Chapter 15: Carnival Date

The trip was a pleasant one, aside from Lana sleeping on Alex's shoulder while he sets his sights out the window. Lana would have called it "a brooding episode," but he was contemplating about the nightmare he had. That he saw the man he had become, that Lana died by his hand. And for the first time in a long time, he actually felt fear. Not that he would admit it.

Alex shifted his head and glanced at Lana, who's sleeping peacefully. He would admit she looked cute like this, however that wasn't his original thought.

He never once cared what people say about and often considered trivial to listen, but when it comes to the person he values above all, what would think of him once she learn his past. Could a ruthless man such as himself bear such thought?

He snapped out of his thoughts when Edna speaks out at front.

"Alright everyone, eyes up! We're almost there."

After sighing a little, he decided now would be the time to wake the sleeping beauty.

"Hey. Rise and shine." He whispered while gently shaking her.

Lana groaned a little before yawning. "Is it time already?" She asked as if she just had a good dream.

"Not yet, we're almost there."

"Well we still have time." She hums, going back to sleep.

"And you called me a tired butt." He joked, recalling the time he exhausted from the children's questions.

However Lana caught on. "So petty."

Alex's eyes shifted forth and relaxes.

He hoped that the event that she would find out would come to past. Boy he had idea that hope would be crushed soon.

________________________________________

Five minutes later, the bus parked at the sidewalk, where a few guides dress in suits were waiting for them. Once the bus door opens, the children exited first with excitement plastered on their faces, followed by Ms. Edna, Naomi, then lastly Alex and Lana stepped out of bus.

"This is gonna be so exciting." Lana cheered like a schoolgirl.

"Yes I imagine so." Alex says.

As the group moved towards the balcony to get a view of the carnival.

There are numerous rides and a lot of people within the fences of the amusement park, as well as vendors. The rides include a ferris wheel, rollercoaster, carousel, bumper cars, and a haunted house. There also food vendors as well as a food court. The park seemed colorful.

Everyone, especially children, are in awe of its revelity. Even Lana seems pleased.

"Isn't it fun?" She asked in a relaxed state.

"It's colorful." Alex says blankly.

"I guess compliments are limited to you huh? But I'll take it."

Alex responded with a grunt.

"I'm gonna go see how the kids are doing."

He gave a nod before she leaves. Then I saw a familiar redhead kid approaching me.

"Hey." Mariposa greeted.

"Hey kid. How you doing?" Alex greeted back.

"Well I heard the Solus carnival is really fun but it's easy to get lost, but I think I'm gonna have a good time. The only problem is..."

"You don't do well with large groups?" He finished her sentence. She meekly nodded in response.

Alex wish he had the right words to overcome her social anxiety, but for now, assurance with little hope will have to do.

"You're a smart girl, you'll be fine. Just don't get involved with people you don't know."

"I know, Lana really rubbed off on you. By the way, I heard you guys are going on a date."

"It's not date, she just wants to show me a great time."

"That's what a date is. Well anyway I should go."

"Okay, take care of yourself."

Mariposa nodded and left to join the group, but not before looking back at him.

"Oh, that fight with Charles Mane last night. It was pretty cool." She complimented him.

Alex gave a small smile before she joined. Then he was approached by Naomi.

"I'll be accompanying the kids. I assume you'll take care of Lana?" She asked seriously.

"I will." He answered.

"Alright, I'm trusting you."

"Before you go, may I ask that you'll look after Mariposa?"

"Of course, she'll be safe with me. Take care." She waved before leaving to the group.

Then she passed by Lana, who's making her way to Alex, and gives a hug.

"You two enjoy yourselves now." She bids.

"We will. Thank you so much." Lana politely answers.

The two separates before Naomi joins the group and Lana to Alex. The children bids them goodbye and Lana does the same before they leave. Once they're out of sight, Lana clasps Alex hands.

"Shall we get going?" She suggested.

"Of course my lady." Alex playfully answers.

Lana giggles in response and two went down the stairs into the city.

________________________________________

(Alex's POV)

After getting our numerous tickets, Lana and I wandered the carnival, looking for something fun to do. Everywhere I looked, I'm starting to share Mariposa's concern with crowds.

"Now shall we do today?" Lana sang.

"Anything you want?" I answered blankly.

Then she steps in front of me with a pout, which her sudden action caught me off guard.

"Oh come on, where's your adventurous side? It's no fun if I'm the one choosing for us, you gotta also choose too!" She scolded.

After taken aback what she said, I really can't deny her.

"Ok, how about that one." I said, pointing at the rollercoaster.

She turned her head towards the direction I'm pointing and hummed with agreement.

"I'm game." She answers with delight.

With that decided, we head for the rollercoaster, gave our tickets to the staff, took seats next to other and secured our seat belts.

"I can't wait." Lana squeals.

"Just don't aim at me when you get sick."

Then she faces him with an angry pout. "Hey I don't get nauseous that easy."

"I'm kidding, but at the same time I'm serious."

Then she turned away with a huff. "So mean." She grumbled.

Alex would admit, seeing her response is actually cute. The final check for seat belts buckled in and engine starts. When it moved the ride is slow, then moments pass we begin to climb very high. I've grown used to these velocities given I had fallen from high places and was able to traverse midair during my travels or in combat. Lana however, was shaking, I wasn't sure whether it's from excitement or fear. But I knew what to do.

I clasp my hands on hers and her emerald eyes stared back at my red ones. I gave her an assurance and she smiles and calms down. Once we reached the top, it was a minute that felt like an eternity. This anticipation may terrify normal people, which is why I squeezed her hand a bit, signaling her that everything's gonna be ok.

Then the coaster moved forward and fall down at high speed. Screams erupt from the passengers behind us. While remained impassive throughout the speed, Lana's screams are the one I hear the most, but it turns out it wasn't fear that came from her, it was joy. It made me relieved.

When the ride was over, everyone unbuckle their belts, including us. We exited the premise, though she was a little exhausted from the screaming and heavily panted.

"You okay?" I asked her.

Then she turned with a huge smile on her face.

"Are you kidding? That was awesome!!!"

Taking a moment to recover, she stood up straight.

"By the way, it was very sweet of you. Reassuring me even though I wasn't really scared."

That last statement threw me off.

"What?"

A brief moment of silence, her face lit up in realization then sported a Cheshire grin.

"Wait....you actually think I was scared did you? That you actually grown soft on me did you?" She teased.

I became flabbergasted the moment I realized my efforts to calm her were wasted. I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"...I...err!" I stammered while turning away.

"What's the matter? Did I step in your pride?"

"Shut up." I groaned.

Lana only laughed at my response as I looked at the heavens looking for absolution for my airheadedness.

"Anyway, now that I chose my part. Where do you wanna go?"

Lana only beamed as her answer.

The next we did is a bunch rides, such as carousel, the lift off, the haunted house, then get refreshments in the food court. After we play a bunch of games in the arcade and won a bunch of prizes. I admit that enjoyed it, there were even times where smiled when I watched her joy. We spent hours that the sun is setting, it's almost time for the rollcall time to get back in the bus but we decided to take one last ride.

The ferris wheel.

Lana and I got into our seats and waited for lift off. As soon as we starting ascending, we were silent throughout the minutes before get to our certain height. That's when Lana gasped in awe.

"Look at the sunset, it's beautiful." She says.

"Yes, you and the sunset." I replied.

I saw Lana blushed a little when I basically called her beautiful. However my mind glossed over my past sins after enjoying this day.

"Far more than I deserve." I trailed off.

It seems Lana caught the sadness in my tone and trailed off at the distance.

"Listen I've been thinking about your story of your last girlfriend and I know there's still more to tell. I'm not gonna pry but may I offer some thoughts?"

"You may."

"I think when you failed to protect Melanie, you fell hard and stopped caring, then you kept fighting just get back what you lost. But now that's not always the case. When you asked me to help you, you realize you're still alive, and as long as there still life, there's always a chance. Just don't give up on it."

"But what about the things I've done? If I abandon it completely, it'll just haunt me."

Then I felt her warm hand over mine.

"Maybe you don't have to. You just need to accept that part of you, befriend that side, then use those skills and experience to press on. Only you can dictate your own actions, not your past."

I turn to face her, to see her eyes looking back at mine with sincerity.

"Acceptance is not the goal, only a practice."

I had no words, only she said the right ones. Looking back, that's all I do. I walked the path of vengeance and hate, and I created nothing out of it.

Could monster like me have a future?

However this moment was interrupted by screams. Lana and I turned to the view below. People were screaming, running from something, and it was anything but good.

"What's going on?" She asked.

Using my supernatural senses, I looked deep enough and saw shadows racing around unusually and mists of darkness causing chaos all over the place.

"Darkness! It's nothing good."

"We have to get the kids."

Then I looked at her.

"Alright. Let's go."

She nodded with complete trust as I picked her up and started jumping down.