Section 48: Unidentified Pain

"We're here" Kallen opened the lid as slow as he could, as he climbed the ladder upwards. Kallen peeked from the gaps in the lid as I waited below him. His serious amber eyes gazed to the distance, later he descended with a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong?" I asked Kallen.

"I saw a bunch of young teenagers and kids sleeping" Kallen pouted. "They're around my age".

"I see, they are?" I inquired more.

"Yeah, I don't see any sign of adults, to be honest".

"No sign of adults?" This raised a question mark inside my head.

Kallen warned me that the route we're taking is full of risk since we're basically under their bed chambers. Based on what Kallen described to me, it seems like they sleep in a big hall together. Boys and girls also sleep in the same room, the only divider between them is the old yellow line in the middle of the room.

They hung an old fabric on top of the line to avoid the boys to peek at the girls. On the contrary to the Brave settlement, they have less luxurious equipment. What Kallen described to me, clearly contradict what Vladimir spoke about them

I remember Vladimir talked about them being cannibalistic and that they eat human meat. They hardly look like a bunch of uncivilized citizens who eat other humans.

"So when are you going to sneak in? Are they all sleeping?" I asked Kallen.

"It's almost six, we should go in now," Kallen sighed.

Kallen opened the lid slowly as he ascended to the empty streets. Next to the exit is the warehouse where they slept. Kallen managed to peek inside the room because one of them opened the door wide.

"Come on, follow me" Kallen whispered toward me.

He walked away while I followed him behind, closely. There are several guards around us, and all of them are around Kallen's age. The sight somewhat baffled Kallen, unexpected to see a lot of people around his age.

"Sir Vladimir, only said that they're around your age big brother" Kallen bit his fingernails. "He didn't say anything about children".

That's true, it is as if Vladimir hides something from us. Then again our purpose right now is only to infiltrate the base and make our reports.

We tread lightly near the warehouse walls as we crouched sneakily toward the other side.

"Are you sure, we won't get found out? How about Aria's team?" I asked Kallen.

"I don't know big brother Joel, I hope they're okay" Kallen sighed. "But knowing big sis Aria, she should be fine because she's so cautious".

"Well, you're right about that" I crossed my arm.

I've seen plenty of people trust Aria more than ever, thanks to her charming charisma. Even though she doesn't realize it, she has the power to influence others to do her bidding. It may not be a positive charisma, since she angered Vladimir these past few days. However, her bravery alone is enough for Tristan and his younger sister to like her.

"I don't have the same charisma as she does" my mind started to wander elsewhere.

I should focus on the current mission, it's not like my self-loathing will make me any better.

"Big brother Joel, look," Kallen pointed out toward the infinite supplies at the corner right. There are boxes of snacks, food, and canned food neatly stacked in the corner.

"Oh, let's steal it" I suggested.

"Are you crazy? Sir Vladimir clearly ordered us to scout the premises, nothing else" Kallen grumbled. "We should make a little bit of a detour then return to the underground sewer".

I nodded to Kallen's orders, she reminds me of Aria for some reason. His reasoning and something about his air of dominance remind me of her.

"But isn't it good if we steal a little bit of it for ourselves?" I suggested again, it's not like they'll notice that some of their supplies are missing.

"I don't want to take that risk" Kallen lowered his gaze, his eyes engulfed with sorrow. "You of all people should know better, look at Nash".

I gulped when Kallen reminded me of Nash and his terrible death. Not to mention, Aria killed his wife out of sheer madness. I still find no reason why Aria resorts to violence, but I'll come to accept it later. There's something wrong with her, something unsettling that I cannot grasp. However, I chose to follow her in the end.

Whatever sheer madness she'll throw, I'm going to follow her until the end.

"Are you thinking about big sis?" Kallen asked out of nowhere while we tread lightly.

"No, and why are you even asking?" I scoffed.

"Cause you looked confused? Seriously big bro, just take it easy" Kallen advised me. "It's not like big sis Aria will stray away from you, she's a friend of yours! Of course, she'll stick with you".

All of the sudden, the thought of Aria and Ender together flashed in my mind. As if to remind me, that Aria is unreachable. I remember the way Aria smiled when I mentioned Ender, she only smiles for him and not for me. My chest pulsating in pain, it throbs painfully as I remember them together.

"Why is my chest hurt though?" I muttered under my breath.

Still, I have to process this thought another time not while on a mission.

Now, all we have to do is cross over to the other side unseen, but two people are patrolling nearby. I'm not sure if we can make it. There's a shack on the other side, might as well check inside for the content.

"So we're going to check inside?" I asked Kallen.

"Yeah, why not?".

"We're going to steal something?" I asked the teenage boy again.

"Like I said, no!" Kallen pouted. "Geez, stop with that idea already".

We just need to find the right timing to cross unnoticed. Thankfully our robe can blend in the darkness or this case dawn. Kallen crossed over with the speed of light, he avoided the gaze of the patrolling guards who had been busy talking with each other. It seems like they're preoccupied with their conversation to even notice that someone sneaked in.

"Psst, come on!" Kallen signaled me from the other side.

I nodded to his signal as I crossed over to his side. However, I stumble upon the small pebbles on the road. I fell flat on my face, hitting the solid road with my face first.

"Who's there!?" the guards noticed the loud sound from my fall.

"Aww crap!" I cursed. "We should go!".

"Yeah, let's hide!" Kallen pulled me up from the road.

However, when Kallen was about to go forward he was blocked by two teenagers in his way. Both teenagers are boys, and the guards also came in our direction.

"Who are you?" one of the teenagers who blocked Kallen's way interrogated us.

"Oh well, this isn't going to end well" I sighed.