To The End of Time

Chapter 14: Trust

Dark clouds spread across the sky while the air remained static with electricity. A glance at his com reaffirmed the approach of the growing storm, while various lighting strikes from blue to red flashed already through the clouds.

"My place isn't too far from here."

Pavel glanced at Kaia. Ever since their escape from the archives, a heavy, suffocating silence fell across them. There were still things that needed to be discussed. "

Alright." More strikes flickered across the clouds. "Lead the way." Saria stayed close to his side as they crossed to the safety of the hoverpads.

Even though the floating islands were magnetized to stay in the air if the power on the hover orbs short circuited, they still would fall for a few seconds before they kicked in so it was safer to just be on the lower floors. Already the crowds thinned out as they raced to the safety of their buildings, not wanting to be the first casualty of the electrical storm.

A mother rushed three children through the door where he had almost been killed. "Kaia, what happened to her body?"

Kaia glanced at the door as well. "She had no family left." So, she was most likely burned at the factory then. A small feeling, a sense of guilt, tightened his chest. It wasn't an uncommon death, to be tossed into the factory's rubble without a second thought. It was rare for those of little wealth to actually have a funeral.

His father's funeral had been simple, filled with people who mourn the loss of a "great" king. Would those close to me mourn as well? Elieen might. From the moment they met, he could see she had a kind if naive heart filled with compassion. No wonder his brother clinged to her like a stormcell to light.

Ursus. Pavel's lips pressed together. His hand pressed against his abdomen where he knew his pancreas was. He was the perfect match which meant...was that the only reason his father had those affairs? Was he trying to rebuild him from scratch?

"We're here." Kaia pressed her hand against the pad. As the door slid open, a metallic smell filled his nostrils. He pushed Kaia back as he stepped into the room. Dark red coated the floor. In the center, staring up at the sky with lifeless blue eyes was an Aceroan.

Pavel's thoughts turned. Why would one of those be here? They were an isolated race, barely daring to go anywhere far from their beloved oceans. A creature emerged from the shadows, licking its blood coated lips as Kaia's Eicdae gave a single tail thump of greeting.

"Asuria." Kaia pulled her into a hug. "You're ok."

"She is but the intruder isn't." Pavel made his way to the body. Other than his neck, Asuria left the corpse untouched. Kneeling down, he activated his com to bathe the deseased man in light.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to see if I can figure out who this may..." Pavel trailed off as a video popped up. He watched the man glance around before he disappeared into the building in front of him. No sooner than he exited, the building burst into flames, erupting from the inside out.

He's one of the bomb setters. His eyes flickered back to the dead man. He's part of the rebellion. But that didn't make sense. Why would a rebellion member sneak into Kaia's place? Did they know that she was working with him? But no one knew anything except Kaia except the people at the archives....unless....

Pavel's stomach turned. No, it couldn't be. Could the rebellion and the council be...working together? Pavel stepped back. Could this whole thing be a set up? His blood turned cold. If that's true, then the rebellion was never the enemy.