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| Clarity can be achieved when all distractions are removed |
Act 2, Chapter 1: Night
A woman was adjusting her coat as she sat in front of her desk, making sure her name tag was perfectly aligned as the double doors at the front of the room swung open. Lily, Caleb and Jonah in the lead with Maria just behind them slightly being blocked by the people in front of her. The blonde haired girl at the front desk feigned her best smile and greeted the four approaching her. “Welcome to the Cambris gateway hotel, you four.” She said with enthusiasm. Lily reached into a small handbag she had strapped over her shoulder and resting on the long white dress she was wearing and pulled out some identification.
“My father owns this hotel and I believe we have reservations.” She said matter-of-factly, the woman reached down and inspected the picture of the girl, looking up to check her face. While she had much longer hair and no huge scar on the side of her face, it was still matched up pretty well. “Ah, Ms. Sterling then.” She said with a smile, reaching down and unfolding a small flap underneath the desk, pulling out two pairs of keys and sliding them toward her. “These are for the top floor, all expenses have been paid for already out of your bank account.” She said with a smile, Lily grabbing them and giving a nod of thanks before she noticed the secretary glaring with an odd face.
She was looking at Maria, who had a glossy piece of duct tape over her mouth. Along with disheveled hair and still wearing her school uniform, her hands bound together by a hemp rope. “...Can I ask why this young woman is bound in ropes and tape?” She asked curiously, Lily tilting her head and rubbing her chin as she tried to explain, Caleb walked up and placed his hands on the desk to look at her. “Hey, we're paying you not to ask questions!” He said to her, but that just made her more confused. Jonah reached up and grabbed a corner of the tape over Maria mouth.
Her eyes widened a bit, shaking her head out of fear and attempting to mumble a warning to him not to do it. He ripped off the tape in one swift pull, the stinging feeling nearly sharp and instant in the amount of pain. “SHIT!” Maria shouted, the large somewhat empty main room echoing her voice several times. Jonah then quickly unbound her hands, which were tied long enough to have the reddened, rope burned look to her wrists. Maria glared up at him with a furious look. “S-sorry for tying you up, Maria... Was the best idea we had to make you go.” He apologized nervously, Maria reaching up and grabbing the collar of his simple blue cotton jacket.
“I have so much contempt for all of you cunts...” She growled, cocking her fist back at Jonah in preparation to punch him in the face. “No! No! Wait!” Jonah shouted, raising his hands in preparation for any face punches about to come his way. Maria let go of his collar, not really intending to hit him. “Calm down everyone, you're making a scene...” The secretary spoke bashfully to try and keep everything calm. She reached up to the phone and held it up to Maria as she turned to look at her. “If you want, we can call the authorities on them!” She offered, Maria's anger subsided as she realized how stupid this entire thing was. She just sunk her head and began to walk toward the marble staircase. “Oh fuck it, never mind...” She said out of defeat.
Everyone quietly walked after her, Lily pocketing the keys quietly as they followed Maria up the stairs, slightly going at a faster pace so they could catch up with her. “Hey Maria! We're sorry!” Lily shouted over to her, Maria glaring up at her and keeping silent until they got to their room. She reached out to get her keys, but Maria snatched one out of her hands, walking to the room adjacent to it and unlocking the door. “I'm going to lay down, don't bother me.” She said, popping the door open and slamming it so hard they could hear the walls rattle slightly. Caleb walked up to the door and shouted through it to see if she could hear him.
A woman was adjusting her coat as she sat in front of her desk, making sure her name tag was perfectly aligned as the double doors at the front of the room swung open. Lily, Caleb and Jonah in the lead with Maria just behind them slightly being blocked by the people in front of her. The blonde haired girl at the front desk feigned her best smile and greeted the four approaching her. “Welcome to the Cambris gateway hotel, you four.” She said with enthusiasm. Lily reached into a small handbag she had strapped over her shoulder and resting on the long white dress she was wearing and pulled out some identification.
“My father owns this hotel and I believe we have reservations.” She said matter-of-factly, the woman reached down and inspected the picture of the girl, looking up to check her face. While she had much longer hair and no huge scar on the side of her face, it was still matched up pretty well. “Ah, Ms. Sterling then.” She said with a smile, reaching down and unfolding a small flap underneath the desk, pulling out two pairs of keys and sliding them toward her. “These are for the top floor, all expenses have been paid for already out of your bank account.” She said with a smile, Lily grabbing them and giving a nod of thanks before she noticed the secretary glaring with an odd face.
She was looking at Maria, who had a glossy piece of duct tape over her mouth. Along with disheveled hair and still wearing her school uniform, her hands bound together by a hemp rope. “...Can I ask why this young woman is bound in ropes and tape?” She asked curiously, Lily tilting her head and rubbing her chin as she tried to explain, Caleb walked up and placed his hands on the desk to look at her. “Hey, we're paying you not to ask questions!” He said to her, but that just made her more confused. Jonah reached up and grabbed a corner of the tape over Maria mouth.
Her eyes widened a bit, shaking her head out of fear and attempting to mumble a warning to him not to do it. He ripped off the tape in one swift pull, the stinging feeling nearly sharp and instant in the amount of pain. “SHIT!” Maria shouted, the large somewhat empty main room echoing her voice several times. Jonah then quickly unbound her hands, which were tied long enough to have the reddened, rope burned look to her wrists. Maria glared up at him with a furious look. “S-sorry for tying you up, Maria... Was the best idea we had to make you go.” He apologized nervously, Maria reaching up and grabbing the collar of his simple blue cotton jacket.
“I have so much contempt for all of you cunts...” She growled, cocking her fist back at Jonah in preparation to punch him in the face. “No! No! Wait!” Jonah shouted, raising his hands in preparation for any face punches about to come his way. Maria let go of his collar, not really intending to hit him. “Calm down everyone, you're making a scene...” The secretary spoke bashfully to try and keep everything calm. She reached up to the phone and held it up to Maria as she turned to look at her. “If you want, we can call the authorities on them!” She offered, Maria's anger subsided as she realized how stupid this entire thing was. She just sunk her head and began to walk toward the marble staircase. “Oh fuck it, never mind...” She said out of defeat.
Everyone quietly walked after her, Lily pocketing the keys quietly as they followed Maria up the stairs, slightly going at a faster pace so they could catch up with her. “Hey Maria! We're sorry!” Lily shouted over to her, Maria glaring up at her and keeping silent until they got to their room. She reached out to get her keys, but Maria snatched one out of her hands, walking to the room adjacent to it and unlocking the door. “I'm going to lay down, don't bother me.” She said, popping the door open and slamming it so hard they could hear the walls rattle slightly. Caleb walked up to the door and shouted through it to see if she could hear him.
“Hey! We're going to head to the
beach, come join us when you want!” He shouted through the door,
only to hear her shout “GO FUCK YOURSELVES!” in response. Jonah
walked up and leaned against the wall to look at Caleb with some
slight annoyance. “Hey, man... Who said we were going to the
beach?” He questioned. Caleb looked back at him nonplussed and gave
a soft sigh. “We need to wait until Lily's butlers unpack all of
our things and get them in the hotel room... And isn't Cambris known
for it's beaches?
Lily reached up to lightly stroke her chin, Jonah and Caleb getting away from the door to stand at a more comfortable distance. “Hey, Rosewall has alright beaches too...” Lily calmly argued, Caleb throwing his head back for a brief bemused chuckle. “It's only hot enough to want to go to the beach for like... 10 days out of the year, and even then it's windy.” He complained, Jonah and Lily just kind of staring up at him.
“Rosewall is shitty, Lily. Cambris has Bright skies, warm sun, pretty girls to possibly meet... I think I have enough reasons to go. How about you two?” He asked, pressing his hands onto both of their shoulders and giving a jovial grin. “I don't really care about meeting a bunch of girls, but I might as well go.” Jonah said in slight agreement, Lily nodding and walking off ahead of them. “I'll tell Sebastian to get our swimsuits.” She said, walking down the stairs. Jonah and Caleb looking at each other for a second before going to follow her once again.
A couple of hours later, as the sun slowly drifted from noon to a couple of hours before sunset. Maria walked up to a parasol with a couple of blankets underneath of it. Jonah was wearing a baggy pair of blue shorts, and Lily was wearing a light blue modest one piece and a pair of oversized sunglasses as well. She looked up at Maria and smiled. “Hey! You finally made it out.” She said, Maria was wearing a long baggy pair of pants and a loose white T shirt with a black cat on it.
“Hey... You're wearing a shirt with a cat on it!” She said, pointing an accusatory finger up toward Maria's chest. Maria reached down, pinching the cotton of her shirt and looking at it. “That I am.” She replied flatly. Lily leaped up onto her feet to point even more ridiculously at her. “You wouldn't wear the cat sweater I made for you, yet you wear this picture of a cat!? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!” She shouted, before realizing she was poking her finger against Maria's chest. Maria responded by shoving her off hard enough to spin her around and landing face first onto the sand. “...The cat sweater sucked, Lily.” Maria casually commented, Lily lifted her head off of the sand, her short hair now full of it.
“But I got it because I loved you!” She shouted loudly enough to make other beach goers stop in their tracks and stare at her. Maria blinked a couple of times, looking around at everyone glaring at both of them with strange feelings. “Uhhh... Okay.” She awkwardly replied, crossing her arms together and looking at her. “It's not fair!” She shouted as Jonah lightly pressed a hand on her shoulder. “It's fine, Lily... Calm down.” He said, trying to be the voice of reason. He awkwardly smiled at Maria, standing up and standing at her face to face.
“So uhh... Do you feel like swimming, Maria?” He asked her, clasping his hands together and glaring at Maria. Maria scratched her chin gently and sighed some. “No, not really.” She replied, Jonah looking down at Lily before talking through his gritted teeth. “Go swimming, Maria.” He said, not sounding like it was a suggestion. Maria sighed and shrugged her shoulders, turning around to walk over to the water. “God... You people are weird.” She yelled back at them before getting to the shore. Jonah knelt down beside her and started brushing the sand out of her hair as he spoke. “Hey, Lily... Can I ask you something?” He said, Lily crossing her arms over her knees out of frustration. “Yeah? What do you want?” She wondered, Jonah taking a deep breath before responding.
Lily reached up to lightly stroke her chin, Jonah and Caleb getting away from the door to stand at a more comfortable distance. “Hey, Rosewall has alright beaches too...” Lily calmly argued, Caleb throwing his head back for a brief bemused chuckle. “It's only hot enough to want to go to the beach for like... 10 days out of the year, and even then it's windy.” He complained, Jonah and Lily just kind of staring up at him.
“Rosewall is shitty, Lily. Cambris has Bright skies, warm sun, pretty girls to possibly meet... I think I have enough reasons to go. How about you two?” He asked, pressing his hands onto both of their shoulders and giving a jovial grin. “I don't really care about meeting a bunch of girls, but I might as well go.” Jonah said in slight agreement, Lily nodding and walking off ahead of them. “I'll tell Sebastian to get our swimsuits.” She said, walking down the stairs. Jonah and Caleb looking at each other for a second before going to follow her once again.
A couple of hours later, as the sun slowly drifted from noon to a couple of hours before sunset. Maria walked up to a parasol with a couple of blankets underneath of it. Jonah was wearing a baggy pair of blue shorts, and Lily was wearing a light blue modest one piece and a pair of oversized sunglasses as well. She looked up at Maria and smiled. “Hey! You finally made it out.” She said, Maria was wearing a long baggy pair of pants and a loose white T shirt with a black cat on it.
“Hey... You're wearing a shirt with a cat on it!” She said, pointing an accusatory finger up toward Maria's chest. Maria reached down, pinching the cotton of her shirt and looking at it. “That I am.” She replied flatly. Lily leaped up onto her feet to point even more ridiculously at her. “You wouldn't wear the cat sweater I made for you, yet you wear this picture of a cat!? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!” She shouted, before realizing she was poking her finger against Maria's chest. Maria responded by shoving her off hard enough to spin her around and landing face first onto the sand. “...The cat sweater sucked, Lily.” Maria casually commented, Lily lifted her head off of the sand, her short hair now full of it.
“But I got it because I loved you!” She shouted loudly enough to make other beach goers stop in their tracks and stare at her. Maria blinked a couple of times, looking around at everyone glaring at both of them with strange feelings. “Uhhh... Okay.” She awkwardly replied, crossing her arms together and looking at her. “It's not fair!” She shouted as Jonah lightly pressed a hand on her shoulder. “It's fine, Lily... Calm down.” He said, trying to be the voice of reason. He awkwardly smiled at Maria, standing up and standing at her face to face.
“So uhh... Do you feel like swimming, Maria?” He asked her, clasping his hands together and glaring at Maria. Maria scratched her chin gently and sighed some. “No, not really.” She replied, Jonah looking down at Lily before talking through his gritted teeth. “Go swimming, Maria.” He said, not sounding like it was a suggestion. Maria sighed and shrugged her shoulders, turning around to walk over to the water. “God... You people are weird.” She yelled back at them before getting to the shore. Jonah knelt down beside her and started brushing the sand out of her hair as he spoke. “Hey, Lily... Can I ask you something?” He said, Lily crossing her arms over her knees out of frustration. “Yeah? What do you want?” She wondered, Jonah taking a deep breath before responding.
“Uhh... I want you to meet me on the
overhanging balcony of the hotel later.” He requested, Lily looking
a bit confused as to what could be the reason why. “Uhm.. What
time?” She asked, Jonah rubbed his now clean shaven face, the
stubble long gone. “Well.. how about 11 PM?” He offered, Lily
pondering a bit before smiling at him. “Well alright, Jonah... I
usually sleep earlier than that but well... it's a vacation.” She
claimed happily, Jonah smiling as Caleb walked up to their side in a
pair of black shorts, putting his hands on his hips and sighing some
in defeat.
“Man, I have no idea what's happening to me today.” Caleb sighed, rubbing some sweat off his brow and taking a seat back on the beach towel. Jonah sat down next to him and leaned back onto his arms as Lily watched Maria attempting to pad around in the water like a dog. Not because she was having fun, mostly because she felt like she was being spited. “What are you talking about?” Jonah asked, watching Caleb finish the last sip of his knock-off brand of lime flavored soda before setting it down on the beach towel.
“I tried to see if there was a single girl interested in me, and everyone told me to leave.” He explained, Jonah raising a brow at him as he started to shake his head at nothing in particular. “What am I doing wrong? Do people think I'm just an asshole?” He complained, shrugging his hands as Jonah just sort of stared at him. “Yes, you're an asshole.” Jonah said without a beat, his face completely straight. Caleb groaned out of annoyance and glared up at him. “You have at least tried to humor me a little, Jo...” He commented, Jonah chuckling a little bit until he was cut off by the sound of shouting.
“Oh shit, a current!” Maria shouted while in the water. Lily instantly sprung to her feet and ran to the shoreline, watching as Maria struggled against the water. It didn't seem like she was drowning, but she was slowly drifting west along the water, not really being pulled toward or away. “Maria!” Lily shouted, as Maria started to flail and kick at the water to move. “Why is there a current here!?” Maria shouted back at her, but Lily realized something very quickly. Maria was moving away really slowly, like... stupidly slowly. She was barely even being pulled away at this point, Lily sighed softly and resumed shouting at Maria. “Have you tried swimming out of it?” She shouted, Maria kind of flopping onto her back and flailing her arms like a child.
“I never said I was a good swimmer!” She shouted back, Lily sighing as Jonah and Caleb watched the very unusual sight. Jonah walked up to watch this strange sight, clasping his hands together to shout at her as well. “But I've SEEN you swim well, why can't you do it NOW!?” He questioned, Maria pausing a bit as she kept flailing. “...Go fuck yourself, Jonah! I'm panicking!” Maria shouted, Jonah sighing as Caleb sighed. “...She's being dramatic again, let's just go back to the hotel.” Caleb mentioned, Maria shouting incoherently out of anger while everyone pretty much abandoned her to head to the hotel.
“Come back here you pricks! Fuck... fuckfuckfuckfuck!” She muttered out of annoyance, slowly drifting down the beach by the slow but pretty strong current, but admittedly she decided to half ass it and not actually bother swimming back to the shore until she was about a mile away from where she started. She paddled to the nearby shore, stepping through the wet sand as her body was dripping seawater. Gale emerged once again with a very confused expression on his face, at least as confused as a bird could be.
“What the hell was that?” He asked calmly, Maria glaring at him as she slowly began to walk through the dry sand, the wind of the evening making her much colder thanks to the water. “I'm not exactly sure why I forgot how to swim just there... Maybe the current was just a surprise. Wait, where the hell was the lifeguard?” She asked, Gale just shrugging his wings some as he started to float along side of her. “I guess it was one of those strange moments where no one really wanted to bother.” She replied.
Gale sighed some, looking over to the flowing ocean waves as the sun began to paint the sky a deep purple color. “That's so unusual.” He mentioned, Maria looking at him to see what he was staring at, slipping her hands into the pockets of her wet pants as she turned to face the sunset as well. “Look at the rift, Maria.” He said, pointing a wing in that general direction. Maria glanced up to stare at it. It was the same way she remembered, north to south right in the very center of the sky. “Yeah... what about the rift, Gale?” She wondered, kicking her sneaker covered feet in the sand with a light squelch, she was soaked to the bone from being in the water for too long.
“Man, I have no idea what's happening to me today.” Caleb sighed, rubbing some sweat off his brow and taking a seat back on the beach towel. Jonah sat down next to him and leaned back onto his arms as Lily watched Maria attempting to pad around in the water like a dog. Not because she was having fun, mostly because she felt like she was being spited. “What are you talking about?” Jonah asked, watching Caleb finish the last sip of his knock-off brand of lime flavored soda before setting it down on the beach towel.
“I tried to see if there was a single girl interested in me, and everyone told me to leave.” He explained, Jonah raising a brow at him as he started to shake his head at nothing in particular. “What am I doing wrong? Do people think I'm just an asshole?” He complained, shrugging his hands as Jonah just sort of stared at him. “Yes, you're an asshole.” Jonah said without a beat, his face completely straight. Caleb groaned out of annoyance and glared up at him. “You have at least tried to humor me a little, Jo...” He commented, Jonah chuckling a little bit until he was cut off by the sound of shouting.
“Oh shit, a current!” Maria shouted while in the water. Lily instantly sprung to her feet and ran to the shoreline, watching as Maria struggled against the water. It didn't seem like she was drowning, but she was slowly drifting west along the water, not really being pulled toward or away. “Maria!” Lily shouted, as Maria started to flail and kick at the water to move. “Why is there a current here!?” Maria shouted back at her, but Lily realized something very quickly. Maria was moving away really slowly, like... stupidly slowly. She was barely even being pulled away at this point, Lily sighed softly and resumed shouting at Maria. “Have you tried swimming out of it?” She shouted, Maria kind of flopping onto her back and flailing her arms like a child.
“I never said I was a good swimmer!” She shouted back, Lily sighing as Jonah and Caleb watched the very unusual sight. Jonah walked up to watch this strange sight, clasping his hands together to shout at her as well. “But I've SEEN you swim well, why can't you do it NOW!?” He questioned, Maria pausing a bit as she kept flailing. “...Go fuck yourself, Jonah! I'm panicking!” Maria shouted, Jonah sighing as Caleb sighed. “...She's being dramatic again, let's just go back to the hotel.” Caleb mentioned, Maria shouting incoherently out of anger while everyone pretty much abandoned her to head to the hotel.
“Come back here you pricks! Fuck... fuckfuckfuckfuck!” She muttered out of annoyance, slowly drifting down the beach by the slow but pretty strong current, but admittedly she decided to half ass it and not actually bother swimming back to the shore until she was about a mile away from where she started. She paddled to the nearby shore, stepping through the wet sand as her body was dripping seawater. Gale emerged once again with a very confused expression on his face, at least as confused as a bird could be.
“What the hell was that?” He asked calmly, Maria glaring at him as she slowly began to walk through the dry sand, the wind of the evening making her much colder thanks to the water. “I'm not exactly sure why I forgot how to swim just there... Maybe the current was just a surprise. Wait, where the hell was the lifeguard?” She asked, Gale just shrugging his wings some as he started to float along side of her. “I guess it was one of those strange moments where no one really wanted to bother.” She replied.
Gale sighed some, looking over to the flowing ocean waves as the sun began to paint the sky a deep purple color. “That's so unusual.” He mentioned, Maria looking at him to see what he was staring at, slipping her hands into the pockets of her wet pants as she turned to face the sunset as well. “Look at the rift, Maria.” He said, pointing a wing in that general direction. Maria glanced up to stare at it. It was the same way she remembered, north to south right in the very center of the sky. “Yeah... what about the rift, Gale?” She wondered, kicking her sneaker covered feet in the sand with a light squelch, she was soaked to the bone from being in the water for too long.
“How far are we away from Rosewall?”
He asked her, Maria reached up to scratch her head some, trying to
remember some semblance of a thing she learned back when she attended
school. “Uhh... Ballpark guess here... About 2000 miles south and
800 miles east, I remember that because we have to memorize all the
time zones while in Mrs. Baker's class.” Maria replied, Gale
staring up at it some more before approaching her a bit closer and
perching onto her shoulder. “So, where is it in the sky, then?”
He questioned, Maria's eyes widening as she just figured out what
that could possibly mean.
“It's in the exact same place... the EXACT same place. It's like we haven't moved.” She realized, her voice carrying a bit of a shock as she slowly turned to start walking while staring in the sky. “From what I learned, this is spitting in the face of all current knowledge... The rift is truly something beyond human comprehension.” He said quietly, Maria furrowing her brow and poking a finger through him out of annoyance. He flinched, even if he couldn't interact with the real world in this form. “Why are you getting all introspective on me?” She asked, He just chuckled awkwardly as Maria stood on her toes to look over the hill. The resort in the horizon in what appeared to be another 10 minutes of walking.
“I don't know, Maria... I just worry for you and your kind. I kind of wonder if this will eventually be the end of humanity.” He said with a somber voice. Maria grabbed her shirt and wringed some more water out of it to sate the cold she was feeling. “I don't know... Spectrum has been doing pretty well.. Some attacks happen but we can usually deal with it.” She replied, mentioning how she and her team tend to only have missions every couple of weeks, but he shook his head some at that. “Broaden your perspective, Maria.” He replied, Maria looking at the ground for a second before she turned to walk up the hill, pressing her toes in deep into the soil so she wouldn't slip back down.
“I guess most places without Spectum in the city are a bit more fucked... One town about 100 miles from Rosewall had over 1000 casualties because it took us a couple of hours to actually arrive with enough people to clear them out.” She answered, standing at a somewhat cracked two lane road. The cars passing by and blowing a gust of wind, before a semi truck flew past and completely sent Maria's wet hair crazy, a mop on her head. She sighed and crossed the street quickly, walking into the parking lot and stopping just before the door of the hotel.
“I don't really know the answer, I think we just need to do the best we can.” She said with a sigh, Gale fading away into nothing before Maria popped the door of the hotel open, pretty much attempting to ignore people as she got in the elevator up to the top floor, getting to her room and unlocking the door, Jonah and Lily sitting together as they looked at the wet, sand covered Maria step in. Lily getting up and staring at her. “So uhh... Welcome back.” She said with an awkward grin, Maria spit on the floor, wiping her wet and dirty face with a wrist as she walked up in front of both of them. “Hi.” Maria said with a scowl. Jonah folded his arms and sighed some. He was now dressed in a blue sport coat with a black undershirt and a pair of jeans instead of the swimming trunks he had earlier.
“So uhh... Why did you suddenly become too stupid to swim?” He asked somewhat bluntly.
Maria shook her head gently, rubbing her hands through her hair to slide it from her face. “Sometimes fucking around backfires.” Maria replied bluntly, Lily getting off the bed on her side and walking around to stand off to the left side of her. “Actually, I had a question too.” Lily mentioned, Maria coughed some and folded her arms, raising an eyebrow as she waited. “What?” Maria said with a slightly annoyed voice, waiting for what Lily wanted to ask. “Why were you so resistant to us wanting to take you on a vacation? Normal people don't usually have to be tied up to go take a break.” She asked Maria, who went to unzip her black suitcase, pulling out a small piece of paper and presenting it to Lily.
“Can you read this for me?” Maria asked her, Lily inspecting the white paper with details written on it. “Hmmm... 4/9/535, 291 Able street. What does that mean?” She asked, Maria tugging the paper away from her and holding it between two fingers so it was facing Lily and Jonah. “I was going to get a rematch for the combat tournament I was in, it was canceled when some Riftfallen attacked.” Maria explained, reaching into her bag once again to pull out a pair of dry clothes. “Oh, well I'm sorry you missed it, Maria.” Lily apologized sincerely, frowning some.
Maria scowled, tossing the clothing on her shoulder. “That would have helped before you decided to kidnap me and send me 2000 miles away.” Maria complained, looking for the bathroom and walking to it to open the door. “I'm going to clean up and go to bed early.” Maria said, closing the door. Lily and Jonah looked at each other for a second before Jonah walked to the door, holding it open for her. “Let's just go, alright?” He asked, Lily nodding her head and walking through the door after him. She was back wearing her long white dress once again, the skirt lightly swaying near the hard wood floor as she began to walk along the hallway to the balcony facing the outside of the hotel.
Jonah followed as well, opening the double foldable glass doors to stand on the balcony, it was about 50 feet up in the air and made of very sturdy, steel reinforced concrete. It would probably be able to withstand an earthquake if there ever was one. Lily grabbed the double glass doors and slowly pulled them closed. “So why did you want to meet privately, Jonah?” Lily asked, turning to face him. He was leaning his hands against the stylized railing, that was about the height of his stomach. “I just want to talk to you about a couple of subjects, Lily.” He said, Lily walking up and turning to lean her back and hips against the very same railing.
Jonah looked up at the sky, it was now essentially night, the skyline was still bright near the edge but the sunlight was mostly replaced with stars. This city was smaller than Rosewall, so the lack of light pollution meant he could see a lot more stars than what he's used to. “I guess it's about the promotion exam coming up.” He finally admitted, Lily turning her head to look at him, he had a somewhat somber look on his face, his hands gripping into the side of the balcony. “What about it?” She asked him back, Jonah pushing himself gently off of the balcony and slowly pacing the floor.
“I feel like a liability, Lily.” He admitted, Lily frowning softly and lowering her brow as she lightly rubbed her hands along the concrete, her eyes tracking his movements as he clasped his arms together. “It feels like if the exam comes up and we all have to be tested as a team, I'm the biggest soft spot.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest, Lily stood up and approached him, rubbing his shoulder some. “Oh come on Jonah... You're not that bad.” She said with a reassuring smile, Jonah grabbed her hand and gently pulled it off. “No, I'm pretty sure of it, Lily. Maria is a mixed martial arts fighter, you learned from one of the best fencers in the world, and Caleb is a 3 year veteran, what do I have?” He asked even though he knew she didn't have the right answer. “I'm just some brat trying to make himself not feel useless, I feel like I don't belong here... I'm always the one who preforms the worst and I think I'm just going to hold the team back.”
Lily sighed, looking at the floor a little bit. “I just don't think I could trust myself in carrying my own weight, Lily. It's not okay to doubt myself like this, but it feels so true I can't do anything about it.” He said with a sigh, kicking lightly at the floor once before walking up to lean back against the railing, Lily frowning a little bit as she sighed. “Well... You're trying your hardest, right?” She asked him, he furrowed his brow and shook his head softly out of slight disdain for the question. “I have since the very first day, Lily... I just have been slowly realizing over the last 10 months that it might not be enough to make me turn into someone important.” He said, looking away from her and sighing again.
“That's kind of pessimistic, don't you think?” Lily mentioned, Turning to look out from the balcony down at the beach, the shimmering water reflecting the moonlight as a light breeze began to pick up. Jonah turned to face her, looking down at the road and watching the cars slowly hum by. “I never said I was an optimist, Lily... I just wanted to tell you my concerns without Maria or Caleb insulting me... You're probably the nicest person out of the three of us.” He admitted, Lily giving a light chuckle at that as she reached up to poke Jonah on the cheek. “Maria and Caleb aren't that bad,” She said in a casual protest.
“You kind of need to get used to them, you tend to keep to yourself a lot, so I don't think you've ever gone out of your way to spend time with them.” She criticized, he nodded some and wrapped his hands together around his other hand. “I guess... But what do I do about the fact I'm just not a good fighter?” He asked, Lily started to think when the double doors swung open. “Did someone say they sucked!?” Caleb shouted with a grin, Jonah spun around with a frustrated look on his face. “Oh fuck off, Caleb!” He shouted at him, Caleb frowned a bit and sighed, leaning against the balcony between them. “Oh quiet Jo, I'm offering to help you learn how to fight like I do.” Caleb said with annoyance in his voice.
“You scared the shit out of me, sorry.” Jonah replied, Caleb laughing one more time and waiting for him to answer his question. “Look... If you really think you can help, then go ahead and try, Caleb.” Jonah answered, Caleb grinning and grabbing Jonah by the shoulders. “Look man, as long as you stick by me, I can turn you from shit to slightly less shit.” He said with a reassuring smile. “Thanks, I guess.” Jonah said a bit annoyed by the mixed insults.
“Well we'll start as soon as this vacation is over, I'll be back in the hotel room if you need me.” He said to both of them, quietly leaving as Lily turned back to Jonah, gently placing her hand against his arm and smiling. “I'm here for you, Jonah. No matter what happens.” She said, Jonah smiling back at her as she did, before quietly leaving back to her room as well. Jonah just sighed and opened the door, going back down the hallway as well to get ready for the night.
“It's in the exact same place... the EXACT same place. It's like we haven't moved.” She realized, her voice carrying a bit of a shock as she slowly turned to start walking while staring in the sky. “From what I learned, this is spitting in the face of all current knowledge... The rift is truly something beyond human comprehension.” He said quietly, Maria furrowing her brow and poking a finger through him out of annoyance. He flinched, even if he couldn't interact with the real world in this form. “Why are you getting all introspective on me?” She asked, He just chuckled awkwardly as Maria stood on her toes to look over the hill. The resort in the horizon in what appeared to be another 10 minutes of walking.
“I don't know, Maria... I just worry for you and your kind. I kind of wonder if this will eventually be the end of humanity.” He said with a somber voice. Maria grabbed her shirt and wringed some more water out of it to sate the cold she was feeling. “I don't know... Spectrum has been doing pretty well.. Some attacks happen but we can usually deal with it.” She replied, mentioning how she and her team tend to only have missions every couple of weeks, but he shook his head some at that. “Broaden your perspective, Maria.” He replied, Maria looking at the ground for a second before she turned to walk up the hill, pressing her toes in deep into the soil so she wouldn't slip back down.
“I guess most places without Spectum in the city are a bit more fucked... One town about 100 miles from Rosewall had over 1000 casualties because it took us a couple of hours to actually arrive with enough people to clear them out.” She answered, standing at a somewhat cracked two lane road. The cars passing by and blowing a gust of wind, before a semi truck flew past and completely sent Maria's wet hair crazy, a mop on her head. She sighed and crossed the street quickly, walking into the parking lot and stopping just before the door of the hotel.
“I don't really know the answer, I think we just need to do the best we can.” She said with a sigh, Gale fading away into nothing before Maria popped the door of the hotel open, pretty much attempting to ignore people as she got in the elevator up to the top floor, getting to her room and unlocking the door, Jonah and Lily sitting together as they looked at the wet, sand covered Maria step in. Lily getting up and staring at her. “So uhh... Welcome back.” She said with an awkward grin, Maria spit on the floor, wiping her wet and dirty face with a wrist as she walked up in front of both of them. “Hi.” Maria said with a scowl. Jonah folded his arms and sighed some. He was now dressed in a blue sport coat with a black undershirt and a pair of jeans instead of the swimming trunks he had earlier.
“So uhh... Why did you suddenly become too stupid to swim?” He asked somewhat bluntly.
Maria shook her head gently, rubbing her hands through her hair to slide it from her face. “Sometimes fucking around backfires.” Maria replied bluntly, Lily getting off the bed on her side and walking around to stand off to the left side of her. “Actually, I had a question too.” Lily mentioned, Maria coughed some and folded her arms, raising an eyebrow as she waited. “What?” Maria said with a slightly annoyed voice, waiting for what Lily wanted to ask. “Why were you so resistant to us wanting to take you on a vacation? Normal people don't usually have to be tied up to go take a break.” She asked Maria, who went to unzip her black suitcase, pulling out a small piece of paper and presenting it to Lily.
“Can you read this for me?” Maria asked her, Lily inspecting the white paper with details written on it. “Hmmm... 4/9/535, 291 Able street. What does that mean?” She asked, Maria tugging the paper away from her and holding it between two fingers so it was facing Lily and Jonah. “I was going to get a rematch for the combat tournament I was in, it was canceled when some Riftfallen attacked.” Maria explained, reaching into her bag once again to pull out a pair of dry clothes. “Oh, well I'm sorry you missed it, Maria.” Lily apologized sincerely, frowning some.
Maria scowled, tossing the clothing on her shoulder. “That would have helped before you decided to kidnap me and send me 2000 miles away.” Maria complained, looking for the bathroom and walking to it to open the door. “I'm going to clean up and go to bed early.” Maria said, closing the door. Lily and Jonah looked at each other for a second before Jonah walked to the door, holding it open for her. “Let's just go, alright?” He asked, Lily nodding her head and walking through the door after him. She was back wearing her long white dress once again, the skirt lightly swaying near the hard wood floor as she began to walk along the hallway to the balcony facing the outside of the hotel.
Jonah followed as well, opening the double foldable glass doors to stand on the balcony, it was about 50 feet up in the air and made of very sturdy, steel reinforced concrete. It would probably be able to withstand an earthquake if there ever was one. Lily grabbed the double glass doors and slowly pulled them closed. “So why did you want to meet privately, Jonah?” Lily asked, turning to face him. He was leaning his hands against the stylized railing, that was about the height of his stomach. “I just want to talk to you about a couple of subjects, Lily.” He said, Lily walking up and turning to lean her back and hips against the very same railing.
Jonah looked up at the sky, it was now essentially night, the skyline was still bright near the edge but the sunlight was mostly replaced with stars. This city was smaller than Rosewall, so the lack of light pollution meant he could see a lot more stars than what he's used to. “I guess it's about the promotion exam coming up.” He finally admitted, Lily turning her head to look at him, he had a somewhat somber look on his face, his hands gripping into the side of the balcony. “What about it?” She asked him back, Jonah pushing himself gently off of the balcony and slowly pacing the floor.
“I feel like a liability, Lily.” He admitted, Lily frowning softly and lowering her brow as she lightly rubbed her hands along the concrete, her eyes tracking his movements as he clasped his arms together. “It feels like if the exam comes up and we all have to be tested as a team, I'm the biggest soft spot.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest, Lily stood up and approached him, rubbing his shoulder some. “Oh come on Jonah... You're not that bad.” She said with a reassuring smile, Jonah grabbed her hand and gently pulled it off. “No, I'm pretty sure of it, Lily. Maria is a mixed martial arts fighter, you learned from one of the best fencers in the world, and Caleb is a 3 year veteran, what do I have?” He asked even though he knew she didn't have the right answer. “I'm just some brat trying to make himself not feel useless, I feel like I don't belong here... I'm always the one who preforms the worst and I think I'm just going to hold the team back.”
Lily sighed, looking at the floor a little bit. “I just don't think I could trust myself in carrying my own weight, Lily. It's not okay to doubt myself like this, but it feels so true I can't do anything about it.” He said with a sigh, kicking lightly at the floor once before walking up to lean back against the railing, Lily frowning a little bit as she sighed. “Well... You're trying your hardest, right?” She asked him, he furrowed his brow and shook his head softly out of slight disdain for the question. “I have since the very first day, Lily... I just have been slowly realizing over the last 10 months that it might not be enough to make me turn into someone important.” He said, looking away from her and sighing again.
“That's kind of pessimistic, don't you think?” Lily mentioned, Turning to look out from the balcony down at the beach, the shimmering water reflecting the moonlight as a light breeze began to pick up. Jonah turned to face her, looking down at the road and watching the cars slowly hum by. “I never said I was an optimist, Lily... I just wanted to tell you my concerns without Maria or Caleb insulting me... You're probably the nicest person out of the three of us.” He admitted, Lily giving a light chuckle at that as she reached up to poke Jonah on the cheek. “Maria and Caleb aren't that bad,” She said in a casual protest.
“You kind of need to get used to them, you tend to keep to yourself a lot, so I don't think you've ever gone out of your way to spend time with them.” She criticized, he nodded some and wrapped his hands together around his other hand. “I guess... But what do I do about the fact I'm just not a good fighter?” He asked, Lily started to think when the double doors swung open. “Did someone say they sucked!?” Caleb shouted with a grin, Jonah spun around with a frustrated look on his face. “Oh fuck off, Caleb!” He shouted at him, Caleb frowned a bit and sighed, leaning against the balcony between them. “Oh quiet Jo, I'm offering to help you learn how to fight like I do.” Caleb said with annoyance in his voice.
“You scared the shit out of me, sorry.” Jonah replied, Caleb laughing one more time and waiting for him to answer his question. “Look... If you really think you can help, then go ahead and try, Caleb.” Jonah answered, Caleb grinning and grabbing Jonah by the shoulders. “Look man, as long as you stick by me, I can turn you from shit to slightly less shit.” He said with a reassuring smile. “Thanks, I guess.” Jonah said a bit annoyed by the mixed insults.
“Well we'll start as soon as this vacation is over, I'll be back in the hotel room if you need me.” He said to both of them, quietly leaving as Lily turned back to Jonah, gently placing her hand against his arm and smiling. “I'm here for you, Jonah. No matter what happens.” She said, Jonah smiling back at her as she did, before quietly leaving back to her room as well. Jonah just sighed and opened the door, going back down the hallway as well to get ready for the night.
