Seret

Chapter 14

The campus was busy. Sophomores gathered in groups with the "popular girl" as their leader. Jocks practicing their tackling during a free period. Hippie kids with bright clothes lost in their own zone, science freaks perfecting their research projects and loners settled in one corner, earphones in while "reading" a book. This was your typical high school scene. But where did 001 lie in this catastrophe?

Aiden took out the drawing and showed it to Seret. It wasn't much to go by but they had to try. They asked several students if anyone knew him. Some said they couldn't remember his name, and others flat-out ignored them. A red-haired girl who was working on a sketch said that she knew him but didn't say anymore. She stood up from the bench and walked towards the nearest door leaving her things behind. Seret supposed she was going to show them the way so she followed her, leaving Aiden behind. The girl led Seret through the corridors of the school. Seret admired how modern the inside was compared to the outside. The entire town seemed like it was clung to the past. Buildings weren't high and towering. The mall was not nearly as big as it should be. They only passed by one McDonald's on their way here. She was a little jealous that these people were able to live happily isolated from the over-developing world. They were able to keep to themselves and no-body bothered them; it must have been nice. They were approaching a door at the far end of the hallway with an "Emergency Exit" sign mounted on it. She kicked open the door and walked through, 'Close the door behind you.' she said, her voice was numb and lifeless. Seret found herself at the back of the building, there was a field spanning most of the area with small plots of trees here and there. There was another smaller building to the right, a hall, Seret guessed. 'Over here.' Seret followed the girl.

'Uh? What are you doing here, Kate?' There was a boy crouching in the corner next to a trash can. He looked similar to the drawing. His pale face was topped with long dark eggplant purple hair. His eyes stood out with an usual amber colour. Seret was certain this was him.

'There's someone looking for you. Please don't tell me you've gotten into trouble again.' said Kate, her tone was a bit more friendly this time.

'Huh? I didn't do nothing this time, honest! What do you want?' he looked at Seret.

'Hi, um, I'm Seret. My name, that is. Uh, you're definitely not in trouble or anything. I was just hoping I could talk to you for a moment about something.'

'Fine, Seret. Go ahead.' he nodded.

'This is actually kind of private.' she glanced at Kate, 'Sorry.'

" I'm sure that whatever it is Kate can stay." 

"No, I'll go. It's not like this will be this first time I've been excluded." Kate speed walked away. Seret could feel the tension hanging in the air. The boy sighed and apologised. "Sorry about her. She's been a bit sensitive since I left her behind last week." 

"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened?" Seret tried not to drop the bomb so soon. She sat down.

"Uh, well I kinda lied to her." he fidgeted with his fingers, "A bunch of us planned on doing some graffiti in the shanty town nearby. She wanted to join us but I didn't want her coming and getting into any kind of trouble. It was a risk that we took and almost got caught by the cops. She's been on my case ever since."

"Sounds like you too are close, huh?" 

"Best friend since kindergarten. Although we haven't seen much of each other since high school. She's been busy tryna pursue art as a career."

Seret felt bad thinking about what will happen when he joins her and Aiden; all that he could loose. She'd come to accept that that was the cost for this mission. Abandoning everything you've worked so hard to keep close. She felt like she could relate.

"So, uh, what did you wanna talk about?" he asked.

"Oh, uh," Seret paused, "it can wait. What's your name again?"

"Hayato."

"Hayato! I have a very important mission for you." Seret stood up. "Today is the day you and Kate become best buddies again. I want you to go to her now and apologise. Cherish every memory after that. Got it?" said Seret very boldly ( and unnecessarily).

"What? But, um didn't you want to -" 

Seret pulled him up, "I'll catch you after school. Now go!" she ran off.

..........................................................

Aiden was sitting under a tree at the entrance of the school. "You look fired up. I guess things went well. So, where is he?"

"Change of plans. We'll come get him after schools out." Seret was trying to catch her breath.

"Why? Did something happen?" Aiden stood up.

"No. It's just I sorta gave him something I wish I had."

"What are you talking about?"

"I told him that today was the day he made things right with his best friend."

"I see. You should have checked with me first. I don't really-"

"I knew you were in a hurry and I'm sorry. I take full responsibility if anything happens. It's just - I never ended things off properly with Riley, my best friend so I -"

"Hey, it's okay. I get it." Aiden checked the time, "We've got about one hour. Wanna eat?"

"Yeah, I'm starving."

There was a park nearby that wasn't too crowded. It provided blissful shade from the heat. Seret and Aiden ate in silence. What happened earlier was still playing in her mind. She hoped Aiden wasn't still mad at her. She didn't have a chance to apologise. And now, after her little stunt she was surprised her hadn't cut her loose yet. "So, um, about earlier -"

"I'm sorry." Aiden chipped in.

"Wait, I was gonna say that. You don't have to apologise. I was wrong to get involved in someone else's matter -"

"No, you don't have to apologise. I wasn't thinking rationally then. I let my emotions control me and took it out on you. If you weren't there I probably would've continued wandering around aimlessly and then been captured by The Huntress."

"The Huntress?" Seret asked.

"That lady. I've heard many refer to her as that. She has a reputation for flawless assassinations."

Seret remembered what she saw. Yep, she definitely gave off that vibe. Like a small kitten face to face with a rabid dog.

"We need to be more careful from here on. If she's been hired to capture us, then there must be some big reward in it. More so, she never misses a target. Our lives are in a lot more danger than ever before."