A Friend From the Past

Unlike the days before, I didn't try to stay in bed for too long and instead of playing around and spoiling my girlfriend, I got up right away.

In the process leaving the bed, I noticed one of Rose's eyes open to see what I was doing and noticed that I was going to leave the bed early this morning.

"Don't you want to stay a little longer?"

She asked with a coquettish voice.

"Mmmm tempting…"

I said while going back to bed on top of her and giving her a deep kiss.

"But… the time limits of two of the remaining missions are about to expire, and I'm pretty sure that something is going to happen, and I need to do some preparations."

She was just playful, but when she noticed that I was a little serious, she got up too she wasn't going to stay behind and was also going to give her best.

"So… you are going to hunt and try to achieve resonance?"

"Just the first idea for the resonance if that doesn't work I'll go to investigate a little before trying the plan B. About the hunting I'm not leaving today, but I want to add traps to the defenses around Green Shelter, and the normal hunting squads can help me with that, if something or someone take the bait I will get the points."

She nodded, we talked all of this last night, so she knew about all the plans. She was going to focus on learning to materialize and bonding with Paws this was something important if someone wants to achieve the point she already achieved with Lucy.

I left the room to go to the kitchen, and after a while, Rose changed her clothes and followed me. Even if we were sleeping together, and have done a couple more thing that just kissing already I haven't seen her fully naked yet.

She was shy, so most of the time she either changed on the bathroom, in the time before I arrive at the room or when I leave the room. I don't care much about it, our relationship was advancing fast anyway, so I don't plan to force her to do anything she is not ready for. I just enjoy my time with her.

Since today she was going to stay most of the time in the astral world she decided to wear a white and blue sundress that was on the surprise box, she was beautiful, and I had to hold myself back to not jump at her right there… mainly because G was there too.

I was surprised to see G up so early and not looking like crap. I think that as just as I supposed the battery perk might have evolved into a new one because of the synergy effect between Enhanced Strength.

I remember the ticket had a perk included, so there is also the possibility that it was added to the current battery making it stronger, or that he got a new perk that works well for his condition. Neither he or I can see his stats so what was the exact effect will remain a mystery for the time being, but it was a good thing in either case.

The one that actually looked like crap was Hope. I remember that when I went to sleep, she was still outside trying out her shoes. Probably she never tried to learn to use her power so hard since the beginning of this. So it was a good thing, and she works in the afternoon, so there is no harm to her going to bed late.

As every day we were blessed with Isabella's cooking skills, and we ate together, something that I think didn't happen in a long time. Hayley was also in high spirits thanks to her new ability, I couldn't feel the difference because of cold mind, but I could see the changes in the aura. Now there was some gentleness that wasn't there before.

"Are you planning to hunt today?"

I could see in her eyes that she wanted to go. I had to give her a wry smile as an answer.

"I have some plans for today, so I don't think I'll go. You can join another team if you want, I have a little request for the parties, and I'll go there."

Her smile wasn't as big as before because I wasn't going to be there with her to hunt, but she felt better there than in another place, so she was happy to go out to hunt.

After finishing eating G left quickly to see Emma, I can't believe how hard it hit her, but I haven't seen him being like that because of a girl before.

Everyone left one by one. Hayley had to go to the warehouse first, and I went with her… I need meat.

After we arrived and I made the request it took a while for them to authorize the transaction.

I was taking more than it was usually allowed, but after the sudden increase in the stock of meat, there was the possibility of doing it. It was until today that I finally discovered that my group had a special account with all the points that we get from our jobs, it's the system they use for families too.

To be honest, I thought that the point system was a myth because I have never used before, but now that I thought about it, Isabella is the one that usually buys stuff so she should be the one that uses it more often. I'm curious about the value of a point and how much I get from the missions I have done, but I'll have to see that later.

In the meantime Hayley fulfilled her job of freezing stuff, I'm not sure how people reacted to her before, but I could see in her mind that she noticed some subtle changes in the way they behave towards her. I was happy to know that this mission meant an improvement in her day to day life.

Seeing her like this, I started to see the old Hayley once again. She acted like this around me already, but she didn't in front of other people, which was weird for her. I could see that she was slowly coming back the girl I knew before.

When everything was ready at the warehouse, we moved to the hunting squads HQ. I was going to prepare the meat-poison traps there.

As we were walking, I noticed a girl I was familiar with.

I knew that she was here because she was one of the clinic's refugees. At the time I didn't have the time to greet her because I was kinda busy, but now I have a couple of minutes to spare.

She wasn't someone close to me, but she used to be one of Hayley's best friends back in high school… and it also happens to be one of the people that didn't help her that night. I could see Hayley's complicated feeling when she saw her.

In front of us, Megan also stopped on her tracks when she saw us.

She used to have a long straight red hair, but now she has cut it over her shoulders. I noticed that both freeze in there looking at each other without doing anything besides looking at each other, so I had to take the first step for them.

"Hello Megan, it's been a while."

I used courage inducement on my voice, despite Hayley not been the scary person she saw in her door that day anymore, I don't want her to remember that and escape. If something like that happens, it would be a blow on Hayley's confidence and a set back to what she was able to achieve until now.

Thanks to my power, Megan's face seemed to decide on something and smiled back at us.

"Hi, it's not that much time, I saw you when you brought us here… thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't come for us."

"How are you adapting?"

"It' a lot better than living in a clinic that's for sure."

After that, I could see her clench her fist and added.

"Can you lend me Hayley for a minute?"

"We are just in the same direction, so there is no need to ask me."

Before Hayley could answer, and run away, I interrupted her.

"I'll go to the HQ and see a group for you to hunt with, so don't worry they will wait for you. Everything is going to be fine."

I used courage inducement on her too when I said the last part. I knew that Megan wanted to apologize. Otherwise, I wouldn't leave Hayley with her, I also knew that Hayley needed a little push to completely get over that day, this was a significant step on that regard.

She gave me a soft smile before telling me.

"See if Milo or Gabriel are available. Zak or Mark would do it too, but I don't know if they left the hospital yet."

"That was exactly what I was planning."

It was the people she knew, so she obviously wanted to go with some of them. I left her there with Megan and went towards the HQ.