Tearha: The Number 139

Chapter Forty-Three: The Tree of Crossroads

The man encircled the table, left fist pounding repeatedly into the old hard wood, the knocks resounding throughout the otherwise silent room. Each hit shook the table, which in turn shook the lantern on it and disturbed the flame within. Eight others stood around the set, their shadows dancing across the walking in flicks and flickers through booms, including the young man named Pausa Alvet. The pacing man stopped before the archway that lead into the area, setting both hands on the flat surface, letting out a sigh.

He relented, "I don't see a way out of this."

Pausa replied, "That's what I said when I first tried a condom. Turns out I was wrong back then as well." A woman laughed in the corner and Pausa winked back. "Gal knows what I'm talking about."

"Gallena!" the man yelled in frustration.

She replied, "What? It's funny." She composed herself before continuing, "Look, Luviet, we have to remain composed on this. We can think it through together."

But he ignored her. Instead, he turned to Pausa and reprimanded, "This is not the time for you wise-ass remarks."

"On the contrary," Pausa stepped up to table. "I think it's the perfect time for jokes. Everyone's stressed, the world's coming to an end, and we either become rulers of the universe or die in a suicide attack within the next few hours."

The room fell silent. Pausa felt disappointed. He thought he had teed up the joke with well placed wit and sarcasm. An explosion rang through the night, puffing dusts up from the cracks within the walls. Outside the broken window, fire raged across the landscape in the distance. Wind whistled through the shelled building. Not a single one of them reacted to the fighting outside. They were used to it. It was their everyday.

Luviet broke the silence. "Let's take a vote. Who's still in the fight?"

Gallena and three others raised their hands. She added, "Who thinks we should take the deal?" Luviet and another three agreed. "Pulse?"

The room turned to Pausa, who had yet to pass his ballot. The young man noted, "It doesn't seem right."

"Which side?" Luviet asked.

"Both," Pausa replied. "Fighting makes no sense here. With what we know, there's no guarantee continuing on would stop the war. But taking up the offer..."

"Sacrifice one life to save the world."

Pausa continued, "I have no doubt everyone in this room would volunteer if it came to that. But it does seem too good to be true."

"Why?" Luviet pushed.

"My guts."

The man's laugh hid an underlying tone of frustration. "No offence, my friend. But you're not a precog. Your instincts don't mean much to me." Luviet headed for the exit. "I'll be outside if you need me. Let me know when you've made your decision."

Gallena attempted to go after him, only for Pausa to stop her. "I'll go," he said.

"Okay," she replied without resistance. Leaning in, she gave him a kiss which he reciprocated deeply. She smelled of the sweat from the day. One day, he would miss those small moments of peace within the raging battlefield. One day, he would forget her. They parted and Gallena added, "I trust you."

He smiled to her before following Luviet out. The structure they hid in had been shelled by artillery earlier in the day and the floors above had collapsed onto the apartments opposite him. Miraculously, the room he had came out from had avoided the damages from the attacks and settled like a cave within the rubble. He stepped out of the destroyed building and out in the open.