Pandemonium [original]

Chapter Twelve: Safe Haven

Zaria sighed hopelessly. She had made a mechanical kitten as it meowed. It crawled up onto her head as she stood. She went to turn and show Mal then sighed. Ever since they'd gotten here, Mal had stayed glued to the Prince's side. She was glad he was happy, but without Huey around she couldn't stand being alone.

Zaria decided to sneak out again. She pulled on her sneakers, then slipped out as everyone was asleep. She sighed. The cool air felt good on her skin as she walked. The ever-glowing lights gave off tons of heat: so she could easily navigate. She wanted to find this park place that was world renown for these things called "cherry trees". She wondered if the had to do anything with Cherry bombs. The small girl stole another box of dumplings as she's now learned. She began to eat as the mechanical cat slept wrapped around her neck. She let her thoughts wander until she felt the side walk end, and she put a foot forward to test for anything. The air seemed suddenly cooler and she could smell water. Zaria closed the box of dumplings, and held the cat in her left arm. She bent down and dipped a hand into the cold water,  eventually finding a dry rock and sitting down after slipping off her shoes and dipping her feet into the pond. She let her thoughts linger once more. She thought of the past.

"Come on, little shadow we'll be late for school!!" Mal laughed. He was 8 then, two years older than Zaria. It'd been 6 months since his family had adopted her. Zaria bowed.
"Come on! I'm not royalty!! No need to be so formal," He laughed.
"You're so goofy." He took her hands down pulled her to school.

Her thoughts then lingered forward a few years.

Zaria was 10. Her graduation ceremony had begun. She was being taken in as the realms youngest, and smartest inventor to ever get into the military. Mal was there, but his parents were not. They didn't support her, and they still don't.

"Told ya you'd do it Mole!" Mal laughed.

Zaria came back to reality, feeling a sudden cooler breeze. She realized she'd started crying. She lowered her head and whispered.

"Dammit... Why...?  Don't you go too..."

She wiped away her tears harshly and stood. Suddenly smelling something sweet, she walked in its direction. She could hear the breeze whistle lightly through branches as a flower floated down landing on her hand. She felt the soft petals, and smelt the little flower.
"This must be a cherry blossom..."

"I see you found my hideout as well..."

She knew that voice. It was one she would smile upon, anytime she heard it. Huey. He seemed to be the only one who could understand her, and keep patient with her blindness. Mal did try to help, but he was still kinda ignorant about it.

"Huey... I-I'm sorry... If I c-caused t-trouble... again..." She sighed, holding the kitten.

"No one knows yet. Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." He stepped closer to her. He then draped his jacket over her shoulders, gently taking her hand.

"You ok...? You seem kinda lost."

"I let my mind linger on memories... It's no big deal..."

"You know, I always notice you keep away from everyone. Why is that?"

Zaria didn't answer for a few moments. She just stopped. She wondered, why did she hold back?  She wasn't scared... Was she...? Zaria shrugged.

"I dunno..."

Huey watched her. He didn't have powers, but he had a special knack for reading people's emotions.

"Don't lie Zaria..."
He gently set a hand on Zaria's cheek. He'd never noticed it before, but there were small rigid lines. They marked across her face and through her eyes. He leaned down and peered closer into her eyes. He then noticed the washed out, faded hue they took. The lines were barely visible through her eyes.

Zaria could feel his breath close to her face, but what was he doing? She couldn't help but blush. She wasn't complaining, but then she felt him trace the scars.

"Don't mind them it was just an accident..." Zaria lied.

"An explosion... No matter how small wouldn't be this precise... What happened...? You don't have to tell me." He sounded concerned.

Zaria sighed. Not even Mal knew the real story of her parents. She just felt different with Huey. Her heart would race. She couldn't collect her thoughts and they'd just run back to him. Zaria closed her eyes.

"I wasn't born blind... I didn't go blind till I was 6... Pandemonium... the humans had attacked the industrial village where I lived. They decimated it... took the survivors... forced them to work... They'd torture the kids to make their parents spill the information they wanted. In my case though... my parents were already dead!"

She had accidentally let her anger flare up. Her right eye seemed to let off a fiery glow.

Huey stared in horror for a moment, then he recollected himself. Huey laid a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. The blonde was surprised when he felt her hug back. Huey let her hide her face in his chest.

"I apologize for what they did.. I'm so sorry Zaria... I'd fix it if I could."

"Life works in mysterious ways... We just have to accept it and move on..."
Zaria sounded bitter.

Huey realized he wasn't hugging some child-like teen who played around: Zaria had grown up a long time ago, and it wasn't pretty either. By a sudden impulse... or rather strong feeling, he lightly kissed Zaria.

Zaria froze. She didn't know what to do, but she eventually slowly kissed back. Zaria smiled and hugged Huey tighter.

Huey smiled.

"You know you're smiles is prettier than the stars."

"The what?"

"Nevermind..."

Huey laughed as he pet the cat Zaria had made. He smiled, and ran a hand down her back.

"It's 4 A.M. ... Let's get you home."
Huey picked up Zaria and began to carry her home.

Zaria fell asleep in his arms as he carried her to his apartment. Huey laid her on his bed then walked out. He laid on the couch and fell asleep.