The Morrow's Yesterday

Chapter 9: Always Remember

Chrysan’s POV

If being reckless was a job, maybe I’m already a millionaire. I don’t know why but it’s my nature to try new stuff for excitement. I’m an introvert when it comes to other people, but when we’re talking about my friends, I could be an extrovert. Yes, we exist.

Risking myself for someone makes my heart flutter a bit. If I couldn’t save my life, then I think I should save others. I don’t care if I die right here and right now. The more important thing is, I can’t let them― my chums, suffer as I did. I’m willing to catch a million bullets just for their safety.

I groaned as soon as I opened my eyes when I felt a high voltage of electricity strike my body. I’m panting and my forehead was full of sweat. I’m not dead?

A small laboratory greeted me, I wandered my eyes and there I saw a lot of chemicals inside Erlenmeyer flasks. There were different kinds of colors, blue, yellow, violet, red, and even pink! I was about to scratch my face when I felt an itch there when I realized that I can’t move my hand! Even my legs!

I looked to my right and there I saw my hands being tied to a flexible metal thing. My eyes widened when I saw there was electricity flowing in it. Even my legs were tied by those. That’s it! That’s the reason why I woke up!

I examined every corner of this room to find someone. Where’s Jairo?

I’m about to scream but my mouth can’t even open! I tried my best to look at what was stopping me from speaking. There’s a silver metal thing placed in my mouth as if that’s their modified bandana being tied in the mouth of the victim.

“Oh, you’re awake?” I was alerted when I heard a familiar voice. From the corner of my eye, I saw a boy stand up from his seat and closed the book he’s been reading.

I didn’t even notice him!

I avoided my face from him when he was about to touch me. He got these intimidating diamond eyes that remind me of my father. Speaking of him, where is he in this generation?

“State your name and age,” he ordered while looking directly into my eyes. Even though he's younger, I need to look up just to meet his cold crystalized eyes.

I resisted and start screaming random words for him to get the most obvious clue that I can’t speak because of this metal muzzle on my mouth.

“Oh, come on! Just speak! And stop saying unnecessary words or I’ll end your life, right here and right now,” he threatened me with a smirk on his face.

He took an Erlenmeyer flask from the nearest table and put a cube-shaped crystalized stone on it. Any minute, a puff of smoke emerged from the flask and the liquid on it became black.

I coughed when I inhaled that smoke. It makes my chest tighten and my nostrils stung!

He laughed crazily and put the flask back in its position. “Mix that concentration to Galena and boom,” he formed a fist looking upward and opened it as if he was imitating an explosion.

He walked closer to me and acted like he was going to whisper something.

“You’ll be dead in an instant,” he whispered in a threatening tone.

I gulped many times before meeting his eyes again. “So, if you don’t want to be a dead meat, just answer my questions,” he said in a sweet tone.

I glared at him and unconsciously spoke even though there was this annoying metal muzzle in my mouth. “Try me,” I challenged him.

I was taken aback when he suddenly laughed while holding his tummy. “Try you?” he asked in an insulting tone. “I don’t try worthless stuff, my apologies,” he said and laughed again.

My eyebrows furrowed at what he said. So, he can understand me even if I have this in my mouth? Nice, very nice.

“Chrysanthemum Anderson, 33. Remember my name, because I’ll be the one who’ll drag you down,” I said in a warning tone while having an emotionless face.

His eyebrows raised and he started walking toward me slowly while having a doubt on his face. “Wait… What’s your surname?”

“An-der-son,” I emphasized every syllable in my surname just like what he asked for.

He put his hand on his chin and hissed as if he was remembering something. Minutes passed, he struck his fist against his palm when he finally remembered what he’s remembering a few moments ago. He looked at me with widened eyes while having an amazed expression on his face.

“That’s right! That’s my surname too!” he exclaimed happily for me to make a weird face.

“Pardon?” I asked confusedly. What does he mean?

“That’s my surname!” he exclaimed once again and he closed the gap between our faces. I gulped when I saw his diamond eyes closer.

“Care to enlighten me?” I confusedly asked and tilted my head.

He averted his gaze and started walking back and forth while gesturing his hand for everything he wants to say. “I’m Alvis Coeus Anderson,” he whispered and hit his head using his wrist.

“Why did I even forget that?” he asked out of nowhere and tears started rolling on his cheeks.

“Wait. So, you’re also an Anderson? Do I know you?” I asked him while raising my brows.

Are we relatives or something?

He looked at me and for the first time, a small smile was seen on his face. A gentle smile.

“I don’t know you, but thank you,” he muttered making me silent.

“I don’t know you, but… Can I ask a favor?” he asked me with those pleading eyes. I stared at him for a long time and could see myself nodding as a response. He turned his back on me before he spoke.

“After you leave this room, please forget everything. I don’t want to obliterate your memory because I know how precious it is. I want you to forget that you’ve seen this side of me. Your guy friend was in the next room, while the other one that you’ve been looking for was in the storage room, the last room you could see in the basement,” he instructed while not meeting my gaze.

Why is this so sudden? He even knew that we are looking for someone. Maybe he asked Jairo before interrogating me.

“After that… I’ll be waiting for you. I don’t care how long it will take but I’ll be waiting for you… to save me.”

After that, Alvis released me and turned a blind eye to the fact that we’re against this kind of living― we are against him. I carefully walked towards the next room, where Jairo was supposed to be. I controlled my breathing and try my best to enhance my senses to feel what kind of danger is coming.

I hid behind the pillar when I felt that someone was coming out of the door. I sighed in relief when I saw it was Jairo. He was walking back and forth while playing with his fingers and he started mumbling something.

“I need to find Chrysan,” he mumbled repeatedly.

I was about to approach him when my stomach began to hurt. I unconsciously touched it, and I groaned in pain once again. I rested my hand on the wall and let my body rest for a few minutes. I really forgot that I got stabbed.

“Who’s there?!” I heard Jairo scream while looking in my direction and he stance himself as if he was performing karate.

I slowly get out of my hiding place and raise one of my hands in the air while the other one was on my stomach. He looked relieved when he saw it was me.

“Chrysan! I was worried sick!” he exclaimed and walked towards me. He put my arms over his shoulders for support.

“Are you okay? We need to get out of here,” he said and looked left and right.

“W-Wait!” I exclaimed and groaned again when the wound on my stomach hurt.

“I know w-where Reikkie is,” I hardly said and started coughing when I felt my chest is tighter than usual. Jairo looked at me with his concerned eyes.

“Hang in there, Chrysan. Where is she?” he asked while still looking at me.

“Storage room, the last room in the basement,” I muttered.

“Understood. Just wait a little longer, and don’t die,” he said as we began to walk to the storage room.

***

Daphne’s POV

“Now, where the heck is Jairo and Chrysan?” I asked the moment we step inside the storage room.

This is where Reikkie’s located. When Chrysan woke up earlier, we are planning a way how we can rescue Reikkie but unexpected things happened and Chrysan followed Jairo. I need to lecture that man later.

“Omg! Rei-Rei! Are you okay?” Sy asked our badly beaten friend.

Her face is swollen and blood is dripping from his lips. The boys provided her temporary support for her to stand. Thanks to Vane’s skills, we’re able to locate Reikkie here. And now, our problem is those two.

“Y-You, guys…” We turned our gaze to Reikkie when she spoke weakly with her raspy voice.

“Why did you come here? You’ll die,” she said while her eyes remained closed.

“Shut up, Miss Genius,” Keith said in a monotone voice.

“We’ll die if you’ll die,” Vane overreacted.

“No one’s gonna cook me curry when you die,” Xyxo answered while sobbing.

“Rubbish,” she muttered while having a smirk on his face.

“Don’t be a naughty kid and just follow us,” I said and tapped her back lightly.

Sythel lead the way back to our headquarters using her invisibility ability and we also sent the signal to Jairo who’s with Chrysan. I know he’s reliable but Chrysan’s a stubborn girl that always does the things she didn’t even think of. That’s why I don’t know if Jairo could handle her.

“Stop!” Sythel exclaimed making us all stop walking as if her words are magic spells.

“Hide!” she then ordered making us panic.

We can’t hide somewhere! We’re in an open space where you can’t see any pillars here.

“Over the wall,” I instructed and did my best to cover them up using my specialized coat.

Camouflage Technique—1st Form: Chameleon

In an instant, my coat took over the color of our background for us not to be seen. Any minutes later, hundreds of guards passed by. I gulped when they stopped where we are located. They examined the hallway and I felt relieved when they continued walking.

After we passed the guards, we couldn’t see anyone walking here in the main facility except us. I can’t erase the thought of something being wrong here.

“Let’s hurry,” Keith said and we all agreed.

“Keith, just carry Reikkie on your back,” I instructed, he nodded as a response and he started carrying Reikkie who was sleeping to regain her strength.

Vane and Xyxo stretched as if they had just gotten up from bed. “Now let’s go.”

Our headquarter are not just far from here. Actually, we just live at the bottom of this exact building. When we reached the spot for our underground elevator, I nodded at Xyxo as a signal for him to activate his Redstone lever. Minutes passed, the tile below us submerged on the ground and it continues its descending movement. When we reached our destination, Xyxo turned off his Redstone lever.

The black and white paint occupying this place makes me calm and at peace. The rooms we’re staying at where Chrysan woke up earlier originally belonged to Doc Fraita. Unfortunately, we can’t summon her here to treat Reikkie’s injuries because she has her duties.

“Let’s just wait for Jairo and Chrysan to arrive, and let Jairo treat Reikkie. In the meantime, Vane,” I called our friend who’s busy typing on his hologram keyboard.

“Yeah?” he responded while sticking his gaze on his hologram keyboard.

“Apply first aid to Reikkie first, to avoid infection,” I ordered him making him stunned. He looked at me with his eyebrows are being furrowed.

“What?!” was his first reaction, as did my other friends.

“Why him, Daphne?” Sy calmly asked.

“Yeah, why him? It should be you, you know,” Keith boredly said.

“Daph, Vane’s a techy, not a First-Aider,” Xyxo concernedly muttered.

I looked at them while holding my head up high. I gave each one of them sharp gazes.

“That’s the reason why we don’t improve as an individual. We don’t usually get out of our comfort zone and we take things easy. Remember, guys, not all the time we have each other, not all the time we’ll be together. We need to learn to be independent, and fly like a free bird,” I spoke, they were all looking at me intently.

“Listen, we will be the ones who will bring back the freedom to humanity. We will rise as a team but we will fall individually. That’s how life works. The strong will live and the weak will die… Always remember that.”