Chapter 6.2
Alina, Asami, Michelle, and Emily first visited a cafe, then went window shopping at a mall, and finally finished singing karaoke a little before sunset. As the group cheerfully headed to the nearby Bullet [2], Emily noticed a little girl, appearing to be around five years old, lying on the ground in an alleyway.
"Hey," she said with concern, patting Alina's shoulder while gesturing towards the little girl. "I think she's in trouble."
The others all looked at the little girl before rushing to check on her. As they neared the child, all four of them had their breaths taken away at her doll-like features. She had long pale blonde hair that was past her shoulder-blades. Her soft rosy cheeks puffed as she took deep breaths and her black dress was relatively clean.
"She was not here for long," Michelle stated after studying her.
"She's just sleeping from the looks of it," added Alina after checking the child's pulse.
"What do we do? We can't just leave her," Emily said her heart melting when she saw the little girl.
Alina was about to respond when she noticed something was off. Grimacing, she turned to look at the others.
"There's no time. You guys trust me?" She asked seriously.
"Course we do," Emily said quickly.
"This girl is being pursued. Michelle, take them both to the Bullet. Pretend to be in a hurry, and get away from here as soon as possible. Keep hanging out together till we meet at my place after curfew." Alina pointed to Emily and Asami as she spoke to Michelle.
"D'accord. But what about you?" Asked Michelle.
"Oh, I'll be ... hanging around," replied Alina as she held the child firmly in her arms while launching herself upwards. Soon after, she used her ability to create an electromagnetic field to help her run upwards until she was too far high to be seen.
"Bien! Let us go. Now!" Michelle urged as the rest hurried towards the train station.
Moments later people dressed in loose, casual clothes appeared in the front of the alleyway, asking questions to nearby passersby. Soon, they started to leave for the train station.
Alina waited for a while before leaping down and exiting from another alleyway. Using her holo-watch, she flagged an automated taxi and left the scene.
***
Jason led the red-headed singer to a bar and ordered some snacks and beer for her. The plate arrived with burger sliders, chicken wings, and mozzarella sticks with an artichoke dip at the side. However, the redhead ignored it all and gestured to Jason to hand her the beer, then drowned half of the mug in one go.
"Ah, that hits the spot," she said in an American accent, different from the Scottish accent she used when whispering to Jason.
"What are you doing here, Lizzy?" He asked impassively.
"Oh, I get all tingly when you say my name like that," Elizabeth Hyde teased while facing Jason's voice. "Makes me want to cuff you again and..."
Jason ignored her reply and simply continued to watch her calmly.
"Oh don't be such a bore," Elizabeth said dismissively with a wave of her hand while finishing her beer. She signaled Jason for more beer, which came shortly, while she continued talking. "Won't you have a drink? Or are you still avoiding alcohol?"
"Freya," he said quietly, causing Elizabeth to pause.
"Looks like yer serious, laddie," she replied quietly, her Scottish accent reappearing. "Would you prefer if I say I came for ye?"
"Oh?" Jason said interestedly. He looked at the woman in front of him as he thought of her. Elizabeth Hyde, her real name was Freya Reid, and she was the number one assassin in the world. She also was his mentor who taught him for a few years. And above all, she was his first lover who stole his virginity.
"Only beer and ye can make me speak like this," She continued endearingly. "So maybe I got bored and decided to visit you, laddie. Just fer a night or two."
"As long as your mission doesn't harm this city, I'll let you be. But if you disturb the peace around here, I'll come for you, as Fenrir." He threatened as he prepared to walk away.
Elizabeth suddenly slammed her mug to the table, attracting the attention of those nearby.
"So that's your excuse?" She asked in a trembling voice as tears fell. Jason narrowed his eyes when he noticed her speaking in her American accent once again. "That's why you ditched me?! Because I'm blind and can't see the real you?"
Jason's eyes widened at her words and he noticed all the disapproving stares directed at him from everywhere. Elizabeth covered her face as she started sobbing while female patrons of the bar came to comfort her.
"Alright, if that's how you wanna play it," he muttered. Right after, he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a box.
"If that was true, then I never would've brought this, and I wouldn't have kept it for all these years," Jason said in a shaky voice before going in front of Elizabeth and opening it. A large diamond ring lay in the box, it's gleam blinding the patrons around them while Elizabeth, who was sneakily smirking, reached out tentatively, and touched the ring. She was stupefied.
"I wanted to marry you. And I didn't care about anything else. Your age, your lack of sight, none of it mattered! But you said no, you were too scared. And it became too painful to be near you." Jason tearfully said. His acting was Oscar awarding and he clutched his chest as he looked away from her in shame.
"And it hurt, Lizzy. It hurt. Like there was something stuck in my chest. I couldn't stand it, so I left. But right here, right now, if you say yes, then I'll come back. I'll be with you forever!"
"I … uh - this ..."
Elizabeth stuttered while all the patrons started chanting: "Say yes!! Marry him!! Say yes!!".
Jason watched all this with a twinkle in his eyes while waiting for Elizabeth's reaction, something the latter noticed. Soon, his eyes widened when he saw the smile on her face.
"Yes! Oh, Yes! I'll marry you!" She cried happily before turning to the crowd around her. "Is there anyone here that's been ordained? I'm so happy I want to marry right now!"
"I am!" Said a burly man, tears flowing from his eyes. "I was ordained by the Council here in Sanctuary. I have the official holo-docs right here!"
As the man stepped forward to witness them exchanging vows, a single word flowed through Jason's mind as he feigned happiness: Shit.