章 23: Pieces of Mystery (2)
"Okay," Selena tried to conclude after had not a good night's sleep because of the piece of CCTV footage that Hydro found yesterday.
"Sixteen years ago, my adoptive father was experimenting. Then what?"
Oxy stood leaning against the school roof guardrail, while Selena paced restlessly. Hydro also attended via video call.
"According to my guess, he was one of the scientists who made Cerebra disappear," Oxy said.
"That makes sense," said Hydro. "But why did they eliminate the city? What's the point?"
"I don't have an answer," Oxy shrugged. "Have you ever entered Cerebra?" he asked Hydro.
"What? Sorry?" Hydro asked back.
"You've never dreamed of entering Cerebra?" Maybe because Oxy and Selena often talked about Cerebra which was trapped inside a dimension, she never asked about Hydro's knowledge.
Hydro looked thoughtful. "I don't understand what you mean. I'm not sure I ever dreamed of entering that city."
"Wait, so you've never had 'that' nightmare?" Selena suddenly stopped, her eyes widening at the phone screen. Then she moved closer. "You said you were one of us right?"
"Hey, is that important?" Hydro looked clueless.
"So this is it," Oxy said to explain. "The cerebra didn't disappear. Instead, it moves inside into a dimension. I don't know how to explain it because I don't understand how it could happen. So, the gate to that dimension can be passed through dreams."
"Wow, you guys are serious?" asked Hydro with an expression of disbelief.
"Yup, of course. To me being stuck in that place is like a terrible nightmare." Selena said then groaned in horror.
"Unbelievable," Commented Hydro.
Oxy could understand that Hydro had a hard time believing their explanation as the boy had never experienced it.
"I also researched about Cerebra, but I could find very little. About this dream ... sounds crazy," said Hydro.
"That's crazy indeed! Ugh!" groaned Selena again. "You didn't know, inside that, there was a terrible monster!"
"Monsters?" repeated Hydro.
"Yes! Monsters! They walk on two legs like humans, their bodies are covered in disgusting hideous black skin! And there are many of them! They would chase you all night! If you can't wake up and get caught by those monsters inside there, they will eat your head!"
Hydro gaped at Selena's passionate explanation.
"Sounds like a horror story," commented Hydro.
"It happened, and people who didn't survive would die in the real world with rotting heads. That's what happened in this town some time ago, they call it Brain Fog." Oxy explained.
"Wow, that sounds very pretty awful." Hydro's Commented. "Okay... Regarding the footage, Mr. Dome might have tried something to tell us."
"Hey, isn't that obvious? My father confessed his crime on the tape, he was one of the scientists who caused Cerebra to disappear. The funny thing is, that city was the birthplace of the three of us. And he's also the one who's been watching over us all this time." Selena snorted. "He sounded like a psychopath. What do you think he wanted from us?"
"Surprisingly I don't feel he did wrong to us despite about he did to that city," said Hydro. "Mr. Dome helped me well during my session. I'm thankful to him instead. As for where I was born and how he watched over me, it doesn't matter."
"You're right," Oxy agreed with Hydro which made Selena frown.
"You have no idea what it's like if he is your adoptive father," Selena said.
"Don't be so spoiled," said Hydro. "We are orphans, as long as our adoptive parents are kind enough to us, that's enough."
Oxy nodded, once again Hydro was right. Selena crossed her arms, still frowning but no longer resisting. Mr. Dome may be a lousy foster father, but he's not evil even though he's the scientist who carried out the gruesome experiment.
"Mr. Dome might know where the other four kids are," Oxy said later.
"The other four kids?" repeated Hydro.
"Yes. Besides the three of us, there are four other children. Mr. Dome told me if seven babies survived from the disappearance of Cerebra," explained Oxy. "I've met one boy inside the dimension. His name is Helio. But he had disappeared along with Mr. Dome being arrested."
"Oxy is very worried about her boyfriend," said Selena.
"Hey, he's not my boyfriend!" said Oxy annoyed. "I'm just worried about him. Something bad could happen to him."
"Well, that means there are still three other kids we don't know about," said Hydro. "The clearer, why it's become more strange, huh?"
"I thought so too," Selena snorted. "It's strange. Abnormal."
"But we still have to know where we were born," Oxy argued.
"As for me, I don't care," Selena said. "I'm quite happy with my life right now."
"Well, good for you," said Hydro to Selena. "Four children besides us, do they also have strange powers like us?" he asked curiously.
"Maybe," Oxy shrugged.
"You're Miss teleportation. And you?" Hydro pointed at Oxy then at Selena.
"That's a secret," Selena smirked.
"She didn't tell me either." Oxy sighed in annoyance while glancing at Selena. "Maybe her ability is can eat anything without getting fat."
"Ugh, that sounds so cool. I ate a little bit I gained weight." Complained Hydro who was a fat boy.
"One day you'll know. After all, my power is useless. What's the point of being a freak?" Selena asked.
Oxy felt her heart twist when Selena called they were a 'weird person. She knew Selena didn't mean to make fun of any of them. Selena's just like spit out anything inside her head.
"I think it's cool even though it's weird," said Hydro.
Oxy almost expressed her gratitude to Hydro for being able to say what he was thinking, defending himself.
"I imagine our power will useful. Maybe we can be superheroes."
"That's stupid," Selena complained. "Real World doesn't need a superhero. Duh, I want to buy ice cream."
"Come on, Selen..." Oxy immediately restrained Selena. This is not the time to think about food. Soon they will also enter class.
"Before we finish, what should we do with the footage?" Asked Oxy.
"There's nothing we will do," Selena said, sounding firm.
"Why do you say that?" Oxy asked confused.
"We'd better destroy the footage. I think it can be strong evidence for the government to accuse my father. Maybe he was arrested because of his involvement as a scientist in the past."
"But why was he arrested when it's all over?" asked Hydro in surprise.
"Perhaps because the gates of the Cerebra opened suddenly, giving rise to the phenomenon of brain fog." Oxy felt everything become clear now.
It all started from the date of her birthday, the mystery of her birthplace being solved, the brain fog effect, then until the arrested of Mr. Dome. Everything was connected.
"Also the absence of Helio in the dimension," continued Oxy. "I mean, he was the gatekeeper of the dimension. He's the one who saved people who are trapped inside the dimension. He could open the gate so that people could return to the real world." She explained to Hydro.
The sound of the bell signaled the end of their meeting.
"See you later, study hard, girls." The Hydro left.
"Ugh, so we don't have time to buy ice cream," Selena still grumbled, almost whining.
--
"That's it!" Selena snatched the phone from Oxy's hand as they walked home from school.
"Hey, I'm explaining the situation to Hydro." Oxy protested. "And I just sent a strange file from your dad's flash Drive."
"Alright, let him work. Now stop talking about this nightmare!" Selena asked.
Oxy frowned. "But why?"
"We'll be busy, Oxy!" Selena exclaimed.
"Busy about what? The semester exam is still a few months away." Oxy said surprised.
"Oh dear, we have to prepare for the Star Night party!"
Oxy gaped, then slapped herself on the forehead. She had almost forgotten about that ridiculous party.
"Come on, I don't have time to think about the party," Oxy complained in annoyance.
"Hey, Owl. Be a happy girl. You have to come!" Selena demanded. "Remember? I'm helping you find Helio! With my parents' connections, I asked them to find a boy named Helio who was registered in my father's name."
"Why your father's name?" Oxy asked confused.
"Hey, just the way my dad watched over the three of us. He's got to be something to Helio too. Either way. Maybe Uncle or the doctor."
For some reason, Oxy felt that Selena's actions were a bit dangerous by using her parents' connections to find Helio's whereabouts. Even so, at least Selena had kept her promise to help.
"Let's look for a party dress!"
"I don't want to!" Oxy was rejected immediately.
"Hei... Don't be shy, I already have an idea what dress would suit you. And I'm sure there will be a boy who has a crush on you there!"
Oxy's face felt hot. It's hard to make friends, and now she must try to make a boy like her. Ridiculous.
"I don't have money to buy a dress," Oxy was still trying to find an excuse to stop Selena.
"Nonsense. I see you rarely use your pocket money, you must be saving it all."
Oxy didn't expect Selena to realize her habit. She was deliberately saving all her money. She used to have crazy plans. She raised money for her emergency fund when she ran away from home. Being an adopted child was not an easy thing, especially after dealing with Darren since childhood.
But the idea of running away from the house slowly faded since Oxy was able to overcome her problems in dealing with Darren. But he continued her habit of saving.
"I can accompany you to ask your mother for money," Selena offered herself.
"Ugh, don't worry," complained Oxy. Grace would have been surprised to find out she was going to that party in a dress. Grace had stopped forcing her to go to parties in dresses, the last time was when Oxy was in elementary school.
"Anyway, let's go shopping! Come on!" Selena cheerfully put her arm around Oxy's arm, dragging Oxy regardless of Oxy's refusal.[]
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