continue talking in silence.

"One of our spies found out they were using this machine on you right now. Thanks to your bracelet."

I didn't take my eyes off the machine.

"Your bracelet started absorbing your energy the moment you put it on and transmits it to this machine that stores it. Imagine how much magic is in it right now. The researcher you call Monsieur L will be able to develop a monstrous machine with it. All that energy. I can't imagine the devastation that machine woul bring to the world."

Suddenly I heard the deep voice of the stranger very close to my ear. As if he was right behind me.

"You are immeasurably powerful. I've never seen this before. Have you ever wondered why you were being attacked or what became of your absorbed powers? You're a real laying hen. "

My heart began to beat very hard in my chest. As if I was convinced that what he said was true.