-A Road to SOS Mansion-
Both Mari and I fell asleep while we're on our way to somewhere we don't even know. The sunrise woke me up while I'm still hugging Mari. For now, she's sleeping pretty well, like an innocent little girl. Thank God I didn't have that nightmare again. Hugging Mari might have helped me.
Last night's event never ever came to my wildest imagination, even once. I thought that doing things in NLO would never cause any bad consequences because we have our freedom but now... why on earth is this happening? I thought having a new life in the world of NLO would let me live my life to the fullest but this time... I don't want this kind of new life.
"It looks like you finally woke up. We're almost there. You need to know everything we know but for now, just enjoy the view." Azzie, I've never been to this place. I checked the area if I'm familiar with this place but I have no idea.
Not a single car or any person can be seen on the road. It's pretty weird but everything that has happened last night was not normal at all. So, I decided to just wait and see what will happen next.
-SOS Mansion-
We finally arrived at some kind of a mansion. The place is covered with huge trees that envelopes the roof of the mansion.
"This is our hideout. No one can track us down here no matter what they use or what they do. You and your sister will be safe here." Safe from what or whom? And so we entered.
I looked around... and upon checking the inside of the mansion, it doesn't look like it's a house at all. It's like this place is used for experiments and stuff. Everyone wears some kind of lab coats and it kinda weirds me out and my sister.
"Don't worry. No one will do any harm to you guys. We are part of the President's plan. We are called the "Savior of the Savior" or just "SOS". Let's go to your room first and then let's talk while having breakfast." So she guided us to our room.
The room is exactly the same as my room from my old house... what the hell?! My room is just in front of Mari's room. She still hasn't said anything yet and I'm getting worried. After taking a refreshing bath, I decided to go out and both Mari and Azzie are already waiting for me at a huge table full of foods.
-SOS Mansion, Dining Table-
"Take a sit and enjoy the meal." Azzie offered me a slice of juicy meat. If she cooked this herself, I might die but it seems like it's pretty well made.
"Thank you. But can you explain to us what in the world happened last night and why did you do that? Also about the old geezer's plan. Who on earth are you?" I tried to remain calm but questions are pouring out of my mouth. I was hoping to get real answers this time and not some crap about something.
"You really want to start with questions, huh. Everyone calls me Azalea. I was sent by the old man to protect you and your sister. I've been with your sister for three years while you are in a coma. You are also being guarded by our best members..."
"You lied to me! I thought you were my best friend but you pretended like you were one!" I knew it... Mari cried as she expressed her discomfort and the feeling of being betrayed.
*Sighs* Azzie let out a sigh of discomfort after Mari let out her frustration.
"Mari, I didn't befriend you because of my job but I really do want to become your friend. I like you and I want you as my friend forever so don't cry or I'll cry too!" Oh gosh...
"*Sniff Sniff* Really?! Don't you dare lie to me again you, jerk!" That's it? Can you be a little madder... Azzie stood up and hugged her... get a room already!
"Aheem aheem... so? What about the plan and why do you have to protect us?" I asked again.
"We were only instructed by the old man to protect you from any harm and let you continue playing the game. But before the war in the game of NLO, he specifically told me to tell you something directly after the war." She slightly paused after that... she put a spoonful of rice to her mouth.
"Do you want me to wait till you stop eating or do you want me to ask you to say it to me? Ok, so what is it?" She needs to stop eating while talking to me... seriously. It looks like nothing happened to them... really.
"I'm hungry driving all night... what did you expect me to do. Jeez, anyway, the old man said that a married couple talked to him three years ago that something bad will happen soon. At first, he thought that they were crazy but after talking to them, they somehow made him believe and that's when the President decided to make this secret project. That couple is your parents." What what? Our parents?
"Does that mean our parents are already part of this project before the accident?" This is weird...
"Yes, and they are the head of the research team trying to come up with a cure for some sort of something. I didn't know the details but before they could even complete creating one, the accident happened." I'm still lost... but is she telling us that our parents are the ones that made the plan from the start?!
"Then why do you have to protect me?"
"Before I answer that question, do you remember the name of your parents?" She asked us. Of course... wait... I tried to think carefully but nothing came to mind! What the hell?!
"You don't know, do you? You just knew that you had parents. They never told you anything about themselves because the lesser you know, the safer you'll be. You had short term memory loss of some sort and this might be caused by your accident. You'll be freaked out of what I'm going to tell you now. We checked the records of both of your parents but they don't have any records seventeen years ago. They were never born here. That's also the year they adopted you." What?! They're not my real parents?!
"This is too much for me to take. I mean, it never came to my mind? My dad and I are exactly alike. It's like he's my older twin version of myself so how can you say that I was adopted?" I'm trying to remain calm and absorb all this nonsense.
"As I told you, you were adopted. We have all the information and we won't ever lie to you now. The time they adopted you, months later, Mari was born." She explained.
I looked at Mari and I can tell that hearing those words from Azzie broke her heart. Then... she held my hand.
"No matter what happens, you are my only brother. She may be telling the truth but for me, you are my real brother and I love you." Mari's tears are flowing and I know that even with her smiles, she's still can't believe it.
I can't say for sure if Azzie is lying or something but saving us from those police officers made me trust her a little bit. If only she doesn't smell nice...
"Thank you, Mari. You've done enough. Now let me do everything to make you safe." I replied while holding her hand with both my hands.
"So what's the point of telling all of these? My parents died in the accident and even if you told us that I'm not their real son, they are not here anymore. They treated me as their own son and I love them. Also, why do you have to protect me as I asked earlier?" We can't bring them back anymore.
"That's the thing. Authorities reported that your parents died in the car accident but no bodies were recovered. You were the only one left in the car. We never thought that there will be traitors in our organization. Authorities in the higher-ups rejected to support the old man's plan and they call him crazy for believing your parents. That's why when all is going well by ourselves, they decided to take action and that was to abduct your parents. And because of this, they might abduct you as well for them to make your parents tell them the whole plan. That's why we have to protect both of you." Wait... our parents are alive?!
"Is that really true?!" Mari was shocked and stood up after hearing the news. I was surprised as well but it sounds so surreal.
"We're sure that they were abducted and we tried our best to track their location but we can't find them at all but..." She paused. Why do you keep on pausing?! Once again, a spoonful of rice...
"We have spies in the higher-ups as well. They have this hideout somewhere but it's impossible to find by our team. There's a way to get in without going there physically, though." She said but it doesn't make sense.
"I guess you have a plan or something," I replied.
"Of course, but it's not easy. We've got some information telling us that there's a place in-game, far east and almost at the end of the sea. This is the place where your parents are being held captive. We have to make a contact with your parents in-game so they could tell us the location." She explained.
"So what you're trying to say is... we have to travel that far and find them? If what you're telling me is true, then it might be a trap or something? Or if they can see us plotting to travel there then they might just escape or even prepare for us." I expressed my doubts.
"You're the Reaper. There's nothing you couldn't handle, right?" That's low... trying to use flattery to get my attention...
"You can't flatter me with words. I'm going to do this for my family and if somehow you are not really the one you say that you are then..."
"Then what?" Oh God... she's serious.
"Oh... nothing..." Jeez. With what she did last night, I don't think my any threats would work against her.
"Don't worry, Bro. Somehow, I feel like she's telling us the truth. Let's just hope that mom and dad are really ok." Mari... you're still innocent.
"So, that's it then? I probably need to make a ship... or two." Now, I think I have the purpose of playing the game again.
"That's all I can tell you. If we can save your parents, then I'm sure we'll get more answers with all these questions we have." I'm sure we will, Azzie.