In the Name of Chaos

Chapter 11: Give and Take

Saint and I walk through the halls of the museum. Neither of us could decide where we would like our trip to be, so we ended driving around Geode until our eyes caught the sight of those large, stone pillars holding up the building guarding ancient and priceless artefacts.

I've been here many times before, but I've always been amazed by the various sculptures placed in each room and the many paintings hung up on the walls; one of my favourite has to be the painting of Geode in the earlier days when the land was, although already discovered, first named.

I wouldn't say the canvas nor the paint is the finest I've ever seen, but the artwork has a sort of authenticity to it that I feel no other artwork in this building has.

This is the first time I've been outside in over a month. Well, I have been to the parking lot attached to Aris' building, but I'm not sure that can technically be considered as taking a trip outdoors.

It's nice to get some fresh air. I've been cooped up in that boring building for too long. Saint agrees with me, too, but his concern for my lack of outdoor adventures may have more to do with my health. I told him about the pain I still experience, so he believes some fresh will do some good.

Saint promised not to tell anyone else about my state; not even Aris. I trust Saint, and I trust that he will keep this secret as long as I, according to his conditions, continue to keep him updated regarding my state.

A small part of me does wish I said nothing at all, because Saint occasionally, when he thinks I don't notice, stares at me strangely. I know he's worried about me, so today, I'm hoping to show him how alright I am.

I'll have to thank Aris for letting me go out today. He claimed this is a reward for my good behaviour, but I know he just wanted to get me away from him.

It's been over a month, and I still haven't received any information about the date of Project G; the mission to rescue Kane and Mathea.

Of course, my patience has run out, and I made sure to let Aris know that. I probably irritated him enough to chase me out of his building for a couple of hours. He just doesn't understand; it's unlikely that he has ever had to stay still, although having a way to help, as the people he loves are hurt.

"Does your face feel funny, too?" Saint asks.

Saint hasn't been able to stop touching some part of his face ever since Rae, a pale man working for Aris as a repairman, fitted a rubber mask onto his face. Rae did the same to me, so our true identities are hidden. The quality of these masks scare and impress me; they're too human-like.

I now look a little older and have freckles covering almost every inch of my fake face. The nose of this mask is also more broad than my actually nose, while the nose on Saint's mask is pointier than his actually one.

We were also given coloured contacts; my eyes are now mustard green, while Saint's are an ocean shade of blue. Saint also decided to, although the blonde hair attached to his mask suggests otherwise, cut his hair today. He said the buzz cut is something he has been meaning to try for some time now. It suits him.

"It's not too bad." I pull Saint's hand away from his face and gently place it at the side of his body. "We've been looking around for hours now."

"You were in the bathroom for a good thirty minutes, but who am I to rush you."

"I'd like to leave now."

"Where to?"

"Is there anything else fun to do?"

"I don't know, Willow. You tell me where you want to go, and we'll go there." Saint stops at the sculpture of a naked lady we've passed for at least the third time. "There isn't much to see in this Wing anyway, and I don't think Aris will like if we take the Geode shuttle to some other place."