Chasing Time

Making Trouble

Central Market, Middle Terragon.

13:30, 13th July, 3000.

Stanley kept staring into the crazy girl's eyes, all but begging her to save him. He knew that his father had ordered all the Defenders to be on the lookout for him and the one approaching them probably recognized him. He was about to open his mouth to ask her to help him again when she lifted her hand and striked him across the face.

"What the-" she pressed her lips against his and stopped him from speaking. His eyes widened in shock as he felt her deepen the kiss. The guy that was with her looked even startled. Stanley was about to close his eyes and kiss her back when she pulled away.

"Now let's go home you lying bastard," Julia said and grabbed his hand. The scene seemed to convince the Defender that was calling him because he did not bother them again. Even as Julia dragged him through the market, he was still dazed from what happened. He could still feel the heat on his right cheek from where she slapped him. He licked his lips and it stung.

"You bit me," he said to her, aghast.

"That's not a 'thank you'," she replied, still not letting go of his hand. He looked down on it and saw that she had a really firm grip.

"Thank you..." he muttered "can you let go of my hand now?" he said and she dropped it like hot coal then stopped and turned to face him. She still had the crazed look in her blue eyes. Stanley remembered her all too well, he initially thought she was really pretty, then he realized she was crazy too. What happened in the academy was not totally his fault, although he still felt a little guilty about it.

"My brother here seems to think you're one of the others, so you have to come with us," she said. He turned to look at the guy and realized they looked a lot alike. Her brother also had the same bright blue eyes and blonde hair except his was shaved at the sides. He had a piercing through his left eyebrow and the tattoo of a hawk on his neck. The two of them had the dangerous, edgy look of Lowers which made Stanley a little panicky. Lowers were notorious criminals who would sell anything for the right price. He suddenly wondered if he made the right choice by asking for her help, he knew her to be upright as well as uptight in the academy but that was over a year ago, he had no idea what she was like now.

"I don't think so, I'm not going anywhere with you," he said and tried to step away but the brother placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Look. It's obvious you're running from the law for some reason and I don't want to scare you here but my sister clearly hates your guts and would love nothing more than to turn you in. She didn't do that though, instead she kissed you - which was completely weird - and saved your ass. As compensation, we need you to come with us so our friend can confirm if you're one of the others or not, and if you're not, you'll be free to go."

"What...who are the 'others'?" Stanley asked.

"You'll find out soon," Julia answered and crossed her arms stubbornly. He looked from her to her brother and pondered running away. Although he was sure that would only attract more attention and he was not sure what they would do if he ran.

"I'll be free to go if I'm not one of the...others, right?" he asked, feeling stupid. The two of them nodded and he sighed. They were clearly two cooked up nutcases. During his week in Middle Terragon, he stayed with one his friends from the academy who kept talking about the end of the world and a self-proclaimed Clairvoyant who said she would save them. It was clear to him that only Uppers were normal.

"Alright, lead the way."

•|•|•|•|•

Sector B, Middle Terragon.

13:30, 13th July, 3000

Layana watched as Melinda swung her head side to side and gently worked the brush strokes on the canvas. They were on the roof of her building, the always orange sky had a lighter hue that day and it reflected beautifully on Melinda's brown skin. Her thick, black, coily hair was pulled back into a bun that puffed up and bounced when she moved her head.

Layana watched, a little mesmerized as she painted their view. She sat near the rooftop garden that the landlord tended while Melinda painted close to the edge of the building. While Layana openly stared at Melinda, admiring her and her work, Melinda worked hard at pretending Layana was not there.

"She doesn't like you, that one," Gaya whispered into her ears. Layana hated when the goddess popped up randomly like that. When she needed her, she disappeared but when she wanted some alone time with her own thoughts, she's suddenly there.

"Why would you say that?" Layana said and turned to face the goddess who looked even more breathtaking. Gaya laughed and used locks of her hair to stroke Layana's cheeks.

"Because I like to cause trouble sometimes, also because it's true," she replied. Layana sighed and looked at Melinda again.

"Why doesn't she like me?" she asked, a little saddened. Even as a child, she used to have problem with females, they never seemed to like her. Julia had warmed up to her though and she assumed that Melinda would do the same but she did not.

"She's threatened by you." Gaya said. Layana looked at her again and wondered if the goddess really meant what she said when she said she likes to cause trouble. With another cackle, the goddess vanished, leaving flower petals behind.

"Layana?" Melinda's sonorous voice sang out to her. She turned her head sharply and saw Melinda staring at her with her big, brown doe eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay? You were talking to yourself," she said and Layana flushed with embarrassment.

"It was Gaya..." she muttered under her breath but Melinda heard.

"Oh," she said and the two of them fell silent again "what...what did she say?"

Layana looked at her in surprise, she was interested in her. She wondered if she should tell her the truth or not. Most of the time Gaya talked to her, she was talking about everyday things, it was almost like the goddess was bored but the people around Layana expected some sort of amazing revelation all the time.

"She told me you don't like me," she said in the deadpan tone that she hated but could not help but speak in when she felt venerable. Melinda opened her mouth to speak then shut it, she plugged her ears back with the earphones and turned back to her painting.

Layana felt her heart dropped to the ground when she realized that she had been completely ignored.

"Hey, come check if I got the buildings right," Melinda said without looking at Layana again. Wordlessly, Layana got on her feet and walked up to her. The painting took her breath away, it was so beautiful. She made the sky blue and the clouds white, Layana had never seen a blue sky and she was sure Melinda had not either.

"It's so..."

"Weird? I know..." Melinda said with a chuckle.

"Weird? No, no, never...it's amazing, it's beautiful...like you," Layana said quickly and Melinda looked up at her in surprise. She was about to add something when they heard the door to the roof open.

"Yo! Clairvoyant, we brought someone. Do your thing and tell us if he's one of the others," Julia said as she marched towards them with a brown-haired aristocratic young man in tow.

"Who's this?" Melinda asked Travis.

"My name is Stanley," he answered, his voice flooded over Layana like ocean waves and after the waves went, Gaya appeared.

"Yes. Him." She said.