[XXV] — Cracking Ice

My inert body was tumbling down the stairs. I wasn't able to grab anything that could make me stop this painful roll, every stair I reached, falling down, was smiting me more and more. But I guess after such a long period of things constantly bringing harm to me, it wasn't as hurtful as it would be in the past.

In such a short time, I learned to ignore the pain gradually. But, it still was the inseparable part of my life.

Except from the sounds of me rolling, I could hear the rushing steps of the soldiers coming down, and the groans from the body of the mysterious girl, that was falling a few steps above me.

In this short time I have left, can I think of any last resort there is?

Have all ways of escape been erased down to nothing?

There must be another way… surely…

…I just can't have anyone die from protecting me!

…

My body finally hit the ground with a bone-cracking impact.

My head was smashed against the cold floor, and the hand I was trying to hold it with, gave up a snapping sound. The pain went through me like an electric shock.

And then she fell onto me.

I was pushed aside towards the room, with the force of her back that was about to crush me. I could hear cracking noises from her too. But mostly yells of pain.

And the rushing steps of the soldiers coming one by one because the stairway was so narrow, and dark.

Yet, I had to ignore all the aches my body was found through, and got up from the ground, shaking and wobbling.

I threw myself immediately to the girl nearby, checking her state and injuries.

Her pale, grimacing face was covered in dirt and crimson blood. In her slim arm, was a black, wet spot, slowly absorbing into the cloth.

As I guessed right, she was shot.

Everything in order to protect me.

A strike of distress compressed my heart. Why is she sacrificing herself?

Just…

…Why?

"Below the desk… There is… A trapdoor."

She didn't open her eyes, the quiet words barely came up from her mouth. Her teeth were covered in blood.

A miserable fate was yet again shown up before me. But I'm not going to accept it as it is.

The rushes were coming close with an immense speed. A dozen of seconds max, and the first one will rush in, killing us both.

I grabbed her body with the strength that was left in me, bearing with all of the pain that was pinning into my muscles and bones.

„Under the desk… under the… desk…."

I murmured nervously, moving aside all the papers and books lying on the floor carelessly, trying to detect any crevice that could indicate that the trapdoor is there.

And the screams of the running soldiers were growing louder and louder.

The girl lying next to me, she probably fainted, as her face has grown pale and stone, resting in the expression of pain. And the black stain on her arm was widening gradually.

Finally, I uncovered the squarish shape on the floor, tightly fixed to the ground. Looking somehow familiar, I didn't have to wonder long how to open it.

In all the pain that surrounded my body now, biting my finger to make some of my blood come out, wasn't even perceptible.

Crying my tears out, I wanted to escape this hell of a nightmare I've been put in. Just why.

Why is it happening to me?

A few small droplets, shining in the colours of crimson rubies and diamond crystals, fell onto the surface of the trapdoor.

And like the last time, it opened.

An entrance to the world of peace opens only with one's despair and pain. Blood and tears.

In the total last moments I had left, I tumbled her inert body inside, not even looking what's below. Stairs, I guess.

But with the speed she fell down with, those weren't probably it. I hope this person will forgive me for treating her unconscious self like that. If she, of course, lives another day. With a wound like that, I doubt, but that would be terrible.

Another person dying for my sake.

I…

I wouldn't forgive myself that.

Not after what happened last… time…

With the bullets flying above my head, I jumped into the hatch, grabbing the trapdoor with my unhurting hand, for it to close.

And with relief, I could tell that because of the lock closing sound, no motherfuckers could get inside. No matter how loudly they banged and shot it, I could only hear the echoes of it, as I was getting lower and lower with the ladder that was there. A cold and metallic texture, unpleasant to touch. Getting down, trying to use only one hand, and saving my other one, was quite the challenge.

Could I now rest with ease?

Will anything get me here…?

My mind hasn't eased at all.

With a worried mind, I started to climb the metallic ladder down…

…

A dozen of steps lower, I felt a blockade on my way.

An alive one, to be precise.

"Who told you that you can toss bodies around like that?! Have you ever considered that others can feel something too?"

An annoyed girly voice rang loudly in my ears. Her words hurt me a little.

Looking below my legs, I faintly noticed a pale face of a pretty girl with long, sleek black hair. The same that rescued me. Her gaze could tell me everything.

Before I could explain anything to her, she grabbed my leg fiercely, and pulled it down with such a force, that made me release the ladder I was holding.

With the pain of my fingers not being able to catch anything to grab, to secure myself, I fell a few meters down, reaching a solid floor.

Aghhh… Just… How many more times I'm going to fall… Like that…

Mixing the groans of pain coming from my devastated body, I heard the light steps of the girl dropping next to me. Good thing that the fall wasn't from such a height.

"Now we're even."

"Even…? I did what I had… to do… I didn't have enough time to look what's below… You even caught the ladder, and didn't freaking face the cold concrete, so what's this equality you're talk-"

"Shut up."

She screamed at me truculently, deafening my last words.

But I had to let the words out.

"Minute ago you were looking like on the verge of life and death… and now you're moving swiftly like a newborn…"

"If you hadn't shown your whims and didn't try to get away from me, it wouldn't have ended like that! Me with a bullet wound, and you, looking like a minced meat!"

While she was talking, jumping on the ground from the ladder, I tried to get up, looking at my surroundings.

We were in the middle of a long, kind of scary corridor, without the end on the both sides. Each way led to infinite darkness, that could suck one's soul. There were only a few weak lights along. The only other thing, was just a thin canal of wiggling and soughing water running all the way. Surprisingly, clear. Are these… the canals?

"I don't know why have I come to you in the first place??" — She walked around with a frustrated face.

"That's my question."

I gave her a proper look once more. Her black eyes were shining with fury. She still looked pale and weakened, holding her wound tightly, but, surprisingly, still having a lot of energy inside.

"Because… It's because…"

People like her wouldn't tell me, even if they wanted. An obligation is far more important to keep, than the pure wish to just tell someone the truth.

Let's leave it for now. I will make sure to get that information from her later anyway.

"How's your arm?"

I asked concerned. I wouldn't want any organization to sue me for letting their subordinates get injured. But… She probably came here knowing that I'm not a safe person to be around.

She gave me a vile look, just in the end to declare that without getting the bullet out of her arm, there won't be a happy ending to this.

Looking around me once more, I asked her what's the next thing we should do.

"Ughh… I honestly hoped that escaping with this corridor was going to be our completely last resort… But look at that. Here we are. And I had only like half of a day to memorize the plans of this site of the district…"

"Let's just go in one direction, it must end somewhere, right?" — I awkwardly suggested the girl, which was spinning around, having a hard time deciding in what direction we should go. Her words left me in a deep thoughtfulness.

"I… think it's that way." — She declared, out of the blue, pointing at the blank wall before us.

"Hyaaaah!!!"

Before I could react in any way, she made a spin kick, and fiercely destroyed the concrete wall with her leg flying in the air. Quick as a flash, I had it hard to precisely notice the movements of the girl. But if not the recent improvement in my senses, I doubt I would see anything at all.

"This way will be much quicker." — She swiftly went inside the passage that was hidden behind a thin wall, calling me with her uninjured hand.

I guess I don't have another option, do I?

Is it even worth it, running away once again, into the unknown, while I have no place to call home, no people to call family, with whom I feel safe with, while the whole world points their guns at me?

Maybe it's the time I should give up on my separateness and working alone, having unreachable goals, and try seeking help in one's around me…

…

That's not an option for me. I would never give up on my goals.

I've sacrificed too much until now, just to easily forget about it and move on to another target.

I'm not going to give up yet, and become dependable on other people. That's what makes one weak. Having people close to you, makes you stronger, but at the same time fear of losing them, of betrayal, puts its thorns around one's heart tightly, imprisoning them.

I won't become like that.

For now, let's see what they have to offer to me. What are the benefits. Let's not forget about my goal. The help of others will sure be necessary, but to some extent.

I hopped in the hole, following the disappearing silhouette of the sly girl.

"Oh, and I've almost thought you were going to stay there. What a surprise." — The girl sarcastically laughed.

"Well, I don't know the safe way out of here. By following you, I would definitely stumble upon some exits, am I wrong?"

"Huuuuh. You're so mean. We really want to help you. You, being on your own, not knowing how to control your gift. We're giving you a chance only a few in the entire metropolis could get. And you're not appreciating this kindness at all. So selfish. Having all of those pricks pursuing you 24/7. Why would you want to live like that?" — A questioning voice came to my ears.

"Maybe there is something before me, that I want to reach, that's why I would go through such obstacles. For a place with a better meaning than it is now."

"Everyone in their lives could have such a goal. But going alone on such a journey means sure failure... That's why alike people should gather and help each other. Thus, CRT was created." — Her voice became more passionate, as she started to talk about CRT, an organization I've never heard of until recently.

Yet, such propaganda was making me suspicious even more and discouraging me to join it.

"But… Your methods… I do not like them very much." — The flashbacks of the massacres and the other pursue came back to my mind.

The girl turned back to take a glance at my face. I felt only distrust and grudge.

Killing like that…

"Well… Most of us are trying to stay moral, not breaking the law too much, not to bring unnecessary attention. But… There are a few that aren't concerned about… anything…

…They go berserk and no one can stop them." — Her voice slowed down, and cracked at the end… —

"Well, Orbis is the one I wouldn't recommend for anyone to come across with. But not only him. Silen is a weirdo too. Geez, he looks at the people with this shady gaze sometimes… As if he was hiding some vile intents…" And on top of that… There is also Noctis… Honestly… Everyone here is kind of messed up… But that's how life made us be."

She ended that one with a long silence.

I recognized the first two names. Orbis, the blue-eyed one. The man standing behind the great massacre of the officers at the hidden square. His names echoes in my mind every now and often. The image of his ice-cold eyes will be something I won't forget.

And then there's Silen.

"Silen… The one with silver hair and annoying speech pattern?"

"Yeaaah, that's him. I think someone told me you've already met him, and beaten pretty well…" — She let a small smirk appear on her pale face. — "After all, Orbis, Silen and Ignis have been sent to persuade you."

"Persuade… You need to update your dictionaries. Persuading doesn't mean beating the person up, running after them through the whole district, hurting their friend and themselves…."

"You are a person hard to get through. And you know it well."

"Well, wouldn't anyone be, if someone used such barbarian methods against them? What explanation is it?"

An unspoken silence has fallen between our walking silhouettes.

"…

…I just hope I won't have to work with those jerks. The blue-eyed especially. He seems to mysteriously be after me for some reason…"

Seeing this guy once again, that would be the last thing I'm asking for.

The girl just quietly laughed at my response, not adding anything more after.

"You haven't told me your name yet." I asked the girl, to break this lengthening silence of her.

She looked behind, and here pitch black piercing eyes met with mine.

"It's Aura. Well… that's my nickname. In CRT we all have them. Using real names is not allowed, the old man told us himself. Clinging onto your real name reminds you of your awful past, when everyone used to call you by that. By having another names, we tend to forget about some things more easily."

Well, that was some poetical explanation to it. Surely, it had some meaning behind it. But what happened exactly in the pasts of all those people, for them to change their names obligatory… Have every one of them been struggling in some way? Maybe more or less painful than me…

Sticking my nose not into my business has been a problem in my life since ever.

However sometimes, you just have this feeling that even the most intriguing things should be left untouched, covered with thick dust, sunbathing in the corners of our minds.

Yet, if I forgot about my past, my suffering, I would also forget my purpose, the goal I've been pursuing since long.

"I'm Asha, and I don't think I will change my name like that because of some old prick's whims. I bet all of your names have some meanings… Well mine too. It means hope, and I won't lose it so easily." — I exclaimed confidently, like if telling someone my slogan.

"Woah, that was some inspirational speech right there, Hahaha… I'm impressed you still haven't given up on your goals… Many of us has lost theirs, but when we got into CRT… I found my lost objective…

Feeling like if being reborn… for the sake of humanity…" — Her dreamy voice ringed in my mind.

This CRT… What kind of people were actually working there…

It got me wondering. Will I be any useful there? With all those empowered people, having won with their crises in the past, bravely marching towards the goal of improving the society, will there be any significant place for me?

…

There were still some things making my dreams about the future unclear.

"I'm wondering, how… How did you find me in such a secluded place like my home? Did someone tell you I'm there?" — I asked, trying to sound as inertly as I could.

"Hmmmm… I think I've told you already… Let's just say that due to my ability, I can feel when members of the CRT are in danger. That's what alerted me, and the old man advised me I should follow my visions, and check out on you."

I couldn't tell whether she lied to me or not. Her words seemed to be honest.

Or I could just be mistaken.

"But I'm not an official member yet, so how is that…"

"We all are connected. I feel everyone's energy. It's not about being an official member, it's about having "this power" inside, what triggers my senses. All of our powers come from one similar source, output, that links each person. A familiar frequency. The thing that makes us special, this powerful energy, that's what I feel."

The "energy" huh…

I moved my hand closer to my chest, trying to feel my heartbeat. There, inside of me, a weird energy that was born out of nowhere. Making me special all of a sudden… Linking me with dangerous people.

If there is something I want to get now, it's an answer to why this power has suddenly appeared, changing my life entirely.

If I can get the answer from where I'm going to right now, then maybe helping all of those weak people out there won't be difficult at all?

We all have to await the results. The only thing that can show me the real ways of the world, is time.

But before I submissively give myself up to some unknown people and their organization, there is one last place for me to visit. To ensure that the ones left in my life are safe. And that I wasn't lied to.

Icto. If anything happened to him, I know who is to blame.

And the location of the headquarters, I don't know the precise entry. But it should have one in the underground for sure. The most eastern backstreet, right by the northern wall. There must be it. Icto tried to lead us there, but it didn't work at the end.

We were so close.

As we spoke earlier, The surrounding corridor started getting wider, more lightened, and had more detours, which we rarely took. I think by now, she must know where we are positioned.

"Do you know by any chance how far away are we from our destination?" — I asked bluntly, trying not to show my true intentions.

"Hmmm, not so far really. Right now, we are at the Northern Wall, about to cross it over. I don't know if you noticed, but our headquarters is in the Secundus district."

Secundus… I've never been there. But, according to rumors, is it really better out there, in the district closer to The Core?

And I'm crossing the uncrossable, thick concrete wall, a border of two different worlds just like that?

Before I get to know the answer, another one had to be uncovered.

We got to a place where the ceiling heightened up greatly, like in a big and grand hall.

On the side of my view, a passage up could be seen, lightened very faintly. The ladder climbed up high, but where could it possibly lead to?

lf we are in such a place, this must lead to some important building for sure.

On the wall next to it, I barely noticed something being written:

"Bona divide inter homines, et ipsi se divident."

Those words, unfamiliar language to me, but somehow I recognized them immediately.

I have to try to find someone at least. Check if everything is okay.

The RR headquarters have to be near. A small detour could bring be fruitful results.

Maybe not everything is lost.

Trying to distance silently myself from the girl before me, I quickly moved to the ladder, and started climbing it up.

Before I could hear any of her surprised screams, I opened the weirdly light trapdoor at the end, and got myself ready for anything that is about to come.