Elevate

Inside Out

“Do you have a minute?”

I peeked over her room as I gawked her intently reading her notes, sitting on her plumpy bed. She used to love wearing those sleeveless and puffy dresses but now she needed to conceal those scars she got when her ex-lover left her burning. But, Zyrender had also saved her and put her in charge in this place for a while. It's been thirty minutes when we started the experiment with Azazel in the laboratory. Still, he couldn’t handle himself in making those dead be controlled by his own will for long. His body would collapse if we forced him to make more.

In fact, we’re running out of corpses, so we have to send some of our men to gather some. They just needed to find some areas to dig those who’re still in good forms. We don’t want to get those who’re already all bones. And if they don’t find, then they could just eradicate those who tend to see their lives as useless as they’re. I felt miserable for them, but it's also a way for us to help them to ease their agony in living inside a decaying spot.

I knew that Zyrender doesn’t like her that much and they would rather choose not to get in touch with each other most of the time. Their intuitions are not matched. She slowly lifted her head and flashed at me.

“Hi. Of course, you can always talk to me just like the old days.” She spoke.

I embarked her room and the lavender scent had welcomed me. From the start, she’s a shipshape person. She loves to arrange her things in order and is bothered with dust. When we worked together as a committee, she organized our things and we don’t have to worry if something will go run missing. And it was a thing that the Butcher had loved about her.

I felt disastrous for their so-called love story to end. But I was grateful that she had chosen to be with me and left that useless rat! I sat beside Mariella. We could behold certainly the tides waving to us. It was peaceful.

“I just want to thank you for taking responsibility here for several months that I was far. And, I’m sorry if I gave things to you and handle it on your own.” I explained to her.

I looked upon her as a sister. We knew each other for years now. Her father and my Dad were close friends before and it was how we started this friendship and until now, we’re still on the track.

She cleared her throat and put her notes beside her. She eyed on me and reacted. “It’s the best thing that I can do and to help you out while you’re still behind those bars. How was it there?” Her curiosity was showing off somehow.

“Hmm. It’s still not hell. Those torments they gave me might be hurting, but I didn’t die and that’s more important. But one thing that I couldn’t get my eyes off during that time was the man in one of those cells. I bet I knew him, but I couldn’t remember anymore. He got those looks but more to that, his eyes were taunting as if he wanted to kill me with his own hands.”

“Maybe he’s one of your subordinates before?” She commented.

“Maybe. But I don’t mind. I’m here now.” I sneered and laid my hand on her elbow.

“Mariella, I got so much respect for you this time. And I want to repay you by letting you be the leader to go to Embreal to take the flower and find the drive that was lost by the Linkman.” I uttered to her.

She simply bounced in approval. No arguments and it was one thing that I love about Mariella. She could be perfect and fit to be my personal assistant. I laughed silently at that thing. She’s the perfect puppet that I’m having right now.

“What about the Forest? Are you going to erase it on the map?” She asked almost in a whisper.

The Forest might be a place where those creeps were held into prison and it was reigned by that old man, it's filled of bountiful resources that we can sustain here.

“We’re going to keep it as much as possible. There are a lot of things to get there that can be much of help to us.” I replied.

“I see. When do you want me to go back to the city?”

“Tonight. You should go prepare yourself. You can pick those that you want to be in your team. They’ll assist you.”

“Okay. I’ll pack my things now. Do you need something else?”

I stood from my spot and shook my head. There’s nothing extra to ask her. “Nothing more. I’ll see you tomorrow and I hope you’ll succeed and get back here with everything that we needed.” I said.

She laughed a bit. I knew that she could do it by herself. After what happened with her and the Butcher, I’m quite sure she had learned her lesson already and that she’s more vicious. I tapped her back and left her inside her room, wishing her the outlook will be in her favor. Walking around the corridor, Azazel caught my attention. He was there staring over the shore as he sat on his wheelchair in the balcony. His face was blank and his hair was waving with the cold breeze. I wondered what the boy is thinking right now.

I moved in his direction and hauled beside him. He raised his head to look at me and force in a smile. His eyes were clearly tired. I rubbed his hair through my fingers. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.” He simply stated.

What a lie he got for me there. “You know you can always tell Mom what your thought are.”

“Why are we doing this?”

“Because it’s life, Azazel. You need to mold yourself to be stronger enough to fight. Always remember that we’re doing this for you too.” I said to him.

“Am I a burden to you?” He looked at me intently.

I shook my head directly. Since the moment I laid my eyes on him, it never went in my thoughts that I would abandon him. He’s a gift and forever will be. I smiled at him. “Of course not, Azazel. I and your dad love you and you know that right?”

He slowly agreed. I looked over the shore. It was peaceful. Some started to fish while the others continued to build their houses.

“Are you going to go away again?” Azazel suddenly asked, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. Instead, he was playing with his fingers and his scarf.

“No. Why would you think of that? I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” I spoke to him.

“If you’re going to do it again, Mom…will you let me know ahead of time?… So I won’t be able to wait for you anymore.”

His words struck differently on my chest. It was clasping it hard slowly. Instead, I gave him a feeble smile. I don’t want him to see me being scrawny and emotive. I wanted to set myself an example in his eyes – a way for him to follow.

“Of course…Of course, son. I’ll tell you when I leave.”

“Is that a promise?”

I nodded to him. “Yes. I promise.”

He leaned his head on my arm and held my hand tight. My child is getting bigger now. I looked over the horizon and I could see the clear vision of his future – the future that I’ll be making for him. I just need some time to furnish everything and it will be done.

“Can I go to Embreal too?” He asked me.

“No. You cant. It would be much easier for you to stay here and let yourself be at guard.”

“But it’s getting dreary here, Mom.”

“Would you choose to die than just deal with such lackluster?”

He was silent for a moment and his face suddenly showed blues. “Guessed I should stay here then. I was just curious about what it is right now. The last time I was able to get a glimpse of it was when I was able to use the Invisibility, but was interrupted by the Eye.”

“Then, you have encountered and met each other already.” I said to him.

“Yeah. She was able to see me…and until now, her eyes were taunting me as if she could see through my soul.” He said almost in a whisper.

I rubbed his head to keep him calm. “That’s okay now. You’re safe and you’ll be as long as I and your dad are here.”

He looked at me and clasped his arms around me. “Thank you for coming back, Mom…”

I slowly hugged him back. “Thank you for waiting for me too.”

___

Mariella had gone back to the city. She was wearing a grey expression as she left the place using the clandestine, charmed door. She should be there in an hour from now. She had decided to take two of those men and a woman, probably five years younger from her. Now, that she departed, I could do my part. In fact, I’m waiting for this moment to arrive. I felt bad for her for what’s coming in her path.

I decided to take Azazel back in his room to let him rest. I know that he was exhausted for the experiment. I needed him still to practice making tons of those corpses to move. They will serve as one of our weapons. Sometimes, it would be much easier to use them than those who’re still living. Jack confronted me while I’m going back to our room.

“We have a problem.” He said with a worried face.

“What is it?”

He took a breath and uttered, “The Healer is missing. What are we going to do now?”

“Tell the others to find her immediately. We couldn’t lose her. And if something will happen and it will affect our agreement with her, tell them to despatch her.” I said and continued my walk. Everything is driving me insane, making me rub my temple. Jack didn’t let me get off the hook. Instead, he followed me up until we arrived in front of the door.

“What about Mariella?”

I faced him. “Oh, about her. I thought you knew…you’ll be the one to take care of her, darling.” I tapped his cheek. “Get your things. You don’t want her to go over the distance.” I chuckled and pinched his cheek. I opened the door and directly closed it. I heard him stumped in the outside then came to his footsteps getting away from the spot. He just moved out. I walked to my desk and opened the champagne that was placed beside my notes. I took a glass and enjoyed my time. I needed to think straight. Taking a sip, the bittersweet taste of it engulfed my mouth, letting me salivate. I smiled and slowly raised my glass.

“Cheers to the beginning of the real game, Penelope. The Hamington is on her reign once again.”