บท 8: ANDREA
"So that's what happened," Myra said in understanding. Dylan and Ashley glared at each other. Myra had already finished eating and took out her phone while the others were still eating. Ashley, who hadn't touched a phone since she evolved, stared at it longingly. Myra looked at the phone and then back at Ashley, contemplating whether to lend it to her. However, she hesitated, not wanting to part with her only source of entertainment and wondering if something was embarrassing on her phone.
"Myra Asare," someone called out her name. Myra and the others turned to see a lady in a black uniform.
Myra knew why she was being called. She stood up. "I have to go. See you later," Myra said, following the lady. Dylan's eyes followed Myra until she disappeared from view. Ashley noticed Dylan's actions, and it didn't please her. Myra seemed like a nice girl, and Ashley felt she was too good for someone like Dylan, who was a player.
"Stay away from my roommate," Ashley warned Dylan. Dylan scoffed and left the table, with Thomas following him.
"I guess we should also get to the training grounds," Josh suggested.
After training was over, Ashley returned to the room to take a bath. When she came back to the table, she was the only one there. It seemed the others hadn't finished their training. She sat down, humming to herself while waiting. After a while, just as she was about to leave, Thomas and a guy she didn't know joined her at the table.
"Hi," the stranger greeted.
"Hello," Ashley responded, looking at Thomas in confusion, silently asking who he was.
"This is my roommate, Kyle. Kyle, this is Ashley," Thomas introduced.
"So, what are you up to, love?" Kyle asked.
"Waiting," Ashley responded.
"For me?" Kyle inquired.
"For my boyfriend," Ashley replied.
Thomas wanted to facepalm; Kyle seemed just like Dylan – a bit of a playboy. Kyle was stunned by her straightforward answer but recovered a second later. "What's his name? Maybe I know him," he said. Kyle felt someone tap on his shoulder, and he turned to see Josh standing there with his usual emotionless face.
"Move," Josh commanded, and Kyle's body moved on its own, making room for Josh to sit down.
---
Myra sat down on the stairs, exhausted from her special training. The stairs she occupied had an AC built-in, a discovery she had made by accident. The cool air from the AC was refreshing after a tiring day, and she stretched as she basked under its soothing breeze.
"Oh, hey," she heard someone say. Turning, she saw Dylan approaching. "Hi, what are you doing here?" Myra asked.
"These stairs lead to the roof, which is restricted, but this is sort of my spot," Dylan chuckled.
"Oh, you come here often? I didn't know," Myra said, getting up to leave. However, Dylan caught her hand.
"Sit. There's more than enough space for two," he insisted.
Not wanting to leave just yet, Myra sat back down on the stairs.
"So, tell me about you. Where are you from?" Dylan asked.
"Me? I'm from Africa, Ghana," Myra replied.
Dylan seemed surprised. "Africa? You're a long way from home," he remarked.
Myra smiled. "What about you?" she asked.
"I was born and raised here," Dylan said.
Myra teased, "In this base?"
Dylan rolled his eyes. "You know what I meant," he clarified.
Dylan and Myra were silent for a while.
"So..." Myra began, attempting to break the silence, "if I remember correctly, your abilities were darkness and shadows?" Dylan nodded. "What's that like?" Myra asked.
"I can't explain it, like... controlling the shadows, making them do what I want. It's complicated."
Curiosity sparkled in Myra's eyes. "Can you show me?"
Dylan, willing to share a glimpse of his abilities, opened his palm. A swirling mass of darkness coalesced in his hand, captivating Myra's attention.
"Wow, that's incredible. Can I touch it?" Myra asked, her curiosity overcoming any hesitations.
Dylan hesitated, then shrugged. "I think maybe."
With cautious excitement, Myra reached out and gently grazed the surface of the shadowy mass. She felt a strange, cool energy emanating from it. The experience was both eerie and fascinating.
Dylan chuckled at Myra's reaction. "Healing... now that seems cool," he remarked, changing the subject.
Myra, embracing her healer abilities, lightly touched Dylan's shoulder. Instantly, a soothing warmth spread through him, relieving his fatigue and easing the soreness in his muscles. Dylan couldn't help but let out a groan of pleasure.
"Whoa, that felt amazing," Dylan exclaimed.
Myra withdrew her hand, a satisfied smile on her face. "I know," she said, proud of her healing prowess.
As they sat there, Dylan found himself staring at Myra with an intensity that caught her attention. Playfully, Myra asked, "Is there something on my face?"
Dylan, with a genuine smile, replied, "Yeah. You're beautiful."
Myra, taken aback by the compliment, blushed and touched her face. "Really?"
Dylan nodded. "Absolutely. And you've got that healing magic touch, too."
Myra chuckled, appreciating the lighthearted exchange. "Thanks. You're not too bad yourself."
---
The cafeteria buzzed with activity as Josh made his way to the food counters. He grabbed trays for himself and Ashley. Meanwhile, Thomas and Kyle joined the queue for their meals. As everyone settled at the table, they noticed Dylan and Myra approaching together. The pair returned with their meals, prompting Ashley's silent curiosity.
"Why did you come with Dylan?" Ashley's eyes questioned Myra.
"We met along the way and decided to come together," Myra explained, sensing Ashley's unspoken query.
The table dynamic shifted when Thomas introduced Kyle as his roommate. "Hello, sweetheart," Kyle greeted, and Myra responded with an awkward acknowledgment.
Myra unveiled her meal, and the others were once again astonished by its extravagance. Kyle, witnessing Myra's meal for the first time, couldn't hide his surprise. "This is so unfair," he muttered.
Myra, however, expressed her disdain. "Urgh, cucumbers. I can't stand them," she confessed, pushing the meal toward Dylan.
Ashley was incredulous. "That's it? You're not going to eat because of five cucumber slices?" she questioned.
Dylan, attempting to find a solution, suggested, "We could take them off if you don't like them."
Myra considered it but then noticed the onions underneath. "Nah, I'm good. Besides, I'm a really picky eater."
They attempted to persuade Myra to take a bite of her meal, but she remained resolute.
"What a brat," Kyle muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Dylan.
"What did you say?" Dylan asked, his tone sharp.
"Nothing," Kyle responded, picking up his tray and leaving the table.
Ashley, who hadn't caught Kyle's muttering, asked, "What did he say?"
Josh, attempting to diffuse the tension, simply said, "Nothing important."
With Myra still refusing to eat, Dylan and Thomas ended up sharing her meal. The discussion then shifted to training routines. Myra, being new to this environment, was genuinely curious about how the others approached their exercises.
"So, what do you guys do during training?" she inquired.
"Which one guys or girls?" Dylan asked.
Myra seemed puzzled. "Don't you all train together?" she asked, expressing her surprise at the gender-segregated training sessions.
Thomas clarified, "Boys have separate training, and girls have their sessions."
"We usually do a few laps, a couple of push-ups, and weight lifting before our specialized training. I'm not sure about the girls, though," Dylan explained.
Ashley added, "We have a bit of exercise before our specialized training, but you're free to continue your private workout, like someone I shall not name."
"You Mean Andrea?" Josh asked
Myra, unfamiliar with Andrea, questioned, "Who's Andrea?"
The conversation then steered toward Andrea, the "buffed up chick" as Dylan described.
"Her abilities revolve around indestructibility, so she concentrates on building her strength. You've never seen anyone lift weights like her"
"That's incredible," Myra praised.
"Speak of the devil, there she is," Dylan remarked as they noticed Andrea approaching.
The group turned to see the formidable figure who had sat next to Josh and Ashley on the plane, her muscular presence commanding attention. Uncomfortable under her gaze, they looked away when Andrea glanced in their direction.
"She's scary," Myra commented, a sentiment echoed by the others.
As they discussed Andrea's imposing appearance, Myra shifted the conversation to a more profound topic. "But have you ever thought about what this training is for?" she pondered aloud.
A sudden hush fell over the table, and Thomas ventured an explanation. "Perhaps they're teaching us how to control our abilities so when we are sent back home, we won't hurt anyone." Despite offering this explanation, Thomas himself harbored doubts about the true purpose of their training.
Josh, more cynical, cut to the chase. "They're building an army out of us," he declared, voicing the unspoken fear that lingered among them. Dylan, attempting to lighten the mood, tried to inject humor. "An army of super people. I fear for the enemy," he joked, but the gravity of the situation lingered.
Ashley, probing deeper, asked the critical question, "Who is the enemy?"
The table fell into another heavy silence as the weight of that question settled in. Myra sensed the discomfort and tried to redirect the conversation, saying, "Such a heavy topic." Despite her attempt to lighten the mood, the lingering question remained, hanging over the group like an unspoken challenge. Who was the enemy, and what role would they play in a future none of them fully understood?
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