Within A Stardust

Chapter 27 - Discussion

12:00 pm

Lizzie returns with the medicine for y/n's sore throat. "Here's the-" She stops when she saw the living room empty. Gecko comes in from the kitchen with his usual wagging tail and smiley face. "Hey, do you know where she could be?" Gecko went to the kitchen, glances at her and when Lizzie follows, he goes outside. 

She's in the garden, Lizzie is about to scold her for going outside but the wind blows and now she knows why. "And why are you outside?" Lizzie asks right behind her. Y/n flinches, then leans back after the shock. 

You scared me. I just need some fresh air. 

When Y/n glances at her, Lizzie noticed something and kneel in front of her. Of course, y/n feels awkward. 

What is it? Is there something wrong? 

Lizzie touches both of her cheeks and look close in her eye. "Your eyes are beautiful but.. are they like that? It has a ray of purple." She moves y/n's face to the left gently.

My eyes are similar to the standard eye color but it's light-brown and it only shows when the ray of sunlight hits. No of what you said. Like what does it look like when you see it? 

"When you glanced I saw purple in your pupil. But I still can see the light brown- It's weird." She stands. 

You better call Dr. Davis. Perhaps it might help her. 

. . . . . 

"I'm so thankful you called. I was at my lab researching for more findings. It feels like i'm about to reach a dead end but I think it's not." Saffron said while putting her things back to her bag.  "With regards to her eye." Saffron points to y/n. 

She stands up and went outside for a second to which Lizzie followed. "Um.. Is everything alright? I-I don't understand." Lizzie said. They went back to the kitchen. 

"I found an interesting finding that only the three of us needs to know and no one else." The two glance at each other then back to Saffron. She takes a deep breath. "A few days ago, I tried to visit my friend who is a scientist that used to be my coworker and.. he has the answers to your condition." She said. 

Lizzie covers half of her face in shock. Y/n's eyes widens, then chuckles and gestured, are you serious? 

"I know it's a good news but I have a bad news as well." She fidgets and take a deep breath before speaking. "My friend has only three days left to live. We are close to the answer but if he dies, there's no hope for you. I hate to tell this... but you will die within this month." 

After Saffron said the phrase, the burning hope arising from y/n stops, it shuts off, and is now replaced by dread that is slowly crawling out of the darkest corners of her soul. 

How long have you known this? 

"I got the findings before your previous checkup. And I told Lizzie about it too." Y/n looks at Lizzie for confirmation but she didn't look back. 

Y/n closes her laptop, transfers to her wheelchair on her own and leave the kitchen. Gecko follows her. 

A minute of silence and Lizzie asks. "Is that the only option left?" 

"If you can secure my friend's life then we can open more options for her." Saffron said. "It's too much to ask but I don't know what else is left that can help him. I'm also afraid for my life now. At this point they probably know me and pretty sure, i'm next on the list." 

Another pause, Saffron is waiting for a reply while Lizzie is finding the right words. "I know someone that can help us. However, he works for the government. He hasn't updated me for about three days now." 

"How about we talk in my laboratory now? It's in Thousand Oaks, I'll let you stay in. Bring that person and y/n, then i'll bring my friend and we'll discuss about everything there." Saffron asks. 

"Great, We'll see you at?"  Lizzie asks. "Drop by my house, I'll send the address and then I'll lead you in the lab." She nods.  
Saffron leaves in a hurry. Lizzie calls Officer James and told him about what Saffron revealed earlier.

3:30 pm

They went inside a home theatre room and in the middle, Saffron removes the portion of the carpet with a strip and pull a door upwards.

The first to go down is Stan followed by James carrying y/n, Lizzie and then Saf closing the door.

"Will Gecko be safe there?" Y/n asks using a text to speech voice. "I had a dog before and whenever something is up, we put him there and he is safe." Saffron said.

"So, This is Doctor Stanley Freeman and he is the one who made that thing that is currently, killing you." Saffron said then points to y/n. They all nod except y/n who is still absorbed by what Saffron said.

Stan clears his throat. "Everyone, Let's identify first the problem on each of our sides. Then, we'll come up with a solution right after." He takes a deep breath. "James, thank you for not bringing anyone or backup. I'm glad you understand the situation." James nods.

"So Let's start with you, y/n." Stan said. Y/n looks up at her.

"Why me? You are the one who created it, right?" The autogenerated voice said. "Yes, I was the creator but.. the problem started with you." He said.

"We are on the same boat, i'm sure you are also panicking because your time is ticking. If you want that to stop, you need to tell me what happened."

Y/n told them the event including the specific details. "James, your turn."

"Right now, we are almost in a dead end. I had a descry of one of them but.. I still failed. The last encounter was in Hollywood, three tourists were kidnapped. It was also the time I was knocked out during the operation. Someone pretended to be part of our division."

"Wait, sorry if I need to- How sure are you that we aren't tracked by those guys? I'm pretty sure they are not stupid and they have something that can find us." Lizzie said.

"And how can we know you are you and you don't have any mask on?" Y/n asks.

Saffron chuckles in disbelief. "If you think we are those bad guys, we have probably taken you somewhere else and guaranteed, either you rot or shot. No other options." Stan said, then gestured James to speak.

"I hired a friend of mine who is a hacker, he assured me that he will remove us out of their radar." James said.

"I can't show you our files but they are high grade. The Adams brothers, Ross and Chris is the only one we know so far because they are in the notorious list."

"And they wouldn't mind being identified. I know Ross, when it comes to team work, he loves to be the presenter. He's great at creating distractions." James, y/n, and Lizzie looks at Stan curiously.

"Ross used to be my friend way back in college. We're both planning to graduate and be doctors as our families hoped we would be, but he failed." He said while looking for a chair nearby.

"Now, his brother, Chris, is the black sheep of the family and the lead influence as to why Ross became who he is at the present. Can you confirm that James?" He sits.

"Yeah, he was arrested multiple times but the main charge is fraud. There were complaints about him sexually harassing women, attempted murder and possession of illegal drugs since highschool."

Y/n leans back. "Thank God, I hit him in the head."