Chapter 9: Secrets Revealed

After a long day, I let my bag fall to my side, barely slinging it over my shoulder. Holding the keys in my hand, I stuck the key into the knob and with a soft click, the door opened. And oh boy… was my day about to become even longer.

"Huh… Who-"

My eyes fell on the three ladies who looked straight at me, like deer caught in red headlights. We both paused there, blinking maybe once or twice before our mouths could muster up a scream…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Our parties both had their hands in the air, eyes wide and mouth open in shock. My feet swiftly carried me outside, slamming the door shut as I gasped for air. Who… Who were they? Weren't they Geon's lackeys? Why did Shan invite them to our room?!

Relax… Take a deep breath…

Taking in a big gulp of air before exhaling to calm my nerves, I reached for the door and with a twist of a knob it opened, revealing the people from earlier who now sat on the bed. They looked at me with a glower, their brows knit into a frown, especially the pale one. Shan, well she sat beside them, chuckling nervously as sweat dripped down from her forehead.

"S-So… You were visiting?"

My lips curled into a smile when I looked at their group. It was an attempt from me to be courteous despite the long and arduous day I'd rather forget. If only I can do that…

"What are you doing here? Isn't this a lady's room?"

The woman who had hazel hair said, standing up as she placed her hands on her hips. She stood straight, chest puffed up as if she were confident with her take. Too bad Xion never had any common sense to begin with when he placed me here.

"Actually, no, this is the room of me and Shan. If you got any issues, you can always take it up with the Principal, as for myself…"

I trailed off, walking close to my bed before lying down on the soft cotton foam. Placing my hands underneath my head, my lips parted open for a continuation.

"I'd rather rest… so if you plan on being noisy, then I want to request that you leave the room… thanks…"

My eyes swiftly shot them a glance, and so they exchanged a few stares before the two sighed.

"Fine… fine, we won't make a fuss then… Just take your rest…"

The auburn lady mused, waving her hand dismissively, and so I turned away from them, hugging an extra body pillow that was provided to me by Shan.

But I never slept.

My ears perked up, attempting to scrounge any inkling of conversation from them and they did not disappoint at all… After a few moments of silence, I heard their hushed whispers.

"I wonder where Lila and Geon are… they're taking an awfully long time for a call…"

"Wyzen… boss of Geon, might be instructed to do operation."

My eyes almost shot open and I almost sprang out of bed for more details… but I could only grip the sheets… I had to know more, and being caught snooping would not be my best option… Remember that Shan is also controlled by the bastard…

If I were to face them with only my sparky hot hands that I do not even know how to control, what would become of me? Certainly not victorious, that is for sure!

What followed the two was a soft voice… a pal I wished to save

"Geon… he sided with the evil guy…?"

"E-Evil?! No!"

The lively hazel haired girl chimed using her unforgettable high pitched screeching. It was still recognizable despite the fact that she lowered her voice since the tone already haunted my memory.

With the soft shift of fabric and a light tap on the floor, I inferred that the lady stood up… well, I cannot do anything except listen of course…

Biting my lip, I awaited their exchange.

"Listen here Shan! Wyzen is a kindhearted person who only wants the best for us Epico… He is our beacon and light and Geon, well he is the one to guide us to that path!"

What… the heck?

Was Wyzen making a cult? That's interesting, I wonder if they tax membership fees. On the other hand, maybe I should make my own cu- No… still too weak for that. Pushing these thoughts to the back of my head, I gulped down some air as I carried on in listening to their talk.

"Debbie right… Epico like me… hunted for sport, feared where I live…"

S-She, that pale woman… was she from where I was? If she was mistaken for a monster, then perhaps... No, I have to investigate further since I never saw her powers. Making blind assumptions would be the end of me…

They stayed silent for a few moments until a soft sob came from Shan.

"He… Wyzen… I want to believe you guys…"

Shan muttered in a soft voice and just as the pair was to erupt into a fit of cheers, she carried on, revealing that she wasn't done…

"…Wyzen wanted me dead… He wanted to consume me. For at least a week after escaping from him, I ran from city to city, having the places I stayed in blow up… My family being hurt…"

Yet another cloud of silence enveloped the room when she said those words… but after a few moments, the sound of a loud meaty slap echoed within the room.

"NO! DON'T LIE TO US YOU MORON!"

H-HUH?! Just who does she think she is?!

I faked a soft yawn before stretching and while I couldn't see their faces, I was certain that they were afraid of being heard… too bad they've prattled for quite some time now. If I had a phone, this would be some solid evidence, but alas, your's truly had nothing to record with.

Facing their group, my hands found themselves rubbing my eyes, pretending that I had been asleep… I forced my brows to knit into a frown and my lips morphed from a smile into a scowl.

"I understand you like Geon… but if you morons would excuse my rudeness, I would request you to stop interrupting my rest!"

I stood up, causing the pair to back off, gritting their teeth before letting out a sigh…

"F-Fine… Have a nice day…"

The hazel haired woman bit her lip before gripping her friend's wrist. She yanked the latter out of our room, slamming the door close to leave a teary eyed Shan to fend for herself. The lady's eyes were wide as saucers when she stared at the exit of our room.

That's where I had to chime in. I can't just leave her hanging like that…

"You alright?"

I smiled, cocking my head to the side. The fox girl looked at me with teary eyes, sniffling when she spoke.

"Y…You t-think… I-"

Just… shut up.

I sat on her bed, just a few inches beside her before giving her a pat on the head. Her fox ears twitched playfully, weaving and bobbing against my fingers that attempted to brush over them.

"No… definitely not, listen… I heard your small talk on Wyzen, and what your friends were planning. "

The fox girl quickly backed off. She stared at me with bloodshot eyes as her hands raced to cover her gaping mouth.

"A-Are you going to report us! Get us killed!"

Tufts of air gently flew around us, providing a breeze to what should have been an airtight room. Heh… maybe I can use this to air my mattress off…

"No, but you have to trust me Shan. Are you willing to work for that man who made an attempt on your life? That very same guy who wanted to cut you off…"

I bit my lip, afraid that Geon's power might cause her to retaliate… but the contrary happened. Shan paused, shaking her head before letting out a long sigh.

"So… you heard even that…"

A gust of wind slowly enveloped the room we were in, leaving me paralyzed as I feared for what might happen next.

"U-Umm… for how long have you been listening on us?"

A blade of wind sliced through the hem of my collar as if it were paper. The sensation of vomiting entered me once again. My hands soon became lined with cold sweat as I feared for me and my friend who apparently wanted to end me for knowing her secret.

"N-No one knows of that story… except for them, Xion, and you… But, I never permitted you to know about it, right? Otherwise… you will fear me…"

Her blue eyes lost their luster, replaced by deep abyss that attempted to suck me in like a void.

Even though my legs wanted to buckle in, and my bladder wanted out, I just smiled.

"Why would I be afraid of you if the bastard is after me too?"

"E-Eh?!"

The air around me screeched to a halt when Shan paused. She removed her glasses with her lips quivering when she did.

"Did you forget that Xion assigned me to you? That he asked me to protect you…"

It still leaves a bitter taste knowing I failed that… but of course, you wouldn't know that…

Shan took a pause before gripping her head using her hands. She screamed loudly, almost guttural even and in a few moments, her eyes shifted back to me, glassy and empty.

"Geon… is my assigned protector…"

I pursed my lips in a frown, raising my hand before chopping her on the head.

The fox girl collapsed on her bed and after a few moments, her eyes fluttered open with the same gentle kindness and hue they once had.

"Pyre…"

I-Is this it… After all that, can we finally return to normal…

"Yes… Are you alright…?"

She paused for a bit and glanced around her room, and after a few moments, her face lit up in a bright pink blush.

"P-Pyre… Why are you holding me when I just slept?! Did something happen?!"

When I heard her outburst, I softly laid her on the bed before pulling away. The fox girl covered her face, looking away as she let out a shy groan..

"L-Listen… Geon's friends were here earlier and…"

Shan stared at me with a pout.

"Stop lying to me, there was no one here earlier!"

E-Eh… What happened?

"No… there was definitely someone!"

I scanned the floor, noticing an empty bag of chips. Perfect, can this be used as evidence? I raised the empty bag in the air just so she could see it.

"This… you definitely ate this with someone, didn't you?"

However, the lady just looked at me with a raised brow and a frown. She sighed and pointed over to the trash can in the far corner of the room.

"No… I ate that alone. P-Perhaps Pyre is just a weirdo or a pervert. I mean, who would hold someone like that?"

She flashed me a shaky smile, her jaw twitching as she did. Is this the work of Geon? All her angst, her past… Was I the only to keep it?! Ah screw it! I will ride along for now…

"W-Well… I am certainly not a pervert. It would be worrying seeing you collapse in a bed as messy as that, right? Maybe you were having some weird sleep condition yourself."

I clenched my fists, knowing full well that she was still in that damned pretty boy's control. If only I can break her out…

"Well… I guess that can happen… Sorry for judging you. So how was your first day…"

Huh… so she has no idea…. No clue that I tried my best to snap her out of it… Well, no matter… If she won't snap out of it, I just have to train to beat Geon and force him to snap her out of it! I was tasked to protect her after all…

I gave her a soft smile, hiding everything that I did today, all my wrong actions and misgivings…

"Everything is alright… it was a nice day…"

Just you wait Shan… I will get you out of there.