Interstellar

✯ 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕏𝕀 ✯

Year 3828 — Neon Market — Section Unus

"You." Astraea didn't move as she saw Zeph standing among the displayed artifacts.

A smirk was brought to his face as he steps closer to her. "You? I thought I told you my name. Have you forgotten it already even after you begged so much?"

Astraea took a step back, Lyris' warning running through her head.

"Don't get any closer." She placed a hand on the grip of one of her guns that was previously hidden by her cloak. He listened, stopping just a few feet away from her. "What are you doing here? To steal something else."

"Right on the dot, little sparkler." He didn't deny it. "I'm here on some errands. Will you try to stop me again?"

"Yes. You're a wanted criminal." Even if Lyris did tell her to stay away from him, she couldn't pass the chance of stopping him. If he didn't kill her last time, why would he kill her this time?

"A criminal? Do you call people that help, criminals? Usually they're called heroes." He kept his eyes on her and only then could she see the light brown that encircles his irises. It was like a forest growing from the earth.

"You steal COSMIC property and you're stealing from this store. It's my job to stop you." Astraea clenched her hand around the sheathed gun, unsure of when she would be able to take it out.

His mischievous smile remained on his face as he took a step closer to her. "You'll have to catch me first." A dagger flew out from his sheath, embedding Astraea's cloak to the wall behind her. Zeph didn't wait as he bolted down the dark grey painted halls.

Seeing that he was making a run for it, Astraea threw off her cloak, not bothering to remove the knife. She ran after him, weaving through the tables and shelves of products.

Astraea had never been more thankful for Colonel Cosmara's training than in that moment. Zeph had underestimated her speed. She was quick to catch up to him and once she did, a swift kick was sent at his back.

Unable to avoid, Zeph rolled across the floor, crashing into an ungrounded pedestal. The crash sent the pedestal onto the floor, along with a glass encasing holding a red glowing gemstone.

"Don't you dare try and run again." Astraea had pulled out her gun and was in a similar position as the first time they met. He groaned, picking himself up in a sitting position.

"You're so violent. This is the second time you've caused me to tumble onto the ground." He said as wisps of blonde hair were blown into his eyes.

Before Astraea could answer him, there was a flash of red light front the corner of her eye. The impact shook her to her very core, as if something puncture her heart. Unable to withstand it, her knees hit the ground just in front of where Zeph was also experiencing the same thing.

She gripped her chest for thirty more seconds before the light disappeared as if nothing happened. Astraea looked at Zeph's shocked face holding her own similar face.

"What did you do?" She bit out as the pain in her chest subsided.

"That wasn't me." His breath was ragged as he looked around the hall they were in. He then made eye contact with the glass casing. The red spherical stone inside was shattered into two perfect pieces and no longer glowing.

"That stone, what is it?"Astraea asked more to herself than him.

Zeph didn't answer as he quickly stood up, ignoring the case on the ground. "I'm not sure, but I can't stick around to find out. I'll let you deal with the rest. I hope we never have to met again, little sparkler." He took off into another run.