Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 48 - Counter Strike

 – But this product... This product is used to trigger anamnesis.

– She... She somehow helped me remember?

– No, not helped. She forced you.

Dove didn't refrain a shiver from running down her spine, and she nervously clung onto Sphinx's arm while staring at Blaze. Strangely, it felt like everything around her was shattering; her leader putting their entire gang at risk for getting more power, her family and herself planning to act against his orders, her idol drugging her for some unknown reasons... It felt like some nightmare way worse than the one she had at the hospital. In the war against Morphine, she at least knew who were the real enemies, but now... She had no idea. She gave a disquieted look at Claw.

– Are you sure of this? I-I mean, why would Ether do such a thing, after recruiting me?

– This, I don't know, but I can swear to ya, Dove, I've seen her. I've planned to come see ye, but...

The black-haired man glanced at Sphinx, who replied by hugging his girlfriend closer, frowning. Claw sighed, and continued.

– But my brother did some bullshit. I was about to enter yer room when he called, so I've left... And that's when I saw her.

– How's that possible, said the mint-haired one, I was with Dove all the time!

– D'ya really think I would've entered if you were inside, kiddo? You went to take a piss, or do God knows what.

– How can we be sure you're tellin' the truth? You dared to lie to her once, after all.

– C'm'on Sphinx, we'll fight about it later. I'm takin' some hella high risks telling ya this.

Blaze tilted her head to the side, eyes widened. Although she knew Ether was as avid of power as Atlas, if not more, she could barely believe the Lieutenant would go to such extremes on people she knew since a long time.

– Don't tell me... Fang and Cassie?

– Yeah, Fang and Cassie, simply answered her right-hand man.

– Wait, interrupted Dove, who are they?

– My brother, and his daughter... Ether threatened to make Atlas kill them if I talked to ya 'bout what she did.

Venom let out a sigh, leaning against the back of the couch; he had trusted Ether, and found in her a maternal figure before, at his arrival in the gang, so hearing this was a shock, just like a slap.

– Let's calm down, guys, he uttered. Maybe she did that for a good reason...

– Should we ask her, then? Questioned Dusk.

Nobody had the time to reply to him; Dove's phone rang, and all of them turned towards her. She grabbed her cellphone from her jacket, and gasped when she saw the name on the screen.

– It's... I's Ether. Keep it down, I need to pick up. We need to know.

Everyone agreed with a nod, and when she answered the call and set the device in loudspeakers, the tension in the room was palpable.

– H-hello?

– Greetings, Miss Hyo-Jin. I hope I am not disturbing you?

– Not at all, Madam Sadaaki.

– Good. Did you see Veil's announcement about his new band, B2B?

– Oh, uh, yes I did. That's... That's good for him.

– And for you too, Miss. You are the second vocalist... And you'll be on stage tomorrow.

__________

She felt like her whole body was going to burst from nervousness, and the tightly-fitted pink dress she had to wear along the cramped lodge they were in were making everything worse than they already were. She exhaled loudly to dispel some of her stress, sitting on the chair facing the mirror, and Sphinx wrapped his arms around her, chin rested on top of her head.

– It'll go fine, baby, he whispered. You'll rock that.

– I hope so... Do you think our plan is going to work?

– I don't doubt it at all. I believe in you, Dove. Remember, you are my idol.

He bent his neck to put a soft kiss onto her cheek, and at his words and touch, she both smiled and blushed; he always had the right words to reassure her. She acquiesced, raising her face to answer the kiss on the corner of his lips.

– Thanks, love.

– And remember too that we won't be far. I'm staying near, and Phase is ready to intervene if anything goes wrong.

– Right.

A knock on the door forced them to swing around, and as a technician entered, Dove instantly got on her feet.

– Miss Hyo-Jin, it'll be time for you to join the scene. Follow me please.

– I'm coming.

The man left, but before exiting too, she turned to Sphinx and kissed him, a hand running onto his chest, then whispered:

– I love you, Sphinx.

– I love you too, Dove.

They showed each other another smile, and Dove finally got out of the lodge, her heart beating fast as she followed the technician into the backstage. The scene was right there, a few meters away from her, and her anxiety was going over-the-top. Some years ago, it would have been like realizing her biggest dream; she was going to sing for Ether Entertainment, after all! But today, with all the suspicions and conspiracies around, it felt like a torture. How could she genuinely smile, when she wanted to be somewhere far, far away from here? She couldn't, and yet, she had to.

From where she was, she could hear Veil's voice, and its cheerfulness almost surprised her, until she reminded that, contrarily to her, he was a natural, and a real star. He was nearly done announcing her; it would be her turn to get on stage.

– And last but not least, B2B's second vocalist, Dove!

She took a deep breath; she could not back off anymore. She walked forward, one step at a time, not rushing herself. Her smile had to be credible, and it was not something she could pull off in a blink. However, when she reached the scene, it was as if she learned the best new ever; the happiness on her face looked so sincere no one could doubt it. Even her could have fooled herself, and pretended everything was fine... But she knew too well problems didn't disappear that easily.

When she rejoined him, Veil handed her a microphone, and initiated the applause, staring at her with a victorious smirk she couldn't truly understand. She grabbed it and faced the public, bowing and waving at them.

– I am so, so honored to be there with you today, she declared. I know you are all impatient to hear B2B's first songs but first, there are some people I want to thank... I want to thank Veil, for being an amazing group leader and an artist I look up to.

The brown-haired man's smile slightly faded as he stared at her; no, they never really talked, how could she thank him for something like that? She was lying, but he ignored the reason behind that, and could scarcely hide his uneasiness. What was she about to do? Nevertheless, when she carried on, his heart leaped: she was taking control of their plan.

– I want to thank Ether Entertainment for believing in me during all this time. And I also want to thank my manager, Ether Sadaaki, as she had been the one to inject me the most needed truths... Thank you a lot for that, Ether.