Chahaya dan Surya (BOOK 2 OF MUTIARA TRILOGY)

Sapphire Brooch

'But why? Why did she set me up and use me like this? Does Madam Bintang owe Neo Renegades something that she decided to use me as a tool to bail her out?'

Ara messes up her head in frustration. She understands how she got here now. But she is unable to understand as to why Madam Bintang sets her up to be kidnapped by the Neo Renegades.

"Or could it be that she is one of them? That means that there are two moles in the palace! Guntur and Madam Bintang! I need to tell Prince Surya!"

But then she remembers that he is uncreachable at the moment. He is somewhere in this headquarter but she has no clue where exactly his location is.

Without any sunlight, Ara is unable to determine how many hours have passed and whether or not it is still morning, noon, or close to evening. She only knows that a lot of time has passed. But then again, what is the meaning of time when you are imprisoned in this window-less cell.

She begins to lie in her bed and counts the second. But as she approaches a few hundred, she has lulled herself to sleep. A slamming of a door wakes her up. She is drenched in sweat.

"Who are you people? Where am I?" a male's voice can be heard yelling from what it sounds like a room next door.

Then another slam of door echoes in the hall.

"HEY! Answer me!! It is an order!!" yelled the man again.

"You cannot imprison me! Do you know who I am?"

"Prince Surya?" she said more to herself than to anyone because she just assumes nobody could hear her.

"Mutiara?" To her surprise, Prince Surya can hear her.

"Your Highness, you can hear me? This is me, Ara!"

"Ara! You're okay!" he sounds beyond relief.

Both Ara and Prince Surya are now sticking their ears on the wall that separates them. Apparently there is a ventilation between the room which allows sound to travel.

"I am okay! Are you okay? When did you wake up?" Ara is extremely happy that she almost cries again.

"Just now. They immediately brought me here," said Prince Surya.

The short-lived euphoria dissipated as if it never existed. Then there was silence. Both Ara and Prince Surya ponder as to how they came to be here. Their kiss and the ambush.

"Where are we, Ara?" Prince Surya's question breaks the silence.

"We are under water. This is called the Neo Renegades Headquarter. I believe it is a submarine. It must have been anchored to the bottom of the sea," answered Ara.

"Pardon?"

"We are at the bottom of the sea, Your Highness."

"But how is that possible?"

"I..I also have no clue, Your Highness."

"You can just call me Surya now. We are not at the kingdom and I am not sure if I will ever come back to be a prince."

"What do you mean? You are a prince. You are THE prince!" replied Ara, taken aback by how Prince Surya seemed to feel so small after knowing where they are as well as the real situation they are in.

There was a pause before he says,"You are right. I am the prince. We will figure this out, Ara."

Ara smiles. For a moment, she does not remember or care if he cannot see her smile.

This is the first time in days that she feels some happiness. Prince Surya is like a ray of hope to her. She is not going to rot in this prison cell.

"You should rest..Uhmm.. Surya," Ara said.

"I am not tired. I think I have slept for days now."

"I see."

Ara leans her back against the wall and lets herself slowly falls on the cold floor. She stares emptily at the brooch in front of her, laying in the dust.

"I need to tell you something," she begins.

"You may speak," he said.

He sounds more relaxed. Ara imagines him to be leaning against the wall as well, relaxed and approachable. It gives her courage to tell the truth.

"You are here because of me. It is me that they wanted. I am sorry I dragged you into this." She swallowed some saliva right after she said it.

"It is not your fault, Ara. You are imprisoned too, aren't you?" he said calmly.

"No, you don't understand. I have been set up and I ended up dragging you here with me and now we don't know if we ever will see Garuda again!"

To her surprise, Prince Surya did not answer immediately.

"You were set up you said?" he asked.

"Uhmm. Yes."

"By whom? Do you know who set you up?" he sounds more sharp.

"I think by the head maid. Her name is Madam Bintang," answered Ara.