ZEPH

I watched as Camilla left, then went back to steering the ship.

This had originally been Erika and Aiden’s mission alone, but they had called on me for backup. We had all known going into this, that Camilla would be hard to find, and possibly even harder to catch, but Erika was a firm believer in the power of persuasion. After meeting Erika and seeing just what she could do with her voice, I had started to wonder why I had ever thought fighting was the only solution to my problems. She had a way of getting into the good things inside of everybody, and manipulating that little sliver of goodness into something even greater. Erika had told Adi firmly, that she intended on talking Camilla into joining us.

In the end, Erika’s charm wasn't enough to get a hold of Camilla. Erika and Aiden had called me in as backup, thinking I might be able to catch Camilla if she ran again. Speed was not my field of expertise, but the winds were. I had mastered the skill of controlling everything from breezes to storms, and I was able to push myself forward with the wind, reaching speeds higher than most humans. It was not very impressive compared to Camilla, whom we had observed running about forty-five kilometer per hour at one point, but with the help of the glider Adi had built me, I could properly keep up with her.

It had not been necessary for me to use my glider or my speed, unfortunately, because I had used another power of mine. The element of surprise. It's not an actual power that I possess, but I still used it to my advantage. I had waited for Camilla where Erika had told me to be, and summoned a baseball bat, prepared for anything. Camilla had not seen me at first, so I had a few seconds to get the brightest idea of hitting her in the head and finishing this chase for good. It worked, until Erika started yelling at me for using brutality.

I have a tendency to revert to violence in the heat of the moment. It's not because I am a violent or aggressive person, but because I just panic a bit and do the first thing that comes to mind. The fact that hitting someone is the first thing that pops to mind when I am panicking might be a red flag. I just don't know what the red flag is supposed to warn me about.

If Javier was here, he’d tell me I was overreacting. Javier was calm like that, always telling me to take a step back and breathe deeply.

But now he isn't here to tell me, which means I am the one who reminds myself to stay chill.

It was amusing to watch and talk to Camilla after she woke up. She was clearly frightened, but she tried to hide it. She had few possessions, but they were dear to her. She was hostile with her words but knew better than to throw a punch without being threatened.

It was like looking at a younger version of myself, but with longer hair and none of my grace.

I understood her better than Erika ever could. Which was impressive. Erika was our expert in understanding humans and whatever non human thing we were, and she was damn good at her job. Still, she did not know what life was like for people with no home. She always tried to apply emotions to people who had spent years getting rid of them.

Even though it was over thirty years since I was recruited, I still remember the time before joining the Organisation clearly. Me and Javier had been Drifters, Tethered humans who kept to themselves instead of working with the Organisation. We traveled Europe for years, surviving on our own, helping those who the Organisation didn't want to help. The Organisation has always been a bit slow when it comes to human rights. I think it's because of all of the old people. Our current leader Adi is from the 18th-century, and properly still a bit behind.

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Me and Javier traveled a lot, and we did a lot of stupid things we thought were smart back then. We built multiple safehouses around Europe and filled it with people who we could smoke and drink with. We explored and we danced in the moonlight and we were young. It all ended abruptly. We were in Spain when we met another Drifter. Javier ended up badly hurt after we fought the guy, and I did not know how to heal him. Tethered people can only die if they are killed by another Tethered. That meant Javier could have died if I had not taken him with me to the Organization. They saved him, and we decided to stay with them.

After joining the Organization, something happened. Maybe it was something I did, or maybe a series of events that led to it, but Javier and I started drifting apart slowly. We got new friends, we sometimes didn't even have time to talk for days. I sometimes think that it was bound to happen, like maybe we were destined to fly higher, faster than anybody, only to slowly fall down and hit the ground. Javier hit the ground first in 2004 when he was killed on a mission.

The ocean was moving rapidly beneath the ship as I steered it. The sea always managed to make me feel more than usual. It changes all the time, it is always moving, always on the go. Still, it stays the same. The sea looks the same, no matter what year it is. No matter who lives or who dies. It feels a bit like a promise. I have yet to find out what for.

We had decided to stop by Iceland on the way. Adi and Shira needed more materials, and Aiden wanted to buy some freshly smoked salmon. I think it's supposed to be an act of rebellion since he finds Morrigan's salmon inedible. It was true that Morrigan was not a good cook, but after Miriam died she had taken up the chore of making us all food. I used to think she did it because of grief, but now I think it's out of boredom. Morrigan rarely goes on missions, since she is more useful at the base.

I harbored the boat at midnight, then went to bed in my cabin. It was nice being out on a mission, and I looked forward to getting to know Camilla. To see her open up just like me and Javier had slowly opened up. It wasn't the first time I had seen new people arrive, but it was the first time I had been this invested in it.

-

I am the first up in the morning, as always. Aiden is a late sleeper, and Erika usually stays in her room doing whatever she does. I asked her if she was praying or doing yoga, but she only laughed and said not quite. I don't know what that’s supposed to mean.

I don't bother with breakfast but instead leave the ship immediately, feeling a bit seasick. It's been a long time since I’ve been to Iceland, and I am surprised to find it this cold. Then I am surprised over my own surprise.

There are a lot of fishing boats, and people are already walking around in the morning fog. I buy a coffee and a bagel and enjoy it in the warmth of the small café. A pretty lady comes up to me, and I start a conversation with her until Erika shows up and slides into the seat next to me, leaning closer to me until the pretty lady leaves.

“Jealous?” I ask her as she takes a bite of my bagel.

“You wish, Zeph.”

I laugh at that. Me and Erika are close, but we aren't dating or anything like that.

“So, what can I help you with?” I say as we both get up to leave.

“Nothing much.” She says, and I keep looking at her, waiting for her to tell me what she wants to say.

We reach a bridge and Erika stops in the middle, looking at me.

“What did you and Camilla talk about yesterday?”

I feign surprise and she rolls her eyes with a smile. “Nothing that mattered,” I told her. “But I did invite her to my cabin.”

Erika hit my arm. “You big flirt.”

“What did you expect?” I chortled. “You know my type has always been dark-haired people.”

“You are dark-haired people.”

“Maybe I am my own type. Maybe I would like to date myself.”

“Maybe.”

We laughed a bit, then went out to get a hold of the stones and wood Adi and Shira had requested. We were back on the boat by noon. Aiden was still sleeping, and Camilla as gone with a note saying she’d be back. I didn't know if I trusted the note, but Erika told me that she’d be back, and I didn't want to.