LINKAGE

CHAPTER 29: WATCH OUT, GUARD

"You know, my dear, today was my day off but they just called me saying that the studio is almost on fire, not literally. The headlines for today are insane! Two people were out and about during curfew night next to Ar'Estell and a spacecraft just exploded minutes after it launched! I will miss my novel this evening, Lola! Can you imagine?" That was Ania Pyotr talking nonstop about the sudden call the studio she worked at just gave her.

"Mom, breathe. It's not like it never happened before, you can watch today's episode later." Lola was sitting on the white couch of the living room of her own house, not at the bunker this time.

"You know I can't drink too much aneff, Lola. It makes me hella electric, and I will need nine, ten, eleven maybe twenty cups of it so I can handle that studio for the entire night." She said before grabbing her purse and car keys, fixing her outfit on the big mirror they had nearby the couch.

"Problems of being such a competent anchor, mom. But they will transfer your day off for tomorrow, right?" Lola was on her cellphone while she talked with her mother. She was about to leave as well, heading to the bunker check on Isaac and Gavin. She grabbed her car keys and got up the couch.

"Oh, where are you going, miss?"

"I am going to meet Anastasia and Olina at the bar."

"Which bar?"

"Uthure."

"Oh, you know I love their drinks! You should take me there sometime, Lola!" Now they were both heading to the garage, where two sportive black cars were parked.

"Another time, mother. You are too busy this week. Bye!" She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and got inside her vehicle, typing the usual location over the GPS.

Different from the night before, streets were busy when Lola was on the way to the bunker, spotting kids playing on the snow and in the parks, people leaving their jobs, taking the bus to get home, she saw people going in and out of the bars and clubs of downtown. There was a good feeling that surrounded the night life in Qorjal, which Lola felt every time she was out with her friends. It was a good feeling of being social, being among different people and groups of friends, about not knowing the adventures the night will save for them later. Lola certainly wouldn't trade it for anything, she loved being out a lot and years previously, Isaac used to be with her in these sleepless nights, but he was the one who could trade his fun over his blessed goal, as he used to say at the time.

Colorful lightning hit her face as she passed through downtown, and minutes later, she was on the way to get out of Qorjal's metropolitan area, heading to most quiet shore she ever knew. Getting to the bunker always took around forty minutes if the traffic in downtown was calm, but in that night Lola felt like the place was in the other part of the world because the car could barely get out of the same spot. The boys were expecting her arrival because she left a message over Isaac's phone, but that was not her first contact with one of them that day, since Gavin gave her a call early in the morning as he said he would do by the time they were safe and sound at their home.

When Lola was in front of the gate, she could hear noises from the inside. Isaac was probably doing something in the garage, The gate was quickly opened and her vehicle was inside the place as fast as it opened up for her. She saw Isaac wearing his usual dark clothing while he fixed some boxes in the corner. "Hello, Bethervan." She walked over to him and hugged the boy as he carried a box in his arms. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning the place." He placed another box in the pile.

"You know, today was my mother's day off but the studio called her to cover a headline about two people walking around the city during curfew night. I wonder who that might be."