Elevate

To The Butcher

A high, serious sigh left my mouth. How long was I in this position? I kept seeing things on my mind after that moment when we took the chip in the Linkman’s office. That kid is surely alive. It was true. As far as I wanted to tell anyone in Era, I couldn’t do it. It’s just hard to bear to believe that such existence is visible. What is his reason for him to meet me in such a preposterous state? The things about him make me to search for facts. I wanted to know who he is for sure. I was occupied with my thoughts, when a low, squealing sound came from the room of Cody.

Slowly he went out by himself, wearing his pajamas and thin sleepers. His hair was still damped as his eyes were surrounded by those dark circles. He recognized my presence and offered a faint smile. He stirred directly in the kitchen. Opening the faucet, the water gushed on his bottle. He licked the side of his lip and drank it up. A gulp was visible after he had finished a bottle. Wiping his mouth with his hand, he washed it. Drying it with the clean towel, he laid it back inside the drawer.

I saw him rubbed his eyes as he sluggishly hovered to where I am. He slowly raised his head to catch my gaze for him. His eyes were already sagging to sleep, but it was clearly seen that he’s a bit riled for being still active in his mind. He fell on the couch that was across from me, slumping his head on it. He closed his eyes as his arms were resting on the sides. He took a deep breath and deliberately opened them to perceive me.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” He asked. His voice was husky.

“I can’t sleep. What about you?”

He scratched his head. “The same as you. Vix, do you think that the Butcher has something to do with the death of Mr. Elikai?” His eyes were in distressed, taking a yawn. He embraced the cozy pillow around his arms.

“Hmm. I don’t want to think about that but rather would consider him as an ally and not s a foe. There’s surely a connection between the two of them, but in terms of the death of his comrade, I think Mr. Butch is a man that wouldn’t want to get himself in the line of being called as an enemy. He wouldn’t kill anyone, especially those whom he called as friends and family.” I commended.

“I see. That man…still need the justice.”

“You’re right. That’s why we needed to keep ourselves near form what’s happening. Guilbert might not want us to be at harm once again, that he needed to make a lie to us. We should understand them somehow, why they needed to do that.” I uttered.

He nodded in agreement. Laying his head low, he rubbed his eyes and took a yawn once again.

“Are you going to sleep here?” He asked, almost in a whisper.

“Yes. I wanted some air, and I also want the children to have a good sleep.”

“Why don’t you come with me when I return them back in the forest? We both know that Aunt Liech is waiting for us, especially for you. You don’t want to keep her waiting do you?” I saw him gave in a pout.

A sigh went out of my mouth. “I would if I wanted to. It’s not like I’d continue to elude them. They’re the children’s parents. It’s just that…I still don’t have the courage to face the truth that she’s been holding on to. I know her conscience is telling her to do so, but I guessed the time will come that it will be the right one to hear things from them. Perhaps, we already perceived, just like when they vanished in the forest to join the others, Uncle William wanted to keep himself and his family away from danger, that he made himself a fraidy-cat.”

“Yeah. You can’t blame the man though. I know he has the reason to do those things back then.” He commented and rubbed his temple. “Then so, I hoped you’ll find enough strength to listen to their explanation. I don’t want you to avoid them again, mainly when they’re here to meet you. Anyway, I kind of expecting that we will get some answers from Mr. Butch tomorrow. Man, that guy somehow reminded me of Mr. Elikai. I mean, he’s also a man of words. But, guessed I should ask for a week of rest from him.” He chuckled and rubbed the back of his right shoulder and winced a bit. “Gosh, my back hurts.” He added.

I threw a pillow to him, but his reflexes were good that he instantly caught it. I chuckled. “You know that you’re the right man for him. You can’t just easily take a leave or so. His business is booming right?”

“Tsh. I bet he wanted to make me as his personal assistant.”

“Aren’t you one already?” I gave him a smirk.

“Ah, God. Will you stop that expression will you? Yes, the bar is really on its peak, especially now that it was relocated by Mr. Zyrender himself.”

“Yeah.” He hugged the pillow tight around his arms. “Let’s just hope that everything will turn good tomorrow.” He slowly closed his eyes. “Goodnight, Eye.” He turned himself, facing the other side.

“Goodnight, Cody.”

I was left gaping at the top. Just like what Cody had hoped that it would turn good tomorrow, I wanted to make sure that the kids will also be safe at all costs. Tiredness deliberately crippled in me, letting me close my eyes. Slowly, I felt myself fall into sleep. Darkness embraced me in its abode.

___

“Did you ever wonder what the ocean would look like?” She asked, looking over the clear blue sky. Her hands were on the back of her head as her big white shirt touched the salubrious, green grass.

A snail sluggishly moved on her right side. I smiled as the air touched our presence. It was a beautiful day to start a conversation.

“I think it would be beautiful.” I answered her.

I saw her lips curved into a smile. “Let’s go there soon. I want us to be there, roaming around and having our great time till sunset.”

I nodded and held her hand. It was her wish not only for her but also for the team – one of her personalities that I adored.

“Yeah. Then we shall live our days for us to catch up soon with that thing.”

“Right.” She breathed satisfaction. Her scarf was tied around her neck. “Let’s make it happen…”

I was moved from my spot by those slender, small hands clasping on my arm. I heard her called my name several times. There were shallow steps coming back and forth on top of my head. She suddenly flicked my nose, making me to whimper. I scratched my left cheek. With a wincing face, I slowly opened my eyes and the light immediately struck on me, letting me see its magnificence. I avoided contact with it and turned to the side, letting me witness a curious face of a child.

Her eyes were intently hooked to mine as her hair was glossy from her fresh bath. She was glistening. “Good morning, Aunt Vix!” She delightedly greeted me.

I gave her a faint smile and patted her head. “Good morning, Hannah.” I answered in a whisper.

She pulled my arm even still it was just so light. “Hurry up, Aunt Vix. We’re still going home. Uncle Cody is waiting for you outside.” She added.

I forced myself to rise from my spot. My eyes were still dropping to sleep again, but I decided to shake it off. Rubbing my eyes, I narrowed my sight to her. I nodded slowly and let me fill myself with reality. I took a fine breath and heard him said, peaking over the door.

“Hurry up. We don’t want to wait for you for too long.” He uttered.

I rolled my eyes at him and took my stand. Then, he should have wakened me up early in the morning for me to prepare. I still didn’t even get enough sleep and worse, I didn’t still eat my breakfast. I bit my lip and looked at him with a blank expression. Hannah was standing beside me, holding my pants.

“Can I take my breakfast?” I asked him.

He instantly shook his head, telling me not to. “No. All of us didn’t take breakfast…except for the kids. They took eggs today.” He answered.

“Oh.” My eyes wandered around, trying to find my leathered jacket, not until it flung in my direction and hit me straight on the face. He just threw it in front of me. I gave him a contemptuous look and took my jacket on. What’s wrong with him? We were just fine yesterday night, and now he’s trying to break my patience and get me into a fight with him. The door creaked open and Guilbert passed by me, rubbing his newly shaved chin. His hair was also neatly combed to his right side.

He was wearing his fitted black jeans and blue shirt. He glanced at me and gave me a curious face. “What’s with your expression? Did something happen?”

“Tsh.” I avoided his gaze and took my shoes on. Hannah waited for me to finish. She heard my stomach crumbed in hunger, but I decided not to mind it. Macky was behind Cody taking his silence.

Loshiana hurriedly scuttled and followed Guilbert and also noticed me. “What are you so mad early in the morning? Put up a face. You don’t want the man will keep giving you questions later on.” She said, referring to Mr. Butch. “Close the door when you’re done. We’ll be waiting for you outside the road.” She added and left with the others.

I took a sigh. She was right. Cody is just trying to ruin my day, just like the old times. He would just come by me and try to put up a fight without a good reason. That side of him is just annoying as hell that I want to get rid of. When I finished tying my laces, I held Hannah’s hand and we went outside. I closed the door just like how they wanted it too and we progressed to where they’re waiting. Miguel was currently talking to a woman in her sixties over the side of the road. Her strands of hair have now turned into grey ones. Her pale green dress which is a bit extra in her size fitted her together with her flat white shoes. She was smiling as she made her time talking with Miguel.

She handed over a pouch of green apples coated with melted sugar. Miguel took it and paid her. The woman thanked him, wringing the sides of her eyes into a smile. He moved to us and offered us a treat, but most of us let it pass and just take it later on, except for the kids who're obviously excited to take a bite of each.

Miguel put the remaining apples inside his bag.

"So, where are we going now?" Cody asked.

"To the Butcher. He's currently waiting for us." Guilbert promptly answered.

"Oh, how did you know?"

"I visited him last night."

"What?" I narrowed my sight to him. "If you gave him a visit yesterday, then what's the use of us going to his place right now?"

"Well. We really didn't talk about that specific topic we have discussed last night. We don't have much time because he was called out for an emergency, so I was just able to ask some other things...which are also connected still with our main agenda." He added and pushed our backs to move.

"Go on. We don't want to keep the man in waiting. We can just take the kids with us today. And, I'm planning to visit the old man in the forest, and I'm expecting that all of us will be there too. I decided to give a visit to the woman and asked her herself about the passage. Maybe try to force her to tell." He scoffed and walked with us.

Guilbert isn't bothered about what's waiting for us there. Probably, Ian still got it covered and had his great time in monitoring the person he wanted to apprehend for several years - Penelope Hamington.

The sun was glistening on top of us as the skies were set in oceanic blue. It was clear and bright and we could evidently perceive how the birds flocked around. People hurled, taking their usual daily routine in the morning. I glanced over the next ground above us. It was filled with the others, aching to start the day. We heard its splendor as it reached the top.

It was cold. Children were running around it and played with its water. Some were mending their time in eating those candies they have brought in the market.

Those treats reminded me somehow of the Candyman who also vanished out of the blues. His disappearance had the people gape for the truth when he revealed himself once again in such a horrendous state where he was found lying without a trace of life near the Old Mill.

I bet he had suffered too. His death was just like Kinzel in some ways. It wasn’t expected. He kept himself in such appalling acts before where he used to give treats to the children with power-ups, where they cannot be controlled sometimes and would cause a ruckus with the mass. Though his intentions were a bit curved, somehow the man brought joy especially to the kids. He was a person whom they waited for such a season. I missed the vibe he gave us back then.

I took a yawn and kept my gaze straight. We went directly to the first gate. The position held by the Gatekeeper since then, had now been placed with the same woman but she just checked those who’re passing by – now being called as the assessors. Tickets and gate passes were no more. It was open to all of us.

She was wearing a light pink dress up to her knees together with her flat shoes. Her hair was freely falling on her back. Her thick eyebrows from before we're now trimmed. She crossed her arms and gave us an awkward expression.

She stared at us and her eyes carefully traveled from the ground up to our heads, trying to figure out our presence from her obscured memory. I bet we were way too familiar that she took some time to let us get in.

She cleared her throat and spoke. “Aye. To where?” It’s a usual thing for us now to tell them where we’re heading, making it easy for them to locate us if anything would happen. We needed not to put up a show or even lie. Hence, it’s about being true at all costs and totally would benefit both sides. The assessors would log the details on their pads and each team or an individual will be given with a marbled ball with different designs but the same usage. It serves as a tracker to them and it’s such a great use for everyone.

She handed one to me and I gently took it. She didn’t let us get off the hook from her.

"To Paraiso." Guilbert answered.

It was the name of the new bar of the Butcher. He said that it meant to be a paradise. That man is surely surprising in odd terms sometimes. The woman dried her mouth.

"Okay. Just leave it be there. Is there any place you're going to go?"

"No, not at all." Loshiana said.

"Okay. Have fun kids and don't let anyone lure around to steal from you." She reminded.

"Aye. We already knew that. But, still thank you." Guilbert spoke and we slowly went to it and entered the next ground.