The Wavering Hawk [ENGLISH]

P19. Behind Your Back

"So, Reana really isn't here anymore."

"Yes. Her volunteering period is over. We're under staff right now." Bryan said solemnly. "Glad to see you're in one piece."

I knew he was always looked exhausted even before we got along, but this time, he looked extremely worn out. His usual dark toned skin turned pale, his hair messy, and his body looked thinner. "You're not going?"

"To where?" Bryan replied bitterly. He gestured on all of his body. "You think I wasn't from around here?"

"Probably."

Bryan sighed. "You're half right," he admitted. "I am not from here. Not from Yemen, at least. But is that matter? This endless war had taken not only lives from millions of survivor of this planet."

I shifted my gaze to serene Fatima on my lap before wandering to the desert aroung us, comparing the sight of this camp before I was captured.

"Is this all of them?"

"As you see." Bryan told grimly. "We have nothing much left. I've asked for supplies and more staffs, but we're in Maha's territory now. Everything about Humans were regulated strictly." He laughed bitterly. "Moving out again was not even an option. With this mess and s many lives on stake, none of us can make it to another country."

He looked Fatima who hugged me tightly, soundly sat on my lap.

"Good thing is, that girl finally opened up to someone other than Reana." Bryan told me. "The first month was a mess. She refused to interact with anyone. We've begun to think about replacing her to a safer place. Far away from this war. She refused."

On my lap, Fatima suddenly nodded. She gazed up on me with unusually happy face. "Fatima ... stay!"

"You should sleep."

The girl shook her head. "No."

Fatima poked my shirt, she pointed at her chest. Then she shook her head.

"She doesn't want you to go." Bryan explained when I was at loss. Fatima spoke in puzzle again. "Because the last time you were here, you leave her."

She pouted and snuggled to me even closer.

"Will you stay?" Bryan stopped me. His eyes met mine and I saw anxiety clouded his eyes. "This time?'

That question finally out. Honestly, I didn't know what to do next. But Reana isn't here and I heard Equatorial was in mess. Just like Hadriah. I am a fugitive now. Alliance's couldn't just sat idly. I brought Lohengrin with me, so they might have sent pursuer to drag me back and sent me to where I supposed to be: Equatorial Federation.

No one talked between us. Winds of night whirled wildly outside, like a sand storm.

"No." I told him. Fatima hold me tighter. I hugged her close. "I will leave immediately. I came here to make sure you were all right. All of you. That's all."

"I see." Bryan sighed. "Many things have happened to you."

I looked at my arms. The pain in my chest now spiraling, whirling like a wind. Uncontrollable. Though, it didn't feel bad at all, I couldn't get used to things like this in anytime near. I was Fatima safe right now. Because I haven't take half of the drugs yet. If I took it, I couldn't be holding her like this.

This girl would be nothing but a hindrance, I would think like that for sure. Abandoning her would be the best and the first choice in my mind and there was no doubt I would do that immediately. Leaving her to the world that could do anything to her.

I flinched when Fatima suddenly trembled in my arms.

"Many things happened indeed, Oberst."

That voice cracked every last of peace I've felt here. The winds got chilly as I turned around, facing a floating shackle-blade.