Unveiled

"Hey, have you heard that Unit 32 and Unit 29 are badly injured?"

A glass of water fell out of the blonde girl's hand. Everyone's attention was drawn to her like a bell ringing unexpectedly.

"Fayrl!"

Brissia, who was standing next to her, pulled her away from the shards of glass. She observed the girl's expression for a moment. Lips pressed tight, eyes slightly rounded, and jaw clenched hard.

"Look, Fayrl, I know Hansen's there," said Debora in a low voice. "But you heard them, right, that they're still alive?"

"That doesn't make it any better." Fayrl turned a complicated look at Brissia. "SURVIVE... wouldn't be happy if they—especially Harris—came back alive. "

What?

Just as suspicion filled her heart, Brissia caught hold of the rumors that were circulating around her. 'An agent died from Harris', 'two agents died in his fellow's hands', and the fact that Harris was a civilian unit sent on a secret investigation. She was already suspicious due to the gossip in the cafeteria when she suddenly noticed an agent getting up from his seat.

"Brissia!" Debora whispered, holding Brissia's arm. "They're in the infirmary. Don't you want to pay them a visit?"

Brissia shook her head, making Debora wince. She quickly walked to the west hallway before Debora could ask her another question.

"What's she doing there?"

Debora and Fayrl turned to the two agents sitting on the bench next to her.

"Maybe she's plotting a revolt because she's the bravest of us all?"

The agents' chuckles made Debora come over to them, slamming the table in front of them.

"Watch your words. You wouldn't want that statement to leave you memoryless and homeless, would you?"

Both of them flinched at Debora's low tone. They drifted into silence, even so that Debora had turned and walked Fayrl out of the cafeteria.

"Why didn't you say anything, Fayrl?"

The blonde girl remained silent as she walked in the hallway.

***

"HEY!"

Brissia grabbed the collar of the agent she was after, pushed him against the wall, and placed her arm around the man's neck. When she saw his face, her eyes widened. Just as she withdrew her hand, the man grabbed it tightly.

"Long time no see, Brissia."

She was frozen in her rage by the voice. In a low, almost whispering voice, she said, "You can't hide from me anymore, Tyler."

Tyler glanced at Brissia's arm, which was shaking in his grip. He then let it go, causing Brissia to instantly back away, creating a distance of two meters for the two of them.

"Why do you still have the nerve to show up in this place? Is it because you've managed to fool everyone?" Brissia quipped.

Tyler was silent for a moment.

"Because Gabriel wanted me to check on you and Harris."

Hearing the name, Brissia's cynical expression changed. She looked down at Tyler's outstretched hand.

"Would you mind coming with me to the editorial office? I promise you'll still get to see Harris's face before midnight."

Brissia stared at Tyler for a moment, sensing the difference in the look in his eyes when compared to Tyler's figure she fought that night. And as if that difference instilled trust in her mind, she finally accepted Tyler's offer and went to the editorial office with him.

It was late enough for the editorial office employees to be walking around. Meanwhile, two people pushed open the main door, walking quietly through the area of the ground floor where the moonlight shone.

"Tell me, how much did you miss your old workplace?"

Brissia glanced briefly at Tyler before looking back at her surroundings. Every aspect of the historic structure reminded her of the editorial staff's hectic morning schedule. The night's silence seemed to rekindle the conversation, which had reached every corner of the room.

"Honestly, moderate."

Her response was not solely based on what she saw and heard. What she felt, did, and obtained with her co-workers convinced her that no place could provide her with more warmth than the editorial office. It's just that the dim light has devoured the warmth.

Knowing Brissia's reaction, Tyler grimaced. "That doesn't sound honest at all."

"Cut to the chase."

Brissia stared coldly at him. "That night, were you really going to push Harris and I?"

"Just for your information, Brissia. Though I was the one who helped you take the photo of Miss Savior, I know nothing about the scene."

Tyler led Brissia down a corridor as he continued, "And I'm sure SURVIVE had a dirty game planned for him."

Brissia frowned as Tyler opened a door at the end of the corridor.

"If I hadn't followed them, Harris might have lost everything by now. Including your presence in his memories, Brissia."

Tyler's words made Brissia, who had just crossed the doorway, stop. She stared unblinkingly at Tyler, who was in the middle of moving an antique briefcase from a cupboard onto an old bed.

"This room was mine before I moved to SURVIVE," Tyler paused, "Gabriel told me he won't let this room be used by anyone again, ever."

"Why?"

Tyler turned, confused. "Why didn't Gabriel give them permission or…"

"Why did you move to SURVIVE while not appearing to leave this place?"

He stared expressionlessly at Brissia, who was crossing her arms over her chest.

"I had them put me in as a spy in the journalistic scope. That way, I wouldn't feel far from this place that feels like home."

Brissia glanced in another direction while letting out a small sigh. Regardless of Tyler's narrative, she wasn't sure how she should feel about the figure in front of her. Especially, when Tyler said 'home'. She eventually nodded before turning around and looking at him.

"Let's go back. I don't want Gabriel to find us," Brissia said.

Brissia stopped walking when Tyler held her back.

"You forgot your cellphone."

The sophisticated rectangular object that was said to have been thrown away by Gabriel was in Tyler's grasp, causing Brissia to eye him suspiciously.

"Do you know what it is?" she asked.

"Not only me, but also Benjamin."

It widened Brissia's eyes and choked her throat in an instant. The time when Benjamin unhesitatingly using her cellphone flashed through her mind.

"No... way…"

Tyler smiled a little.

Brissia returned to SURVIVE that night with a ton of information still swirling around in her head, keeping her up all night. Tyler and Benjamin, who were in her group during the first orientation, were tempted to explore the past and became trapped in Archtier. They both lost their memories of people from the future but eventually realized they knew each other and recognized Brissia when they met up at Archtier.

"But why was I the only one who didn't immediately recognize them?" she muttered on her bed.

"Brissia! Brissia!"

Brissia turned to Debora, who flung open her bedroom door, looking agitated and breathing irregularly.

"What's going on?"

"Harris isn't breathing!" Debora said, taking Brissia's hand. "You have to see him!"

Both of them left their dorm, running down the corridor as if on call to face an enemy attack. Once they arrived at the infirmary, Debora hurriedly led Brissia to the only medical bed filled by a patient.

"How many times has this been?"

Brissia stopped moving her feet beside Harris, who laid limply on the bed.

"How many times have I seen you hurt like this, Harris?"

Her gaze turned to someone in dark clothing on the balcony, who looked at her for a moment before jumping down. When she was about to chase after him, Brissia remembered Debora's message before they left their dorm.

Although it felt odd that Debora had not contacted the doctor, Brissia continued to look for a pulse on Harris's wrist. Her brow furrowed immediately.

"Debora, he's still…"

Brissia was startled when someone pulled her forward, causing her who was turning to look for Debora to stagger in an instant. Then a kiss landed smoothly on her lips, freezing her.

"I can't imagine if I left you without saying goodbye, Brissie."

Brissia stared unblinkingly at the man in front of her who caressed her cheek carefully.

"The thought of you and my friends kept me going on our way. I don't mind if you're standing by my side because of someone else. I also don't mind if you're not meant for me at the end of the day. But, for a while…"

He looked at Brissia with compassion.

"...Can I be your guardian angel and remain by your side until we must part ways?"

Brissia's mouth opened slightly. She held Harris's hand which was still resting on her cheek.

"You don't need to be a guardian angel to be by my side, Harris," Brissia said, smiling slightly. "Be human. That's more than enough."

A light chuckle escaped Harris's lips. He pulled Brissia gently, placing his chin on the girl's shoulder. Tears dripped from their eyelids, along with a welling up of relief and a smile.

In another corner of the room, Debora, Fayrl, and a man in dark clothes stared at the sight with emotion.

"Isn't it the time for us to get lost?" Debora whispered.

"It is, but I'm afraid I can get both of you down at once through a single rope," said the man in a low voice.

"Huh, just say you don't want me to interrupt your time with Fayrl. After all, I'm also not easily caught sneaking out of the room," Debora sneered.

Hansen stared flatly at Debora for a moment before motioning for Fayrl to hold on tight to her. They cast a quick glance at Harris and Brissia before disappearing behind a long curtain that fluttered by the balcony window, leaving a trail of dim lights behind them.