The Twins

The small light was too bright for the room, which was as dark as a pit's bottom. He was feeling tired, too tired. He noticed that there were handcuffs to his hands. A long thin chain was linked to them and a ring on the table. He was trying to force his limbs out of them.

"I wouldn't do it if I were you" said someone.

He stretched his eyes to find his mysterious acquaintance.

"What happened yesterday Tithon?" asked the voice.

He didn't answer. He was frightened and tense.

A face emerged from the darkness and let the light reveal its traits.

Tithon recognized him.

"Who are you, really?"

His interlocutor smiled and then put some pictures on the table. Those were images of Alusta's sewers after the detonation.

"You can call me Malsumis" answered him.

"And…what's your…role?"

"I'm here to get you out of this mess Tithon. You know, we like to keep things tight and clear here"

"What am I supposed to do? I can't deny the fact that people, real people, lost their life today"

"You're wrong Tithon. I'm not asking you to lie about that"

He stood up and started moving around the table.

"So…what do you want?" asked Tithon.

"There was something there, a…"

"Are you talking about the Hummingbird?"

"Exactly. You must deny its existence. As well as…"

"The bombs. Why? This isn't the first time you and your…"

"Gluskap isn't your concern. Anyway, I knew that your wife is struggling a bit with her new job…"

"How do you know it? She never told me that" asked Tithon worried.

"We can help her. Wouldn't you be happy for her?"

"I…"

"Just do it Tithon"

"I don…"

"You have too much to lose" were Malsumis last words.

The small light turned off.

After a few seconds the whole room became lit. The door opened and a huge man walked in. He had a long black bird and two small eyes. His hair were short and tidy. He was wearing a uniform. He looked like a high-ranking whisker.

"Mr.Perteklinis, what are you looking at, there's no one there" asked him.

Kurban was still thinking about Gluskap words. He just had to stick to his orders for now.

The whisker snapped his fingers close to Kurban's face.

"What…Why am I here?" asked the boy.

"That's what we want to figure out. I'm…"

"I didn't think that I would've talked with the mighty Whisker's Chief Mabdil. I should be in great trouble then" joked Kurban.

"Your comrade has already spoken and he's free. There's just you left. What happened today at Alusta's sewers?" started Mabdil.

"We were clearing the area…when a gas leak…caused an explosion" answered him while trying to hide the truth.

At least he was doing it for the greater good.

"And why you and Tithon are the only survivors? This seems a bit odd to me"

"We were talking to each other about a different way to finish the job before the deadline" this time Kurban answered with more confidence.

"There was anything relevant there?"

"Like what?"

"Like that"

Mabdil handed a weird mask to Kurban. It was like the one he saw on the curly haired bomber.

"No. What is it?" asked him.

"In the Hara are used to make the guilty ones serve their punishment. We don't know how it reached Haguel. No one in Haguel wears it. Do you know why?"

"Because we're all good people" answered Perteklinis sarcastic.

"No, because you're already filthy and shameful. There's no need to make your life miserable" taunted Mabdil.

Kurban didn't like what he said and was angered. He tried to keep all of his anger in check in order to avoid issues with the Whiskers.

"We think that the detonation wasn't casual. We think that someone planned it"

"I didn't see anything, really. I don't know how I can help you with your conspiracy theories"

"We can't keep you here against your will because there aren't enough proofs to determine whether you're telling the truth or not. You're free to go" said Mabdil while unlocking Kurban's handcuffs.

The kid stood up and started walking out of the room.

"Anyway. We'll keep our eyes on you from now on Mr.Perteklinis" threatened Mabdil.

"After all that's your job commander, not mine" said Kurban while closing the door behind him.

Tithon and Endymion were having dinner at the Exin Restaurant, a cheap spot which served a renowned recipe made of cooked salmon, veggies, garlic, olive oil, avocado and a pot made of whole grain flour.

"How is it?" asked Endymion while eating.

"It's good. Even though it isn't much, it's delicious and helps alleviate the liver's issues" answered Tithon with delight.

"You're right, your skin and eyes aren't as yellow as a long time ago"

"And your belly is less bloated. I still don't understand why you're puking more"

"Don't know, really. Anyway…"

"Are you eating well at your job?" asked Tithon while interrupting her attempt at changing the argument.

"I…I thought that…"

"Just answer me, please. I'm concerned about your health" reassured Tithon.

"We don't have enough time to eat well. We're not treated like you"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that healthy food is expensive and takes time to prepare. I don't have it at work"

"How can I help you?" asked Tithon worried.

"You can't. How can you change it when you're just a shift supervisor? How can you change anything when there are your superiors co…"

"Don't. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be able to walk as always. We have to be grate…"

"We're grateful but I don't know if you're safe. I don't want to lose you"

"Me too Endy. I love you but you should tell me if there're issues with your job. I thought that our relationship was based on truth"

"It is. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't find the right time because you're busier and we have less time for each other. Please, tell me who told you? Certain things should stay between us"

"I can't. I would like to, but I can't" tried to explain Tithon.

"Why, why are you obliged to have all this secrets. It's three years that you don't tell me everything. I know that three years are nothing compared to our lives, but I should know what…"

"Please. There're things which should stay as they are right now. It's the only to preserve our wellbeing. But all of it will change, I promise you"

Endymion stood up.

"I'll go back home. I don't want to fight with you. I love you but I want to know more. I'll wait for you but you must show me that I matter for you"

She left the table and walked out of the restaurant.

Tithon stayed there waiting.

"Would you like to order anything else Tithon?" asked a waiter.

"No, thank you. Can I have the bill?" answered him altered.

"Sure"

The waiter went away and returned after five minutes with a long piece of paper.

"Is it the first time you bring your wife here?" asked him.

"Yes, why?"

"Just curious. I hope that our prices didn't scare her away and we hope to have you back"

"Right now, it's pretty expensive but I don't plan to stay in Haguel all my life" remarked Tithon with confidence.

"Why, aren't you happy here?"

"Just because we're used at being treated like scum by the Halars it doesn't mean that we have to accept it. Here's your bill with something to thank you" told him while giving the paper back to the waiter.

"Thanks, sir" told him while getting his tip.

The waiter left him and got back to his work.

Tithon was getting up when he noticed a small ticket under his napkin.

He took it and read it.

Then he put it in his pocket and got out of the restaurant.

The sewers rubbles of Alusta were standing there, untouched. They were noticeable from one of the many bridges set in the Haguel's district. He was standing on one of them, absorbed by his thoughts. Although he was still, a strange sense of compulsive and tense shaking was getting through his frail mask.

"I got your message. Is anything wrong?" asked Tithon, trying to break the ice with his friend.

"Look at that" said Kurban.

"Yes, I know but it's the past. We can't do anything about it"

"Don't you care?"

"I…do but I…must move on. I can't be distracted by it. I need to focus. I just need to do it for another two decades and I'll get my promotion" answered Tithon.

"I'm glad that you're advancing in your career but…it doesn't feel right."

"Why?"

"We must keep secrets to keep this job. I don't know what they're promising you, but I think that they are just doing their interest. We must lookingmeet secretly to talk about our job. Is Endymion happy?"

"She will. There're minor troubles with his job but I think that she will manage. I'm just a bit concerned about her health. We're eating better but…"

"Is she alright?" asked Kurban again.

"She…we had a fight, but I don't worry. It will be okay"

"I've asked if she's happy and you didn't even answer. Why are you doing it?"

"I'm telling you that she's happy. We're slowly becoming richer and happier" answered Tithon altered.

"Alright. I believe you. I still admire you, even though you were funnier when we met, when you were less…rich"

Tithon smiled. He liked the fact that Kurban was still sarcastic and curious as three years ago.

"What about Exin? How was it?" asked the kid.

"For the first time I've tried better and more complex food. I felt so good after it"

"Really, what did you try?"

"It had a weird name. I don't know, I just wanted to try it because it was made of healthy food"

"And, what about Endy, did she like it too?"

"I think…so"

"Wait, did you have an argument at Exin?"

"Yes, she left me there alone"

"That's bad. Has she eaten anything?"

"Yes, like a hummingbird unfortunately. I had to pay all her leftovers too. This dinner was particularly expensive. Are you okay?" asked Tithon to Kurban who was looking in an undetermined point in space, immersed in his thoughts.

He perked up after a while.

"What…what were you saying?"

"I was telling you about my evening. What happened?"

"When…you said Hummingird I've started thinking about the symbol"

"Oh please, not again" lamented Tithon.

"There're things which needs to be covered. I don't think that it was…"

"Ok. That's enough. I'm going back home" cut Tithon short.

"We should talk about it?"

Tithon started moving away from Kurban while shaking his hand.

"Goodnight, mate. And stop being nuts" joked him while getting in one of Alusta's many alleys.

After reaching a street, which was safer and more crowded than the alley, he put his right hand up to find an available cab.

He waited for a while when he noticed someone which felt familiar on the other side of the road. A woman with dark hair and icy eyes was standing there, looking at him while keeping her left hand up.

His cab arrived and he broke eye-contact with her. She was still looking at him through the car's glass.

He gave his home address to the driver and left Alusta.

He felt her gaze on him all night, even in bed with Endymion by his side.