Reia- A Novella (COMPLETE)

Chapter 6

It was nearly sundown when Morai and Hazira reached the apartment. All businesses had closed early for the night, and the roads were packed. Hazira suspected that if they hadn't left the restaurant so early, they never would have made it back before dark. Hazira's apartment was on the northern side of the city, and it overlooked downtown. On clear nights they would often sit out on the deck and make a game of identifying the buildings below. Reia Tower, Kaar Offices, the Northside Convention Center... Then, having exhausted buildings to name, they would turn their attention to the stars. More often than not, they'd fall asleep together on the porch.

But tonight, Morai and Hazira were too nervous to relax. Morai had been reviewing new potential word strings, and Hazira was writing and rewriting equations predicting the trajectories of light waves in space. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, causing both scientists to jump.

"I got it," Morai yawned, standing to answer the door. After a second, the knocking returned, but louder. "I'm coming- I'm coming," he murmured, shuffling over.

He opened it to reveal a several soldiers in heavy black combat uniforms.

"Morai Paira?" one said in a gruff voice.

"Uh, yes?" Morai said, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot in his pajamas and slippers. "That's me?"

"The Four would like to speak with you," he said.

"Oh, okay," Morai said, taken aback. "When exactly should I head to the capital building?"

The man snarled. "Now."

Something heavy hit the side of Morai's head and he blacked out.

"Ugh," Morai muttered, blinking the blurriness out of his eyes. He was slumped in a chair up against the wall of what appeared to be an office waiting room.

That was fast, he thought initially. Generally, blackouts only last for a few minutes after being hit, after all. How did those men get me here so quickly?

Morai almost laughed at himself. If they were government men, they likely had unlimited resources. Making someone disappear fast probably wasn't hard for a few hired soldiers.

Morai almost laughed at himself again. The more important question, and the one he had neglected atrociously, was where was he?

It soon became clear to Morai that this was just an ordinary waiting room. There were lumpy chairs, potted plants, and old reading articles strewn about unceremoniously. But none of these things interested Morai.

He went over to a window, where he could see that he was overlooking the busiest part of downtown. Now, of course, it was empty, though the bright lights of downtown continued to glow. There was something disturbing about seeing a city so lit up and yet so completely devoid of life.

From the angle, Morai realized that he was in the capital building- Reia Tower. It was the biggest building in Reia, and the home of the offices and meeting spaces of the Four. Morai was going to talk to them after all! His heart began pounding. They were the most powerful people in the world, and he'd be meeting them soon for the second time in two weeks!

He was also in his pajamas.

...And Hazira would be worried sick! She only saw him get hit over the head in the doorway. Who knew what she was doing just then.

A door clicked somewhere behind Morai, who jumped. It was Mr. Goiya, followed by two masked guards who closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Goiya!" Morai exclaimed. "Sir! It's an honor, as always."

"Morai Paira," Goiya said with a nod. "Nice to see you again."

"I actually wanted to contact you and the rest of the Four," Morai said eagerly. "I hope you don't think me too bold to ask...I was just curious...?"

"Ask away, son," Goiya smiled.

"What... exactly made you put a curfew on the city?" Morai asked delicately. "It's... it was very short notice, sir, and many people-"

"-are safer now that the Glass Wing's agents can't roam the city at night," Goiya finished.

"There were likely agents roaming the city before you caught Silaro Rezona," Morai suggested gently.

"We were also nearly invaded by the Glass Wing before we caught Silaro Rezona," Goiya countered. "Our reasoning is not to be questioned by uninformed civilians like yourself, Mr. Paira."

"Yes, sir. My apologies, sir," Morai said slowly, dropping the matter. He was still more than a little confused. "What exactly is it you need from me?"

"I'll be blunt, Mr. Paira," Goiya said with a nod. "I'd like to know the combination to the room so expertly designed by Mr. Marfa."

"I'm sure you could look it up, sir," Morai said, confused.

Goiya's eyes flashed. He spoke slowly and with great condescension. "If I could simply look it up, would I need you, Mr. Paira?"

"Ah. Of course not, sir," Morai said.

"Precisely," Goiya said, with enormous false kindness. "I'm not sure why, but the combination to that particular door was never recorded. And so, I ask- yet again, what is the combination?"

Morai immediately became suspicious. Why did Goiya need the combination? He could just ask Marfa to use the room any time he needed. Where were the rest of the Four? And how did any of this justify a kidnapping?

"It's not my combination to give out, sir," Morai said gently. "I'm very sorry, but Marfa is my tutor and I would never give up his information without permission- not even to one such as yourself. However, I'm sure that if you ask Mr. Marfa, he'd be quite happy to give you the combination."

Goiya looked at the ceiling, apparently lost in thought. He chuckled sarcastically before looking back at Morai. "Mr. Marfa has, rather unfortunately, locked himself in the room. The WSEC, I believe, is what it is called?" Goiya said with a shrug. "We've already tried to contact him, but he refuses to respond."

If Morai had distrusted Goiya before, he downright feared him now. "You tried to find the combination to a lab you had never seen before two weeks ago, and then tried to enter the laboratory despite the door being locked?" he said quietly. "Then you send armed soldiers to my home to kidnap me? Sir... why do you care so much about our room?"

Goiya's eyes burned. He sighed. "Fine, then. Have it your way."

Goiya turned and walked out the door. The guards seized Morai by the shoulders and carried him roughly behind. They wound through several narrow hallways, coming to one that ended in a simple door.

"If you have to ask Marfa's permission before giving us the code, we'll gladly take you to Marfa," Goiya spat from up ahead. "Maybe you can help him see reason. Until then, I'm sure you wouldn't mind staying with us."

A guard opened the door and threw Morai in. Morai slammed up against the wall, hitting the back of his already-sore head and knocking the breath from his lungs.

"You owe me," Morai gasped, trying to sit up. "Marfa- and I... w-we helped you!"

"I owe you?" Goiya spat. He lifted up his hand. For a moment, in the lighting, it seemed to glow, looking almost orange. "Sure, Paira. Enjoy your stay."

The door swung shut and the lock clicked. Morai was locked in for the night.