[C O M P L E T E D]
Finished on 1 Jan 2019
It is now the 22th Century and the year is 2112. Times are extremely different from the 21st Century. Now, the world is divided into only four continents- and Alara Berrera resides in Excidium.
In Excidium...
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TANIA
Gabriel and Rielle were dead.
Alara, in a coma.
Maren, shell-shocked and healing from his grievous injuries.
Keyla, astounded and pent-up with guilt.
And she? She, Tania de Allura, had withdrawn into her shell like a coward, unable to face everyone.
My fault, my fault, my fault.
MAREN
Spears of regret pierced his heart as he watched Alara Berrera lying unconscious on the bed of the infirmary of the Agency.
"She needs another surgery and a blood transfusion too. Maren, your blood is compatible with hers. Can you do it? It's ok if you don't want to," the nurse had added as an afterthought the day before.
There were no afterthoughts on his part and he had no hesitations either. His answer was more of a reflex than a decision- it did not require any thought process and it was as instinctual as him protecting himself in a fight. He had just agreed immediately.
Of course he had. It wasn't just because of his guilt; he cared deeply for her and he wouldn't be surprised if that care went beyond the platonic level. He missed his friend, missed her sass, missed her being her vivacious self, missed her grunting and swearing at him whenever they worked out together.
He missed her.
When he had found her in a life-or-death situation, his world had spun and would have obliterated if the doctors didn't assure him that there was a 20% chance of her surviving.
"She's strong, Maren. She's in her prime. She can do it."
Even now, he was still holding on to that 20% chance protectively and with such a ferocity that even the Grim Reaper would have to ask his permission to take Alara Berrera from this earth.
Unless Alara told him to let her go, that she was in deep pain, that she wanted to die, he would never let her go.
He couldn't help but blame himself for being unable to prevent her from being caught in such a stressful life-and-death situation. Despite them planning everything fastidiously- even to the most seemingly nugatory detail, things had gone unexpectedly awry. After all, hadn't Keyla and Tania had assured him that there would be a maximum of six guards guarding the third floor and four on the first?
So how on Earth did the situation on the main floor get so out of hand? It made no sense as Alara, Keyla, Tania, Rielle and Gabe had single-handedly defended and fought against dozens of guards- thrice the number that was reported to them!
Maren entrusted Tania and Keyla with his life and there was not one bit of dubiety that they were immensely loyal to him and the Agency. There was no way that they would willingly betray them- so who was the mole?
