Beneath Pleidus' Sky- Chapter 12

She was drowning. The current of the river seemed to pull her further down and she could not swim anymore. She tried to get to the surface but she could only wave helplessly to the dreamy looking sun above the water. Bubbles escaped her nose and mouth, the last bits of her oxygen. She had been fighting for her alive for quite a long time but she was losing it. It was exhausting. She could not take it anymore.

She lost it. She was giving up. She gave up kicking her legs. She gave up stroking her hands. She gave up breathing. She closed her eyes, feeling scared, feeling her heartbeat slowing. She was falling, surrendering to her ghastly fate.

But then she felt a hand around her body, pulling her upwards. She could not see who was rescuing her because her eyes were still tightly closed; hoping that what she was experiencing was not just a dream. As they broke over the water surface, she gasped for air. She was half-conscious as her rescuer pulled her to the river bank, out of the water. Another hand helped her rescuer to pull her out.

The anxious and concern faces of two boys swam in and out of her sight but she did not recognize any of them because her mind was so clouded.

She opened her eyes. The strong smell of the antiseptic pierced into her nostrils. She looked around. The bright and whiteness of the room was quite blinding for her eyes. She had been dreaming agan just now. Who was the two boys? She wondered. The door opened. A bespectacled man wearing a white lab coat entered the room and stepped towards her, smiling. A lady wearing a white nurse uniform followed closely behind.

“Where am I?” Lilian blurted out.

“The hospital. You passed out yesterday. A poisoned bullet grazed your neck. Fortunately it was not serious. You had been sleeping for the last twenty-four hours,” the man explained. “I’m your doctor; Doctor Hermes,”

Lilian nodded. She tried to flip through her memories. Where had she been before she ended up here? Had she been dreaming all the while? Had she been involved in an accident and was haunted by the crazy dreams of being kidnapped and car chase while in her state of unconsciousness? Would that mean that her parents were still alive?

“We are very glad that you have returned, Miss Rhea of Medea,” said the Dr. Hermes, his smiled widened as he jotted something on the clipboard he was holding. “You’ll be receiving visitors soon. So, rest well,”

Dr. Hermes and the nurse bowed slightly to her and exited the room. Lilian was still silent, stunned when the doctor mentioned the name ‘Rhea’. She frantically scanned the surrounding for clues which will determine whether she had been dreaming all this while.

She caught sight of the bottle of medicine on her bedside table. She took it and read the label. It wrote ‘Pleidus Medical Centre’. She placed the bottle back to its original place. She was already in Pleidus. She was not dreaming.

Lilian got down from her bed and went to the window. The curtains were already drawn, so she just peered outside. She was in a city, with many modern looking buildings. There were huge glass tubes connecting each building so that people could walk from one building to another through the glass tubes.  She could see thousands of people walking through the glass tubes.

She looked at the sky above. It was murky, just like when she had first gone through the portal. The air around looked foggy and she could not really the sun because it was constantly hidden by the dark clouds which were rolling across the sky. Was it going to rain?

Then, she heard the sound of the thunder rumbling but there was no lightning except for the occasional glow emanated from inside the black clouds. Bead of raindrops began to fall from the clouds.  The drizzle became heavy rain in just a few seconds. The rain pattered against the window. Lilian put her hand on the glass, fascinated by the rain.

“The rain looks beautiful from here, right?” said a familiar voice from behind. Lilian turned. A woman in her forty was standing at the doorway, looking at her. “But you don’t want to touch it. The rain here is acidic. It can burn your skin if you’re exposed to it without getting immunization beforehand,”

“It’s that horrible?” asked Lilian, hardly believing that the innocent looking rain can be so threatening. She turned back to the window to gaze at the rain before went to sit on her bed back. The woman sat in the chair just beside her bed.

“Do you feel better?” asked the woman, smiling in a motherly way. She was instantly being reminded to Maria.

“Yes, I’m fine but I feel very confused now. So many questions in my head,” said Lilian truthfully.

“I understand. I’m sorry I haven’t got to introduce myself properly. I’m Daphne of Myra, one of the council’s Legion, a part- time medical assistant here and an Eliminator,”

“Eliminator?” said Lilian, puzzled. “I never heard of it,”

“You’ll hear everything very soon. Once you’re fit enough, you’ll be attending classes for the Gifted Ones. I know you are more comfortable with the name Lilian, but to everyone who knows you here, they know you by the name Rhea. ‘Lilian’ is actually your undercover name. But of course, until you gain your memory back, no one would push you to use ‘Rhea’,” explained Daphne.

Lilian nodded. She was already exhausted by the flood of information for the past few days. She doubted any information could be cramped more into her worn out mind for the time being. Maybe a rest for a day or two would do.

“I know this whole process of adapting to your new life could be stressful but don’t worry. A mentor will be assigned to you. And I’m sure you’ll make friends in no time,” said Daphne assuring Lilian.

Friends. That could be useful. She remembered the thousands of people she had seen walking through the glass tubes. Would any of them become her friend?

“Err...Daphne, where’s my backpack?” Lilian asked Daphne as she looked around the room. Her backpack was not in sight.

“Oh, we had it brought here with you,” said Daphne. “It’s in the cupboard of the bedside table. We didn’t touch anything. Anyway, your green dress had been sent for dry- cleaning. It’s a beautiful dress, so it’s a pity if you have to discard it,”

“Thank you for that,” said Lilian, slightly touched with the thoughtful act.

Then, there was a knock on the door. Both Lilian and Daphne turned to look at the door. A man with short sooty hair and deep- set cognac eyes came into the room.

“Daphne, you better get your breakfast. Let me accompany her for a while,” said the main, smiling. He must be in his late twenties, judging by his mature look and business- like attitude.

“OK, then,” said Daphne, raising her eyebrows to Lilian. “He’s getting rid of me,” she added, chuckling. Lilian smiled. Daphne was definitely a pleasant lady who reminded her a lot of her mother. Daphne stood up and patted the man’s shoulder and left the room.

“Hi,” said the man, taking over Daphne’s seat on the chair next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. I’m good,” replied Lilian.

“I’m Linus of Medea, one of the Council’s Legion like Daphne but of a lower rank, of course,” he explained.

“Why you guys keep introducing yourselves like Rhea of something?” said Lilian curiously. She recalled Daphne introducing herself as Daphne of Myra and Dr. Hermes calling her as Rhea of Medea.

“I see. You are used to using surnames,” said Linus. “In Pleidus, the last name is the name of your birthplace. Like me and you, we were both born in Medea. You’ll be given a special lesson on Pleidus’ geography later, and then you’ll know where Medea is,”

“And you are a what? Keeper? Eliminator?” asked Lilian, curious about Linus’ ability.

“I’m a Manipulator,” he replied briskly.

Lilian was bewildered. He was one of the last three Manipulators.

“You are one of the last ones,” said Lilian, amused.

“Look who’s talking,” said Linus, laughing at Lilian’s funny expression. “We are endangered species,”

Lilian was embarrassed by her unintended expression just now.

“Thank you for saving me,” said Lilian without really looking at Linus.

“We should thank you,” said Linus.

“What do you mean?” said Lilian.

“You know what I mean. Although everyone though that I was the one who pull the strings on the Resisitants all that time, but I know I didn’t do most of it. I just stop them and made them drop their weapons. The rest...I think you know the story but I don’t want to tell anyone yet until I have talk to you personally,”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said Lilian brusquely.

“You see, Lily. For someone who is being clueless, you looked extremely calm and composed like you know what you’re going to expect. The more than two days you were with Zephyr, what did he told you?”

“I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do you expect me to be so comfy with my kidnapper?” said Lilian, protesting.

“Fine,” said Linus. “I don’t want to push you but you better have a very good reason for this,”

Lilian fell silent. There was an awkward pause but finally Linus cleared his throat and said that he had to leave for Council’s meeting. Lilian just nodded.

As he stood up, Linus placed his hand on top of Lilian’s head and patted her gently.

“Please take care of yourself. I’ve been worrying about you for the past 15 years,” sighed Linus before he left the room.

Lilian was dumbfounded. Linus acted so familiar with her just now. Did they know each other before this?

As Linus footsteps disappeared, Lilian quickly took her backpack from the cupboard and opened it. Everything was quite intact. Her clothes, Jeremy’s wooden box, her favourite novel...

Linus nearly caught her off-guard. She should not talk. She promised Zephyr. She could still hear Zephyr’s voice echoed clearly in her head.

“Please do exactly as I told you. Can you promise to do that?” whispered Zephyr when he moved closer to Lilian. His lips were almost touching her ear. Lilian was utterly speechless. She became frightened when Zephyr talked to her like that. They were in the car, near the beachside just before she was supposed to make the ‘walk’ to Pleidus.

“Can you promise me?” he hissed urgently this time.

“Yes,” breathed Lilian. “Yes,”

“The Legion is on their way here,” said Zephyr. Lilian gasped. “The Resistants are also waiting for us near the portal,” he added tonelessly. Lilian was puzzled. What was Zephyr intending to do?

“I’ll delay the time as much as I can until the Legion arrived. Once they are here, one of them will crack the mind shields of my men. Once you feel I tightened my grip on your hand, that means the shields have been cracked. Use your power to make them attack me,”

“What? No!” Lilian protested. “I wouldn’t...!”

“Listen to me!” Zephyr urged insistently. “You have to be in safe hands. Do as I told. When they are attacking me, break free and go to the Legion. Follow them but you have to remember; never mention my name to anyone even if they specifically mention my name.

“They may try to read your mind to understand what you have gone through but take every time you have to left blank the memories you have about me. The Readers could only read what you are thinking on that time, so I’m sure you know how to control what you are thinking.

“Once you are safely in their side of Pleidus, check your backpack. I left something for you in there. I would really like to read that novel of yours someday if I have the chance.”

Lilian knew he was referring to ‘The Historian’ by Elizabeth Kostova she had packed in her backpack but she could not understand what the point was.

“But...,” Lilian tried to protest again but Zephyr put his finger on her lips to silence her.

“Please don’t say anything more,” he said. Then, he gave a long lingering kiss on Lilian’s cheek near her ear. 

“Please take care of yourself after this,” he said gravely.

Lilian who was stunned by the kiss just nodded, her eyes brimming with tears for no apparent reason but Zephyr pretended not to see it.

He got out from the car before pulling Lilian out from the car. They met the other Resistants near the invisible portal who looked very determined to throw her directly into the portal. However, a few minutes after that, the Legion arrived and the unsuspecting Resistants went to strike them. Then, he saw the Resistants suddenly stopped their shooting and threw their guns to the sands. They were like being controlled but Zephyr was not affected at all.

She felt Zephyr’s grip tightened on her arm.

Concentrating, Lilian commanded the Resistants to attack Zephyr with their remaining weapons which were their swords. When the attack started, Zephyr actually gave a little nudge on her hand to signal her to go. She obliged and ran towards Daphne.

When she turned once, she saw Zephyr injured by his own men on the shoulder. She actually had to fight the urge to run back to him but she remembered she had promised Zephyr, so she turned and continue running towards Daphne.

Lilian closed her eyes. She could feel her eyelashes soaked with her tears. Will Zephyr be OK?

She did not really had time to grief for Zoe and Vlasis suddenly dropped by the hospital to visit her seconds later. She wiped out her tears and put up an empty smile which would make most people think that she was having difficulty coping with whatever new in Pleidus.


-End of Chapter 12-

Beneath Pleidus' Sky- Chapter 11

“Impossible!” said Alexis incredulously. “They won’t easily let their guards down,”

“But its better we try,” said Zoe.

“What if it’s just a trap?” said Alexis, still being pessimist.

“We just have to be extra careful. We are running out of time, Alexis,” said Nilus. Alexis shifted in his seat miserably. Should he trust what he heard? Maybe he should just shut up when he heard it.

Less than ten minutes ago, Alexis heard a distant mind babbling about having Rhea in custody and they had arrived at the portal. Rhea’s face was vivid in that person’s mind. He was taken by surprise that he blurted out the details, causing Linus to quickly rent a car to track Rhea.

Currently, they were already midway to the destination, the red dot on the Portal Tracker in Daphne’s hand blinking as if beckoning them towards it. They were not far from the portal.

All the way, they had been arguing with Alexis who was sure that it was just a trap set up by the Resistant to lure them away from Rhea’s real location but Vlasis insisted that they gave it a shot. Linus was driving the car with Vlasis sitting beside him. Alexis was grudgingly sandwiched between Daphne and Zoe.

They arrived at the beach without any incident, parking just behind an empty parked car. They got out from the car quietly. It was getting dark but they could see two pairs of a footprints and a shoeprints in the sand heading towards the beachside. They followed the prints which were making a turn along the beach where the prints disappeared, consumed by the waves.

“They are here,” warned Alexis in a low voice that was audible to he rest of his team. “All of them had their mind shielded,” he added but then he added his expression changed. “There is one unique mind shield,” he said wonderingly.

“Rhea,” breathed Linus. “She is really here, too,”

They paced faster now, following the blinking red dot on the Portal Tracker, leaving their deep shoeprints in the sand.

When the portal was just a few metres from them, they heard a girl’s voice.

“Please just let me go,” the girl pleaded. Vlasis gave a serious meaningful look at Zoe who nodded, while the rest of the Legion sprinted towards the voice where they found Rhea who was wearing a green dress and carrying a backpack surrounded by six armed men.

The one who was holding Rhea’s arm was casually dressed, unlike the others who were wearing their mud green long jackets. He was holding a sword in his other arm.

Realising that someone was trying to crack their mind shields, the Resistant looked around as if searching for something until they see the Legion who were ready to strike.

The Resistant started shooting at the legion who were dodging them and returned fire. But they had to be careful because they did not want to accidentally hurt Rhea in the fight.

Once Alexis nodded at Linus indicating that the Resistants’ mind were exposed, Linus concentrated and stopped the Resistant from shooting. They just stood there, eyes unfocused. They slowly dropped their guns on the sand. However, he noticed that the man who was holding Rhea was totally unaffected. He tightened his hold on Rhea’s arm.

Suddenly, the Resistants charged to the man who was holding Rhea. They pulled out their swords and attacked him with every intention to stab and slash him. The man fought back with his sword. Seconds later, he lost his hold and Rhea which Rhea took the chance to break free and ran towards the Legion.

Rhea turned to look at the man once, just as one of the swords slashed him on the shoulder, drenching his shirt with blood. Rhea gasped, her hand covered her mouth but she turned away and went straight to Daphne. Daphne embraced her, comforting the fear- stricken girl.

It was impossible for Alexis to read Rhea’s mind because her mind was securely vaulted, the kind he never encounter before, but her face told the general story of her emotion right then.

“Come, we must move!” ordered Vlasis. They ran back to their car in the darkness of the night, with Zoe following them closely behind while maintaining her effort to crack the Resistants’ mind.

Rhea closed her eyes tightly as soon as they had packed themselves into the car. Linus sped the car as fast as the car could go.

“We need to find the nearest safe portal!” said Linus loudly over the noise of the rumbling engine of the car and the whistling wind.

“There’s one about six kilometres away from here. This one will lead us to the spot just across the Xionthe River. Just follow this road for the time being,” said Daphne quickly, referring to her Portal Tracker.

Linus nodded and concentrated on the road.

“Are you OK, my dear?” asked Daphne to Rhea who had been silent the whole time.

“Yes. I think I am,” Rhea replied, nodding awkwardly.

“You know who we are, Rhea?” Daphne asked again.

“I know you are the Council’s Legion but my name is Lilian, not Rhea,” said Rhea. Of course, she still had not remembered who she were but she had certainly been well- informed, else they would be troubled to explain their reason for being here to her, Alexis thought.

A few minutes later, they noticed that they were being followed.  The bright beam of light from the headlight behind them was reflected by the rear mirror. A car was speeding up to them. A bullet reached the rear windshield, shattering it into pieces, sending the back passengers to lower their heads.

“Damn it! They are fast!” said Vlasis, looking at the side mirror. “We have to lose them,”

Zoe and Alexis who were sitting at each door had taken out their guns while Daphne was protecting Rhea. The Resistants opened fire again; one bullet whizzed past just next to Linus’ ear and hit the front windshield which cracked into hundreds of pieces, ruining his view of the road in front of him. Vlasis quickly kicked the cracked front windshield out to completely get rid of it and clear the view.

Zoe and Alexis returned fires, targeting the windshield and the tyres. It was not easy because of the darkness and the blinding light from their car. After a few shots, Alexis managed to shot both of the front tyres, puncturing them causing the driver of the car to have difficulty to control the car. The car swayed violently.

Zoe shot their windshield down and shot directly to the driver’s head, killing him instantly.

They lost control of the car and it went to hit the divider. The survived Resistants got out from their car and opened fire again in their desperate attempt to stop them but they were already in a safe distant, just three kilometres away from the portal they were heading to.

Soon enough, they stopped by the roadside and trekked into the woods along the road.

“Here it is,” said Daphne finally, running her fingers vertically downwards over an invisible surface. They quickly wore the crystals bracelet on their wrists. Daphne gave one to Rhea.

“I already have one,” she said, showing her crystal bracelet.

“They gave it to you?” asked Vlasis, referring to the Resistant. Rhea nodded. “It will do,” he said.

“Just walk straight. It’s completely normal. Zoe will go first. Just follow her,” said Daphne.

Rhea nodded without much question. Zoe stepped forward. A few more steps and she just disappeared. Daphne gave Rhea a gentle nudge on the back to encourage her to follow Zoe. She obliged.

****

As she stepped through the portal, Lilian gazed above her. The ghostly trees above her looked eerie with the bright crescent moon shining above them. That sight abruptly disappeared as she stepped forward, replaced by sight of the murky morning sky, the dull sun and the hazy surrounding. It was not a pleasant sight.

She looked around. A girl in her twenties which she knew as Zoe was smiling at her. Shortly, the others joined them.

Out of the blue, Lilian felt light- headed. Her neck ached.

She rubbed her neck with her hand but she felt something liquid like sweat on the side of her neck which was covered by her hair. She pulled her hand back and stared on her palm. Crimson liquid stained her hand.

She coughed. More crimson blood.  She tried to inhale but suddenly breathing became something so hard to do.

Lilian panicked when she found that she could barely able to breathe. She was suffocating as she held her neck.


She felt hands supporting her up but she was already losing the sense of the ground. Her sight blurred, darkness engulfed her. She felt so scared. So scared to think that she might never be able to see the light again.


-End of Chapter 11-

Beneath Pleidus' Sky- Chapter 10

It was warm and breezy, just nice for this auspicious day. Moreover, the event will be held outdoor, on the school field. At least it was not too hot to wait in the field, listening to the droning speeches from people they did not even know, Melissa thought.

They were already in their assigned seats, ready for the graduation ceremony. Despite the meaningful day, Melissa was not feeling it at all. Not after the sudden call from Lilian last night and the abrupt end to their conversation. She dared not tell anyone but Ryan.

Ryan who sat just next to Melissa looked at her as if he heard her thought.

“Can’t sleep last night? You have panda eyes, you know,” said Ryan in a very low voice while he was looking at the stage in front of them where the principal was giving their speech.

“Could you?” said Melissa back to Ryan. Ryan shook his head. Melissa sighed. They heard the news this morning that an unidentified man was found dead with hole through his heart at the alley in the heart of their small town. Melissa silently felt that the death had some connection with Lilian’s disappearance.

“I’m thinking of reporting Lilian’s call to the police today after this ends,” said Melissa.

“Are you sure?” asked Ryan.

“Yes. At least they might be able to locate the origin of the call and track her from there,” said Melissa. Ryan nodded.

“I’ll accompany you then,” he said briskly. It was Melissa turn to nod this time. She was glad that they were in this together. She was grimly relieved to her Lilian’s voice last night, to know that she was alive and well save for whatever that had happened to her.

When finally the Valedictorian’s speech ended with a prayer that Lilian would soon be found, they lined up to receive their scrolls. Melissa felt sudden emptiness because one of her best friends was not here.  

Her name was called. She walked up to the stage, accepted the scroll and turned to the guests who were sitting and standing at the back row of the graduating seniors and waved the scroll to her family.

A young couple who was standing at the very back of the lines of guests caught her attention but she did not linger to look longer and got down the stage. 

The applauses from the audience did not cease until the last student received her scroll.

Photograph taking and mortar board throwing followed through. Melissa and Ryan mingled with their friends who talked and laughed about their college and possible future. They had mentioned about Lilian, about how the fate had turned against her when she was a great student though she was not very close to anyone else except for Melissa and Ryan.

Then, Melissa saw them again.

A young couple was standing under the tree about a few metres from them, talking to each other. Both of them were wearing sunglasses. The man had dark brown hair with spiky and wavy hairstyle. He wore white stripe shirt with Khakis and dark brown covered shoes.

The man’s hand was wrapped around the lady’s waist who was wearing lime green satin dress and a white-green strap wedges for her feet to match the dress. She had a nice straw hat shadowing her face. Her wavy auburn hair shone in the sunlight. The way she smiled was oddly familiar.

Melissa turned to walk to the couple but suddenly someone touched her shoulder. She turned mechanically.

“Congratulations, little sister!” beamed Eric, Melissa’s brother who then embraced her. Then her parents took turn to embrace her too. They gave her a huge bouquet of roses and carnations to her.

“Smile, Melissa. It’s your happy day,” said his father, pinching her cheeks. Melissa forced a smile. Their parents knew very well why she acted miserable like that. She had not been in a good mood since the day Lilian disappeared. Melissa turned to the couple again but there was no one there.

Melissa’s parents and brother left her alone for a while to greet her other friends’ parents so she had the moment to herself. As she was staring at an empty space, someone literally bumped into her.

Her scroll and bouquet of flower fell to the ground. A few petals of the roses and carnations littered the ground. She turned.

“I’m really, really sorry,” said the lady in the green dress who was already crouching to pick up her scroll and bouquet of flowers. Before Melissa realised it, she lady had already stood up, handing the scroll and the bouquet to her.

“Thank you,” said Melissa. The lady smiled. Ryan appeared next to her.

“Congratulations on your graduation,” said the lady. “Both of you,” she added, looking from Melissa and lingered a bit when she met Ryan’s eyes before she turned away and went to a car parked at the school parking lot. The man who was with the lady earlier was already in the car.

“Who was that?” Ryan asked, his eyes followed the sight of the lady.

“I’m not sure,” was a better answer Melissa could think of rather than ‘I don’t know’ because she thought she knew her.

Ryan looked back at Melissa where he looked more interested in her bouquet of flowers. He reached into the bouquet took something out from the bulk of roses and carnations. It was a medium size card which people would not usually put into a flower bouquet.

“This is new,” said Melissa, puzzled as she took the card from Ryan’s hand. She opened it. Both Melissa and Ryan read the hasty handwriting in black on the graduation card which had a picture of a teddy bear wearing a mortar board on its cover.

Dear Melissa and Ryan,

Congratulations on your graduation. I will be away but I can assure that that I am fine. Don’t worry about me and you don’t need to worry about telling anyone else. I just want you two to know. Though I’m going to miss my college day, I hope you guys will enjoy it. Thank you for all these years and we will meet again when time permits. I love you both.

Love,

Lily

The card slipped from Melissa’s hand. Her jaw dropped. Ryan looked equally perplexed. Both of them looked at the lady which had just got into the car. Everything else around them seemed to reduce to just echoes. They wanted to run to the lady in the green dress but their legs would not budge.

When the car finally drove off, Melissa and Ryan looked at each other, frustration was clear on their faces. 

Ryan picked up the card from Lilian which Melissa had dropped. He gazed on the writing. Yes, this was Lilian’s writing. He knew it very well. Melissa would know it very well too. They used to do their homework together and exchange class notes.

Melissa bit her lips. Ryan put her hand around Melissa’s shoulder.

“She must have a reason,” he whispered.

****

“You OK?” Zephyr asked Lilian. Lilian just nodded as a thin sincere smile spread on her face.

“I feel relieved,” said Lilian, taking off her hat and letting the gust of wind came through her wide opened window caressed her blushing face.

“You used your power on them, right?” said Zephyr.

“I had to or else they would already chase after us,” she replied with a mild defensive tone.

“I understand,” said Zephyr simply. Lilian was mildly surprised by Zephyr’s respond because she was half- expecting him to tell her off.

“Thanks,” she said shortly. “Where are we heading now?”

“To the portal connecting Exhorea to the Resistant’s territory,” said Zephyr. “It’s near the beachside about an hour from here,”

Lilian nodded.

“You are not afraid?” asked Zephyr with a hint of concern in his voice though he tried very hard to hide it.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be afraid of if I don’t face it first,” she replied half- frankly though fine creases already formed on her forehead, showing that she was also worried but Zephyr looked amused with her answer.

“I know that you are a strong girl,” he said quietly. Lilian fidgeted in her seat.

“I don’t have anything or anyone left here anymore,” sighed Lilian friendly. “If it is true that Pleidus is my hometown, I might as well return there. Besides, I still have doubts about all these ‘other dimension’ things.

So, I figured out that I have to see it myself first and keep myself alive as long as I can,”

“Is that a suicide speech?”

Lilian laughed lightly to herself, shaking her head as she mused her mindless action.

As they were nearing the destination, Zephyr became strangely quiet. He was squinting most of the time as if he was thinking hard. Lilian did not want to bother him.

The lush green trees scenery which they went passed by for the pass one hour suddenly changed into the scenery of the wide- stretched sandy beach. The beautiful sand was losing its gleam as the sun was setting n the horizon. The sea sparkled with the orange reflection of the sun, calmly spewing rolling waves laced with white bubbles to the beachside. The sound of the seagulls tickled her eardrums. She felt strangely at ease.

Zephyr took a right turn to the small unpaved sandy road heading to the beachside. He slowed down the car before coming to a halt. She could see the beach not far from there through the bushes and the skeleton- like trees in front of them. She could smell the salty breeze.

“How do you know where the portal is? Is it going to be like an archway?” asked Lilian curiously.

“No, it’s invisible. The portals are always around us, changing location from time to time. We track it using this device- Portal Tracker,” Zephyr showed Lilian a radar- like handheld device which fit in his hand nicely. There was a screen there with grid lines on it. Lilian could see a red dot blinking on the screen.

“The red dot indicates the location of the portal?” Lilian asked.

“Yes. This one is just a few yards from us,” he said, pointing to an empty space on the beachside. Then, he took out something from his pocket and wore it on Lilian’s wrist like a bracelet. Lilian stared at the bracelet. It was a combination of several types of sphere crystals.

She could identify amethyst, rose quartz, tiger’s eye, ruby, agate and aquamarine among others. He looked at Zephyr, totally confused. Was this a gift from him?

“It’s essential so you can go through the portal,” explained Zephyr as he too wore the same bracelet combination on his wrist. “The different vibrations from the crystals will equalize your body frequency to the portal’s frequency so you can walk pass through it,”

Lilian raised her eyebrow in amazement. Whatever was waiting on the other side of the portal, she would still feel lucky to be able to experience this, she thought, darkly interested.

“Stop making that amused face of yours like you are going to an amusement park on the other side of the portal,” said Zephyr bleakly. “You don’t have any idea how bad things can be there,”

“I know,” she replied guiltily, ashamed of herself. “I couldn’t help it,”

Suddenly, Zephyr edged nearer to Lilian, his face was just an inch from Lilian’s face. She was stunned.

-End of Chapter 10-