Capítulo 34: Departure

ASH paused for a while, the events that just unfolded rapidly in front of him almost driving him insane. He knew from the moment the aircrafts filled the sky that something was off. Felis kept staring at them and smiling like he was seeing all of them all over again but he hadn't expected them to crumble to nothing. He naturally thought since they were going to be handed out to someone else that he was going to miss them.

Rowan on the other hand had been exceptionally chatty, normally he was a fun loving guy but he's spent the journey talking about sensitive things with a jovial approach. "Are they dead?" Glit asked, glancing around the entire containment.

"Not necessarily," the woman named Serenity replied, her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowing on all of them.

Ash naturally walked towards Glit as if to shield her from the woman while Kay and Mute remained at alert. The woman however was not focused on them at all. "Which of them piloted the engine?" She asked, glancing around.

"Both of them did,"Glit replied.

"Ah, that was what broke the camel's back it seems, I believe that was their plan from the on set. They never planned to leave this island." She exhaled and glanced at all four of them again with a narrowed gaze as if she was deciding whether to just shoot them all or just walk away.

"What do you mean? They weren't supposed to pilot it?" Glit demanded. Ash glanced at her, surprised by how casually she addressed the stranger; someone who looked striking yet had eyes that felt like it could freeze your soul.

The first thing Ash noticed was the woman was her eyes. They weren't the usual shade of brown; they were pure black, like endless voids that threatened to swallow anything in their gaze. Her dark hair framed her pale face, making those eyes even more unsettling. She shared Glit's fair complexion, and though faint freckles still softened her cheeks, they only made the inky blackness of her irises stand out more.

However, he soon noticed that her body was in contrast to her doll-like face. She appeared frail at a distance but now that Ash was nearer to her, he could see how sturdy she actually was and that was when he also noticed her cloth. It was a marine uniform.

"No they were not. At least not with clone bodies, and most especially not when one of them just destroyed a celestial grade ship a while ago. A clone body can't bear that much pressure. Naturally, it takes about three professional telepaths to pilot a God Engine, it is one of the reasons why it is barely used." Serenity explained to them. She opened her mouth to say something else but a black rectangular device beeped on her chest.

She picked up the device, a burst of static crackling through before a voice cut in, sharp and demanding. "General? Is everything alright? Did you find out who was piloting it?"

"Yes," she replied coolly. "I'm on my way back. Prepare the sleeping decks for four… children."

"Cadets?" The voice seemed puzzled.

"No. Civilians, around thirteen or fourteen. Make sure whoever's prepping the area removes all weapons and anything that could be used as one. I'll explain everything when I return."

She ended the transmission, her gaze shifting to the group of kids. Ash felt her eyes lingering on them, calculating; measuring something. He couldn't tell what she was thinking, but the way she studied them made him shiver.

"Alright, listen up." Her tone softened, but there was an edge beneath it. "There are a lot of things you'll want to ask, but for now, we stick to one story. You've never met anyone named Felis or Rowan. Got it? Here's what happened: you were kidnapped by pirates. You managed to escape and ended up on this island. Three of those pirates followed you here. They tried to steal the god engine, but the Zero Flayers on the walls took care of them. Melted them on the spot. I found you here, alone."

She paused, stepping forward, her boots crunching on the dirt. With a fluid motion, she brushed past Ash, who instinctively stepped aside. Her eyes locked on Glit, and for a brief moment, the air around them seemed to thrum.

"What's this?" She said, glancing at the girl's severed arm.

"I lost it." Glit said simply.

Serenity raised her eyes. "Oh, you lost it, yeah sure." She nodded. "Except your arm is not a wallet or a dog. What happened?"

"Wendigo," Kay spoke this time around. "Wendigo found her beauty impeccable and wanted a piece of her DNA." He nodded with a smile.

She placed two fingers on Glit's injured arm, closing her eyes. Glit flinched at first, but soon released a breath of relief. Slowly, the woman withdrew her fingers. Ash noticed a strange, shadowy worm-like figure slither from Glit's arm into the woman's.

"The infection's already set in," she said, her voice steady. "We need to get you to a hospital, fast. I've taken your pain for now, but that's all I can do."

"Thank you," Glit said with a faint smile, and Ash nodded in gratitude as well.

The woman remained silent. "Let's move," she commanded, striding to the hatch and pushing it open.

They emerged into blinding sunlight, and almost immediately, an aircraft hovered into view, its engines roaring.

"General, we spot you, throwing down the ladder," her black rectangular device hummed.

Ash and the others glanced at each other as they approached the massive roaring engine and a ladder was rolled down from the machinery. Serenity lifted Glit up all of a sudden and then began to climb up the ladder, ordering the boys to follow her.

They obliged quietly. Ash glanced at the plane and he could have sworn he'd been in this situation before. He remembered they called it deja vu. Although, considering everything he'd heard until now, he wasn't so sure anymore. But one thing he knew for sure, he was about to start a new chapter of his life and this time, he was going to be himself.

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